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August 16, 2006
Smooth Skies
Mike's enroute to Philly for a couple of days, work-related so I didn't get to go. He should be landing in Memphis in a few minutes, if the plane ever quits circling the airport. I'm tracking him on Aeroseek, a cool program that tracks pretty close to real-time....plus lets you track via Google Earth.
Speaking of Memphis, we received word yesterday that our good friend and occasional commenter Bob passed the CISSP exam. Good job Bob!
And speaking of good job, why is it always such a hassle to get my freaking oil changed? I stopped to have it done on the way home from dropping Mike at the airport and good grief what a PITA. I swear, the next time I'm going to dress like a man complete with the appropriate physical accoutrements so I don't get hassled just because I INSIST THEY PUT IN THE SAME SYNTHETIC OIL THAT I'VE USED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999.
Instead, I get "Synthetic oil? Are you sure that's what you want? It costs more you know."
"Yes, I know. That's what I want."
Repeat scenario ad nauseum. Restrain urge to kill clerk, who after all that, enters the wrong oil on the order.
Then before I can get inside, I also get the actual mechanic. "You the one what wants synthetic oil? It costs more y'know."
*grits teeth* "Yes I KNOW THAT. I've been using it for years. That's what I want."
He looks me up & down skeptically. "So you're sure that's what you want? It's more expensive."
Mother of God, how annoying. I was a little surprised when he accepted my next "Yes." But then I realized when I was walking away, I had my right hand clenched into a fist. I guess he thought I was going to pop him one....not that I'd actually do that.
At least I didn't have to give him my patented "I can assure you my lack of a penis in no way inhibits my ability to understand basic machinery" talk.
But it was close.
Posted by Rita at August 16, 2006 01:20 PM
Comments
**At least I didn't have to give him my patented "I can assure you my lack of a penis in no way inhibits my ability to understand basic machinery" talk.**
He might have been more worried about that than getting hit. ;)
Posted by: Craig at August 16, 2006 02:24 PM
It worked wonders on this guy at the auto parts store once. He shut up, turned red, and got the damned part I'd asked for. Instead of the wrong part he was trying to sell me because he thought I didn't know any better.
Come to think of it, that particular parts store starting advertising their new FEMALE employee not too long after that. Hmmm.
Posted by: Rita ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://res-ipsa.the-blinding-white-light.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 16, 2006 04:48 PM
Oh, and what really pissed me off was when I got my car back & discovered they DIDN'T replace the air filter & wiper blades like I'd asked. I thought about going back inside & yelling "DO I LOOK LIKE I CAN FREAKING WORK ON MY OWN CAR RIGHT NOW?"
But I was tired of messing with them.
Posted by: Rita at August 16, 2006 04:55 PM
A friend of mine builds her own PCs; she gets a ration of crap from male salesgeeks at chain stores all the time, which is one reason why she's no longer going to chain stores.
Posted by: CGHill at August 16, 2006 08:43 PM
That's why I don't go to chain stores either, especially Best Buy & Circuit City.
I've read a lot about how women aren't welcome in the IT world....hasn't been my experience at all. The geeks I've met don't care what color, gender, etc. you are. They only care what you can do.
I've always had a hard time finding a mechanic who doesn't try to talk to me like I'm an idiot. And I'm not even blonde.
Posted by: Rita at August 16, 2006 09:11 PM
I dunno, it's always kind of amusing to let people who think you don't know what you're doing carry on until you hang them with their own rope.
Posted by: Craig at August 17, 2006 08:18 AM
I did that a couple of times with the salesguys at Best Buy, but it gets old fast. Or maybe I'm just getting increasingly intolerant as I age, I dunno.
"Get off my damn lawn!"
Now that's fun.
Posted by: Rita at August 17, 2006 08:50 AM