Today I thought I'd share some random stuff from my last few days. Why? Why not!

Return #1
So bought this tan sports coat in California a few weeks ago from Gap. I decided to return it at Flatiron Mall, Broomfield. I did not have the receipt, but they were able to look up the transaction using my credit card. Hmm... Anyway, the guy asked why I was returning it. The reason was the fabric they used. It was terrible. It was only a $99 jacket, but even for the price, the material was very sub par. I said to the guy that I wore it just once and yet it looks like it's a year old already. He looks at me and tells me I can't return it if I've already worn it. This surprised and amused me. The item, in my opinion was faulty. How could I know it was faulty unless I had already worn it? So you say your car's engine is blowing smoke? Oh, so you drove it already then? You get my point. So I quipped back, well in that case I never wore it. The guy then huffs and calls his manager and has her refund my money. Um, ok.

Return #2
I also bought a pair of cargo shorts in California. My first purchase ever from American Eagle Outfitters. Likely my last. The pocket on one side just came apart at the stitching, and the zipper had no auto-lock on it, so it would be down every time I checked. Not good. AEO was just next to GAP. I walked in, and it was busy. Sale. No receipt for this one ether, and they could not look up my sale on my credit card. They said I could exchange it, and I looked, but the place was full of 14 year old girls shopping on daddy's credit cards and I gave up. I asked for a refund instead. No receipt, no refund. Ok, but they offered a gift card. OK, so I was asked to step back to the end of the line. Um... ok, line was 20 people long, only 2 people on checkouts. I just left. Came back an hour later, didn't remember me, but finally got my gift card. I guess now I have to go back. Sad.

The notable part of this is that the people in these stores were so rude you'd think they were working in high fashion not commodity level clothing stores. Of course, the mall junkies, kids with credit cards, have no idea about the economy and so have not stopped buying. Crunch time coming. Then what will you wear? Oh no, you might just have to wear something from last years collection. OH MY GOD!! :O

Garden
I am planting a garden. I am renting a room from a delightful empty-nester. We have a timed irrigation system which is handy. I am planting spinach, coriander/cilantro, chinese cabbage and some lettuce varieties. It's a bit late for Basil, but I am going to try from some mature seedlings. I am part of a community farm and they blessed me with the seeds and seedlings. We have a few other things in the garden already and I'll be tidying them up too. We also have many fruit trees and a massive blackberry bush. I just have such a passion for growing my own food now.

Apple
So I am now on my 5th iPhone. It goes something like this. #1 went right back after buying it because there was dust under the screen. #2 went back because the speaker volume was 1/3rd the volume of other iPhones. #3 went back because the proximity sensor was failing and the screen was not turning off during a call which meant my cheek kept activating the mute button on the screen. #4 went back because the sleep/wake button was intermittently not working and after the 2.0 update I could not connect to WiFi. So now I am on my 5th iPhone. All replaced under warranty of course, but still, the quality of these devices is poor at best. Someone offered to buy my current iPhone if I was upgrading to the new 3G iPhone, but they have even greater issues, so no, I'll be holding onto this one for quite a while.

I have had some other problems too. My MacBook Pro that is now getting a bit long in the tooth, had a failing battery, even though I have not really used the computer on battery except the 2 months when I was traveling. The computer would shut down with 70% charge left. Not good. And it happened while I was in the Apple store backing my iPhone up before they replaced it. A girl there saw me utter some grief at the computer and asked me what was wrong. I explained my battery issue. She got my serial number and told me my machine was out of warranty. That I knew. But I'm going to replace your battery for you anyway. Wait... Well, I guess Apple is making more money than any other tech company on the planet right now, and my meagre 7, yes, seven, shares did very well this week, but was very surprised at this and very grateful. I am sure this battery is special, because I have been using it now in Starbucks for 2 hours and I still have 74% charge. Apple has much better battery life than those smelly PeeCees though :)

Random: I hate Subway. Everything tastes the same no matter what you order. And Jared, you can NOT lose weight eating so many carbs. Gosh. People believe anything.

Oh, and more on Apple. My iPhone headphones were deteriorating. So now a week later and in a different Apple store, I show the manager the rubber coming away from the ear buds and ask if there's anything they can do, fully expecting him to apologize and maybe give me 10% off a new pair. Instead, he told me that they are not actually covered under the warranty, but I'll just replace them for you anyway, and explains that I should not leave them in tight pockets. Go Apple...! Yes I had problems I should never have had. Every flaw was the result of sub standard manufacturing, and yet they stood behind their product and took care of me.

The ia report
I am setting up my lights. A switch burnt out on one and I can't run without it, so that set me back, but I will fix that tonight. The first episode will be really simple. I am going to explain why a New Zealander is so involved in this cause of freedom, and I'll be reading the first part of the Declaration of Independence. Because people need to hear it.

OK, I think this is enough for today :)

Smelly PeeCees... yech...