All along the watchtower

Greetings my friends.

Today came and went as if it were a breeze slight, but not worth noticing. Unless, you were caving, and then you would so be looking for the wind. Not much happened in the life of Yokai or her mild mannered alter ego. Yep, I even laughed at the two people that pissed me off at work yesterday.

The first was a man who saw an algebra book he needed on line. The sight referred him to our bookstore. So Instead of checking the online store, he jumped in his car, and headed over. He asked me if we had the book in the store. I told him we didn't carry the book in our store or our warehouse. He became absolutely furious with me. He told me the website he was looking at said our store would have it. So I checked the online store. It was there. It was an available online only book. I tried to explain to him, but he didn't seem to understand that concept. He then told me I wasn't working hard enough for my $7.25 an hour. That truly upset me. I wanted to tell him that I make $7.75 an hour. But, I figured any wit I had would be wasted on such a miserable creature.

The second customer called on the phone. She wanted a religious fiction book by a priest. So when I got the name of the book, I looked under the title. No luck. I checked online. No luck. So I asked for the authors name again. She told me that she had given my that info when I answered the phone, and that I was a moron. So I politely asked again. She emphasised on the "Father" part of the guys name. Again, nothing under that name. So I tried searching with out the "Father," and I got 27 hits. I told the lady and she said again, "IT'S FATHER! GET IT RIGHT! NO WONDER YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!" So, I told her that he wasn't listed in our system, and it didn't appear that we carried his books. She then went on about a two minute rant about how our store does not cater to it's projected area, and how discriminated Catholics and Christians are. I politely listened, then told her I would research the issue and address it to management. She seemed somewhat appeased. Whatever.

I love Mooey. Mooey is my lovable large Ragamuffin cat. He's the alarm clock I mention from time to time. Every morning, he lets me know it's time to get up. Not so much to start my day, but to start his. Breakfast, litter box check, water check, treats check, fluff the Ming blanket check, prep his castle/cat tower, open all important curtains, and kiss him goodbye. So on my lovely Saturday morning, I found myself up at six AM with a howling 18 pound cat on my chest. In between the meows, moos, and meeps, he would take time to lick my nose. 15 minutes into his cock-a-doodle-doos, Maxx the orange tom cat, begins to lick my face. 5 minutes later, I'm dishing out breakfast. I go back to bed only to be awakened by Mooey letting me know it's time for Pilate's. Gotta love Alarm cats. You think you life sucks. Try giving up weekends because you have a bossy cat. By the way, that was Mooey's indulgence for the week.

Today I got to hear two versions of one of my most favorite songs: All Along the Watchtower. Version 1: the Man: Jimi Hendrix. I truly believe his birthday should be a National Holiday. Version 2: Dave Matthews Band. DMB's version is dramatic,sweeping, and climatic. Jimi's, whoa. Pure genius. It's powerful, charged with emotion, and cinematic. Jimi's is like listening to poetry and seeing people act it out in front of ya.

The song is great. If you aren't familiar with the song, it was written by the folk-rock artist, Bob Dylan. He is greatness in his own right. Not personally a fan, but he does have a huge following. It is about a conversion between two: a thief and a joker. The are discussing problems in life and how others are not taking life seriously. The end of the song hints either towards morality or ( what I think) change in society. The watchtower is where the men are watching from. Even greater than that, where anyone who is aware is watching from. The song is believed by some to be a subtle biblical reference to the Apocalypse. Take it for what you will. I just think it is a work of art.

Yea!! We got snow. The first snow of the winter was on Thursday night. It was only a dusting. The temp has plummeted into the teens since. Welcome to winter, New England, finally.

So that's all I got. My final indulgence for the week will be bad action/horror movies. I watched Chain Saw Massacre: The Beginning and The Decent last night. Tonight, I think I'll pick something off my shelf. Maybe some Stephen King. I also have to watch Miami Vice. I'll let you know about that one.

So adieu. I got two send offs for ya tonight. The first is from All along the Watchtower.

No reason to get excited The thief he kindly spoke There are many here among us Who feel that life is but a joke but uh But you and I we've been through that And this is not our fate So let us not talk falsely now The hours getting late

All along the watchtower Princes kept the view While all the women came and went Bare-foot servants to, but huh Outside in the cold distance A wild cat did growl Two riders were approachin And the wind began to howl

(All Along the Watchtower--Jimi Hendrix's cover)

To know the road ahead,
ask those coming back.

--Chinese proverb.

Yokai