Somehow, when you work in a bookstore, people come to see you, not as a regular human being, but as some sort of conglomeration of encyclopedia/ computer/ therapist/ confidante/ summarizer/ judge/ magician. I do not know why this is, but it is.
Let me illustrate with some brief, and most importantly REAL scenarios (or based on real scenarios) that I or my coworkers have lived through. Some are funny, some are sad, some are down right WEIRD.
(note: any and all books I may or may not mention are only for illustrative purposes and I am not recommending/reviewing or otherwise supporting any of the said listed books)
Encyclopedia:
Man: (Rushes through store to information desk, gasping for breath.) I have a strange question for you. What is the name of the doctor that works with Beaker, you know, the muppet that just meeps?
Me: (trying not to laugh) I don't really know.
Man: Well can you look it up somewhere?
I find a book in Self Help written by Kermit the Frog and find the name (which is Honeydew, by the way, Bunsen Honeydew). Customer thanks me and races back out of the store without buying ANYTHING.
Computer:
Lady: Excuse me, do you have "Falcon at the Portal"?
Me: Let me just look it up.
Lady: (huffs in exasperation) Well, just tell me where it would be.
Me: I don't know. I'm not familiar with that title. Let me check.
Lady: Well, the author's incredibly popular and sells a lot of books. I'm sure you have them.
Therapist:
Lady: I'm sorry, I'm kind of out of it. My sister died yesterday, so I'm just trying to figure things out.
Confidante
Little Old Lady: Could you please tell me where the books on the Kama Sutra are? My husband is too embarrassed to ask, but we're looking for something to spice things up a little.
Me: TMI!!!
Summarizer:
Teenage Boy: Out of these five books on my summer reading list, which one is shortest, but also interesting so it will keep my attention and what are they all about?
Me: Would you like me to write your paper for you too?
Judge:
Man: I'm looking for books on indoor gardening.
Me: Let me see what the computer says we have. (scroll through several pages) It doesn't look like we have anything in stock.
Man: No, I saw something a couple pages back (points at book on hydroponic marijuana)
Me: (in calm, even, bored tone) Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that was what you were looking for. (Yes, we sell books on this. I just show people to the books, that's all)
Man: (snaps) No comments, please, just show me to the section.
Magician:
Lady: I was in here last April and you had a book on a table in the front of the store that looked really interesting. It had a blue cover and was written by a woman and I think it was $24.95. Do you know the book I'm talking about?
If there is one thing true about my job, it is that I am NEVER bored. Ever.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Organ-ized Internet Searching
My brothers both love music. My older younger brother, "Joe", is in a band that is slowly gaining a hearing in the area. They've gotten a chance to do open mikes, hold some cheap group concerts and have been invited to play at some local places.
My younger younger brother, "Dave", is also in a band with some of his friends.
Between the two of them we never know what instruments are going to be coming into the house next... A bass, a harmonica (actually several in different keys), a keyboard, a trombone, an accordion, a sax - you name it, we'll probably be getting it or already have it.
So "Dave" decided that if he rearranged his room, got rid of the wardrobe and moved his dresser, he would have room for, yes, an organ.
So he's spent the last several days looking for one online.
Mom, Dad, my sister and I were watching StarGate Atlantis (woot!) and Dave was trying to find an organ. He pops his head in the room. "We're going to West Virginia sometime soon, right?" Um no. So apparently someone in the mountains of West Virginia, where there is one road and fewer houses, is selling an organ for $25 if you'll come pick it up. Yeah right.
He comes back a few minutes later. "Someone's giving away a hospital bed that moves up and down! (imitates bed movements)"
Back a few minutes later. "There's a church about 45 minutes away that got a new organ and so they're giving away their old one!"
Enter my evil pun brain..... "So would they be considered an organ donor?"
My younger younger brother, "Dave", is also in a band with some of his friends.
Between the two of them we never know what instruments are going to be coming into the house next... A bass, a harmonica (actually several in different keys), a keyboard, a trombone, an accordion, a sax - you name it, we'll probably be getting it or already have it.
