making love out of nothing at all
Jun. 17th, 2005 12:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluelovesorangetales from the bookshop:
Yesterday was pure brain-melting hell - not only were we having a special five for four sale on all the books in the shop, but I kept on messing up the sale discount procedure on the till whenever I got a customer who had five books - the pattern is never the same in a busy bookshop, sometimes you get people with tons of books, or sometimes you just get the one guy who gets the motorcross magazine, or a gift card. Which is good, because it means it's not just tedious button pushing, but for someone who usually multitasks very well, I sucked hardcore yesterday. Sometimes I would remember to push start group discount before, sometimes I would realize that I hadn't done the discount at all and would have to void the entire purchase and start over again - between me and the night manager, I think we ended up voiding around 30 transactions. Which is just embarrassing, I know I'm the new girl, but I have had retail experience before - so it's frustrating for me to mess up repeatedly on a simple procedure. However, the teacher sign ups are completely Greek to me, so I don't feel bad about not knowing how to deal with that (waldenbooks offers teacher discounts as long as the books/materials they're buying are for the classroom, and in our store, it's based on the honor system), and then apparently the creators of DearS are coming from Japan to do an in-store at our store, so in July, we'll be swamped with either teenies or scary men otaku. And of course, there's Potter....
OH, and I completely embarrassed myself on the phone with Adam, as he called the store to say he needed Thursday off, and when I answered the phone, I went, HithisistheBreaWaldenbooksandhowCanIhelpyou? (I hate talking on the phone. I have an irrational fear of answering machines as well.) Anyway, there's this pause - and then Adam goes...."Uh...this is Adam...what did you just say?"
And THEN I SLIPPED INTO INADVERTENT PHONE SEX VOICE, as my voice went all high and soft and STUPID STUPID STUPID nervous as I stuttered out that I hated phones and anyway, what did he want?
The entire exchange took less than two minutes, but I wanted to hang myself after I hung up..(ha?) I hate phones, I hate communicating with them, because I'm never sure of how my voice sounds. And Adam probably thinks I'm a freak.
Which, technically is true, but when you want to appear capable and enigmatic to your coworkers, busting out the freak neurotic-Woody-Allen-has-nothing-on-me personality sort of shoots that idea all to hell.
Despite that small glitch, I'm enjoying my job - I'm more comfortable at the register than I have been, I still don't like doing the email pimp, but if I'm going to get a free panini grill out of it, I suppose I could bear it. I'm actually itching to go back to restock/reshelving duties, just so I can see the new titles we're carrying: I've done mystery/sci-fi/fantasy and fiction so far, and I've tidied up bargain and manga/graphic novels.
Speaking of which - I bought the first six books (minus three, we didn't have it, for some weird reason) in Hana-kimi. The plot's as old as that covered pot of unidentifiable leftovers moldering in your refrigerator or as the Felicity boxsets on your bookshelf: a girl sees this track star execute the most beautiful high jump she's ever seen in her life, she gets inspired into a life of athletics, and then SHE FOLLOWS HIM TO JAPAN and enrolls in an ALL BOYS private school. Coincidentally, he ends up as her roommate. Oh, and she's cross dressing as a boy, as it is an ALL BOYS private school. (Rebe! You would love this series!)
Plot as old as dirt, with all the expected Japanese shoujo comedy twists/cultural inside jokes (hot springs, mistaken identity, gender confusion, incest, hoyay!, absurdly cute animals, teen idolization): yet unlike Felicity, which I actively loathed for a while - Hana-kimi has just made me laugh and laugh and laugh, and look forward to the next volume in the series. One - the creator seems to have a sense of meta-humor about her work, and like the creator of Fruits Basket (the only other shoujo I read regularly), puts a lot of herself in these funny little drawn asides - I love her doodlings about her cat. I've been in a cat mood for a while, and once I move out, I'm going to try and get myself on this breeder's list for dwarf kittens, so I can finally enjoy the thrill of being owned by cats. Instead of just coveting other peoples' cats, for once. Plus, she freely admits to fanservice, and I like the little cultural things she writes about in the hows and whys of her characters' names and attitude. Plus, the talk of Malice Mizer and Gackt makes me smile.
Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro) has now officially opened in Southern California in the 'burbs, and is playing at the Block. I pinged my best friend to see it with me and another friend soon, probably in L.A., but I think I'll make a run to see it on my own soon. Plus, there's Batman Begins to watch as well - I've heard that K.ho (thank you, Stereogum!) is practically an afterthought in the movie, so my fear and loathing on that part is diminished.
Still, one hopes for fiery burning death.
Things I miss:
Dead Like Me. It was cancelled too soon.
Getting interested in Alias - I made the fatal mistake of getting over the guilty pleasure aspect of it and expecting serious story telling with consistent characterization, plotting, or long term satisfaction versus cheap cliff hangers and aren't our guest stars so cool gimmes?
La Femme Nikita.
Witchblade. Gabriel, we hardly knew ye.
Old School Seth Cohen. Seth became less Seth when he became more Adam-ized. Also, if someone could just set fire to the 90210 wedding that is Seth and Summer, I'd be relieved, okaythanksbye.
Dave Rygalski. Seth Cohen is a mere shadow compared to Dave. It could be the differences/strengths in ASP and Joshua Schwartz' writing, but despite the fact that Dave was a guest star and we only saw glimpses of him at a time, and generally in connection to Lane - he was more fully realized and emotionally sincere than two full seasons of Seth's endless self aggrandizement. Just because Seth thinks he's living in a John Hughes movie or god forbid, Say Anything - that doesn't mean he actually is a Lloyd Dobler. Or that Josh Schwartz is anywhere near Cameron Crowe.
Things I cheerfully hate: (or dislike intensely, separate of things like rational thought or reason, with a side of mocking)
Alias. Sydney. Sydney and Vaughn. Basically, two great voids open in the time space continuum whenever they appear, separate or together.
Sarkney. Dry heaves, people. I hated it long before I threw my lot in with Sark/Lauren, so it's not even a matter of ship preference.
Second place: Veronica/Logan - admittedly, this is only due to certain factions in the fandom, nothing about how the show executed the relationship, though I thought that after Certain Events in "A Trip to Dentist", Logan's characterization and his relationship with Veronica were Immediately Suspect.
the O.C.
Rory Gilmore's Charmed Life. I know about smart girls making stupid choices. But after the fiftieth million time she's been 'saved' by actions that are not hers, I'm tired of sympathizing with her.
Also, any of her relationships post the sweet puppy love of Dean - not that I think Rory/Dean now is a good choice, god no. Rory needs to swear off men for a long time, because she sucks worse when she's involved with male people in a romantic fashion.
Things I like, nay, love. Or things I may be getting into later.
Battlestar Galatica. I can take or leave Starbuck, I prefer her in small amounts.
Baltar.
Everwood. DAMNIT. I'VE STAYED AWAY FROM THE WB MOST OF THE TIME AND THEN YOU GIVE ME HANNAH/BRIGHT AND DON'T LOOK AT ME.
One Tree Hill: the earnestness and sincerity missing from the OC. It's practically Joan of Arcadia compared to the OC's "Charmed." Though, people seem to cry a lot in this series. For reals.
Sandra Oh - she's brilliant. But may not be enough to make me watch Grey's Anatomy new season just for her - I've learned my bitter lesson about watching a show for just one character.
Spaced: One of the best shows, ever.
Black Books: I could watch Dylan Moran mug all day, and not get tired.
PBS: Mystery! I just started watching again, if only to play the game of what british actor is performing in whatever serial they're airing (and Rupert Everett is the new Sherlock Holmes! With Ian Hart as his Watson!)
Things I'm looking forward to:
The second season of Veronica Mars.
The second season of Battlestar Galactica.
The premiere of Kitchen Confidential. Bradley Cooper, Nicholas Brendon, and John Cho!
Margaret Cho's new movie
The release of Dead Like Me season 2 in July
Green Wing (Tam, I've got almost all s2 DLM transferred to DVD-rs.)
