Jakob! Yep. His work decided to hold a "film festival" of sorts and so for the past couple of weeks he has been working on the film and last friday night it all paid off. We went to his work party where they showed the films and then gave out some awards. Jakob received Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Picture. YAY! It was fun and Jakob's acceptance speech was short and sweet, consisting of something along the lines: "I'd like to thank Cybersource for allowing me to do something with my major and see you all on youtube". Jakob can tell you better what he said.
His group did amazingly well. In total, the film received:
~Best Actor in a Leading Role
~Best Actress in a Leading Role
~Best Director
~Best Picture
I'm proud of him. Yes, it wasn't a "real" film festival, but that doesn't matter. He still did great.
Not bad for a quick shoot and quick edit. Now, I'm just waiting for the raw footage so we can do another edit. =)
(I'll post some pictures when we have them)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sick Notes
I received this from a professor a while back and decided it was time that I shared. All the spelling and grammar mistakes from the notes are left intact. It is from a Tennessee school district. If this is what the parents wrote, I'm scared to see the kids:
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse pedro from being absent yesterday. He had (diahre, dyrea, direathe), the s***s. [note: words in ( )'s were crossed out] .
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being.It was his father's fault.
15. I kept billie home because she had to go christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse jennifer fo! R missing school yesterday. We
forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Ple ase excuse jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever,sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick,fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Oh boy. There are times that I wonder how in the world those people finished school . . . I sometimes think they didn't.
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse pedro from being absent yesterday. He had (diahre, dyrea, direathe), the s***s. [note: words in ( )'s were crossed out] .
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being.It was his father's fault.
15. I kept billie home because she had to go christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse jennifer fo! R missing school yesterday. We
forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Ple ase excuse jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever,sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick,fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Oh boy. There are times that I wonder how in the world those people finished school . . . I sometimes think they didn't.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Great 12 Days of Christmas
This group is so fun. Here is Straight, No Chaser singing 12 Days of Christmas . . . their way:
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Time for me to stay inside
It's snowing outside. Yep. Enough for it to accumulate on the ground. Enough for the snowplows to be out and about doing their thing. Yep. . . . . . I despise snow.
I have no problem if I can be inside and never have to go out while the retched stuff is on the ground, but that doesn't always happen. I have no problem looking out a window and seeing the stuff, but I don't like going outside in it. I have to be bundled up in my fur coat in order to even step outside (it's sheepskin). In my perfect little world, it would snow in the mountains and on the lawns of those who chose to have it, and possibly a light *very light* dusting on trees but it would leave sidewalks, roads and cars free of the stuff.
Yes, I do agree that it is pretty to look at . . . through a window. I've even gone horseback riding in the snow. That I can tolerate because I'm on a horse. Driving in the stuff is a pain. Walking in the stuff is a pain. Snow turns to slush, slush turns to ice, ice makes things slippery, slippery makes me fall. I am not graceful when it comes to snow.
Yes, the Earth does need her water and sleepy time, so I grumble and grumble, and stay inside. Now is the time of year where I like working on projects, drinking hot drinks, hate stepping out of a hot shower, sitting in front of a fire (if we had a place to do it).
Eh, *sigh*, here comes the snow . . . .
I have no problem if I can be inside and never have to go out while the retched stuff is on the ground, but that doesn't always happen. I have no problem looking out a window and seeing the stuff, but I don't like going outside in it. I have to be bundled up in my fur coat in order to even step outside (it's sheepskin). In my perfect little world, it would snow in the mountains and on the lawns of those who chose to have it, and possibly a light *very light* dusting on trees but it would leave sidewalks, roads and cars free of the stuff.
Yes, I do agree that it is pretty to look at . . . through a window. I've even gone horseback riding in the snow. That I can tolerate because I'm on a horse. Driving in the stuff is a pain. Walking in the stuff is a pain. Snow turns to slush, slush turns to ice, ice makes things slippery, slippery makes me fall. I am not graceful when it comes to snow.