So "Dave" decided that if he rearranged his room, got rid of the wardrobe and moved his dresser, he would have room for, yes, an organ.
So he's spent the last several days looking for one online.
Mom, Dad, my sister and I were watching StarGate Atlantis (woot!) and Dave was trying to find an organ. He pops his head in the room. "We're going to West Virginia sometime soon, right?" Um no. So apparently someone in the mountains of West Virginia, where there is one road and fewer houses, is selling an organ for $25 if you'll come pick it up. Yeah right.
He comes back a few minutes later. "Someone's giving away a hospital bed that moves up and down! (imitates bed movements)"
Back a few minutes later. "There's a church about 45 minutes away that got a new organ and so they're giving away their old one!"
Enter my evil pun brain..... "So would they be considered an organ donor?"
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Castle is Back!!!!!!!!!
Yeah! I just bought the first season on DVD so I can share it with my family and now the new season has begun! SO glad this show didn't get dumped after 1 season. I was scared since there was so little buzz about it. Hopefully it gets picked up more this season - Monk is almost over and this could fill that murder/comedy slot.
Last season ended with an emotional cliffhanger rather than a physical one and it was much more fitting to the first season.
Now on to season 2: Deep in Death. - SPOILERS AHEAD!
Favorite Quotes::
"I could buy you a pony!"
"Be my usual charming self"
"What about plan b?"
"Somebody hated his guts." (after discovering that the organs had been harvested from the body)
Nathan Fillion is brilliant in this episode, straying from the constant wise guy attitude from season 1, he shows his concern for what he's done to Beckett while still throwing out those hysterical one liners that help make the show what it is. As much fun as season 1 was, this episode set the stage for an even better second season. Fillion adds depth to Castle's character that will help to enhance, not only the show, but also the interaction between him and Beckett.
I also love (as always) the interaction between him and his daughter. The relationship is sweet and almost, but not quite, turned on its head. She is a grounded, steady girl who helps bring stability into his life and helps him to be a little more grounded than he would without her anchor in his life. And of course, she always manages to say the right thing to show him what he's missed. The nice thing is that she usually isn't talking about his situation, but Castle is open enough to see the truth in what she says and to realize how it impacts him and then do something about it. Castle may be a tad dense (what man isn't, especially when it comes to women? :P) but he certainly isn't slow or stupid.
two thumbs up and I can't wait for the next episode!
Last season ended with an emotional cliffhanger rather than a physical one and it was much more fitting to the first season.
Now on to season 2: Deep in Death. - SPOILERS AHEAD!
Favorite Quotes::
"I could buy you a pony!"
"Be my usual charming self"
"What about plan b?"
"Somebody hated his guts." (after discovering that the organs had been harvested from the body)
Nathan Fillion is brilliant in this episode, straying from the constant wise guy attitude from season 1, he shows his concern for what he's done to Beckett while still throwing out those hysterical one liners that help make the show what it is. As much fun as season 1 was, this episode set the stage for an even better second season. Fillion adds depth to Castle's character that will help to enhance, not only the show, but also the interaction between him and Beckett.
I also love (as always) the interaction between him and his daughter. The relationship is sweet and almost, but not quite, turned on its head. She is a grounded, steady girl who helps bring stability into his life and helps him to be a little more grounded than he would without her anchor in his life. And of course, she always manages to say the right thing to show him what he's missed. The nice thing is that she usually isn't talking about his situation, but Castle is open enough to see the truth in what she says and to realize how it impacts him and then do something about it. Castle may be a tad dense (what man isn't, especially when it comes to women? :P) but he certainly isn't slow or stupid.
two thumbs up and I can't wait for the next episode!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Emmy Update #2
Booooooo...
Darlton lost :(
I've heard Mad Men is good, but I don't watch it and I wanted Darlton to take it. They totally deserved it.
So sad.
Darlton lost :(
I've heard Mad Men is good, but I don't watch it and I wanted Darlton to take it. They totally deserved it.
So sad.
