I'm Starting To Not Like You...

“I’m starting to not like you” is what the clerk in the thrift store told me. A local chain of 15 or twenty thrift stores has a location a block from the university. To present themselves as trendier and less thrifty, they even have created a name/brand different from the rest of their organization. Last year it was publically reported that the organization made $16,000,000. strictly from donations. People bring them their goods or they go and pick them up if too large and the rest is gravy. The profits fund homeless shelters and alcohol and drug rehabilitation. A fine model you say? Well, I thought so as well. (This has bothered me for some time so forgive me if you have heard me whine about this before)

The trendy university shop, I am told does very well. The university has roughly 25,000 students and roughly 10,000 employees. The store has taken great advantage of their targeted market. There are many students from other parts of the country with stores that charge a great deal more and as well, there are foreign students who out of convenience or ignorance believe they are getting a bargain. Many of the prices are at least 3 or 4 times their other locations. For instance, men’s footwear at their other locations are $5.00 for shoes and $7.00 for boots. At the trendy location, the prices are whatever the market will bear. I have never seen men’s footwear for $5.00; anywhere from $15.00-$45.00+ is typical at this shop. The other day I saw an obviously used pair of shoes for $34.00. I don’t believe they were worth a buck. Used shirts carry tags of $6.99. I have purchased new shirts at JCPenney sales for $5.00. In addition, the shop sells used furniture at a premium. They actually look online for the price of a new item and then price the used at a third regardless of age or condition, most times. Many of their household items are sold (which are used) at the same price as new.

Here are a few of the price differences...

US= University store,
Other= other thrift stores in same organizational chain

Men's Ties
$2.99-$6.99  US
$1.99  Other

Men's Shoes
$15.00-$45.00+ US
$5.-shoes, $7.-boots Other

Dress Shirts
$6.99-$9.99 US
$3.99-$4.99 Other

Tee Shirts
$3.99-$9.99 US  
$1.99 Other

Hats
$3.99-$6.99 US
$.1.99 Other

Scarves
$6.99-$12.99 US
$1.99 Other

 I have made several inquiries about prices and I guess they are sick of me. From conversations it is clear that store management and employees believe that if someone purchases the items, if anything they should have charged more. I queried why they believed it was okay to bleed one group of poor to make another group comfortable? Even though the university charges $54,000., most students don’t have much left over after that. Again, I was told that “they buy it” meaning the traffic bore the price, therefore no one got hurt. I have persisted over time and that is why they are angry with me.

Who are they, Robin Hood? How can you justify robbing one group of poor over another? I am told that the people who shop there are not as bad off as the people their profits serve. Could it not be argued that their customers made a different set of choices than their constituents? And who is to say that those who made “better” choices should be abused to help those who did not? I have indeed heard other customers grumble about the prices but, because the students and others who are a tad clueless of the actual value of items still buy the goods, the store pushes the envelope. Used jeans last week were $6.99 and this week $9.99. I asked why and was told because they were good brand when new.

This is not an antique shop, in fact I imagine that antiques don’t even make it to the retail floor, but that is another story. I do not understand that they do not get that they are abusing people. How is that alright just because you help alcohol/drug addicted people? I probably should not be too judgmental here but, I find this all a bit a-moral. They are taking great advantage of their customers yet, I’m the bad guy for noticing?

LESISM'S Two

Thy Brother's Keeper

Drama Thy Name Is Les - We have well established that if anything weird is going to happen, it will happen to me. The universe, I believe uses me as a default. 

Anywho, this morning I decided to walk to the grocery store. At around a quarter to eight I passed a late model Subaru parked at the curb with its headlights on and the engine running. I also thought it odd that the windows were half fogged. Curious, I walked nearer and spied 3 college guys either sleeping or dead, which I guess is kind of an eternal sleep, but no matter. At this point, I also noticed that all the windows were wound up. the windows were mostly steamed up but, I could easily see someone in the driver's seat, passenger seat and a third person lying across the back seat covered with a light colored jacket. I pondered for a moment as to whether or not I should do something. Who knows how long they had been there or if their sleep was temporary? I decided that if the lights were still on and the engine was as well still running; and they weren't parked in a closed garage, they were mostly just sleeping off last night's festivities rather than risking a D.W.I. violation. I thought that I would take the same way back and check on them.

