Day: May 27, 2012

Just got back from running the sound system down to a pickup point.

Unfortunately I had to go to a shopping center I loath! I seriously considered heading out to a factory store near Palm Springs or another factory store at South Coast just to avoid going where I had to go.

It’s not that the shopping center is bad per-se it’s the people that go there. 

Lets just say that most weren’t raised in this country… As a result It feel like I’m walking into a 3rd world cesspool every time I have to go to this particular center. It’s not just the language(s) it’s the entire cultural difference that you’re suddenly confronted with. 

Many Asian countries don’t have the same personal space requirements that we Americans do. The same is true of many countries South of the border. Then add the exaggerated walk and arm swinging of so called African American “Culture” plus a large crowd…

Well that’s a  recipe for someone like me to have my threat assessment systems go to DEFCON 5 in a very short time…

That’s really my problem not the problem of the patrons of the mall.

It’s also a reason that I don’t as a rule enjoy Knotts Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, or Disneyland.

Too many people and all of them seem to be from a culture other than mine. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out if someone is a threat, trying to pick a fight, or simply behaving like they would if they were back home.

The simply act of getting to the shopping center was a challenge…

I personally witnessed at least 4 people completely run stop signs. When I say run them I mean they didn’t even touch their brakes. Several others blew through  stop lights that couldn’t have been any redder if they were the size of klieg lights.

Once I got to the shopping center, there were already people fighting over parking spaces. Really! I saw one shoving match and one screaming match in progress. The amusing thing about it was that the parking lot was pretty much empty.

The people had gone to war over a parking space when less than twenty feet further on there was a wide open expanse of empty spots.

Like most people here or anywhere now day I ignored the insanity once I’d determined that the people involved weren’t an immediate threat.

After unloading the stuff from my trunk, and humping all it across the parking lot,  I get into the store, arms full with 50 lbs of equipment.

This after fighting my way through doors that swing OUT and automatic doors that are broken, only to find a woman whose blocked all three customer service / cashier stations with a shopping cart and her fat ass so that NO-ONE may get to it. The store employees tried politely asking her to move but the woman would not shut the hell up. She seems somehow to have thought that by blocking access to all the counter she was going to make her point better. The only point she made for me was that she was a rude idiot who really needed a reality check..

After standing there for 5 minutes I’d finally I’d had enough, I said “Hey you old battle-ax how about you move your shit so other customers can drop off OR BUY something?“

That shut her up for only a moment…

But I got to put my stuff on the counter. A perky young lady immediately started filling out the necessary paperwork. While I’m answering questions the Battle-ax is continuing her screeching. 

Then I start paying attention to what she was complaining about and my brain melted.

She’d purchased some sound system thing (I couldn’t identify what exactly) about 3 months prior. Then one of her friends purchased the same thing only it was slightly different and in the opinion of the battle-ax “Better”. She was in the store being a raving lunatic trying to intimidate the employees into exchanging her using for the “Better” one at no cost. REALLY???

Does that work?

I guess it works enough that people continue to do it. 

No wonder the costs keep going up even though the jobs are off shored to cheaper labor.

I’m going to be taking a trip soon. Since I’m driving, I’m hoping that I can scope out some places where maybe the insanity isn’t quite as bad. Who knows If I find a nice place, I might just stay there. 

I know I’m just as nutzs as all the other people here… But I keep hearing that shaman from Avatar… “Let us see if your insanity can be cured.” 

One can hope, In the mean time I’m hanging out up where I can see trees and sky and watch the occasional sunrise.

Hope every one has a great weekend.