Saturday, January 17, 2009

The mysteries of teenagers

Today I got my third note in a row from a family where the teenager has grabbed my book and finds it funny and the mother can't get it back to read it.

This is completely unexpected.

I honestly never imagined teenagers would be my audience.

I think they must be as curious about how we view them as we are about how they view us.

Kind of like when you go to the zoo and look through the glass at the monkeys and they're looking right back.

Only I'm not sure who the monkeys are in this case.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

New glasses

Whenever I get new glasses, which is not very often of course, it takes about 3 months before looking in the mirror is not a bizarre experience. Why is that.

Why I love the paper

Today among the many things that gave me tremendous happiness in The New York Times were:

Reading Bono's take on why Frank Sinatra is the greatest.

Reading the obit of one of the commanders at the Battle of the Bulge. Not happy that the guy died, of course, but happy that the history is being recounted. My dad was there, in the snow, with thousands of other soldiers, and their commanders refused the Nazis' demand to surrender despite the terrible odds. They prevailed, and their bravery and endurance was remarkable.

Reading the deconstruction of the phony letter to the editor from the not-mayor of Paris.

Reading the (presumably true) letter to the editor from the lawyer for Watergate's Deep Throat.

Why do I love these things? Let me count the ways.

Because they are obscure, but meaningful to me in very personal and strange ways. It confirms my sense that so many tiny things in our experiences are connected to other things - the two degrees of separation theory.

Because they are interesting and unusual and tell me things about the world that I didn't know.

Because they are amusing or sad or profound or touching or enlightening.

Because they take me out of myself.

I am so glad that when I wake up every morning, I can take three steps and find the paper on my door. I don't mind paying for it; it's worth every penny. How sad that mine is a 20th century attachment. Read the paper, people! And be willing to pay for it.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Survival in times of change

Today I recalled the wisdom of a long-ago colleague.

If you're worried about survival, step on your eyeglasses and pick up a broom.

'Nuff said.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The local stores

I want to support the local stores. I really do.

I understand that my neighborhood would suck if there were only chain stores, or no stores.

But why can't the local stores behave like businesses instead of like someone's weird hobby?

I ordered a captain's bed from a local store on Dec 17. They said it would be ready in five days. OK, I know there were holidays. But I didn't get it until Jan. 3, and that was after they promised to deliver Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 but didn't.

I ordered business cards and postcards from the local copy shop. The sign in the window clearly says, "NEXT DAY BUSINESS CARDS." I ordered these business cards Dec. 21. They're still not ready.

I brought a TV into a local store that allegedly fixes TVs. (I know, I know, why even go down that road in this day and age??? I get what I deserve.) I brought it in Dec. 28. I stopped in a week later. They couldn't even tell me if they were going to be able to repair it, no less what it would cost.

I went on the Web site for my local bookstore - now granted this was a few months ago, but still. It clearly said that you could email them a list of books you wanted, they would order the books and tell you when they arrived. I emailed my list. No one ever called. Two weeks later, I called them. Oh, they said, they no longer do that. It hadn't worked out, and they didn't have time to take the offer down from the Web site.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the things that drive me to order stuff from Amazon. Really, can you blame me? I love my local stores, I want to support them, but they don't really seem to want my business.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Math

My 5th grader is doing his math homework.

He needs help, but it's too hard for me.

Totally pathetic. That's what I am.