Emmy update #1
Woot!!!!!!!!!!
Michael Emerson just won for best supporting actor. He TOTALLY and COMPLETELY deserved it. When it came on, my sister and I were chanting "Em-er-son, Em-er-son" as if that would help him to win. Then when he won we squealed so loudly that our Mom came running down the stairs to see what was going on.
And yahoo for the Dr. Horrible cut in - funniest thing so far! So glad I just saw that or I would have been so confused instead of laughing like crazy.
More to come if anything else exciting happens.
P.S. Still so VERY ticked that SYTYCD was overlooked for best reality tv show. Way better than any of those other ones out there - and please tell my how Cat Deeley didn't even warrant a NOMINATION!?!?! What is wrong with these people?!
Michael Emerson just won for best supporting actor. He TOTALLY and COMPLETELY deserved it. When it came on, my sister and I were chanting "Em-er-son, Em-er-son" as if that would help him to win. Then when he won we squealed so loudly that our Mom came running down the stairs to see what was going on.
And yahoo for the Dr. Horrible cut in - funniest thing so far! So glad I just saw that or I would have been so confused instead of laughing like crazy.
More to come if anything else exciting happens.
P.S. Still so VERY ticked that SYTYCD was overlooked for best reality tv show. Way better than any of those other ones out there - and please tell my how Cat Deeley didn't even warrant a NOMINATION!?!?! What is wrong with these people?!
Bathroom Humor
this has nothing whatsoever to do with anything tv, movie or Lost, but I shall share anyhoo.
This story happened a couple of years ago, but my Dad brought it up today, so I thought it would be funny to share.
I was getting ready for work one lazy Friday morning. I went into the bathroom to, well, you know, and brush my teeth and stuff and when I went to open the door it wouldn't.
I hadn't locked it (in fact, I don't think anyone ever locks it). But it would not open. It just wouldn't.
Everyone was just getting up, so they heard my cries for help quite quickly.
Dad decides that we are going to have to take the doorknob off. We do. There is now a hole where the doorknob used to be. Still the door will not open - for no apparent reason.
At this point I am laughing almost helplessly. My sister is talking about how they can at least pass food through the hole and I have all the water I could need.
The only recourse is to take the door off its hinges. The hinges are, of course, on the INSIDE of the door. So pliers and screwdriver get passed through the hole to me.
Also of course, the hinges are painted closed. I must bang on them with the screwdriver and pliers for a while.
Eventually I pull the pins out. But the paint is still holding the door onto the hinges. I have to step into the shower so that Dad can pound the door down.
That was an interesting day.
This story happened a couple of years ago, but my Dad brought it up today, so I thought it would be funny to share.
I was getting ready for work one lazy Friday morning. I went into the bathroom to, well, you know, and brush my teeth and stuff and when I went to open the door it wouldn't.
I hadn't locked it (in fact, I don't think anyone ever locks it). But it would not open. It just wouldn't.
Everyone was just getting up, so they heard my cries for help quite quickly.
Dad decides that we are going to have to take the doorknob off. We do. There is now a hole where the doorknob used to be. Still the door will not open - for no apparent reason.
At this point I am laughing almost helplessly. My sister is talking about how they can at least pass food through the hole and I have all the water I could need.
The only recourse is to take the door off its hinges. The hinges are, of course, on the INSIDE of the door. So pliers and screwdriver get passed through the hole to me.
Also of course, the hinges are painted closed. I must bang on them with the screwdriver and pliers for a while.
Eventually I pull the pins out. But the paint is still holding the door onto the hinges. I have to step into the shower so that Dad can pound the door down.
That was an interesting day.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
My LOST wish list
A while ago, Nikki had posted about a LOST auction that is going to take place over on www.profilesinhistory.com. So I signed up to get updates from them, even though I will probably never buy a thing.
Today I went over to check out some stuff and they had a list of some of the items that will be being auctioned off!!!!!!!!!! Oh, man, do I want some of this stuff.
So here's my "wish list" of the items they have listed so far that I am dying to have.