I continued on with my walk for about a half block until Annoying-Moral-Les surfaced. I went back. Three taps on the window woke the driver and the passenger next to him stirred as well. He rolled down the window, "Hey dude, what's up?" I told him that he shouldn't have the engine running with the windows wound up while he and his friends were asleep. "Okay, dude" he said as he smiled broadly and wound the window up while reclining and turning the headlights off at the same time. His driver's side passenger had already returned to his slumber (my) mid-sentence. The passenger in the back seat had never moved during this exchange. I continued onward believing that a cop would pass by and I could tell that person. 

What was my responsibility here? I continued on my way. A couple blocks up I passed a middle-aged guy running. I stopped him and shared my tale. He said that he would look out for the car. As well, I kept an eye peeled for a cop car, but did not see one either coming or going to the store. An hour and a half later I walked back that way and fortunately, they had gone. I share this tale in that it was a moral dilemma of sorts. How much of a keeper are we to be to our brother? If three adults drink to excess and end up in a bad situation, is it our responsibility to in effect care more than they do and "save" them. I am uncertain of a definitive answer here and welcome your comments.

All before 8:00a.m.

Here are just a few situations and observances that I have noticed this morning.

One.

I would actually like to try a Hazelnut Macchiato, but I cannot bring myself to saying those words out loud.

Two.

In the past week I have passed three different guys wearing short short spandex shorts as clothing. Pushing the envelope is one thing; seeing what’s in the envelope is horribly unnecessary.

Three.

A Testimonial:
I purchased a “treat” last evening, Sugar-Free cookies. Geez, after the first bite I checked the package ingredients to see if both sand and dirt were included. The absurdity of it all made me laugh and then cough and the rest is why I use Tide.

Four.

A Laptop, two cell phones, an iPad, a fancy charger pad, an even fancier iced coffee thingy and he appeared to only pretend to work. Oh wait, he has a call and he’s going to be on FB later. As well, he’s considering a new BMW. He also curses as my grandmother would say “like a drunken sailor”.

Five.

In the park someone has constructed a fort from old blankets and available bushes. I left a big bag of grapes at the front door.

Six.

I boldly assisted two undergrads with direction to studies of beauty symmetry. How? Why” Because those who can do and those who can’t teach.

Seven.

While attempting to adjust my collar, I managed to give myself a really hard uppercut. 

It's going to be a great day!

"Where is your God now Moses?"

WOW! Drama in real life… Earlier, as I stood waiting to cross the street downtown I had a bird’s eye view of an unfolding drama. A man in his early 40’s held a 6”X8” sign which read “HOMOSEXUALITY IS A SIN. JESUS WILL SAVE YOU!” The man also held a portable microphone as he bantered with the six or eight people who had gathered and obviously disagreed with the man and his message. The most vocal was a short woman in her mid-late 60’s. She was outraged and suddenly ripped the sign from the man’s hands and tore it from the 2’X4’ length of lumber it was attached to. The man looked stunned as the woman tossed the sign at him and started to walk to the other side of the street. Once to the other side she apparently changed her mind and turned around. Once back where she started, she began beating the Christian with the length of wood. His pleas for the police went ignored by the large crowd that had now gathered.

As I watched, I stood in shock with the voice of Edward G. Robinson (The Ten Commandments) in my head saying   “Where is your God now Moses?”

Coffee as a Social Experiment

Early this morning I sat sipping a medium roast “Grande” which is Starbuck’s, small regular coffee. I had a small shot of half-n-half and a packet of sugar substitute. I was good to go; no frills, no picture of smiley faces or forest creatures constructed from floating cream… just a cup of Joe.

