Mobile terriers

Now you all wonder what a mobile terrier is and if not all terriers are mobile most of the time. Well yes, this is just another kind of terrier and it is not a dog.

A day not long ago I happened to enter a mobile phone store. You know the little hole-in-the-wall shops where they try to sell you a mobile phone. Anyway, I went with friend J because she needed to get her phone fixed (no, I am still not talking about dogs. Get your mind out of the gutter and pay attention! :))

So we went into this tiny space where there are three salespeople and exactly zero customers. One of the salespeople lights up like a Christmas tree, bounces up to me and asks if I want a new phone too.

And here's the dialogue that followed.

Salesperson in a bouncy voice: Do you want a new phone too?!?

Me: NO! (I figured that if I tried to use a firm voice and clear message sales person would understand the meaning of "no" just like children and dogs do. I was wrong.)

Salesperson not deterred but still bouncy: But are you sure?!?

Me: I am NOT getting a new phone. I am happy with the one I have thank you very much. (See? I already lost my patience)

Salesperson: But if you would get one, what kind of phone would you want?!? One with an mp3-player?!? One with a really good camera?!?

Me: No! If I was to get a new phone, which I am not, I don't want one with an mp3-player nor a camera. I would want a phone that is good for calling people. And maybe text messages. That is all. But I am NOT getting a new phone. I have Christmas presents to buy first.

Salesperson still not deterred but more bouncy than ever: So you want one that stands rough handling?!?

I felt my eyes doing a mental roll by that time. What part of "no" is so hard to understand?

Me: No! I do NOT want a phone that stands rough handling. If I would get a new phone it will be for calling people and sending text messages!

Now salesperson looks at me as if I just sprouted a new head. Apparently one has to have a phone that does just about everything. Well, if I could wish I'd wish my phone to be a gourmet cook and happy to clean windows. How's that for a phone? I'd even be willing to pay for it.

Fortunately friend J had almost finished her dealings with another one of the salespeople so I took refuge behind her when bouncy salesperson took out a calculator to calculate how much I would save from getting a new phone and how much I could talk and the benefits. I almost wish there had been a representative from Guiness world records there because I fled from that shop so fast that light would seem sluggish in comparison.

Ah yes, the terrier. I was just getting to that. In my mind a terrier is a stubborn, energetic and eager kind of dog. Much like the salesperson. However, terriers are also cute and trainable...

Nina

Seven Bookish Things About Me

Heather tagged me yesterday with this so I will try to do it. I know I'm bad at these tag-thingys but I'm working on it. :)

Rules stated I'd link to her blog, and I have, in the link list. I have just not gotten around to learn how to link in text. Anyway...

Seven bookish things about me:

1. I hate typos! If there's typos in the book I'm reading I start to think that the author is sloppy doing research also and therefore the book isn't trustworthy. This is especially important when reading textbooks or other works that isn't fiction. I do correct typos in books.

2. I hate translations! I recently read a novel by favourite author Jill Shalvis where the translator had mistaken one word for another. My guess is that it was the English "shocked" that can actually be translated into two words one meaning shocked as astonished or surprised and one meaning shocked as in outraged. This was so not fun to read. Anyway, a book, any book, loses part of its content in translation, that's just how it is so if I understand the original language I will read the book in original form.

3. I do not write in books. Anyone who writes in books violate the book. If you want to write something, find a piece of paper not attached to a spine!

4. When moving I try to put all books in the same direction. I hate it when people put books upside down in the box/bag. That is not just me being silly, it saves time when it comes to unpacking when one has as many books as I do. Also, when packing books you do NOT put them with the spine down so all the pages stick up. Stuff will fall in between the pages and ruin the book. Likewise you do NOT pack the book with the spine up and the pages down, something will press the book down and ruin it. Preferably books are packed in stacks in paper bags with a piece of junkmail on top of it. You know, the kind with the glossy pages. That way if it's raining the day you move, the books will not get wet nor stained.

5. Despise my books and I throw you out. I once knew a person who disdainfully told me I had a lot of books. That acquaintance did not last long. You got to respect a person's hobbies.

6. Like Heather I rarely borrow books from the library. I find it much cheaper to buy the books I want myself without having to bother with fees for being late.

7. I probably will always have twice as many books as I have shelf-space. That is just the way it is. I just need to accept that. And get more shelves to put books in. And get more books.

Bonus: Books do NOT belong on the floor. They are not for walking on. You do not walk on your friends eh? Maybe for a few minutes while you answer the phone or the door, but not longterm.

Um... don't know who to tag. Let me think about that for a while.

Nina