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I can appreciate it when a cashier markets his or her store’s latest mailing list, sale, or offer. I understand that there is a push for numbers, and hidden behind those friendly smiles is an immense pressure to get those numbers.  I also understand that retail isn’t always a walk in the park. Tales of inconsiderate people screaming at cashiers, discarding their fast food cups and wrappings on shelves, and demanding discounts because they failed to read the price tag fill the Internet these days with colorful imagery that is sometimes hilarious. 

However, it works both ways. 

I bought some clothes the other day. I took them to the register and already had my wallet out by the time it was my turn (I hate holding up lines, and shopping takes away from “me” time, so I like to be as quick about it as possible).   Before the cashier even touched my items, she asked for my telephone number and email address. She barely cast me a passing glance as she told me about the store’s mailing list.

I politely uttered a “No, thanks.” Her hands did not move from the register. My items slept on the counter in listless lumps.

“What’s your email address?” she asked as if she hadn’t heard me.

“No thanks, I just want to pay for these and leave,” I replied.

“What’s your email address?” She would not budge from her perch at the register. I frowned.

“I am in a hurry. I just want to pay for these and leave,” I said.

“What’s your email address?” Her hands would not touch the scanner, and it became clear to me that she was not going to scan my items until she got her way.  I felt like I was talking to a robot.

“I want to pay for these and leave.” I stated in a flat tone.

“What’s your email address?”

You have got to be kidding me, right? my mind whirled. The line was growing, and finding women’s clothing that actually fits properly is like finally grasping that fated needle in the haystack. It was the only thing keeping me from walking out right then and there.

When someone says “no”, and when someone says “no” several times, I believe that’s a sign that they are clearly not interested…There’s nothing wrong with asking once or twice, but after that, back off.

To play devil’s advocate with myself, I’ll ask a few questions. What if her managers were placing a ridiculous amount of stress on her to meet her numbers? What if they threaten their cashiers with their jobs if they don’t get so many sign-ups a week? The bottom line is that this tactic is not fair to the cashier or the customer. I don’t have all the answers for situations like this. I know that business is business, but there is also a line. Ignoring your customer after she repeats herself several times is crossing it.

Get your mouse, dust off your keyboard, and gather around the monitor! It’s time for a fan art picture spam fest!

I was very busy when I didn’t have Internet. It’s amazing, the things one gets done without access to 1s and 0s that can traverse long distances.

It took a little longer than I anticipated to get Internet connectivity, but I am here now, surfing to my heart’s content!

I think I’ll state the cliché and obvious: we made it through the road trip safe and sound.

The wonderful world of DC:

At one point, I could see the top of the Capitol Building, but it was too far away to get a good picture of from my phone.  I got to have a quick, highway look at the Pentagon (no joke!). I later pulled it up on google maps to make sure that it was exactly what I saw, and it was! It looks odd and unremarkable from street level, like a long, pale and ominous institution with many tiny windows (okay, so it actually is an institution with many tiny windows…). I wouldn’t have known to look at it if it weren’t for the signs.

We passed several toll roads, and here is this gem:

Granted, we were in a huge moving truck towing a car…but I have never seen a toll that costly!

Stay tuned for some fanart that I did when I didn’t have Internet! Mr. Burple Berry’s twitter account will be updated shortly! Continue to look out for the Friday updates. 

I have some huge news! I am moving out of state, off to seek adventures in new places. I am going where no MLC has gone before. I don’t think I’ll get a chance to update this blog before the big day, so this is a heads up that I will be gone from the Internet for a while (hopefully a very short while, as I love surfing). Mouse clicking is such a therapeutic sport.

Before any move, there are always misadventures to be had in the labyrinth that is packing…Voldemort taking a bubble bath being one of them. I don’t know why he of all my action figures ended up getting an unknown substance on him, but he did. The bubble bath worked wonders, though he wasn’t too happy about it.

Here we can see Alfred Bester and Loki exploring a stack of boxes. They escaped the newspaper wrapping and box stuffing frenzy. Don’t worry: they will be shoved into my purse. What’s a road trip without action figures? A geek must have her priorities straight.

 I love wearing necklaces and rings, so I kept one of each of my favorites out.

 Just so you all have something random to look at while I’m gone, here is a picture of a computer taking a picture of a computer snapping a picture of another computer. …And to think that little 5th grader me laughed when the teacher said that one day computers will be able to fit in the palms of our hands.

I’ve always danced with subliminal—and sometimes flamboyant—messages, slinking, twirling and sliding my made-up propaganda across the ballroom floor. Coming up with fictional catch phrases and cheeky, dystopian propaganda is a fun pastime for me!

When I was in grade school, my best friend and I would perform little plays in our driveways for the neighborhood kids. What’s a good play without some commercials? To this day, the jingle she and I came up with for our “wonderful shrinking machine” still rings strong, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

I suppose The Year is E0422 has a bit of dystopian flair to it. A chapter I was editing was begging for a little bit of tender loving care. The cure? I added a new scene involving a television series. The series is nothing but shameless propaganda in its purest form. Too bad my character only got to see a clip of it. The world needs to indulge in retro costumes, cheesy dialogue, and go-go boot clad cops every now and then.

Here is a little E0422 concept piece I did just for fun. I recycled the guy from another drawing because I was just going for an idea. Even so, he is proud to serve his beloved empire

Saturday’s major accomplishment was finishing an advertisement for a device every proper citizen of the empire owns and enjoys. I’ll post that gem next time!