 

I am a great watcher of people and even at 7:30a.m. in the morning there was plenty to observe. I noticed immediately that coffee orders may well be indicative of what is so horribly wrong with  our entitled, pampered, soon to be someone else’s colony society.

 

Case #1

A large yet fashionable woman of maybe 40 years pulled up in a late model Dodge SUV. She totally owned her femininity and looked great in her orange linen top and white capris’. She ordered some sort of concoction which should have had vanilla as it’s’ center attraction. As the barista was creating the customer stopped him to ask “Shouldn’t I be able to taste the vanilla? Yesterday, I couldn’t taste it.” The barista fellow of probably mid-50’s simply restated her order followed by the word, yes. He continued creating. The customer stopped him again. She now wanted and extra shot of whatever makes and meets her vanilla standards. That was her vanilla standards and not her vanilla standards. Politely, the barista complied without comment. He was now finally finished. The customer now wanted to sip/ taste test the finished product prior to paying. She almost seemed excited with her task and alas she approved! She payed the man. With head held high she sauntered towards the door looking as if she had accomplished something important; not only for herself but for God-fearing free people everywhere. She exited having gotten exactly what she had paid for.

 

Case #2

Roughly fifteen minutes after the above case ended, in walked a beautiful young woman in her early twenties. She was wearing tiny orange patterned shorts and a black/gray stripped top and high heels which matched noting but, who am I to judge? It was clear that she knew that she was very attractive in spite of her sartorial shoe blunder. She then surveyed the room as if to seek out those who might disagree. Satisfied, she and her “date” (a young man of the same approximate age) that seemed to be cast as set dressing in that he was pudgy and nondescript; as if it was his job to make her light appear even brighter. As you might have imagined, she was even more high maintenance than the woman in Case #1.

The young woman placed her order of a blond roast (I believe an order for people who do not really like coffee). This is like ordering a cup of weak tea, but I digress. She interrupts to add a shot of this and as shot of that.

 

She then asked the price and complains that her order was cheaper at another location. The barista woman looked to be restraining herself from asking “Do you actually believe that I give a ----?” Just then there was another problem… “At your other location in Clay, N.Y. the shots of [this or that] were put in the cup before the coffee.” The barista apologizes just as she was taught in training. I believe that this is what defines the word complicit? The concoction was finished and this queen (as with the other) needs to taste test for approval prior to paying. As the barista shifts from her left foot to her right, her expression was now more pointed and possibly “just friggin’ eat me B----!”She smiles (both of them at the approval). The barista now asks the gentleman what he would like. He stammered “nothing.” He looked to be too embarrassed to add to the barista’s torment. Again the customer exited almost giddy with accomplishment. I spied them through the window. The guy got into a twelve year old Honda Accord with Glaucoma headlights and me lady got behind the wheel of a mid-series BMW. I am a little jealous in that I have as of yet found anyone to finance or tolerate my idiosyncratic behaviors. As well, I am not so fetching in hot shorts, any more anyway.

 

I could go on but, you get the picture? This is how a pampered, entitled culture starts their day… With a “you have to watch those people” attitude they order about a minimum wage “servant” to create their absurdly over-priced morning beverage  that in most cases is not even coffee. They feel superior and the most important thing to them as they start a new day is a properly prepared cup of la-dee-da “coffee.”

As an aside: During the hour or so that I sat watching these people, there sat a man on a bench directly facing the front door (this Starbucks location is on a corner with two entrances). That man who looked to weigh dripping wet 100 pounds was doing his best “I am Travon Martin” imitation in a gray hoody; his head bowed to convey or rather solicit pity.

The majority of people who parked on that side of the building walked behind him and around the corner to the other entrance to avoid being asked for money. Even those who passed him said “No.” As time wore on he looked sadder as he rolled cigarette after cigarette. The contrast of the man sitting in front of the Starbucks begging might have been unsettling if it wasn’t for the preoccupation with getting one’s $5.00 cup of fancy correct.

