A guess one sign a shopping center is not new anymore is when a once exciting new business closes up. We suggested a hungry friend try out the Tin Star fast food place in the Summit Sierra and he called back and said they were gone. Also the Pannini place next door. Too bad. The Tin Star’s gimmick was a cheeseburger in the shape of a taco which was really good and at least something “different” but I guess their remote location and competition killed it.
Filed under: Chit-Chat
We went back to Cabela’s the other day as I really do like the catalog and a desitnation sporting goods store really appeals to me. Our first foray was a failure as they made it too difficult to actually buy anything. I guess that’s partly my fault, as living here in Nevada, I am used to not having to wait in line much.
So we cruised around, mostly marveling at all the gear for killing animals, and settled on a gizmo that I’ve seen in the catalogs. It is a weatherproof camera you strap to a tree that has a motion sensor and it takes a photo of any critter walking by. Combines my love of cameras, animals and curiousity about what goes on outside in the dark.
They had a model on sale so I instinctively grabbed it and entered the checkout. It took awhile for the young woman checking to catch up with her friend and their mutual acquaintances in front of me and we began getting acquainted with the folks behind us. Finally it was our turn and I noticed the register rang up our camera at the non-sale price. I pointed this out and everything ground to a halt. The ensuing inspection of the sales flyer gave no satisfaction so it was up to her young assistant to go back in to the mega store, find the unit, verify the price and return, all in one day. He confessed he had no idea what the item was and no clue where to look.
As I mentioned we were talking and commiserating with the folks behind us in line and so I had, even though small and brief, an emotional relationship with them and didn’t want them to suffer in line as I had so I told the clerk I didn’t want to hold anyone up and to forget the purchase.
Amazing. Been in there twice and was not able to buy anything despite giving it a good shot. Also I checked and they still have tons of maps of Couer d’Alene Lake in Idaho but none of Tahoe, Pyramid or any other.
One aspect is that our area has been booming economically and I think all the qualified employees are already taken and new businesses are hiring anyone they can get. That is great for the people who are willing to take advantage of it and work at becoming good workers.
Maybe we’ll try again another year and meanwhile go back to REI.
Filed under: Chit-Chat
The latest storm is moving in and I’ve taken a minute to sit down with my cell phone and try to learn a little about it. I’ve only had it for 2 months so it is about time I get to know how it works.
I’m very familiar with how it doesn’t work. It seems that everything about our lives is rural and cell phones are about as good as 2 cans and a string most of the time.
So I played with the camera feature and figured out how to upload the photos to the blog (in a roundabout way through flickr) and it works great. I’m afraid that there are enough button pushes to make my memory fail next time I try it though. Stay tuned.
