Long Exposure

Freeway

The Raccoon in Dave's Garage

Happy Halloween!

Sears... Your System Sucks...

I was trying to get an ice/water filter for the Kenmore refrigerator in my new house. I found on my own, online, that the part I need is discontinued and I found the replacement part number. So twice when I called the local Sears store that had the part, I was transferred to someone in some other geographical location (like California, China or maybe Nairobi). These people told me that the part was where I wanted to pick it up, because like me they went online to find it. I however, wanted to talk to a person at the store who could verify and put one aside for me before I made the trip in.

The second time I got transferred, I explained to the foreign sounding speaker that I needed to talk to someone at the local store in my own state. She insisted that she could help and asked what I needed. I responded that, ”I need you to go out into the store and find this filter and set it aside for me and I will come and pick it up.” She responded, “Sir, I already explained to you that I am not in that store.” My response came swiftly as I said, ”Exactly. I need to talk to someone in that store.” Finally, after traveling by phone all over the globe I finally got a person who was standing in the store that I originally called. Furthermore, Andy was able to find the filter I needed and have one for me when I got to the store. So why was it that when I called the local store to get the item I already researched and found, that I was connected to a computer that transferred me to India?

Sears… your system sucks…

Watch for Buses on Shoulder

I should say! If you weren't careful and a bus inadvertently parked on your shoulder, that would probably make a bruise!

Please Don't Let Children Play with Toys???

I always find antique shops to be filled with smelly, over-priced crap that was discarded long ago--and somehow became valuable with age. I understand the reason for this sign, but I couldn't help but think,

"What kind of heartless @#$^* would keep children from playing with toys???"

Big Bird Leading in Polls!

Big Bird Leading in Polls!
UnAssociated Press
October 23, 2012

The numbers out after last night's presidential debate, shows that Sesame Street's Big Bird is clearly leading in the polls. Furthermore it is speculated that the 8'2" yellow bird is talking to CuTRis about being his running mate.

When asked, CuTRis had this to say. "I am interested," CuTRis said. "In fact, I don't think there has ever been a big, gay, yellow bird in the White House before!" The interviewer responded that he wasn't sure that Big Bird was gay. "He isn't?" replied CuTRis. "Oh... I guess that I thought he was... Not that there's anything wrong with that! Regardless," continued CuTRis, "I would consider it an honor if Big Bird asked me to be his running mate for the presidential election."

Rewards Card...

I don't think much of 'rewards cards.' First of all, do I really want to have a roll-o-dex in my car to hold all of the rewards cards for each individual store/restaurant/business? Second, I had a rewards card for SuperAmerica, and then they changed it--so my 'rewards' disappeared and I would need to apply for a new card--if I wanted one. I also had an Ace Hardware card that one day, seemed not to recognize anything when they scanned it. Maybe I had 'rewards' and they disappeared! So let's talk about 'rewards.' What are they? Well, they are something like this. If you buy a (4 cent--including the cup) soda fountain drink for $1.99, you get 10 cents off! Wow! That is a great deal... for the store...

Rainbow foods used to charge three prices (actually I think more) depending on if you had a coupon and a rewards card. It got too confusing and I stopped shopping there. Only recently have I started going there again as I make Cub, Rainbow and Aldi 'compete' for my business. Rainbow still has a rewards card but I don’t have one.

If two stores had something I wanted at the same price, I would get it at the one that didn't have a rewards card every time. In fact, I no longer waste time with these cards. If you want my business, just give me the good price!

Hello Book Club!

I wanted to say hello to the Minneapolis book club that is currently reading, "Cottonwood." I've added a link to this blog entry (to the right under 'links' on the main page) so we can do a Question & Answer if anyone is interested. My email is listed there too. The book speeds along through a couple of centuries of history--so hang on to your hats!

Kevin J. Curtis

Cutris Wins Vice-Presidential Debate!

CuTRis Wins Vice-Presidential Debate!
UnAssociated Press
October 12, 2012

Apparently Cutris has done it again! Though he did not participate in last night's Vice-Presidential debate, he was proclaimed the 'clear winner,' by a number of political media sources. Just how is Cutris able to achieve these victories without even being present or speaking at the debates?

"The public seems to want him to run again," said one source who asked not to be identified by his real name of Jerald W. Johnson of Springfield, Massachusetts. "You have to remember that Cutris only lost by 12 votes in 2008; and a lot of people think he should run again."

$3.75

I saw gasoline for $3.75 per gallon this morning and stopped to fill my car. While thinking about a job I had many years ago that paid $3.75 per hour, I said to the man filling up across from me, "it's kind of sad when $3.75 per gallon gas looks like a good deal isn't it?"

He started to laugh and responded, "You must have been reading my mind!"

The Mark of a Bully

We may think of bullies in terms of adolescent boys, but over the years I've noticed that they can come in a variety of forms. One of these is the middle-aged woman with the nasty mouth. This person likes to make nasty comments and does it from some vantage point that feels safe. Often they look for positions with some kind of power; where they can satisfy their desire to make others uncomfortable. I'm fortunate to have nice bosses at my current job, but I did recently have a run-in with a bully from outside of work who exhibited 'classic' bully behavior.

The interesting thing I've found out about bullies over the years, is that they are rarely actually 'tough.' If you stand up to a bully, they frequently run and cry and pretend that they are the victim. This is very typical, or what I consider to be 'classic' bully behavior. They are only comfortable when their victim is unable or unwilling to fight back.

Often a bully who has been confronted will feel indignant because of his/her belief that he/she is smarter and more morally superior than the rest of the population. Perhaps it is a defense mechanism for dealing with their own insecurities. Whatever the reason, unless you are dealing with a psycho-gun-toting-bully, most bullies are uncomfortable if you point-blank tell them to please stop. If you are so inclined, give it a try. No one should have to be bullied.

--KJC

Cutris Wins Presidential Debate

CuTris Wins Presidential Debate
UnAssociated Press
October 4, 2012

Though Cutris did not actually participate in last night’s debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, he has been deemed the ‘clear winner,’ by a number of polls. Cutris ran for President in the 2008 election, and was defeated by a narrow margin by current President, Barack Obama.

While not actually being present at the debate, most analysts think that Cutris was more believable, more poised, and more to-the-point than either the Republican challenger or the Democratic President.

When Cutris was asked about his apparent win, he seemed somewhat surprised (since he had not been at the debate), but then he said, “Yeah, I probably won. It sounds like something I would do.”

Gruntled Workers

Gruntled Workers
UnAssociated Press
October 3, 2012

It was reported that a gruntled worker left his unloaded gun at home and went happily to work today. There was no violence and everyone had a pretty good time. When asked about their coworker, some employees said he was a 'pretty good guy.' One even said that last week, he brought cookies to work and shared them!

Cutris Cam

Here is a sample of my brush crashing...
-KJC

October Hike in West Wilkie

I had an amazing hike through West Wilkie yesterday...

American Oil Beetle