NBZ 1 (No brain zone)

December 13, 2001

I don't usually rant and rave, but there have been a couple of issues of late that I have wanted to jot down, lest over the passage of time, I forget.

But then I wonder, are these things really worth remembering. If they were really that important, maybe I should just try and remember.

I don't think so. Some of these little pearls sent my stupid-o-meter clear off the charts. Perhaps if I chronicle them, I can erase them from my memory banks, and proceed to collect more tidbits of life.

Warning, you are about to enter a brain free zone.

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Setting: My Office

Phone call to let me know my car is ready at the dealership. The dealership and I have not had a pleasant relationship about this particular car repair, and in an attempt to be nice, the service manager wants to let me know about the little "extra" they have done to make me happy.

"Mr. NSR, this is Joe from the dealership. I wanted to call and let you know that your car is ready. It's been tested and it is ready to go. We even changed the oil for you."

I confess that my mind went blank. I was as dull as a used carpenters pencil at the end of a long long day.

After I hung up the phone, steam started to come out of my ears, I think I may have started to froth at the mouth.

I yelled out to my assistant.

"The car is ready. THEY EVEN CHANGED THE OIL"

Hot damn, they changed the oil.

Brand new SUV, 2,000 miles on it and they changed the oil.

OF COURSE YOU CHANGED THE F*****ING OIL, YOU HAD THE CAR FOR THE LAST 30 DAYS, AND YOU THREW OUT THE OLD OIL WHEN YOU THREW OUT THE &$(*#@&$ ENGINE.

Thanks for changing the oil, guys, I feel better now.

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Setting: My office

Background: Client advised 2 years ago, a) don't buy anything in the stock market now, and b) Sell what you have in technology stocks.

Client listens, liquidates half a million in guaranteed investments, moves money to another broker and pours all into technology stocks the day before the NASDAQ peaks at 5,000 plus.

Former client looses lots and lots of money.

Phone rings: Former client: after conversation about "you were right" I get asked:

"How come my mutual funds are doing worse than the stock market?"

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Setting: Online Journal, section for notes from readers:

Note: "So how do we find out if Cheney was involved in these attacks on the US?"

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Setting: Online Journal, section for notes from readers.

Topic 9-11, the U.S. reaction et all:

Background of the noter: Wants to have a career as a writer, started her own publishing company.

"I am overwhelmed with the ignorance and pretty much feel that people as a whole are unworthy of me and my stories."

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End NBZ