How can I help you?

OK, so I work in retail . . . the daily grind. IN a bookstore, which I do love. We tend towards fairly bright clientele, anyway . . . readers, you know? And still, sometimes they ask (and expect answers) the oddest questions. Yesterday gave me a gentleman looking for this: "It was on that front display table (points at a table with easily a hundred books displayed) and it had 'Old Peole' in the title. I think the authors name started with a C."

When that wasn't quite enough information, he started a slow rant that involved changing displays, my incompetence, the incompetence of my fellow workers, etc., etc. He especially beat that why do the displays change drum, and I really wanted to answer him, but bit my tongue and was polite instead.

He then went on to rant about another book - he had the title and author for this one, and claimed the computers said we had it but he couldn't find it. That one was easy . . . it was exactly where it belonged, and he couldn't find it because he didn't look on the second shelf from the floor. Customers often miss what they search for because they only look at the eye level shelves. He was happy for that one, for a second, and then went right back to complaining about the Old People book he couldn't find. About then, one of my colleagues mentioned a book that had been on display on the table in question: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. I took the fellow over to the shelf and handed him that one, and sure enough, it was the book he wanted.

And here, I have to give him credit . . . he was so impressed that we found it, and grateful, he thanked me effusively and then went and found my colleague and thanked her for continuing to think about his request until she sholved the puzzle. It was nice, to get some gratitude for what we do, and to diffuse his growing crankiness with a couple books he couldn't find on his own.

Daily grinds

August in over, and so is the Houston Comets season for 2006. I finally, finally got a team autograped ball for my years of loyal support. I love that ball . . . it has a place of honor on the bobblehead shelf. Now, though, it is a long off season before I get any more hoops in my direct life. *sigh*

So ok, gotta get back to my post basketball life, right? I have my job . . . love the work in the bookstore, even if it is one of those corporate big box bookstores. I do displays in the kids department, and read stories to little kids twice a week. I tell people what they should read and help folks that already have something in mind find it. It is fun, and not terribly profitable. It does provide access to group health for myself and my DH . . . he's an artist so this is our only opportunity for coverage in this messed up world of corporations dictating health care coverage. In addition to the bookstore, I do art shows with my DH, never confusing art for love with art for money.

I get together every couple weeks with some friends . . . we like to think of ourselves as the "people who don't suck social club" . . . so many folks do suck, you know! We get together for games once a month and for a book club once a month. Our first book is Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel In Letters by Mark Dunn. No doubt there will be plenty of posts about nothing but books . . . I read a lot, after all. Most of my other favorite friends live to far away to see very often . . . oh woe is me, right?

Wrong!!! Overall, my life is so joyful it is probably not legal!