Enjoyment

Understand: I had a great time at the Sacramento River Cats game Saturday night against the Tacoma Rainiers. (When the home team walks away with win, everyone at the stadium is in a good mood.)

But I was taken aback at a few items in and around the West Sacramento locale. 

Cobwebs and dirty seats were a few of the off-putting things of note. Yeah ... the seats were probably wiped down from the previous night with less-than-clean towels leaving a dirty residue on them.

But ... cobwebs all over the place? 

Fortunately, there's a recourse. Or so I thought. There's a big banner on the outfield wall that says to "text 'Foul' and the problem/concern" to a particular number. And that's just what I did. 

The result? See for yourself:

.......... Ruprecht ( won't STOP going to River Cats games )

Ancestry

"Masking tape is a cousin of Duct tape ..."
-- Mikki Tocco

You know ... it's kind of hard to argue with this one.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Genius Farewell ...

Rip Stan Freberg ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ) 

That Steve ... He's Such A Kidder

 

Steve Martin called me this afternoon!

 
He did! Really! Truly! Listen for yourself ...



That Steve ... he's such a kidder. And the guy's good, too. It doesn't even sound like him.

I haven't had the chance to call back yet.  

*hhmmmmmmmm* I wonder: Why's he in San Francisco?

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Assault Of The Two-Headed Space Mules Does Urgh! A Music War

When it comes to seminal concert films, there are few spectacles that match Urgh! A Music War.

Host Douglas Arthur of Assault Of The Two-Headed Space Mules along with guests Jim Fitzsimons and myself blather about the film, our favorite performances and more.


Enjoy ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Doing The Right Thing

"... uuhhhhhhhhmmm ... I can't see the hologram on this bill ..."

I got the message. loud and clear. The guy behind the counter was intimating the note I'd given him and which he was scrutinizing wasn't genuine. But he didn't want to come right out and say so. It was as if he was holding back that information. Why? Was he making an attempt at saving me from embarrassment? Anticipating a confrontation if he called it out? Did he fear I might throw a fit about it?

He didn't know me. He was simply preparing for the worst in a possible bad situation ... but I wasn't going to react to his timidity.

"Huh," I commented. "That's all I've got to pay with. I'll zip over to the bank and see what's up with it," I told him.

He handed the bill back to me and apologized. I told him it wasn't a problem, there was nothing to apologize for. And I meant it.

Off to the bank I ran.

Was it true? Was I trying to pass a fake bill? I looked at it while on the go and he was right: The hologram was obscured.

Arriving, I walked through the doors and went right up to one of the two tellers standing around doing absolutely nothing. "Good afternoon. How can I help you?" the teller asked as I approached the counter.

"What can you tell me about this bill?" I put the note on the counter in front of him.

"It's counterfeit" he responded.

"You can tell that just from looking at it, laying there on the counter?" I asked.

"Yeah ... the paper alone ... you can see it's not paper used for currency ..."

"Maybe you can see that, I cannot. I'm nowhere near that qualified. So ... what can we do about this situation?"

"Well ... I have to confiscate this bill and write up a report. I'm going to need some information from you about it ..."

"That's fine. But ... what will be done about the funds themselves?"

"I'm sorry to say: Nothing. You're out $100.00. If it's any consolation, you never had the $100.00 to begin with ..."

"I had a feeling that might be the case. So ... had I simply run the bill through an automated teller machine I would have at least been credited the hundred bucks." (I'd heard someone had done that when they had come upon a similar situation with possibly counterfeit money and it jogged my memory while talking to the teller.) "By coming to you and being honest, I'm SOL ... right?"

"Right on both counts," the teller confirmed.

Instead of the various sundries I had planned on purchasing that afternoon, I went home with a copy of a report on its way to the Secret Service.

.......... Ruprecht's ( counterfeit bill passing efforts STOP now )

Accountability

Really: What's so difficult about being accountable for simple mistakes?

If you're going to make a mistake, a business is one of the best places to do so. So you get your hand slapped, big deal. When you're dealing with the public, you want to put your best face forward. Makes the customer feel good, makes you feel good for helping out ... right?

Overall, no one wants to screw up, especially when it's personal. But at least if you do so in a business atmosphere, when you're at work? It tends to be not quite as painful. Especially when it's a simple little thing. Depending on how you handle it, that is.

And if you're going to come up with an excuse? If it should come to that at least have the wherewithal to make it appear legitimate, something that has an inkling of plausibility.

Case in point: A friend posted this a few days ago ...

"And so I think I just heard the most original excuse why important paperwork is 2 weeks past due for delivery. Mail with streets, avenues, boulevards, etc., not abbreviated are returned by the US Postal Service. I think I would have believe the company dog ate it."

I couldn't help but question this.

"... wait ... wait ... what ... ??? Are you saying that if you address something "Monkey Business Road" it is more likely to be delayed than "Monkey Business Rd." ... ?!??? I want to make certain I'm clear on this ..."

Come on. The individual who made up this malarkey really thought they could pull this off?

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )