August 29, 2009

Whiskey Bill, since you asked, is about I-don't-know-what. Sometimes I do, sort of, and then it tricks me. Probably the name Bill and the alcohol part came from my grandfather, William (Bill) Price, who I don't really remember. He died from the effects of alcoholism when I was five, I think. As I don't remember him, and as my dad seems to have forgotten a lot, he looms large.

Dad doesn't drink much, as he's aware of the risks. Mom drinks a glass of wine maybe once a year. When I was growing up we had Grand Marnier in the house, for cooking, rum during Christmas, sherry(?). Otherwise it was beer or maybe a bottle of wine. For a while, when I arrived in San Francisco and was lonely, I drank quite a bit, but it was nothing close to alcoholism. My mind is busy and my imagination wild as it is -- so drugs never held much appeal. These days I like to be lucid, mostly, to read and to write, to walk around and notice things. Occasionally I drink a cocktail, maybe four or five times a year, mostly it's a weekly glass or two of wine.

Armor is something I'm trying to construct, I suppose, through meditation, exercise, synaptic discipline. Pharmaceuticals etc. are shortcuts -- and for every shortcut we pay, I think, though in what currency or amount it's not always (and sometimes never) clear. Everyone finds some way to cope; some find a way to live. Unkindness stresses me out, as does injustice, selfishness and, well, some noises. We the people are, I think, sometimes beyond all reason, capable of great change. That notion, together with curiosity and love, keeps me rounding corners.

Don't know why I feel the need to write this today, but I do. Now I'm heading outside because it really is a beautiful day.

Addendum: There are some medications that help people with depression, anxiety, other mental illnesses -- just as, as the old saw goes, insulin helps diabetics, etc. I am not anti all medications -- but, as many people know, they only address one part of the problem. And they get overprescribed for many reasons, most of them not good.

 Posted by Melissa Price at 12:15 PM





Film School -- from 2004?

Russian women rule! They're warm, opinionated, and have amazing senses of humor. A sweeping statement, but true nonetheless.

Blockbuster does not rule. Granted everyone already knows this. Granted I shouldn't have rented those two movies after months of not having rented anything AND just before our GreenCine membership kicked in.

Still, I have a grievance.

When I rented said movies, the cashier asked if I understood Blockbuster's new policy. I said no. He explained it to me. No late fees! Ever! (Same as their ad campaign.) Wow, NetFlix must be killing 'em, I thought. And thanked him for the explanation.

I toddled off happily with my movies: DeLovely (it wasn't) and Shaun of the Dead (which was killer).

Yesterday Ron squinted at the videos.

I said cheerfully. "It's okay! There are no late fees!"

Ron: "Uhhhn, I noticed that they charged your account $18."

"What??!!"

Today I went to Blockbuster to return the videos. On my way in I read a sticker on the front counter that said, in miniscule print, something to the effect of: There are no late fees. However if you keep the rentals XX days beyond their due date we will charge you a sales fee.

Harumph!

What followed isn't worth detailing, except for these choice bits:

"Your ad campaign and your cashier led me to believe that there were no late fees."

"You weren't charged a late fee."

"Yes I was. I was charged $18."

"That isn't a late fee--that's a SALES fee."

"It's a late fee."

"You were charged a sales fee because you never returned the videos."

"I'm returning them now, late."

The manager overhears the exchange and comes over to explain the policy.

"I understand the policy now, after reading the fine print. The point is, your ad campaign and your employee both misled me. I was led to believe that there would be no late fees."

"That wasn't a late fee. That was a SALES fee."

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

"OK, you know what, Blockbuster has just lost my business. Though I realize that threatening to take away business from Blockbuster is kind of like threatening to sink the Titanic."

Yes, I was proud of that one.

"I can see why NetFlix is kicking your butts."

Manager: "That's not true!"

Refrain: Keep petty squabbles alive!

 Posted by Melissa Price at 10:43 AM





archives | about