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01/11/2004: "Humans are fun to watch"

So, I'm in Berkeley over the weekend, with Tubby to engage in the traditional, annual footwear purchasing trip (it's a human ritual, apparently). We end up in one of those shops with large signs in the window, "All Shoes Up to 70% Off." It takes the Bald Wonder no more than a few minutes to select a pair of shoes that look like every other pair of shoes he's owned since the Bush (senior) administration, and head to the register. There, my amusement begins. A man, late 40s, in a grayish-blue windbreaker, asks the sales guy how much the shoes are. Sales Guy reads the sticker, $39.99, and tells him... $39.99. Windbreaker points out that it was on a 70% off table. Sales Guy points out the $39.99 *is* the discounted price, and the non-discounted price is shown in smaller print above $39.99, "Originally $59.95". Windbreaker again mentions the 70% off sign on the "table", although its actually more of a bookshelf, with the shoes displayed on top, and the boxes shoes below. Sales Guy says the sign isn't specific to that case -- they're all over the store indicating the sale. Windbreaker accepts this, and asks if they come in other colors; this pair is gray, which he points out is "gloomy." He's wondering if maybe they have a pair in blue, since that would match his motorcycle. Sales Guy offers to go look on the "table" (shelves), but everything they have is displayed. At that point the two wander off as a helpful, but somewhat bored-looking guy named Ed completes our transaction. But my favorite had to be the description of the shoes as "gloomy." Because, aside from holding gloomy shoes, Windbreaker was a regular, upbeat and delighful sort of chap.