Not long before this date in 2006, my Dad finally did what he had been threatening to do. He bought a dog.
For the longest time, he had wanted to get a "yellow dog." He wanted a companion, someone he could take with him on drives around town, someone he could play with at the house while my Mom worked during the day.
Mom didn't really want one.
Well, he called me one day in early 2006 and said that he'd finally done it. He saw an ad in the local paper for a pure bred golden retriever. He went down and got him. He was in love instantly. And it didn't really take my Mom long to follow suit.
When Dad and I would talk he would tell me about all the things little Sammy had done that day. Dad had taken him to a vet right down the road from their house, gotten him all the requisite shots and checkups, and had purchased him a large number of toys. It was as if Sammy was another child.
But it was great. In late 2005 and early 2006, Dad had been struggling with some issues he had been dealing with for a number of years, and I was happy to know that he had a new friend who could help him take his mind off the negative.
And Mom thought Sammy was pretty cute, too.
A great addition to the Duncan family. I couldn't wait to see him.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
I Hate Wal-Mart
That kind of says a lot, huh?
And why do I hate Wal-Mart?
Well, it all started when I watched the documentary, "Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price." That film paints the company as a very community and employee unfriendly company.
So, I vowed not to shop there any more.
But that didn't last long. They lure you with their everyday low prices. And when you're there you have to watch out for falling prices because they reduce those everyday prices even more all the time. I mean, in this economy, who doesn't want to shop inexpensively?
And for a DVD/movie nut like myself, I can't often pass up the huge bin of $5 DVDs.
What's more, how could you really say anything bad about a company that embraced a young Natalie Portman after she had a baby there after her boyfriend left her in the parking lot of an Oklahoma store? (What? Haven't any of you seen Where the Heart Is?)
Watch the doc I mentioned above and you see why you can dislike Wal-Mart despite being nice to Natalie and selling cheap DVDs.
However, that's not the reason I have sworn off Wal-Mart forever. In the past three weeks, I have been to a Wal-Mart on two occasions and they have been two different Wal-Marts here in Lexington.
I went to the one out at Nicholasville and Man 'O War (I don't live close to this one but I was out by the mall to go to the theatre and wanted some snacks to sneak into the movie. Don't judge me, you know movie concessions are outrageous!). I only had a few items and was tempted to use the lane where you can check out yourself but they were all packed. All the normal lanes were packed but I saw the light on at Lane 1, which is one of those quickie, 10-items or less lanes. I walked around and even though the light was on, I saw nobody there. I decided to forgive that as maybe someone just forgot to turn the light off. So I stepped in the next 10-items line behind about three others. A couple moments later I saw a young man in one of those nice blue Wal-Mart vests step up to Lane 1. AWESOME!!!!!! It wasn't closed after all. So I quickly stepped over before anyone else could.
I set my four items on the counter and waited to make my payment. The young man, let's call him Fred (which was not the name on his tag), scanned my items. He didn't address me in any way. When he finished, he simply said, "That's $xx.xx." (I used the "x" because I don't remember the total.) I swiped my debit card. While I awaited the approval, Fred decided to carry on a conversation, and loudly I might add, with the guy who was handing out shopping carts. When my purchase was approved, Fred handed me my receipt and started scanning the items of the next customer. He never addressed me then, either. He was a kid, so I let it go.
A number of days later, I visited the Wal-Mart at Richmond Road and Man 'O War (this one is closer to where I live) to pick up a few items. This store does not have the "do-it-yourself" checkout, so I didn't have that option, but the line at the 10-items lane was very low, so I stepped up. "Cathy" was working the register while "Kathy" was helping bag. I wondered why there were two people at an express lane register and so I looked at their name tags to see if either was a trainee. The tags gave no evidence of that so I just figured they had too many working that day and that was the only thing to do. When I walked up, the two were carrying on a conversation. I placed my items on the counter, again just a few. The process was the same as before. Neither of them spoke to me, or even acknowledged that I was there. This time Cathy didn't even give me my total. So, I was a little upset. Since I was paying with my debit again, I decided for once to answer the question that greets you on the card-swiper machine. In the past it has said, "Was your cashier friendly today?" or something like that. I never answered it before because I would just automatically swipe my card and it would just advance to the "PIN-entering" screen. But this time, I was going to answer. And, dammit, there was a different question. This time it asked, "Was the store clean?" (or something like that). While I didn't notice it being dirty, I answered no. Cathy approved my purchase and handed me the receipt. While doing so, she never turned from Kathy and never stopped her conversation. If I had stolen something neither of those Chatty C(K)athies would have been able to identify me to the cops because neither of them saw me. For all they know, Prince could have come in, sang "Let's Go Crazy," played a guitar solo, finished with "Purple Rain," and left.
It was then that I decided to forever stay out of Wal-Mart. Now i'd rather pay an extra couple of dollars and go to Meijer or Target.
I hate Wal-Mart...
p.s. And how ridiculous is it that a store will not sell CDs that have explicit lyrics, but will sell R-rated movies? WTF?
And why do I hate Wal-Mart?
Well, it all started when I watched the documentary, "Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price." That film paints the company as a very community and employee unfriendly company.
So, I vowed not to shop there any more.
But that didn't last long. They lure you with their everyday low prices. And when you're there you have to watch out for falling prices because they reduce those everyday prices even more all the time. I mean, in this economy, who doesn't want to shop inexpensively?
And for a DVD/movie nut like myself, I can't often pass up the huge bin of $5 DVDs.
What's more, how could you really say anything bad about a company that embraced a young Natalie Portman after she had a baby there after her boyfriend left her in the parking lot of an Oklahoma store? (What? Haven't any of you seen Where the Heart Is?)
Watch the doc I mentioned above and you see why you can dislike Wal-Mart despite being nice to Natalie and selling cheap DVDs.
However, that's not the reason I have sworn off Wal-Mart forever. In the past three weeks, I have been to a Wal-Mart on two occasions and they have been two different Wal-Marts here in Lexington.
I went to the one out at Nicholasville and Man 'O War (I don't live close to this one but I was out by the mall to go to the theatre and wanted some snacks to sneak into the movie. Don't judge me, you know movie concessions are outrageous!). I only had a few items and was tempted to use the lane where you can check out yourself but they were all packed. All the normal lanes were packed but I saw the light on at Lane 1, which is one of those quickie, 10-items or less lanes. I walked around and even though the light was on, I saw nobody there. I decided to forgive that as maybe someone just forgot to turn the light off. So I stepped in the next 10-items line behind about three others. A couple moments later I saw a young man in one of those nice blue Wal-Mart vests step up to Lane 1. AWESOME!!!!!! It wasn't closed after all. So I quickly stepped over before anyone else could.
I set my four items on the counter and waited to make my payment. The young man, let's call him Fred (which was not the name on his tag), scanned my items. He didn't address me in any way. When he finished, he simply said, "That's $xx.xx." (I used the "x" because I don't remember the total.) I swiped my debit card. While I awaited the approval, Fred decided to carry on a conversation, and loudly I might add, with the guy who was handing out shopping carts. When my purchase was approved, Fred handed me my receipt and started scanning the items of the next customer. He never addressed me then, either. He was a kid, so I let it go.
A number of days later, I visited the Wal-Mart at Richmond Road and Man 'O War (this one is closer to where I live) to pick up a few items. This store does not have the "do-it-yourself" checkout, so I didn't have that option, but the line at the 10-items lane was very low, so I stepped up. "Cathy" was working the register while "Kathy" was helping bag. I wondered why there were two people at an express lane register and so I looked at their name tags to see if either was a trainee. The tags gave no evidence of that so I just figured they had too many working that day and that was the only thing to do. When I walked up, the two were carrying on a conversation. I placed my items on the counter, again just a few. The process was the same as before. Neither of them spoke to me, or even acknowledged that I was there. This time Cathy didn't even give me my total. So, I was a little upset. Since I was paying with my debit again, I decided for once to answer the question that greets you on the card-swiper machine. In the past it has said, "Was your cashier friendly today?" or something like that. I never answered it before because I would just automatically swipe my card and it would just advance to the "PIN-entering" screen. But this time, I was going to answer. And, dammit, there was a different question. This time it asked, "Was the store clean?" (or something like that). While I didn't notice it being dirty, I answered no. Cathy approved my purchase and handed me the receipt. While doing so, she never turned from Kathy and never stopped her conversation. If I had stolen something neither of those Chatty C(K)athies would have been able to identify me to the cops because neither of them saw me. For all they know, Prince could have come in, sang "Let's Go Crazy," played a guitar solo, finished with "Purple Rain," and left.