Yes, the Earth does need her water and sleepy time, so I grumble and grumble, and stay inside. Now is the time of year where I like working on projects, drinking hot drinks, hate stepping out of a hot shower, sitting in front of a fire (if we had a place to do it).
Eh, *sigh*, here comes the snow . . . .
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Christmas Around the World
This may turn out to be a long post--so bear with me--, and writing it may be hard for me, but I think it needs to be said.
My mom was given tickets to this years CAW and thought that I would be excited about it. Ever since I found out a few things about the folk program, the director, and looked back at the way I was treated, I haven't wanted to go to any of the concerts. My whole life has revolved--in one form or another--around dance and for me to have the feeling of "I don't want to go" I knew that I had been duped harder than I originally thought. But I still had a friend on the team and I wanted him to know that I support him and his efforts, so I went. I enjoyed a few of the numbers and I cheered for friend, but I don't look at it with the same eyes I used to. All in all, it was actually really hard for me to watch. Feelings and emotions that I had tried to just brush off and bury deep came back to punch me in the gut. I am proud of my friend for the hard work that he's put into it, so that is why I went.
But anyway, getting back to the show. Maybe talent has just gotten worse, or they aren't being as picky anymore, but I had a hard time watching some of those dances without biting my tongue to keep from laughing. Ugg! I almost fell asleep too, which was weird because I wasn't tired. But then again, it could have been the fact that I went to the saturday night show, which is the last one, so most people already have the feeling of "I'm done, get me out of here". Anyway, here are some short little breakdowns of what I thought--my opinion--of the dances.
Poland
It was an interesting way to start off the show. The singer was good and she was in tune! Yay! The suite was fun, some parts more than others, but when it came to the Oberek, it was messy, kind of sloppily done, and there was no energy coming off that stage. People were dancing, but not performing (yes, there is a difference).
India
This was a train-wreck from the beginning! I couldn't help but laugh--and be embarrassed for the dancers--through the entire number. They weren't on beat, the guys weren't getting into it, ugg! I love Bhangra style dancing because it is just so much fun. The energy, the music, you want to smile and enjoy the dancing. That wasn't what I was seeing. They all just looked out of place and again, dancing but not performing.
Mexico
Interesting, but sloppy. The girls handled the skirts well, but their turning ability wasn't all that well done. The guys, umm, no. One guy split his pants. I started laughing so hard and Jakob asked me why, so I pointed it out to him. That guy kept his hand behind his back, really low, in attempts to cover that up, but when you have a white shirt hanging out of black pants, it's just too obvious. Plus, they tried too hard with the machetes. Jakob had helped to re-shape and re-edge those because of all the chunks taken out of them. I don't think people understand that you aren't supposed to get sparks out of them. If you get sparks, that means you're taking a chunk out of the metal which is really dangerous if it hits your eye or gets in any-one's mouth. Plus they kept dropping them because it looked like they weren't throwing them right.
China
Pretty, but a bit slow. There wasn't much to look at either. I'm still on the fence about this one.
Canada
Turlutte was good. The guys were in time and in tune; always a plus. Refabrique au Quebec is great! I learned it when Gary was teaching it the first time in the 500 level class. It is a blast to perform and the little skit that they do with it is cute.
Mountain Strings
Ugg. That was my first impression of Oy Chanukah. It was so much better when the girl wouldn't sing. You couldn't understand her; no it isn't because she was singing in a different language, it was because the way she was "singing" into the mic and the way the levels were, it came out as gobbledygook. Much much better when it was just the instruments playing. It was a fun song, but it just didn't work with the girl singing.
Israel
This is a fun dance, but maybe because I've seen it year after year, I've become immune to it. The girl who did the solo at the beginning and then the solo in the middle didn't have the height on the leap or the spinning ability I've seen from other people who have done that part. Again, it seemed like people were just dancing, not performing. But at least it was together and on beat and upbeat.