The saddest part of this whole experiment was that I placed a dollar in my left pocket to give to the guy. There was a group of people gathered inside but blocking the front door so, I exited from the side. Before I could decide which direction I was going in the man from the bench was in my face with “man I don’t have nothin’” I gave him the dollar and he looked disappointed. He had the same expression of the woman who could not taste the vanilla the day before. I walked a couple doors down and mailed a few letters and then made my way around the block…There he was again demanding more money from me. I told him NO! Unlike the baristas, I do realize that you get treated like you teach people to treat you.  

Peculiar and happy tales about money from another time.

1.


One afternoon as I crossed one of the busiest streets in town... As I walked along with all of zero dollars in my pocket I ponder the state of my financial affairs. As a poor but honest graduate student, I was well used to the first week of the month (after the bills were paid) being very tight. I found myself in this usually busy intersection which on a Saturday at 3 in the afternoon would normally be bustling with foot or vehicular traffic. I happened to look down and there I saw three fifty dollar bills tightly folded and laying in the very center of the intersection. I looked all around; I looked ahead of me and behind. I looked East, then West and there was not a single person on foot or in a vehicle as far as my eye could see. I picked up the money and looked around again. I slowly walked the block and a half to my apartment expecting that at any point someone would scream out for their lost rent money; their lost medical prescription co-pay.

Once home I placed the money on my dresser and stared at it as if I had stolen it. I felt bad, even though I needed the money. I could not help thinking that some one had lost money that might have bee very critical to their needs. I put the money in the top drawer. As I lay on my bed I pondered what could be done to return the money. I could put up a sign asking if anyone lost money? I quickly realized that this might well end up one of my most ridiculously bad choices of all time. I still felt bad for the person who lost the money. The money sat in that drawer for a couple months before it occurred to me that the universe had conspired to present it to me that day. Sometimes what we need is right in front of us but, we don't realize that it is for us. We don't realize that we are all worthy of grace.


2.

A similar story to the one above happened a couple years later. I again, found myself walking down the street with empty pockets. The skies were bright and sunny and I was in a swell mood. Suddenly, there was a whirlwind in front of me much like a cartoon tornado. I had to close my eye to prevent debris from getting to me. When I opened them the whirlwind had subsided and I automatically reached for a piece of paper that the wind had placed squarely on my left peck (chest). As I was about to fling the paper to the ground I stopped myself because it looked familiar. I held the paper in front of me now that the wind was gone only to notice that it was a crisp twenty dollar bill. This time I had no doubt that it was mean for me!



3.

Back then during those same grad years, I had walked over to a nearby convenience store and purchased a scratch off lottery ticket with the last dollar in my wallet. I figured that one buck could not lead me directly to prosperity or hell so, why not? I left the store and pessimistically removed the waxy coating over the numbers to reveal that I was indeed a winner. I had won $500.00 dollars! This discovery was made about halfway from my apartment which was just a couple blocks away. I made a very quick about face and returned to the convenience store to cash in the ticket. I noticed a couple surly sorts about the store that seemed to linger too long for my tastes. I therefore whispered to the woman clerk to not say anything out loud about my winnings but, rather to be very casual about the transfer of the money from her register to my greedy palm. She nodded agreement and I handed her the ticket. It was at this point to my shock she wailed out "HOLY SHIT YOU WON! YOU WON $500.00!" The ears of the too vagrants perked up and they moved forward as if to collect their winnings; all smiles. "WTF," I thought. How am I going to get home? I accepted the money from the woman and could feel the breath of one of those guys on the back of my neck. I quickly left the store. I started to sprint and fast; at a rate that might have actually kept me on the track team in school! I ran across the busy street not waiting or thinking about traffic. I continued to run and then looked behind me. The two guys were on my tail and gaining. I knew that I would need 2 keys to get into my building and there would just not be enough time to get to safety. Fortunately, a couple friends of mine, Bob and Aaron shared a house at the end of the block. Praise Jesus, they were sitting on their porch! As I ran up the steps and past them, I screamed "HELP" and ran into their house. They quickly followed closing the door behind them. Over dinner the next night the three of us laughed as if I hadn't actually been scared shitless.