Yesterday was pure brain-melting hell - not only were we having a special five for four sale on all the books in the shop, but I kept on messing up the sale discount procedure on the till whenever I got a customer who had five books - the pattern is never the same in a busy bookshop, sometimes you get people with tons of books, or sometimes you just get the one guy who gets the motorcross magazine, or a gift card. Which is good, because it means it's not just tedious button pushing, but for someone who usually multitasks very well, I sucked hardcore yesterday. Sometimes I would remember to push start group discount before, sometimes I would realize that I hadn't done the discount at all and would have to void the entire purchase and start over again - between me and the night manager, I think we ended up voiding around 30 transactions. Which is just embarrassing, I know I'm the new girl, but I have had retail experience before - so it's frustrating for me to mess up repeatedly on a simple procedure. However, the teacher sign ups are completely Greek to me, so I don't feel bad about not knowing how to deal with that (waldenbooks offers teacher discounts as long as the books/materials they're buying are for the classroom, and in our store, it's based on the honor system), and then apparently the creators of DearS are coming from Japan to do an in-store at our store, so in July, we'll be swamped with either teenies or scary men otaku. And of course, there's Potter....
OH, and I completely embarrassed myself on the phone with Adam, as he called the store to say he needed Thursday off, and when I answered the phone, I went, HithisistheBreaWaldenbooksandhowCanIhelpyou? (I hate talking on the phone. I have an irrational fear of answering machines as well.) Anyway, there's this pause - and then Adam goes...."Uh...this is Adam...what did you just say?"
And THEN I SLIPPED INTO INADVERTENT PHONE SEX VOICE, as my voice went all high and soft and STUPID STUPID STUPID nervous as I stuttered out that I hated phones and anyway, what did he want?
The entire exchange took less than two minutes, but I wanted to hang myself after I hung up..(ha?) I hate phones, I hate communicating with them, because I'm never sure of how my voice sounds. And Adam probably thinks I'm a freak.
Which, technically is true, but when you want to appear capable and enigmatic to your coworkers, busting out the freak neurotic-Woody-Allen-has-nothing-on-me personality sort of shoots that idea all to hell.
Despite that small glitch, I'm enjoying my job - I'm more comfortable at the register than I have been, I still don't like doing the email pimp, but if I'm going to get a free panini grill out of it, I suppose I could bear it. I'm actually itching to go back to restock/reshelving duties, just so I can see the new titles we're carrying: I've done mystery/sci-fi/fantasy and fiction so far, and I've tidied up bargain and manga/graphic novels.
Speaking of which - I bought the first six books (minus three, we didn't have it, for some weird reason) in Hana-kimi. The plot's as old as that covered pot of unidentifiable leftovers moldering in your refrigerator or as the Felicity boxsets on your bookshelf: a girl sees this track star execute the most beautiful high jump she's ever seen in her life, she gets inspired into a life of athletics, and then SHE FOLLOWS HIM TO JAPAN and enrolls in an ALL BOYS private school. Coincidentally, he ends up as her roommate. Oh, and she's cross dressing as a boy, as it is an ALL BOYS private school. (Rebe! You would love this series!)
Plot as old as dirt, with all the expected Japanese shoujo comedy twists/cultural inside jokes (hot springs, mistaken identity, gender confusion, incest, hoyay!, absurdly cute animals, teen idolization): yet unlike Felicity, which I actively loathed for a while - Hana-kimi has just made me laugh and laugh and laugh, and look forward to the next volume in the series. One - the creator seems to have a sense of meta-humor about her work, and like the creator of Fruits Basket (the only other shoujo I read regularly), puts a lot of herself in these funny little drawn asides - I love her doodlings about her cat. I've been in a cat mood for a while, and once I move out, I'm going to try and get myself on this breeder's list for dwarf kittens, so I can finally enjoy the thrill of being owned by cats. Instead of just coveting other peoples' cats, for once. Plus, she freely admits to fanservice, and I like the little cultural things she writes about in the hows and whys of her characters' names and attitude. Plus, the talk of Malice Mizer and Gackt makes me smile.
Howl's Moving Castle (Hauru no ugoku shiro) has now officially opened in Southern California in the 'burbs, and is playing at the Block. I pinged my best friend to see it with me and another friend soon, probably in L.A., but I think I'll make a run to see it on my own soon. Plus, there's Batman Begins to watch as well - I've heard that K.ho (thank you, Stereogum!) is practically an afterthought in the movie, so my fear and loathing on that part is diminished.
Still, one hopes for fiery burning death.
Things I miss:
Dead Like Me. It was cancelled too soon.
Getting interested in Alias - I made the fatal mistake of getting over the guilty pleasure aspect of it and expecting serious story telling with consistent characterization, plotting, or long term satisfaction versus cheap cliff hangers and aren't our guest stars so cool gimmes?