Scotland
I was on a team with one of the soloists, so it was fun to see her still doing her highland fling thing. The triplet was fun to watch and the music matched the mood. The girls looked like they were having fun and I've done highland dancing before and it is tough on your legs, but the girls kept smiling and performed.
Men's Chorus
That was a fun addition. They are entertaining to watch and they sound great! Plus, they get so into their performance, that when they came out to dance during the Wales number, that was just fun. Yes, it seemed like some of them were still muddling through the steps, but at least they had a smile on their face and the girls did a good job of pulling them through. It was fun to watch and listen too. Also gave a bit of a break from some of the dancing.
Wales
I liked it, I really did. The mash-up with Men's Chorus was fun and this was one dance where it looked like everyone was dancing and performing. I liked the costumes as well. Overall, fun and well done.
Ireland
Mountain Strings was a bit distracting, and when the dancers finally did come on, someone kicked the mic, they weren't on beat (for the first part) and it just looked like they didn't want to be doing this. The soft shoe wasn't up to what I've seen it, but it was okay. The guys solo was good, but there needs to be more power from certain people. When the whole group started dancing, it got a bit messy with people kind of throwing their feet around, but at least it stayed with the music.
Armenia
Pretty, but the music does start getting a little bothersome after a while and even my younger brother asked me if they were just repeating the same phrase over and over and over again. Nice catch there bro.
Turkey
I like it. It starts out slow and methodical, then all of a sudden livens up and gets loud and fast. Just what you need to perk yourself back up. Plus, if you know some background on the style of dancing, you can see what the movements are trying to emulate and you hear it at well because of the coins and jewelry that are on the costumes. Plus the costumes are just so bright and fun; at least for the girls they are. When the guys came out, both my brother and Jakob said "Hey look! Pirates!" and I just had to laugh.
United States
The western line dance was fun and at least the team was together, on beat, and really seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Good job David and Lyndsey with the solo. The clogging number was fun, but I miss the power that it used to have. Some of the solos were good, a couple more than others, but overall fun and a crowd pleaser. When it comes to this year's mountain strings, they need to stick to playing and not singing.
Romania
Fun, but again, not a lot of energy coming off the stage. It was funny when the girl lost her overskirt and had to finish the dance in just her chemise. This dance needs power with the stomping when you're performing it in a large venue such as the Marriott Center.
Philippines
I loved the Dance of the Lights at the beginning. It was beautiful, smooth, and performed well. The Tinikling, umm, not so much. You could see in their faces and body language that some of the dancers were still afraid of getting their foot snapped between the poles. I had to bite the inside of my cheeks during the last half of the dance because one pair of girls just kept falling over; no matter what they did they couldn't keep their feet under them.
Ukraine
I'm happy they brought back the duet at the beginning, that has always been my favorite. You need a good pair of dancers/actors in order to pull it off and I think the guy did a great job. The girl needs more facial expressions and both need bigger movements, but it was still fun to watch. I was so happy that Hopak was brought back! It is a great way to end the show and a popular dance with the audience. Well done.
Overall, a nice way to spend a hour and some. There were some things that I would really change, but for a show that is normally pulled together in about a month, good job.
Well done my friend, well done.
My mom was given tickets to this years CAW and thought that I would be excited about it. Ever since I found out a few things about the folk program, the director, and looked back at the way I was treated, I haven't wanted to go to any of the concerts. My whole life has revolved--in one form or another--around dance and for me to have the feeling of "I don't want to go" I knew that I had been duped harder than I originally thought. But I still had a friend on the team and I wanted him to know that I support him and his efforts, so I went. I enjoyed a few of the numbers and I cheered for friend, but I don't look at it with the same eyes I used to. All in all, it was actually really hard for me to watch. Feelings and emotions that I had tried to just brush off and bury deep came back to punch me in the gut. I am proud of my friend for the hard work that he's put into it, so that is why I went.
