December 9, 1999

I kind of look like the Undertaker in that picture.

Anyway, I meant to talk about this a while ago and forgot, but Dana's entry reminded me. A few weeks ago, I went to Wegman's (the big old grocery store) to pick up a few needed items, such as bread, milk and chocolate. I was going through the line, and as always happens, I got in the slowest one. I stuck to it though, because everyone knows that when you change lanes, your new line automatically comes to a complete standstill. As I was craning my neck to try to figure out what the hold up was, I realized that it was not the customer holding up the line, but the cashier. She was very slowly scanning each item, so as not to interrupt her conversation with the customer, who I ultimately gathered was a total stranger to her. Finally she finished, but not before I overheard how the cashier was not feeling well but her boss wouldn't let her go home sick, yada yada yada. Finally it was my turn. Now, I worked in a grocery store for a while, so I think I'm a pretty good shopper. I always arrange my groceries on the belt for ease in scanning. I group like things together (frozen items, no meat with soap) for easier bagging. I always have my form of payment ready and waiting. That does not extend, however, to conversation with the cashier. I make polite small talk where appropriate, but the cashier has a job to do, and I don't want to interfere. I don't think either of us is trying to make a lifelong friend -- we just want to successfully complete our transaction and get me out of there.

So this cashier (let's call her Crystal) started in on me as soon as I neared her. She looked to be all of seventeen, although I'm a bad judge of age. Crystal began telling me how sick she felt, how she thought she was going to throw up, how mean her boss is, basically the same stuff she told the customer before her. I just nodded and gave her my "I couldn't care less, just scan my groceries" smile. This did not deter Crystal in any way, as she kept babbling and told me how even though everyone says you get sick in the mornings, she gets sick at night. I deduced from this that she was pregnant, although she wasn't really showing. Hoping that showing some interest might speed her along, I asked when she got off work. She said 9:15. It was 8:45. She couldn't last another half hour? Finally she finished scanning, and she kept trying to resume conversation, but I just signed the slip and left with my goodies. What was up with that? I hadn't even left the lane before I heard her telling the person behind me her sob story. I wanted to turn around and say, "No one cares." Maybe I'm a bitter old hag, but I really did not need to know anything about her personal life, unless it affected how she performed her job duties. Like if she had said, "I'm sorry if I'm going a little slow -- I'm not feeling that well", I would've thought, "Gee, that sucks" and cut her some slack. Did she want me to buy her a baby gift or something? Or go tell her boss she should go home? This is why I don't leave the house.

Anyway, that has bugged me for a few weeks, so now that I've written about it, hopefully it's over and I shall never think of it again. On to the links.

Warning: These links will open a new browser window. Previous days' links are archived.

Do you have a geek on your holiday shopping list? This site can help you figure out what to buy. The caffiene section is not to be missed. (via Eatonweb)

Although I don't often agree with Dvorak, he is right on in this article about academia and the bias against computing. Even in my program, which is ostensibly very computer literate, there are professors who just don't get it.

The Swingers team is reunited in a new movie.

Why, why, why? Time of Your Life has been extended to a full season.

Dr. Laura's lawsuit was dismissed. Good!

Don't let Futurama die! What else are you going to watch on Sundays at 7? Sixty freaking Minutes?

This is really interesting to me, since this is what I used to do for a living. Borders is going to webcast some in-store events.

I remember reading a story about Borders doing print on demand, but it hasn't materialized yet. Now B&N is doing it.