1. Sawyer's copy of Watership Down. Oh, yes, please!
2. Ben's "Dean Moriarty" passports
3. Sawyer's reading glasses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Sawyer's letter of vengeance (again) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Penny's letter written to Desmond that he finds in the book
::swoon:: Not that any of these things would ever be remotely within my price range, but a girl can dream, can't she?
Today I went over to check out some stuff and they had a list of some of the items that will be being auctioned off!!!!!!!!!! Oh, man, do I want some of this stuff.
So here's my "wish list" of the items they have listed so far that I am dying to have.
1. Sawyer's copy of Watership Down. Oh, yes, please!
2. Ben's "Dean Moriarty" passports
3. Sawyer's reading glasses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Sawyer's letter of vengeance (again) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Penny's letter written to Desmond that he finds in the book
::swoon:: Not that any of these things would ever be remotely within my price range, but a girl can dream, can't she?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Great SYTYCD News!
I just found out that Adam Shankman has been added as a permanent judge for S6 of SYTYCD!
This is very exciting news. He has always been my favorite guest judge. He makes the most useful comments, he's hysterical and he has the best connection with Nigel and Mary. The three of them crack me up every time they're together.
Just one more reason for me to Lurv this show!
This is very exciting news. He has always been my favorite guest judge. He makes the most useful comments, he's hysterical and he has the best connection with Nigel and Mary. The three of them crack me up every time they're together.
Just one more reason for me to Lurv this show!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
TV Addict
I'm trying to figure out when I became such a big TV addict!
Was it LOST? I think that was a big part of it - never before was there a show where I HAD to absolutely positively catch every single episode as quickly as possible.
Was it with the advent of streaming internet video? - Also a big part of it. I can follow shows even when I can't catch them on tv.
Was it Nikki Stafford? Yes, I would have to say that she was probably the biggest reason I have become a TV addict. Thanks a lot Nikki :P
Whether it's old TV shows like The Prisoner or Get Smart or The Cosby Show (things I get on DVD) or current shows I am lamenting my inability to watch I have become a TV addict and it totally snuck up on me.
I didn't realize how far this had gone until I jotted down the list of all of the shows I *have* to watch this season.
Monday is Castle (which I watch online since I work every Monday night)
House is also on Mondays. We'd stopped watching this when it just got too crude, but the previews of this new season with him in the asylum (or whatever you want to call it) just looks interesting. Maybe I'll catch that online, too.
Tuesday and Wednesday it's So You Think You Can Dance - a must watch for many reasons (not the least of which is I am really, really, really rooting for Ryan Kasprzak to at least make top 20)
But we have to record SYTYCD because Tuesday is also NCIS and now NCIS: Los Angeles (both of which are family addictions)
Wednesday is Glee (but I catch that online)
Thursday is The Vampire Diaries (which I wasn't going to watch, but now think I'll do the online thing, because the first episode kind of caught me. grrrr)
Thursday is also The Mentalist, but that one won't be a "it's the end of the world if I miss it" one. I like to see it when I can, but don't know if I'll make it this season.
And then Friday, I thought they had finished Numb3rs off, but it's in the list of season premiers for the end of September. I'm super excited if it is, because I love the characters on that show. I'm just surprised, because I thought they had kind of wrapped up all of the loose ends.
So the only good thing about all of this is that LOST doesn't start until January. Thank goodness.
At least with a VCR and online access I can watch it all on my schedule, when I have time. But we seriously need to consider TiVo.
Was it LOST? I think that was a big part of it - never before was there a show where I HAD to absolutely positively catch every single episode as quickly as possible.
Was it with the advent of streaming internet video? - Also a big part of it. I can follow shows even when I can't catch them on tv.
Was it Nikki Stafford? Yes, I would have to say that she was probably the biggest reason I have become a TV addict. Thanks a lot Nikki :P
Whether it's old TV shows like The Prisoner or Get Smart or The Cosby Show (things I get on DVD) or current shows I am lamenting my inability to watch I have become a TV addict and it totally snuck up on me.
