Bag of Randomness

  • The DC jack on my Sony laptop is no longer functioning.  Best Buy’s Geek Squad wants $300 to repair as does the Sony Style store.  I was able to track down the part on eBay for $15 and will try the repair myself.  If that doesn’t work, I will “force” myself to by a new computer.
  • Motivational Zig Ziglar died yesterday.  Despite all his great quotes and speeches, I was never really a fan because I always felt that he didn’t have much substance or history in terms of having a career overcoming obstacles. In terms of being motivated, I tend to connect more with people who’ve come from nothing and overcame adversity.  I guess that’s why a lot of folks are motivated by the likes of Steve Jobs, Oprah,  and Bill Clinton.
    • WifeGeeding and the kids got stranded at the grocery store early yesterday evening because the SUV wouldn’t start.  I tried to jump start it, with two different vehicles, but no luck, so I drove them home.
    • I then drove to my local auto shop hoping to talk to Mike who usually works the front desk, but instead was a new female employee.  She said she could call a tow truck but was wondering if there was another option and if I could talk to Mike.  She said Mike was let go a little while back, so I asked if I could talk to Chris, the other guy that knows I’ve been a loyal customer for many moons and is the owner.  She then yelled towards the back, “Hey Chris, there’s a guy up here that wants to talk to a man who doesn’t think women know anything.”
    • Chris came up and greeted me by my first name and a firm handshake.  Before I could even finish the story of my little dilemma  he called for one of his guys to come up front with a jump box and informed him to take a ride with me.  Thankfully we got it jumped and drove back to the shop.  We think my jumps didn’t work due to “cheap” jumper cables.
    • It’s a half-hour before closing and thankfully all I need is a new battery, but the Acadia takes a particular battery that isn’t in stock.  Chris makes about five calls and finds an O’Reilly that happens to have one in stock.  I tell him I’d be happy to pick it.
    • I get back to the shop right at closing time and I feel horrible that a few of his employees are staying late, but they all seem to be in good spirits and a couple even started having their traditional end of day beer.
    • Right as his men are about to wrap things up it occurs to me I haven’t paid for anything, so I remind Chris to ring me up.  To my surprise, he tells me not to worry about it and that my commitment to him over the years is what counts.  I thank him, but say that I need to compensate him for letting me take one of his men to the grocery store and for keeping him and a few others past regular closing time, and yet he still refuses.  I plan on making up for it buy bringing some pizzas in to the shop in the next couple of days.
    • Usually you don’t hear stuff like this happening in “big city”, but it happens.
  • “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was on television last night.  I know it’s after Thanksgiving, but I tend to think its first run of the season should at least be in December.
  • Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors
  • Guys from NBC’s “The Office” parody the “Two and a Half Men” kid’s recent video
  • NBA’s Most Popular Jerseys – Dirk comes in at #15
  • Anthony Bourdain may have discovered a Secret Service keg party
  • World’s First 3D Printing Photo Booth to Open in Japan
  • A nice tribute to Tom Hanks characters
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