Time for a Brief Comic Book Interlude

    Last week, I made my annual pre-Thanksgiving shopping trip to Lexington. It did not start off well. First, I was at least twenty minutes late starting out. Some places were going to be cut. Next, I encountered a wreck that had just happened just before the Magoffin county line, just past that place with all the Bigfoot statues, as well as others. Then there was the eleven mile work zone to fix the last stretch of the Parkway, basically two bridges now. In Lexington, I got distracted and missed an intersection. I had to circle back around. I also had to dodge work areas, including one where I also got hit when a car wouldn't let me merge. Oh, did I mention all of the emergency vehicles popping up everywhere?

    I finally made it to the stores. While I found some books I might order for my store, I didn't find the ones that I was looking for that were out at my distributor. Clothes weren't any better. There was nothing in my color palette and style that caught my eye. To be fair, I had already did some searching online, so I kind of expected not to find anything, but I still had to try. I almost ate at a new place, but I "chickened out" at the last minute and ate at my regular spot. I was just too unsure about liking the special offer, not to mention the higher than expected price. There were some new and interesting stores, but not enough to make me want to buy anything. While I wound up getting some basics, that part of the trip was a washout.

    I had to leave early, because I was finally going to a Lexington comic book store to make up for my missing issues while my local shop continues to rebuild after the February floods. I had my choice of two along my usual route. I chose The Comic Interlude as it was a little closer to my route, and I had made an online purchase with them this summer.  Also, it wasn't near a school like my other option, which could have made problems at that time of day. The store is located in a small shopping center, although some might call it a strip mall due to a lack of a major anchor store. I almost couldn't find the shop, as it is a very narrow space. My local shop, Page-3 Game Zone, is easily twice as wide on its main floor.  I almost didn't want to get my hopes up as I entered. 

    The place was amazing.

    Along the left wall were the check out and numerous display counters. There was a door in the back, but I didn't go near it. The centre of the store had the boxes for older comics, as well as overhead displays. By the front window was a small section for kids' comics. However, it was the wooden shelves along the rear and right walls that really blew me away. While the top shelves were filled with trade paperback, there were dozens of current series filling up the others. The comics were basically divided into Marvel and everybody else, but they were alphabetized. Fortunately, my list was also in alphabetical order. I quickly found eight of my nine main titles, as they had sold out of the ninth one. I tried looking for a few others, but I couldn't find them anywhere. With their subtitles, it was going to be hard to locate them, if they even had them. I should have looked online with them as well. I could have asked the cashier, but he had been talking with a regular since I entered, and I didn't want to be impolite and interrupt. The regular left soon after I got to the checkout. I easily could have stayed another thirty minutes there just looking around, but I had someone waiting out in the car, and it was starting to rain, more than the sprinkles that had held around earlier.

    For some reason, that place just felt special. I felt like I belonged there. It wasn't anything like what I felt at the other new comic book store I went to this year, Superhero Creamery at the Huntington Mall. Although technically small, I felt as if there was way more to explore. Part of it might be that this probably would have been the comic book store I would have gone to while at the University of Kentucky, if my plans hadn't been derailed at the last minute. Sure, it might not have been at the same location at that time, but it would still be the closest one to campus, I think.  I'm still filled with joy, almost a week later.

    The rest of the trip had no big surprises. There were the same work areas and emergency vehicles going out of town, but not problems.  I stopped in Stanton for food and fuel. The Parkway was the same going back. A quick stop in Prestonsburg for groceries, and it was home. The worst of the rain held off until just before home, but I still got back only a little later than if I had gone to work instead. Although I only got a few things, the stop for comic books made my day.

No Chance for Redeeming

    I was never into loyalty programs.  I didn't like the idea of carrying extra cards and such just to get a little extra off of a purchase.  Also, I didn't go to many of the places with such rewards that often back then.  No more than two or three times per year. The store that I went to the most did such discounts automatically, without the need for anything else. I left the cards for my mother who doesn't mind carrying extra junk. Besides, many companies were going to online models.  Since I didn't have a computer or phone back then, I was out of luck anyway.

    Then, a few years ago, I heard a news article about how a company whose products I like, who shall remain nameless, were giving members of their loyalty program a special birthday-themed product on  the member's birthday.  At least that is what I understood them to say. I really wanted that, but I wasn't into loyalty programs. Some time later, I realized that I now had a computer, and I had access to a smartphone. (I would get my own soon after this.) I really wanted that birthday product, so I finally joined. I admit, I had some problems that included having to reset my password shortly after I signed up, but I felt it was worth it to get that special product.