But anyway, getting back to the show. Maybe talent has just gotten worse, or they aren't being as picky anymore, but I had a hard time watching some of those dances without biting my tongue to keep from laughing. Ugg! I almost fell asleep too, which was weird because I wasn't tired. But then again, it could have been the fact that I went to the saturday night show, which is the last one, so most people already have the feeling of "I'm done, get me out of here". Anyway, here are some short little breakdowns of what I thought--my opinion--of the dances.
Poland
It was an interesting way to start off the show. The singer was good and she was in tune! Yay! The suite was fun, some parts more than others, but when it came to the Oberek, it was messy, kind of sloppily done, and there was no energy coming off that stage. People were dancing, but not performing (yes, there is a difference).
India
This was a train-wreck from the beginning! I couldn't help but laugh--and be embarrassed for the dancers--through the entire number. They weren't on beat, the guys weren't getting into it, ugg! I love Bhangra style dancing because it is just so much fun. The energy, the music, you want to smile and enjoy the dancing. That wasn't what I was seeing. They all just looked out of place and again, dancing but not performing.
Mexico
Interesting, but sloppy. The girls handled the skirts well, but their turning ability wasn't all that well done. The guys, umm, no. One guy split his pants. I started laughing so hard and Jakob asked me why, so I pointed it out to him. That guy kept his hand behind his back, really low, in attempts to cover that up, but when you have a white shirt hanging out of black pants, it's just too obvious. Plus, they tried too hard with the machetes. Jakob had helped to re-shape and re-edge those because of all the chunks taken out of them. I don't think people understand that you aren't supposed to get sparks out of them. If you get sparks, that means you're taking a chunk out of the metal which is really dangerous if it hits your eye or gets in any-one's mouth. Plus they kept dropping them because it looked like they weren't throwing them right.
China
Pretty, but a bit slow. There wasn't much to look at either. I'm still on the fence about this one.
Canada
Turlutte was good. The guys were in time and in tune; always a plus. Refabrique au Quebec is great! I learned it when Gary was teaching it the first time in the 500 level class. It is a blast to perform and the little skit that they do with it is cute.
Mountain Strings
Ugg. That was my first impression of Oy Chanukah. It was so much better when the girl wouldn't sing. You couldn't understand her; no it isn't because she was singing in a different language, it was because the way she was "singing" into the mic and the way the levels were, it came out as gobbledygook. Much much better when it was just the instruments playing. It was a fun song, but it just didn't work with the girl singing.
Israel
This is a fun dance, but maybe because I've seen it year after year, I've become immune to it. The girl who did the solo at the beginning and then the solo in the middle didn't have the height on the leap or the spinning ability I've seen from other people who have done that part. Again, it seemed like people were just dancing, not performing. But at least it was together and on beat and upbeat.
Scotland
I was on a team with one of the soloists, so it was fun to see her still doing her highland fling thing. The triplet was fun to watch and the music matched the mood. The girls looked like they were having fun and I've done highland dancing before and it is tough on your legs, but the girls kept smiling and performed.
Men's Chorus
That was a fun addition. They are entertaining to watch and they sound great! Plus, they get so into their performance, that when they came out to dance during the Wales number, that was just fun. Yes, it seemed like some of them were still muddling through the steps, but at least they had a smile on their face and the girls did a good job of pulling them through. It was fun to watch and listen too. Also gave a bit of a break from some of the dancing.
Wales
I liked it, I really did. The mash-up with Men's Chorus was fun and this was one dance where it looked like everyone was dancing and performing. I liked the costumes as well. Overall, fun and well done.
Ireland
Mountain Strings was a bit distracting, and when the dancers finally did come on, someone kicked the mic, they weren't on beat (for the first part) and it just looked like they didn't want to be doing this. The soft shoe wasn't up to what I've seen it, but it was okay. The guys solo was good, but there needs to be more power from certain people. When the whole group started dancing, it got a bit messy with people kind of throwing their feet around, but at least it stayed with the music.
