I’ve started a new job recently. I don’t and won’t blog about my job for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I just don’t want to get into any kind of trouble with my employer for any reason. But there are some things I can talk about regarding a new job that don’t have to do with that job.

My previous job office was 15-17 minutes from my home. My new job office is 12-15 minutes from home. That’s good, but unfortunately, the new office is in the exact opposite direction from the area of town I’m used to. I’ve had the same general stomping grounds for several years, but now I’m off in a new area.

I’m having to learn what all is in my new turf, and that’s not easy to do. The only real time I have to explore is during lunch hour, because after work is family time. So for a couple days, now, I’ve driven around and looked and timed distances from the office to various locations.

Previously, I knew where all the restaurants and stores were around me, and I could drive to them with my eyes closed. Now, I’m lost. I only know well the road between home and work. There’s a lot of new construction going up in the area, but it’ll be a couple years or so before everything is complete. There’s a grocery store very near, but the closest department store (Target) is 20 minutes away. This same Target is just 10 minutes away, (and a Walmart is only 5 minutes away), from my old office.

I need a Target close by, a mall moderately near, a grocery store on the way home, and at least half a dozen restaurants (that I like) within a short drive. So far that I’ve discovered there’s a Target moderately near, and only two or three restaurants (that I like) within a short drive. I still have some exploring to do in the area, so I may discover a better arrangement in a direction I haven’t yet driven.

This whole area feels so foreign to me. But, it took a while to get used to the old area, several years ago. I’m sure I’ll come to think of this direction as homey, too, in a year or seven.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

Cowgrit put her mother’s old microwave oven on craigslist for her. Her mom has recently remodeled her kitchen, so all her old appliances, though still good, had to go for replacements. (I mentioned in this blog replacing her dish washer, myself, a few weeks ago.) Her mother wasn’t going to be at home when someone asked to go by and see the item, so Cowgrit asked me to run over to the house and wait for the potential buyer.

The guy showed up, and I opened the garage door to show him the microwave. He had called Cowgrit just prior to showing up and talked with her a bit about it. He asked for a lower price and she gave in a little — just to get the item out of her mother’s way. When the guy was talking to me about it, he seemed a little uncomfortable about having haggled the price down. He was explaining to me why, but I really didn’t care.

“I’m probably not going to use it for very long,” he said. “We’re going to remodel soon, too, and we’ll probably just turn around and sell it, too.”

I just said, “Yeah.” Reasons and explanations weren’t necessary for me. I was just there to show it to him, and take his money if he decided to buy it.

But he continued talking in a continuous string of information. “So I wasn’t just trying to Jew you down on the price. . . .”

It took a couple moments for that statement to really register with me. I wasn’t offended, but then I’m not Jewish, and I don’t care if the guy about to give me money and haul away something so I don’t have to is a bigot.

But after he left, it made me wonder just what he was thinking. I mentioned the conversation and statement to Cowgrit when I got home.

“How could he know I’m not Jewish,” I asked.

Cowgrit shrugged her shoulders. “You have blue eyes?”

“Oh,” I said, “OK, maybe that gave me away.”

But even so, was there something about me that made him think I wouldn’t care about a racist comment? Or maybe he just always talks like that, and it didn’t matter who I was or might be. Hmm.

Should I have sent him away on principle? Should I have cared at all? Like I said, the statement itself didn’t offend me, but it just makes me wonder what he was thinking about me.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

As we were getting the boys ready for bed, Calfgrit7 said he didn’t feel good. His stomach was upset. So, Cowgrit thought we should put him on our bed (shunting me to the sofa — not a problem). I said that was a wise idea, because we definitely don’t want him getting sick up in the top bunk bed. That would be a Bad Thing.

While Cowgrit got Calfgrit7 settled in our bed, I explained the situation to Calfgrit3, so he would understand why his brother was not going to bed with him.

But when Calfgrit3 heard this, he wanted to sleep in the big bed, too. “I’m sick,” he said.

“No,” I said, “you’re not.”

“I am,” he argued. “I am sick.”

So we had a difficult time putting Calfgrit3 to bed. I offered to lay down with him for a little while, but he wanted mommy. Cowgrit laid down with him in his bottom bunk bed for about 15 minutes.

We’re fearful the night will be a rough one.

* * *

The night went fine. No one was sick. And there was great rejoicing.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

It’s interesting to see how pirates have become thought of like cowboys and knights — “good guys.” There are lots of pirate toys nowadays for kids; there are books, cartoons, and kids’ TV shows showcasing pirates as happy, fun, and lovable characters. When, exactly, did pirates become this acceptable image and model for kids?

Although most modern toy and media images of pirates play on the 18th Century models, pirates still exist today. And they are today just like they were 300+ years ago: murderers and thieves. Pirates then and now, overtake ships on the ocean, steal everything of value, and often brutalize, enslave, or kill civilian crews and passengers. The name “pirate” has never meant anything but criminal, thief, and murderer on the sea.

Pirates are no different than hijackers of airplanes, carjackers of automobiles, lawless raiders, thieves, and killers. Yet, pirate images today are kid friendly? You don’t see drug dealer games, slaver dolls, and machete killer videos in children’s stores.

How and when did pirates loose their bad image? This truly amazes me. What PR firm is responsible for their image turn around?

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com