Consumer Inquisition

There is a certain Big Appliance Store which I will never deal with again. I find I am not alone in that.

While talking to a neighbor the subject of buying various products came up. I mentioned there was one place that I would not deal with. He immediately responded, "You must mean Big Appliance Store. They pounce on you right as you enter the door. I'll never go there again either."

I told him he hit the nail on the head. It's one thing to be asked if I might be helped. It's another to be jumped at like it was an inquisition. "Good morning! What would you like? What can I show you? This is on sale! That is on sale! I'll start drawing up the paperwork."

No you won't. I know what I'm here for. I'll look around and get you if I need you, thank you very much. Now push off.

Third In Line

We had our family reunion yesterday, and I do believe that a good time was had by all. It sure seemed to me that everyone enjoyed everyone's company. There was a great deal of laughter, which is the best medicine.

Upon driving home something occurred to me. I realized that I was the third oldest there. Holy. Cow.

I chuckle at that factoid as I type, yet also shake my head. The third oldest person at our family reunion.

Again: Holy cow. It's just a bit astounding. But it was a good day, and that's what matters.

The Trouble with the Crowd

I have a difficult time listening to political debates or watching what purport to be serious talk shows. Too many of them, left right and center, are simply too shrill to be worth my time. They are that way because they're too interested in playing to their crowd, their core audience, and keeping them fired up for the sake of attention. And paydays. 

I don't have time for that nonsense. If you're conservative I likely agree with you anyway, and your screeching will not sway my beliefs. But I do find myself thinking a little less of you, because truth doesn't require your screed, or your (I will say it) self righteousness. Tucker Carlson? Laura Ingraham? I don't care for them one bit.

If you're liberal I may well like to have a good heart to heart with you, provided we can keep it civil. Yet there's the rub: if you're going to insist a la COVID that I must want Grandma dead, you can blow it out your nose for all I care. I will turn you off without a second thought and you'll make no progress altering my outlook if painting me an ogre is your idea of enlightening me.

The center? If there is a real center in politics (I'm skeptical one exists but that's for another time) I find their positions either untenable as too many issues really are simply either-or (either we have abortion or not; the rest are just details) or mock compromises. Why do so many municipalities have recycling? Because it can be sold as an across the aisle bargain: See? We can work together for your benefit. And oh, by the way, we on the left and right actually just got together to raise y'alls taxes when we shook hands on that agreement. Nothing to see here.

There are many serious issues which need to be addressed, yes. We ought to be able to discuss them without the shrill, though. We are adults, aren't we? At least, in theory?

Technicalities

One of the things I like best about this time of the year is that I can take my morning constitutionals early. Why, as early as 5:30 AM in fact, about the time I'm typing this out. But this morning I can't walk.

Well, I can walk. I walked from the bedroom to the library to the computer to hammer out this thing. But there's a thunderstorm, and the radar indicates that rain will last for several more hours here in the D. So I'm taking a weather break. I've walked eight days in a row before now, so a day off isn't tragic.

And why would you have thought I couldn't walk? Just don't try it while chewing gum. It's a challenge.

Power of Suggestion

Remember yesterday when I told you of going to Perry Bolt, ah, American Integrated Supply for some self locking nuts? It turns out I had to go a second time for a length of key stock. At least, that's what I call it. I needed a short piece of 3/16 x 3/16 square steel 3/4 of an inch long for a keyway in a metal shaft. I knew that I'd have to buy a length of it and cut it to size, but that was okay. I'd need more later. 

Walking to the counterman at AIS (maybe it is easier to say that than even Perry Bolt) I told him what I wanted. "We have that in 12 foot lengths," the man explained.

I asked in shock and surprise, "Twelve foot lengths?" I wouldn't use that much in decades. My kids would one day far in the future be wondering what the heck it was and why I needed a twelve foot piece. Well, an Eleven Foot 11 and a 1/4 inch long  piece. And where would I put it?

The man shook his head to clear it. "Twelve inch lengths," he corrected himself.

"Okay," I responded. "Give me a twelve foot length."

He grinned and replied, "I just told you they come in twelve inch lengths, Marty."

Once an idea gets into your head, right?

Pleasantly Surprised

When I need nuts and bolts I go to American Integrated Supply on Grand River in Detroit near me. They were originally called Perry Bolt, which I liked much better because it was easier to say. C'est la vie.

This morning I went in looking for some self locking nuts. Such things have a layer of plastic above the threads which is forced out when tightened in order to offer a more secure fit. At least, I think that's how they work. All I really knew was that I needed about 20 and figured that Perry, er, American Integrated Supply, would have them.

I didn't think they'd be a king's ransom. But as nuts and bolts go I expected anywhere from 50 cents to a buck apiece, seeing as similar sizes to what I wanted yet non-locking were maybe five to eight cents each. Imagine my surprise when the 20 cost a mere two dollars. Ten cents each.

"I expected them to be more," I remarked to the counterman.

"No, they aren't really that expensive," he replied.

When a fella goes from a ten to twenty dollar purchase down to two bucks, he fells good. The little things in life, right?

Where It's At

This column probably doesn't apply if you aren't from Michigan. But the great debate in our state (that word series is uncomfortably close to alliteration) is, where does Up North begin? 

The Thumb isn't up north. Don't get me wrong: the Thumb is wonderful. It's the number two spot in the state. It has a lot going for it. But it ain't up north. It's too far south, too close to Detroit.

Some say up north begins at Bay City. Well, you start to taste it there, after mile 162 on Interstate 75. Yet you merely taste it, just get a whiff of up north air. 

West Branch? Just a lunch stop along the way.

Grayling? Gaylord? Too touristy. But you can feel the change from downstate as the positive vibes of the north country begin to reach you.

Mackinaw City, right at the top of the Mitt? Oh, oh, oh, so close it's tantalizing. Yet it too, along with Mackinac Island, while great places to visit, simply have too many vacationers, at least during the peak summer months.

But next, finally crossing the Mackinac Bridge into Michigan's glorious Upper Peninsula, you are Up North. The rest of the state is just an extension of Detroit. It's that simple.