I probably pissed off his mother, but I don't care

I really don't. There is a time and a place for everything. That being typed, if your 10yr old son is bouncing a basketball up and down the aisles in a grocery store, not under control of the ball at all, coming close to tripping people, and you say nothing, I will.

Hubby and I were shopping at Coles. This boy had his basket ball in the cart his mother was pushing, but decided to take it out, and started running up and down the aisles, bouncing it (can't say dribbling, as he had no control and kept chasing it)

This boy ran into me (I'm still using a cane to get around), after almost tripping other two people, I told him "This isn't the time, nor the place." 

He replied "What did you say?"

"This isn't the time, nor the place for that. (pointing to his ball). He picked it up and ran to his mother to complain. A woman that worked at Coles thanked me.  I told her I was probably going to get my ass chewed out by his mother, but it would be worth it. 

Oddly enough, nothing.

Saturday shopping trip

Went to the jeweler and got the temporary canvas watch band replaced with a nice metal band.  I asked if I could have a few links taken off my stainless steel bracelet I have Keito's heart.  I was told that a jeweler would have to do it. 

hmmm... I went home, got two pair of pliers, carefully removed the T-bar, then applied opposing force on three links, one at a time, opening them. I removed them and then replaced the T-bar.

Does this mean I'm a jeweler now? :D

Might have to start using VPN to order from Amazon

I got an email from Amazon. Because of Australian gov't wanting to get in on Amazon money, have changed the GST laws, and now Amazon had to change how it handles overseas customers.

I will be forced to shop on the Amazon AU site, even though the prices will more than likely (even factoring in the exchange rates) close to double the price of what the Amazon US site charges. (I have so many examples of this being true. A book, local to me $100. Ordered from Amazon, even with shipping and exchange rate, $45 for one).  I can understand Australia wanting their 10% but not at the expense of close to doubling the price of the items listed.

Then there is the 'promise' of having access to ALL of Amazon US products on the Amazon AU site.  Odd, because when I search for things on the Amazon AU site, I typically strike out. But find it quite easily on the Amazon US site.

The only way I see around this is to shop using a VPN. Transfer money to trusted people in the US and have them get me US gift cards. I already moved my credit card to Australia so I wouldn't be late paying a bill, and I can't reverse it unless I go BACK to the US and into the bank to do so.

On an aside, if the Australian Tax Offices and Aussie Gov't need revenues, how about stopping politicians from taking luxury vacays on the tax payers? Stop giving huge corporations huge tax breaks, instead of scraping a petty S.50 from a book sale.

The art of the polite complaint

I have been ordering from one certain online store on a regular basis for several years.  And typically, within two business days after I've submitted and paid for said order, they would send out "FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100".   Seeing as every order I have submitted has been over $100, this timing got very annoying... and I told them so, politely.

I got a response.. and a $15 gift certificate for my next purchase, good for one year.

Want to annoy me? This is a great way to do it

I ordered a Breville Coffee and Spice Grinder Model CG2B.  I ordered in November last year. Now I don't mind it arriving so late because of holidays.

What I do mind is that I was sent the Breville Coffee and Spice Grinder Model BCG200.  I specifically asked for and ordered the CG2B because I have two lids for it; one for coffee and one for spice.  Those lids do not fit on the model the merchant sent.

Bait and Switch? Guaranteed to piss me off big time.