my years in hell.
I'll admit it ... I'm spoiled rotten from living in Los Angeles and San Diego for so many years. If I wanted something there, I just went to the appropriate store and purchased it.
You would think that after 3.5 years in the middle of nowhere, I would have learned that you can't go to local stores and expect anyone to understand what you are looking for, much less have it in stock. But, I'm much too much of an optomist for that ... Candide on steroids and a little crack ... that's me.
The battery for the stylus for my notepad computer finally gave up the ghost. The stylus takes a size AAAA battery. So, I went to town to get one (or two). First stop was Walmart ... lots of batteries, none AAAA, so I asked one of the floor clerks if they had any AAAA batteries.
He said "You want 2 double A batt'ries?
"No, I want 2 four-A batteries."
"Two double A?"
"No, not two double A, 2 quad-A batteries."
"They don' make those."
"Yes, they do, and I need two of them. Well, really only one, but it does need to be quad A."
"Hey, Angie!! This lady wants some batt'ries. We got anything called a quad-A??
(Now, "Angie" was/is as wrinkled as your average prune, and missing most of her teeth. I wondered how old she could possibly be, but I was afraid if I actually asked and was told she was anything less than 105, my entire world would suddently wink out of existance.)
Angie: "She wants two double-A?"
"No, she says she wants quad-A."
"They don't make those."
Me: "Never mind ....."
Thank the powers that be for the internet. But for that, I would be reduced to watching the grass grow for entertainment.