Armenia
Pretty, but the music does start getting a little bothersome after a while and even my younger brother asked me if they were just repeating the same phrase over and over and over again. Nice catch there bro.
Turkey
I like it. It starts out slow and methodical, then all of a sudden livens up and gets loud and fast. Just what you need to perk yourself back up. Plus, if you know some background on the style of dancing, you can see what the movements are trying to emulate and you hear it at well because of the coins and jewelry that are on the costumes. Plus the costumes are just so bright and fun; at least for the girls they are. When the guys came out, both my brother and Jakob said "Hey look! Pirates!" and I just had to laugh.
United States
The western line dance was fun and at least the team was together, on beat, and really seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Good job David and Lyndsey with the solo. The clogging number was fun, but I miss the power that it used to have. Some of the solos were good, a couple more than others, but overall fun and a crowd pleaser. When it comes to this year's mountain strings, they need to stick to playing and not singing.
Romania
Fun, but again, not a lot of energy coming off the stage. It was funny when the girl lost her overskirt and had to finish the dance in just her chemise. This dance needs power with the stomping when you're performing it in a large venue such as the Marriott Center.
Philippines
I loved the Dance of the Lights at the beginning. It was beautiful, smooth, and performed well. The Tinikling, umm, not so much. You could see in their faces and body language that some of the dancers were still afraid of getting their foot snapped between the poles. I had to bite the inside of my cheeks during the last half of the dance because one pair of girls just kept falling over; no matter what they did they couldn't keep their feet under them.
Ukraine
I'm happy they brought back the duet at the beginning, that has always been my favorite. You need a good pair of dancers/actors in order to pull it off and I think the guy did a great job. The girl needs more facial expressions and both need bigger movements, but it was still fun to watch. I was so happy that Hopak was brought back! It is a great way to end the show and a popular dance with the audience. Well done.
Overall, a nice way to spend a hour and some. There were some things that I would really change, but for a show that is normally pulled together in about a month, good job.
Well done my friend, well done.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Caveat Emptor
Or in plain terms "let the buyer beware". I had the t.v. going a couple mornings ago while I was getting ready to go to work and a report came on about "scanner switches" in retail. It said that many stores, in an attempt to get people to buy more, are leaving up old sale signs (after the sale has expired or finished) and people are falling for it. They see that an item is on sale for a great price, but don't look at the fine print. By the time they get up to the register and have everything scanned, the original price is what rang up. Many people don't catch that, or the retailers are beginning to have another sneaky way of not letting you see the prices. Usually, the register monitor is turned--or they have another one turned toward you--so you can see the scanned price; now, many retailers don't have that and you don't know what the price is until the final tally or until you see your receipt. When you point out the error, many retailers are willing to refund the price, but others don't, (or won't) because it is "up to the consumer to know the price of the object they are buying".
I decided to try this out myself. Now, I won't pay full price for something when I know that I can find it at a better price someplace else, or I know that it will be going on sale soon, so with all the sales that have been happening, I've been finding some pretty good deals. I was in a store in the mall (which tend to hike up prices unless you know what to look for) and I saw something that caught my eye, a bogo sale (buy 1 get 1 free). I love sales like this because if you do it correctly, you can save a bunch of money. So I started looking through items and as with all bogo sales, you pay for the most expensive items and get the least expensive free, so it is always a good idea to get an equal amount of items and try to make sure they are all around the same price (you'll get a better deal that way). I found a few tops and a skirt that I wanted and went up to the register. I asked if the bogo sale was still current and he said yes, so I told him I found everything on those racks. The guy started ringing everything up and this is one of the stores that the monitor is turned away from you, but I could the computer screen that they had under the desk and I noticed that a few of the items were ringing up their normal price, so I asked him again. He looked at me and then realized that I could see the monitor and said that yes, they were all on sale, but he couldn't fix anything until he had scanned all my items. He finished and I thought he would do as he said, but he just pressed the final price button and told me my total. I thought that was a bit high, because I had written down and figured out about what my total should have been. I told him this and he looked down and then fixed everything. He didn't look happy that I had caught him. The lady behind me was getting impatient, but I wanted to see this through. When he was finalizing everything for me, I took a peek at what the lady behind me had and I saw that she had the same couple tops I had bought that had scanned in wrong. I didn't say anything, got my bag and stepped to the side so I could wait for my friend. She didn't notice that her final price was wrong and just paid it. They guy behind the counter just kept smiling and said that she had gotten a wonderful deal.
