When I originally put together the material for my Fishing Guide to Love text, the first inception included a thumbnail snapshot of the signs, and the original ideal was oriented towards shopping at Wal-Mart at 2 AM. What better way to describe what a particular sign is like, observe the 2 AM shopping habits. In Wal-Mart. When the strange people are out.
Political correctness and the setting sun on Wal-Mart’s legend? I think I changed it. I don’t recall, for sure.
The original inspiration came from “dating” a (female) who generally worked a night shift; she didn’t get off until two in the morning. I’d spent more than one evening – morning, really – wandering the aisles of the lonely Wal-Mart on the east side of Interstate 35, south of Ben White. That’s “old” East Austin. Strange place, after 2 in the morning. That’s also far enough back that the original ideal of “made in America” was still part of the Wal-Mart brand.
The numbers I hear bantered about now is that 10% of China’s gross export is sold in Wal-Mart. Makes it less politically correct for me. However, as monolithic giant, the retailer has legendary muscles. Ask the pickle company. (Google Vlasic+Pickle+Wal-Mart+Retail) I needed odds and ends, and I like that there’s a fishing row, even if there wasn’t anything there for me. The principle language is the border-patois, and regional items are available, along with typical seasonal crap. I expect to see Xmas stuff on sale, soon.
That afternoon sojourn into the seamy side of life and the other half? Yielded some good results. Excellent results.
I stop in the music area. I forget the latest statistics, but I think Apple’s iTunes and Wal-Mart were pretty much first and second when it comes to the amount of units moved. Between the two, they are the top retailers. I still prefer places like Waterloo Records, but that’s me. I wasn’t planning on buying anything, however….
My approach, pushing a cart without a lot of stuff, wasn’t too active, but I noticed that Los Lonely Boys CD, on sale, $5. Not $5.99, just an even five dollars. Five songs. I flipped it over and saw it was cover songs. Really worked well.
Normally, I’m opposed to buying the singles like this, but it was cheap enough, someplace machine keeps score, and I’m not fitting a proper demographic, and that’s just fine by me.
Buy the tracks online (DRM – free from Amazon), iTunes, or buy the CD at Wal-Mart. It’s an excellent collection, cover art and liner notes don’t really require the physical purchase, but as albums go? I think it’s tasty. The Roadhouse Blues, via The Doors? That’s way my favorite. Today. Now, anyway.
From the check-out line:
Hardware: iPhone
Software: CameraBag.app
I miss walking past the Continental Club – justifiably world-famous – and seeing Los Lonely Boys headlining each week.
The Portable Mercury Retrograde
astrofish.net’s Mercury in Retrograde
Mercury goes retrograde three-four times in a calendar year. Warnings, dire threats, problems, and some solutions, in this handy tome.
Pitfalls, pratfalls, guidelines, remedies and foibles of the human spirit. The Portable Mercury Retrograde sets out to dispel some of the errant mythology about the phase of Mercury and how to best harness these disparate energies.
EAN-13: 9781449911508