    When my birthday came around a few weeks later, I got an email with extra points to go on my account. That was all. Apparently, that special product was a one-time deal for the company's birthday, or maybe just for that one year.  Who knows? All I know is that I didn't get a special gift. I did however start racking up points. It was a hassle to remember to save my receipts, take pictures of them, and send them in to redeem my points. I would have to send a few multiple times as I clipped a vital part out. I forgot a few times.  Just earlier this month, I had to scramble through a stack of receipts to find my most recent one, only to find it in a bag where I had put it so I wouldn't forget it. I then preceded to forgot for a few days to submit the photo. At least I had finally crossed the 500 point mark with that receipt.  Finally, it was time to redeem.

    See, after all the years I had been doing this, I never once redeemed any of my points. While there were plenty of deals involving low amounts of points, such as coupons or free products, the good stuff required hundreds of, if not over a thousand, points to redeem. Even if I had the points, they were be sold out when I opened the notification email. People must have been grabbing them up the second they showed up. I guess it pays to check your email more than two or three times a day. Anyway, I decided to hoard my points, instead of trying for useless gifts such as movie or gas discounts.

    This Monday, I got an email announcing the discontinuation of the loyalty program, just one week before my next birthday. Receipts would be accepted for a few more weeks. Already purchased merch would still be shipped out. Any points not spent would be lost, and no new programs were planned. I quickly logged in to see the last rewards that would be posted, thinking that a few really great ones would be offered at the end. I was wrong. There were only four rewards, with the discount coupon for athletic wear from a partner had already sold out. Only three rewards were still available, and none of them would be sold out: digital wallpaper, an entry for a contest that I was barely eligible for and might not even need by the time it was awarded, and behind-the-scenes footage from a promotional movie that made a few years ago that I never watched. 

    Unless something is added as a bonus for the holidays, I will be forced to download the wallpaper just so I can say I got something from the program. I probably will never install it, as I don't want to mess up my already glitchy computer with anything else. What's worse? I can only get each reward once, and the wallpaper only costs five points. I could have literally bought it at any time, and it wouldn't have affected my score too much.

    It's the story of my life. Every time I get an opportunity for something, I wind up not getting it, only to regret it ever after. I either don't realize the chance when I first receive it, or I don't think it is the right time, or I don't think I am good/ready enough yet, or someone convinces me that I should wait.  This loyalty program is just another one to add to the list.

Winter Wonderland of Confusion

    So, I had to go to Walmart last week, because sometimes, you just have to go there. Anyway, while walking through the parking lot, I noticed a Jeep with a Christmas wreath attached to the spare tire.  It had dusty pink ornaments and a Santa cap on top.  What could be a better car accessory than small glass balls that can fly off at 60 mph? I'm sure that they won't cause any damage.

    As I got closer, I realized that the Santa cap was actually on the skull of a skeleton being the wreath. The skull had big old alien eye sockets, while the hand was holding a large ornament with a straw attached, as if it was drinking from it. I guess they didn't, or couldn't, take the skeleton down from Halloween, so they just repurposed it. That is what happens with all of those people who put up the giant ten and fifteen foot skeletons in their yards and want to get more mileage from their money. Yet, think of the message this Jeep owner is sending. "Sorry kids, but Santa died last year from drinking and driving. Don't worry though. He will still be delivering your gifts this year, only as an undead minion."

    The confusion of holidays continued into Walmart. I was walking down an aisle in the seasonal section. One side was Halloween candy on clearance, and the other side was being stocked with Christmas candy.  Now, aside from some differences in shape and flavor, most of the candy is exactly the same for the two holidays. The only difference is in the packaging. Black, orange, and purple for Halloween, and red, white, and green for Christmas. Tell that to a kid, though. "I want new candy!" "But we have candy at home, dear." "That candy's old!" "It is from Halloween, just last week." "I want Christmas candy, not that old yucky stuff!" "You were stuffing your face with it just this morning." "I WANT NEW CANDY!" "I don't know why I even married you, sometimes."

    Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. It's the one time of year that I can walk through the toy department without thinking people will look at me and think I'm a creep. It's more "Oh, look. He's shopping for Christmas presents for his kids." (As I can pass for someone ten to fifteen years younger, at least from a distance. Doubt anyone would say grandchildren, like some people I know.) Instead of, "See how that pathetic man is just wandering about, looking for the nostalgia and lost innocence." At least I'm not actually buying the toys, just looking at them for the nostalgia and lost innocence. I just don't want people thinking that.