It was then that I decided to forever stay out of Wal-Mart. Now i'd rather pay an extra couple of dollars and go to Meijer or Target.
I hate Wal-Mart...
p.s. And how ridiculous is it that a store will not sell CDs that have explicit lyrics, but will sell R-rated movies? WTF?
Some Sunshine Amidst All the Gloom
I have been in quite a funk lately. You will read about that soon.
However, I saw something today that made me laugh, which hasn't been easy.
Thank you Sarah Silverman (and Matt Damon) for making me laugh today.
However, I saw something today that made me laugh, which hasn't been easy.
Thank you Sarah Silverman (and Matt Damon) for making me laugh today.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
My Two Cents #2
Canceling the Oscars
Okay, so it's been awhile since my last "My Two Cents" and I'm sure you've all been wondering what's on my mind lately.
Well, one thing is the current Writers' Guild of America strike, but that's not what this edition of "My Two Cents" is about. (I will certainly comment on this in length in a future edition of this blog report.)
I recently renewed a lapsed subscription to Entertainment Weekly (mostly because Premiere Magazine ceased publishing a print version), and last week's issue had this on the cover, "Will the Oscars Happen?" The article goes on to discuss the possibilities of the Oscars going the way of the Golden Globes: canceling the telecast and simply having a press conference.
Well, I honestly couldn't care less. I think all awards shows are a bit ridiculous in all the pomp and circumstance that comes with them. Some actresses look wonderful and their beautiful gowns, some actresses look terrible in their hideous gowns. The entertainment channels broadcast live outside on the red carpet for hours on end prior to the events, fans are falling all over themselves to try to touch a celebrity or get an autograph.
Then there's the telecast. The host usually tells some really good jokes; if it is a good host that is, like Billy Crystal or John Stewart, but the actors who get up there to present awards seem awkward and often have little chemistry with one another. For me, that is about as painful to watch as a "Saw" movie.
The only thing that really interests me about the awards shows is who wins. And normally I simply look that up on the internet the next day. Why do I need to sit in front of the television for three or more hours, subject myself to the unwitty banter of the presenters (I am definitely on the side of the writers in this strike, but the writers for most awards shows don't really write good stuff for the presenters), watch the nominees in the audience act surprised when they win, and then go up on stage and thank everyone under the sun and moon for winning.
And yes, not having the awards shows takes away the spotlight from those artists who deserve the recognition and their moment in the spotlight; however, in much of what I've read about the writers' strike, the actors are truly supportive as a group. So I don't give this argument much weight.
I'd rather just not do it, so good riddance awards shows. I didn't miss the Golden Globes telecast, and I won't miss the Oscars should it not happen. Just let me know who won and I'll be fine.
However, I must admit that on occasion awards shows do provide some great moments.
Cuba Gooding Jr. at the Oscars
Jim Carrey at the MTV Movie Awards
(granted, this isn't from one of the traditional awards shows, but it's a great acceptance speech)
Jamie Foxx at the Oscars
There are probably a couple hand-fuls of other great moments, for the most part I believe most awards shows are truly forgettable.
Oscars, I will not miss you...
Okay, so it's been awhile since my last "My Two Cents" and I'm sure you've all been wondering what's on my mind lately.
Well, one thing is the current Writers' Guild of America strike, but that's not what this edition of "My Two Cents" is about. (I will certainly comment on this in length in a future edition of this blog report.)
I recently renewed a lapsed subscription to Entertainment Weekly (mostly because Premiere Magazine ceased publishing a print version), and last week's issue had this on the cover, "Will the Oscars Happen?" The article goes on to discuss the possibilities of the Oscars going the way of the Golden Globes: canceling the telecast and simply having a press conference.
Well, I honestly couldn't care less. I think all awards shows are a bit ridiculous in all the pomp and circumstance that comes with them. Some actresses look wonderful and their beautiful gowns, some actresses look terrible in their hideous gowns. The entertainment channels broadcast live outside on the red carpet for hours on end prior to the events, fans are falling all over themselves to try to touch a celebrity or get an autograph.
Then there's the telecast. The host usually tells some really good jokes; if it is a good host that is, like Billy Crystal or John Stewart, but the actors who get up there to present awards seem awkward and often have little chemistry with one another. For me, that is about as painful to watch as a "Saw" movie.
The only thing that really interests me about the awards shows is who wins. And normally I simply look that up on the internet the next day. Why do I need to sit in front of the television for three or more hours, subject myself to the unwitty banter of the presenters (I am definitely on the side of the writers in this strike, but the writers for most awards shows don't really write good stuff for the presenters), watch the nominees in the audience act surprised when they win, and then go up on stage and thank everyone under the sun and moon for winning.
And yes, not having the awards shows takes away the spotlight from those artists who deserve the recognition and their moment in the spotlight; however, in much of what I've read about the writers' strike, the actors are truly supportive as a group. So I don't give this argument much weight.
I'd rather just not do it, so good riddance awards shows. I didn't miss the Golden Globes telecast, and I won't miss the Oscars should it not happen. Just let me know who won and I'll be fine.
However, I must admit that on occasion awards shows do provide some great moments.
Cuba Gooding Jr. at the Oscars
Jim Carrey at the MTV Movie Awards
(granted, this isn't from one of the traditional awards shows, but it's a great acceptance speech)
Jamie Foxx at the Oscars
There are probably a couple hand-fuls of other great moments, for the most part I believe most awards shows are truly forgettable.
Oscars, I will not miss you...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Here it goes again...
Folks, it's that time of year again. Well, it's just the second time, but it will be a recurring event for the rest of my life.
One month from tomorrow will be the two-year anniversary of my dad's heart surgery. Those of you who know me well know what happened not long after that.
As the days get closer to that date, I am increasingly down. The funk has arrived (and it's not the good kind as produced by George Clinton, Prince and many others). And if it is half as bad as last year, it will be bad.
So, what does that mean for you folks who read this blog? Well, a couple things really. It could possibly mean less correspondence from me. I know what you're all thinking, "But Brad, you rarely write anyway..." I know, and I apologize for that and promise it will get better. Much better as the year goes on. But for now, deeper into my shell I will probably go. But there is a good thing that will probably come out of this. I will probably tell some great stories about my dad. I have to. You may not want to read them, but if you are a new friend of mine (and I think I've made some great ones this past year, and connected with some old ones who I hadn't heard from in a while) you can read them and learn more about my best friend. I probably will post some photos, too. You know, to help tell the story.
If you are anxious to go ahead and learn a little about him, check out this blog entry.
Anyway, that's what's coming up. I'll also try post more about what I had intended with this blog, to write about things that no one would really care about but interest me.
One month from tomorrow will be the two-year anniversary of my dad's heart surgery. Those of you who know me well know what happened not long after that.
As the days get closer to that date, I am increasingly down. The funk has arrived (and it's not the good kind as produced by George Clinton, Prince and many others). And if it is half as bad as last year, it will be bad.
So, what does that mean for you folks who read this blog? Well, a couple things really. It could possibly mean less correspondence from me. I know what you're all thinking, "But Brad, you rarely write anyway..." I know, and I apologize for that and promise it will get better. Much better as the year goes on. But for now, deeper into my shell I will probably go. But there is a good thing that will probably come out of this. I will probably tell some great stories about my dad. I have to. You may not want to read them, but if you are a new friend of mine (and I think I've made some great ones this past year, and connected with some old ones who I hadn't heard from in a while) you can read them and learn more about my best friend. I probably will post some photos, too. You know, to help tell the story.
If you are anxious to go ahead and learn a little about him, check out this blog entry.
Anyway, that's what's coming up. I'll also try post more about what I had intended with this blog, to write about things that no one would really care about but interest me.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Don't You Think....
it is really difficult to get much work done when your office chair hurts your back?
The chair in my office is killing my back. I have to stand up once an hour or so and walk around just to stretch it back out.
I've been here less than two months. Is that long enough to ask for a new chair???
The chair in my office is killing my back. I have to stand up once an hour or so and walk around just to stretch it back out.
I've been here less than two months. Is that long enough to ask for a new chair???
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Dark Knight
I truthfully think that Batman is going to be shown up by the Joker in the next installment.
And if you haven't seen this, watch it now! Click HERE for high-quality version.
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