My Wednesday “on” – although it didn’t seem like it. Swung by a few bookstores to try and find a title I was looking for… No luck… Then headed over to my dad’s house to help him find a shipping solution to get the remainder of stuff from my grandpa’s estate trucked up here to St. Louis from Florida.

We found an affordable solution – but it’s going to require me flying down sometime in November. I hate Florida.

The research took longer than expected, but I had some of the day left… It was too late to schelp into the city – so I just went to Panera for coffee and wi-fi.

The counter was womanned by a cute girl that had to be of high-school age…

c.g.: “Hi.. May I take your order?”

m.b.: “Yes… I’d like a large iced coffee please.”

c.g.: “A what?”

m.b.: “An iced coffee…. please.”

c.g.: “What’s an icedcoffee?”

m.b.: (blank stare)

c.g.: (blank stare and sheepish smile)

m.b.: “It’s coffee with ice in it.” (smirk)

c.g.: “Hold on a second” (gets manager)

m: “Sell him a large coffee and put ice in the cup”

c.g.: “ohhhhh.. alright” (giggling)

m.g.: (rolls eyes)

I suppose the hyper-branding efforts of companies like Starbucks has started to push out “old fashioned” names. If I would have asked for a Chai-Latte-Double-Frapo-Fuck-Meâ„¢, I’m sure the teenager would have known what I was talking about.

I caffeinated myself, picked up my email and resisted the urge to make broad generalities about today’s youth based on the attractive ding-bat I just stumped with my beverage order.

I’ve taken to carrying my headphones around with me so I can listen to music while I work… It’s also good for canceling out the distractive “mental-noise” of, you know… PEOPLE.

I’ve had the same pair of Radio Shack Optimus Pro-145s forever… they’re a little bulky, not very attractive and sound wonderful.

The foam ear cushions have started to turn to dust – leaving me looking like I have a bad case of black dandruff every time I use them…. sooo… since I was right down the street from the mall – I stopped into Radio Shack..

Surprise… The store was manned by another glassy eyed late teen.

gelt: “Hi, welcome to Radio Shack.. can I help you?”

m.b.: (pulls headphones out) “Yeah… I wondered if I could order a replacement set of ear cushions for these.”

gelt: “Oh… We don’t carry this brand anymore.”

m.b.: “Yes you do.. they’re KOSS headphones.. Radio Shack simply put their own brand name on them back in the early 90’s”

gelt: (blank stare)

m.b.: “You used to have parts number you could call for obscure things like this.”

gelt: (blank stare as if to suggest he was trying to figure out what “obscure” meant) “You might want to check online”.

I went home and sent an email to KOSS customer support.

Why do we even have stores anymore? It’s nice to be able to fondle a potential purchase – but it seems like there’s a trend for retailers to hire mindless automatons who have enough training to ring you out… but that’s about it.

I just want to drink my iced coffee and listen to my damn Smiths MP3s while I’m working.

I’m grousing… Not blogging.