Friday, September 28, 2007

A review; Books, Grocery Stores, Overflow


I am currently reading; Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, not because Oprah recommended it, but for the fact that he won the Pulitzer Prize for this piece of fiction. That intrigued me. How good could it be? The story depicts a family: the Stephanides, reaching across generations, continents, and genders. It's a broad, comic epic, tracing the path of a mutant gene of a hermaphrodite. It's a book that demands the readers attention. Jeffery has a vivid mind and is an astonishing writer. When I read great works like this, I am intimidated to continue my own writing, but it makes me want to persever.
I've just overdosed on a bag of kettlecorn from AJ's that cost a pretty penny. Actually it was 699 pennies because AJ's can get away with that sort of exorbitant behavior. Mainly because people like me will pay for the luxury they provide. After all if given the choice to shop at Fry's with their bright lights, gaudy decor, endcaps displaying specials that offer inedible or mass produced crap for the masses, such as Chef Boyar' Dee, 3 cans for a dollar, Hamburger Helper or Charmin for a charming price. Rather than, AJ's, with their mood lighting and subliminal music. Notes of specials are artfully displayed on chalkboards lovingly handwritten in many colors. Their endcaps hold products that I know nothing about so I am drawn to them for the new discovery. And yes, Charmin is available at AJ's, but it's discretely tucked away amongst the body lotions from Europe and Burt's Bee's products. If ever a grocery store could be called artistic, AJ's is my Picasso.


I spent the evening putting some work into our workspace. At least the employee's bathroom is clean. Poor people have been forced lately to pee in chaos. These are the little background details of my daily existence that drive me crazy. When all is not perfect there is no peace in my befuddled brain. I'm happy to report we once again have toilet zen. I took a walk through the assembly line tonight inspecting all of the product in WIP. I can see the flow clearly in my head for tomorrow's work when once again all of the personalities that will fill chairs arrive one by one and the quiet that is tonight will become tomorrow's pandemonium. The best part of my work is the people. I have assembled a comical cast of characters that I take no credit for. They simply showed up. Each and every one of us brings life to these products we build. We work as if it is impossible to fail.

Though everyone deserved it, employee of the month was EMO!!



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