    And in all of this holiday confusion, Thanksgiving gets lost. Sure, there is the occasional giant turkey inflatable, but there really isn't much in the way for Thanksgiving decorations. I saw one turkey that had silverware and a bib that said "Let's eat!" on it. Way to promote cannibalism, dude. No, for Thanksgiving, all of the focus is on the food. Maybe some special dinnerware or centerpieces, but that's it. Stores already have their food specials out.  For instance, there are the gallon jugs of cooking oil, for those who want to deep fry their turkeys, or burn their house down. Or both. Walmart also had bags of croutons for sale in the bakery. You have to make sure you have your already stale bread three weeks ahead of schedule for your stuffing. Or dressing.  Or whatever else it can be called.  Choose one word for it already.

    There are also all the new limited-edition food products coming out. For instance, Coke has a new 'Holiday Creamy Vanilla" flavor for Christmas, that is somehow different from their regular vanilla flavor. Now, I hate Coke. Always have. I'm a Dr Pepper fan, ever since I was a kid. Yes, I was the weird kid back then. I still am, and proud of it. However, my mom loves Vanilla Coke, so I can a few bottles to try. Strangely enough, I didn't puke when I tasted it. I instantly could taste the vanilla, but that was about it. I didn't detect any holiday-type extra flavoring. No warming spices. No mint of any kind. No pine needles being shoved down my throat. I also didn't taste anything creamy either. Of course, the label said there wasn't any dairy included, so what type of cream did they mean? For there are a lot of types of cream I don't want near my mouth.

    My mom didn't like it at first, which is typical. If I even barely like something new or different, she won't like it, and vice versa. She slightly turned around after trying some super ice cold, but we will see what happens with a second bottle. Maybe she will end up more confused about the holidays.

    That's all for tonight. Catch me back here next week.

    

Eat in, Eat out, I'm Driving

    In an average month, I eat out about two or three times.  Normally, I wouldn't do it more than that due to a mix of health and money concerns.  However, for October, I had to eat out five times, and it was almost six times. You can add in an additional time at the end of September if you like to up that total.  Still, that was too much for me, but it had to be done.

    The reason goes back many years. When I started weightlifting in the mid-90s, I began to eat more to fuel my workouts. I made sure to eat every two to four hours. This meant that I started eating breakfast every day.  Until then, I only ate breakfast a few times a week, mostly on weekends. Ever since I was a kid, I had problems eating very early in the day. I just didn't feel like eating that early, say before nine. I really couldn't. When I opened my store, I could barely start eating breakfast around eight.  Even now, my breakfast on the days I go to work are a little lighter than they used to be. On those days when I have to be somewhere even earlier, say for appointments or all day shopping trips, I usually just end up having a small protein shake or a small pastry.  My stomach just can't tolerate anything heavier than that early in the day.

    This past October, I had multiple such events. In September, at my regular dental cleaning, a cavity was discovered. Only my second in the last twenty-five years, but the second in under five. I had to schedule a second appointment for early October. I also had to take my mother to the dentist to have multiple fillings over two visits. Oh, she also had an annual doctor's visit. Then there were a few trips to find out what's been making an unusual sound in my car. Some of those got combined with the preceding ones. (At least they finally think they figured out what's wrong. Just waiting for a piece to arrive to see if it can be fixed.) There was also the delayed shopping trip to make up. 

    Anyway, this meant I ate out five times.  Four were takeout, one eat in. Four were fast food restaurants, although I had a takeout order from the one not fast food place. Not too much variety in what I ate, but here they are in order. Dairy Queen, Coal Run:  Surprisingly great chicken tenders. Very crispy. The ranch was a tad sour, but still workable. Hoebert's Pizzeria, P-burg:  Regular Stromboli order. Nothing great, but not horrible. It just needs one little change to take it over the top. Burger King, Huntington Mall, dine in: Standard Whopper and rings. Tried a jalapeño popper. Not too spicy, but not my thing. Got the Halloween crown, but couldn't recognize one of the characters. Long John Silver's, Pikeville:  Regular chicken plank meal ruined when I found blood in the last plank. First time I can remember this happening in a long while. At least I got a wide range of condiments. Wendy's, Pikeville:  Burger too small. Way too many fries. They finally fixed the fountain, so I was able to get my cherry-vanilla Dr Pepper again.  Best part of the meal. It was also the most expensive of the fast food places.

    It has already been suggested that I won't be eating out on the day of the next appointment. However, since that might be on my mother's birthday, she has bee thinking about changing her mind. This is in preparation for the big pre-holiday shopping trip to Lexington, where we usually eat out from three different places in one day, not counting any stops for coffee and a restroom break.  This year, I might not have take out for dinner, even if it will be easier and faster, but plans just keep changing.