A couple stores later, I saw the same lady and I decided to ask her if she had noticed that her final price back in _____ was higher than she expected. She said no, that she had gotten the same deal I had. I told her I wasn't trying to discredit her, but I asked if I could see her receipt and compare it to mine. She was a little hesitant, but did it and I showed her that while she did get the bogo deal, she didn't get the marked down price that was on the tag . . . she paid full price. She didn't believe me and I pointed it out to her again. She then said "eh, whats a few more dollars anyway" and walked away.
Now, normally I don't do things like this, but in this economy, you really need to be on the lookout for phony sales and sale gimmicks. Some stores will hike up the price of the item, only to put it at 40% off which normally brings it right back down to the retail price. They aren't losing any money, you're actually just being duped into paying normal price. Also, you need to at least glance at the fine print on sale flyers and coupons. Many are now restricting what can be purchased with that coupon or at what times the sale will actually end.
I decided to try this out myself. Now, I won't pay full price for something when I know that I can find it at a better price someplace else, or I know that it will be going on sale soon, so with all the sales that have been happening, I've been finding some pretty good deals. I was in a store in the mall (which tend to hike up prices unless you know what to look for) and I saw something that caught my eye, a bogo sale (buy 1 get 1 free). I love sales like this because if you do it correctly, you can save a bunch of money. So I started looking through items and as with all bogo sales, you pay for the most expensive items and get the least expensive free, so it is always a good idea to get an equal amount of items and try to make sure they are all around the same price (you'll get a better deal that way). I found a few tops and a skirt that I wanted and went up to the register. I asked if the bogo sale was still current and he said yes, so I told him I found everything on those racks. The guy started ringing everything up and this is one of the stores that the monitor is turned away from you, but I could the computer screen that they had under the desk and I noticed that a few of the items were ringing up their normal price, so I asked him again. He looked at me and then realized that I could see the monitor and said that yes, they were all on sale, but he couldn't fix anything until he had scanned all my items. He finished and I thought he would do as he said, but he just pressed the final price button and told me my total. I thought that was a bit high, because I had written down and figured out about what my total should have been. I told him this and he looked down and then fixed everything. He didn't look happy that I had caught him. The lady behind me was getting impatient, but I wanted to see this through. When he was finalizing everything for me, I took a peek at what the lady behind me had and I saw that she had the same couple tops I had bought that had scanned in wrong. I didn't say anything, got my bag and stepped to the side so I could wait for my friend. She didn't notice that her final price was wrong and just paid it. They guy behind the counter just kept smiling and said that she had gotten a wonderful deal.
A couple stores later, I saw the same lady and I decided to ask her if she had noticed that her final price back in _____ was higher than she expected. She said no, that she had gotten the same deal I had. I told her I wasn't trying to discredit her, but I asked if I could see her receipt and compare it to mine. She was a little hesitant, but did it and I showed her that while she did get the bogo deal, she didn't get the marked down price that was on the tag . . . she paid full price. She didn't believe me and I pointed it out to her again. She then said "eh, whats a few more dollars anyway" and walked away.
Now, normally I don't do things like this, but in this economy, you really need to be on the lookout for phony sales and sale gimmicks. Some stores will hike up the price of the item, only to put it at 40% off which normally brings it right back down to the retail price. They aren't losing any money, you're actually just being duped into paying normal price. Also, you need to at least glance at the fine print on sale flyers and coupons. Many are now restricting what can be purchased with that coupon or at what times the sale will actually end.