I didn't realize how far this had gone until I jotted down the list of all of the shows I *have* to watch this season.
Monday is Castle (which I watch online since I work every Monday night)
House is also on Mondays. We'd stopped watching this when it just got too crude, but the previews of this new season with him in the asylum (or whatever you want to call it) just looks interesting. Maybe I'll catch that online, too.
Tuesday and Wednesday it's So You Think You Can Dance - a must watch for many reasons (not the least of which is I am really, really, really rooting for Ryan Kasprzak to at least make top 20)
But we have to record SYTYCD because Tuesday is also NCIS and now NCIS: Los Angeles (both of which are family addictions)
Wednesday is Glee (but I catch that online)
Thursday is The Vampire Diaries (which I wasn't going to watch, but now think I'll do the online thing, because the first episode kind of caught me. grrrr)
Thursday is also The Mentalist, but that one won't be a "it's the end of the world if I miss it" one. I like to see it when I can, but don't know if I'll make it this season.
And then Friday, I thought they had finished Numb3rs off, but it's in the list of season premiers for the end of September. I'm super excited if it is, because I love the characters on that show. I'm just surprised, because I thought they had kind of wrapped up all of the loose ends.
So the only good thing about all of this is that LOST doesn't start until January. Thank goodness.
At least with a VCR and online access I can watch it all on my schedule, when I have time. But we seriously need to consider TiVo.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Early Lost Reactions
I was going through some stuff on my old computer and I found this whole thing I had written up when I first got addicted to Lost. This was in March of 2008. I was borrowing the first 2 seasons from a friend and had just bought season 3, though I hadn't started it yet. So I was almost done with Season 2 and my sister was about half way through. I only had the tiniest inkling of what I was about to get myself into. I thought it was interesting, so I thought I'd post it, for what it's worth... :)
Lost is a fantastically written, woven, crafted piece of TV work and I am quite immpressed. They seem to know just exactly how much information to give you to keep you interested without giving too much away. And you really invest in the characters.
You want to know what happened to turn Charlie from the responsible brother into the addict, you are dying to find out how Locke got paralyzed. You feel for Jack when his wife leaves him, you wonder what hardened Kate so much. You shake your head over Sawyer and want to know how he can be so full of contradictions. You want Jin to learn English and are happy when you see the love being rebuilt between him and Sun. You hope against everything that Walt and Michael are still okay, you love Hurley and are rooting for him and Libby. You mourn Shannon's senseless death and wonder what is going to happen to Sayid now. You want to know where the rest of the Tailies were taken and why the Others seem so obsessed with the children. You love little Aaron and are curious what was done to Claire when she was kidnapped and want to know what the sickness is that she and Rousseau and the Others are talking about.
You wonder what on earth happened to Desmond, because surely he hasn't left the Island. You marvel over all of the coincidences that connect all of the characters and you realize that it would be true to life. Maybe it's a little exaggerated because it is a TV show after all, but there would be a lot of connections.
You also wonder what the button is and if things really would go terribly wrong if those numbers weren't entered in on time. What is the Dharma Initiative and why did they have all of these random experiments going on and why is it abandoned, yet not? Are there more missing pieces for the orientation video and if so, where are they? So many, many questions.
So there you have it. Most of my thoughts have remained the same for the rewatch, though it seems that I have shifted minorly on some of the characters (e.g. Michael can be dead for once and for all. Please don't bring him back).
Some of these questions have been answered, but a lot have not - not to mention all of the new ones that have been raised!
Ah Lost. My escape from reality :)
Lost is a fantastically written, woven, crafted piece of TV work and I am quite immpressed. They seem to know just exactly how much information to give you to keep you interested without giving too much away. And you really invest in the characters.