La Femme Nikita.
Witchblade. Gabriel, we hardly knew ye.
Old School Seth Cohen. Seth became less Seth when he became more Adam-ized. Also, if someone could just set fire to the 90210 wedding that is Seth and Summer, I'd be relieved, okaythanksbye.
Dave Rygalski. Seth Cohen is a mere shadow compared to Dave. It could be the differences/strengths in ASP and Joshua Schwartz' writing, but despite the fact that Dave was a guest star and we only saw glimpses of him at a time, and generally in connection to Lane - he was more fully realized and emotionally sincere than two full seasons of Seth's endless self aggrandizement. Just because Seth thinks he's living in a John Hughes movie or god forbid, Say Anything - that doesn't mean he actually is a Lloyd Dobler. Or that Josh Schwartz is anywhere near Cameron Crowe.
Things I cheerfully hate: (or dislike intensely, separate of things like rational thought or reason, with a side of mocking)
Alias. Sydney. Sydney and Vaughn. Basically, two great voids open in the time space continuum whenever they appear, separate or together.
Sarkney. Dry heaves, people. I hated it long before I threw my lot in with Sark/Lauren, so it's not even a matter of ship preference.
Second place: Veronica/Logan - admittedly, this is only due to certain factions in the fandom, nothing about how the show executed the relationship, though I thought that after Certain Events in "A Trip to Dentist", Logan's characterization and his relationship with Veronica were Immediately Suspect.
the O.C.
Rory Gilmore's Charmed Life. I know about smart girls making stupid choices. But after the fiftieth million time she's been 'saved' by actions that are not hers, I'm tired of sympathizing with her.
Also, any of her relationships post the sweet puppy love of Dean - not that I think Rory/Dean now is a good choice, god no. Rory needs to swear off men for a long time, because she sucks worse when she's involved with male people in a romantic fashion.
Things I like, nay, love. Or things I may be getting into later.
Battlestar Galatica. I can take or leave Starbuck, I prefer her in small amounts.
Baltar.
Everwood. DAMNIT. I'VE STAYED AWAY FROM THE WB MOST OF THE TIME AND THEN YOU GIVE ME HANNAH/BRIGHT AND DON'T LOOK AT ME.
One Tree Hill: the earnestness and sincerity missing from the OC. It's practically Joan of Arcadia compared to the OC's "Charmed." Though, people seem to cry a lot in this series. For reals.
Sandra Oh - she's brilliant. But may not be enough to make me watch Grey's Anatomy new season just for her - I've learned my bitter lesson about watching a show for just one character.
Spaced: One of the best shows, ever.
Black Books: I could watch Dylan Moran mug all day, and not get tired.
PBS: Mystery! I just started watching again, if only to play the game of what british actor is performing in whatever serial they're airing (and Rupert Everett is the new Sherlock Holmes! With Ian Hart as his Watson!)
Things I'm looking forward to:
The second season of Veronica Mars.
The second season of Battlestar Galactica.
The premiere of Kitchen Confidential. Bradley Cooper, Nicholas Brendon, and John Cho!
Margaret Cho's new movie
The release of Dead Like Me season 2 in July
Green Wing (Tam, I've got almost all s2 DLM transferred to DVD-rs.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
californiaaaaaa
Date: 2005-06-17 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 05:55 pm (UTC)Dislike Veronica/Logan too. Just don't feel it.
Really want to see Spaced but have no way of seeing it as my dvd player will not play PAL dvds. So sad. :(
Other things I agree with but I'm too lazy to mention them.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 07:47 pm (UTC)In conclusion, Nathan's man pain is the prettiest ever.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 10:00 pm (UTC)Rewatching S1 just makes me love him even more. NATHAN! Oh, I adore him.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-17 10:03 pm (UTC)Seth/Summer and Veronica/Logan must die.
Yep, I think that does it.
Even with liking Logan, I can't see how people can be all V/L 4evs, you know? The pairing SUCKS SO MUCH ASS. Did you know he drugged his best friend? And that drugging said best friend led to best friends having sex with a girl he thought was his sister who Logan now happens to be involved with? Did you? Because, wow, that's exactly what I like to see in a pairing.