Another problem that has been popping up lately is many products are shrinking in size, but the price is staying the same. Before, you could buy half a gallon of ice cream for a couple of bucks, now it is just 1.5 quarts for a little bit more than the half gallon. Bags of chips are getting smaller, loafs of bread, and even candy bars (like cadbury) are shrinking.
Don't be duped! Be on the lookout.
Caveat Emptor! Caveat Emptor!
Don't be duped! Be on the lookout.
Caveat Emptor! Caveat Emptor!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Cute Cougar Video
Since our trip to Seattle, Jakob has been asking me to post this video. We were walking around in the afternoon at one of the wilderness "parks" and I really wanted to see the big cats, but you know cats: when you want to see them, they are sun bathing or hiding. Well, as it became closer for us to leave, I decided to try once again and yes! I was rewarded . . . and even got serenaded. The Cougar is a young one, so it wasn't all the fierce, but I still had the biggest smile on my face.
Here kitty, kitty, kitty . . .
Updates!
I finally was able to get a good connection while not at work, so I can update everyone about what it going on around here. Most people who read this see me rather regularly, so you may be rereading some of this stuff.
Life has been kind of busy lately, but isn't it always. I think that is what makes life so fun. I've got work most of the time, but that only last part of the day, the rest of the time it is me trying to continue developing my craft. I've taken up a new skill, or am trying to take up a new skill. I thought it was time enough for me to learn how to sketch free hand. Usually I just sketch enough for me to figure out what I'm doing, but more of the time I just go for it because it is in my head and I haven't had to communicate it to anyone else. But with certain possibilities on the horizon, I thought it was time for me to learn to sketch so others could understand where I'm coming from. Boy has this been rough. I learned how to sketch on the computer originally and since I'm pretty computer based, I haven't thought much about doing it free hand. Now, I've been trying. I grabbed all my drafting supplies out of their dusty drawer and bought a few books and have been reading them and trying to learn . . . but I haven't done as well as what I see in my head.
Its frustrating to me. I see something in my head, but trying to translate that down through my hand to the paper has proven to be getting the better of me lately. Oh, I'm still trying, but it is going slowly. I've gotten to the point that I copy or trace the figures out of the book and then work on sketching my costume/clothing ideas on top of that. Is that cheating? I don't think so, I think it is more of using your resources. I haven't given up trying to draw figures free hand, but I thought that this would be a good way of starting out.
Jakob has been working of a short film for work. Its fun to talk to him about it when he gets home. I guess we've worked on a few projects together that he has gotten used to the way that I edit and do post work that he came home one day and after I asked him how the editing was going, he chuckled and said "well, they certainly aren't you when it comes to stuff like this". I had to laugh. I made a silly comment, something along the lines of "I could probably pull something together quickly if you got me the tapes" and Jakob said that if he could, he would. Eh, we'll see where that leads. We've got his work party next friday and that is where these films are going to be shown. The invitation came and it said on the bottom "dress for the red carpet". We both had to laugh and wonder if they really meant that, but I think we're going to do it anyway. We'll see what I can pull together in time. I may have to dig out one of my old dresses and alter it somehow, plus I've got to find Jakob a suit/tux top that would work out better than just some normal suit. Here I go a bargain shopping.
My family is torn about what to do tonight: either go up to SLC and watch the basketball game or go to Christmas Around the World. We've got tickets to both. I'm perplexed. I'd rather watch the basketball game, but I've still got some friends and people that I know on the folk team, so I'd like to go support them. Eh, I'll make some decision before this afternoon.
Jakob is working on a show at BYU. I agreed to all the theatre/film stuff when I married him, so I can't complain too much . . . :p Naw, I think this is really good for his resumes and he has fun doing it.
We're still house hunting, but at least it is nice to know that our landlady is willing to go on a month to month basis. We've been renting with her for a while now, so I think she's happy to have us around. At least her apartment isn't empty.
Well, after we figure out what we're doing, I'll make sure to take some pictures.
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