2003 September

What is it with people who call you… for the sake of calling you? “Hi. What's going on?” Like, am I supposed to drop everything I'm doing and pay attention to you at THAT very second? Get to the point – if you have one. If you don't have one, don't call. It is not my direct responsibility to entertain you at a moment's notice. Send a friggin' e-mail message. When you don't hear back from me within a reasonable amount of time, it probably means you killed the conversation. God invented the Internet for a reason, people – use it. Get my attention via IM before you reach out and touch me with your voice. Yes, certain subjects lend themselves better to vocal interaction – and I'm not complaining about matters of business or family. Don't call just to gab with me. I don't like it – at all.

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The UPS lady showed up on my doorstep this morning, bundle in hand. Inside rested three unopened boxes of 16th Series Garbage Pail Kids. I rushed upstairs and ripped it open, enabling the gum scent from Brazil to fill the air. Long gone are the wax packs; they've been replaced by aluminum wrapping. No matter, it was time to rediscover my childhood. Topps opted to make it a collector's dream (and nightmare), including 3 regular stickers, 1 foil sticker, and 4 flexible comic gum inserts in each package. I blasted [Billy] through my purchase, and discovered that I'm now the owner of two complete 16th sets – though I lack two foil cards (9a and 21b). I'm considering eBay for the duplicate collection, unless the asking price won't help me recoup costs. Still, I'm on the lookout for those two silver-lined throwbacks. Got 'em? Need 'em.

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