You want to know what happened to turn Charlie from the responsible brother into the addict, you are dying to find out how Locke got paralyzed. You feel for Jack when his wife leaves him, you wonder what hardened Kate so much. You shake your head over Sawyer and want to know how he can be so full of contradictions. You want Jin to learn English and are happy when you see the love being rebuilt between him and Sun. You hope against everything that Walt and Michael are still okay, you love Hurley and are rooting for him and Libby. You mourn Shannon's senseless death and wonder what is going to happen to Sayid now. You want to know where the rest of the Tailies were taken and why the Others seem so obsessed with the children. You love little Aaron and are curious what was done to Claire when she was kidnapped and want to know what the sickness is that she and Rousseau and the Others are talking about.
You wonder what on earth happened to Desmond, because surely he hasn't left the Island. You marvel over all of the coincidences that connect all of the characters and you realize that it would be true to life. Maybe it's a little exaggerated because it is a TV show after all, but there would be a lot of connections.
You also wonder what the button is and if things really would go terribly wrong if those numbers weren't entered in on time. What is the Dharma Initiative and why did they have all of these random experiments going on and why is it abandoned, yet not? Are there more missing pieces for the orientation video and if so, where are they? So many, many questions.
So there you have it. Most of my thoughts have remained the same for the rewatch, though it seems that I have shifted minorly on some of the characters (e.g. Michael can be dead for once and for all. Please don't bring him back).
Some of these questions have been answered, but a lot have not - not to mention all of the new ones that have been raised!
Ah Lost. My escape from reality :)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog
I so loved this DVD.
I missed the whole internet release, not having had regular internet access when it came out, but I am so glad to have discovered it now.
The music on this show is absolutely incredible. It WILL get stuck in your head. The harmonies are gorgeous and the actors have voices that blew me away, especially Neil Patrick Harris. The song "My Eyes" with Penny and Dr. Horrible gives me chills from the harmony.
The soundtrack so goes on my wish list.
The story line is unpredictable, hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time.
It has some amazingly hysterical lines, but has heart, too.
Seriously, if you have missed this, you are missing genius. I loved it.
I missed the whole internet release, not having had regular internet access when it came out, but I am so glad to have discovered it now.
The music on this show is absolutely incredible. It WILL get stuck in your head. The harmonies are gorgeous and the actors have voices that blew me away, especially Neil Patrick Harris. The song "My Eyes" with Penny and Dr. Horrible gives me chills from the harmony.
The soundtrack so goes on my wish list.
The story line is unpredictable, hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time.
It has some amazingly hysterical lines, but has heart, too.
Seriously, if you have missed this, you are missing genius. I loved it.
Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon has completely won me over now. I haven't seen much of his work before, but I've been inundated in the last couple of weeks and he's a genius.
It all started with Castle - the tv show about the writer who teams up with the cop to solve crimes (yes I realize Whedon had nothing to do with that, just wait, I'll get there). In watching that I fell in love with Nathan Fillion.
My friend, Claire, was unpacking DVD boxes at work and came across Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and it had Nathan Fillion, so we were both like, we have to watch this!
Then she told me she was going to let me borrow Firefly so I could become obsessed with it too and mourn over its far too short run with her.
So she brought Dr. Horrible over for a movie night and we watched it. And died laughing. And got the songs stuck in our heads.
Now my sister and I are watching Firefly and adoring it. And my sister has started watching Buffy and, although I haven't had time to watch it yet, I know I'm going to get hooked on it next.
It really is a Joss Whedon world after all.....
It all started with Castle - the tv show about the writer who teams up with the cop to solve crimes (yes I realize Whedon had nothing to do with that, just wait, I'll get there). In watching that I fell in love with Nathan Fillion.
My friend, Claire, was unpacking DVD boxes at work and came across Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and it had Nathan Fillion, so we were both like, we have to watch this!
Then she told me she was going to let me borrow Firefly so I could become obsessed with it too and mourn over its far too short run with her.
So she brought Dr. Horrible over for a movie night and we watched it. And died laughing. And got the songs stuck in our heads.
Now my sister and I are watching Firefly and adoring it. And my sister has started watching Buffy and, although I haven't had time to watch it yet, I know I'm going to get hooked on it next.
It really is a Joss Whedon world after all.....
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