The store we frequent usually has a checker and as many as two baggers at each line. There are no self-check lines. I've tried to bag my own only to be told that that is their job. They also push your cart to your car. The worst part is that they are not allowed to accept tips. The nice thing is that they give a lot of high school kids jobs, and there are never any carts rolling around the parking lot.

Yeah, they'll come out to the car too. At our local Army commissary they're mainly ancient vets. At the Navy commissary in Annapolis they're the kids of service members. I'm a big tipper either way...unless they spill the blueberries.

Curb-side pick-up, FTW.

Out of 3 supermarkets in my vicinity not one has any cute help. But when I think about it, even if there were some I’m not the catch I used to be, either.

I get it. The only looks I get are from the women with blue hair. And, not the young hipsters with blue hair.

I like baggers.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d45c05c3f.jpg

Though an old school Springer is still my favorite.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21a5bed0ea.jpg

West Coast alert.

Yikes.

Do they put the cylinders and heads from a newer engine on old cases? I like to look at them but wouldn't want to ride that on a bumpy road.

On more than one occasion I bagged groceries at local stores for tips, when they used to let you do things like that. I get encouraged when I see kids legitimately trying to earn some scratch doing stuff like that, like when I go to a big-box grocery store and there are kids outside offering to help you load your car. You don't see that as much anymore. One thing I have noticed living in the same house for over 16 years is that you don't see nearly as many kids offering to shovel sidewalks after a snow storm. :50:

These days the thing that slows the line for me is almost never the checker. It's usually the customer. Like the lady the other day, who was buying two sets of groceries, because she was helping a friend, but she herself was rather muddled about which was whose and which money in her purse went with which, and what bag they should go in. And then after she'd settled both, decided she wanted a couple of the candy canes they have at the checkstand, which the clerk had to ring up. Or the folks who wait till the very end to even pull their money out to pay, and then they have to fiddle with it endlessly. Or the the ones who buy 3 or 4 exotic fruits or veggies and the clerk doesn't know what they are to look up the code and the customer doesn't remember either.

One of my roomates in the 70s had a Sportster with a chrome springer front end. The man was huge and made that bike look small when he was on it. It looked kinda like this except I think it was kick start.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2660/4...7b7c3040_b.jpg

I think the 1200 Sportsters are set up like that. I'm pretty far out of the loop, as I quit riding many years ago. I drove a wrecker in the days when "chasing accidents" was how they decided it would be the best way to get the tow trucks to the scene. Seeing what happened to those that survived bike wrecks, slowly put me off riding.

Of course, one has to be a very good driver to get through that experience.

I go to Food For Less. You bag your own stuff and there are 2 conveyors so 2 customers can be bagging at the same time. Any cashier can ring up your order faster than you can use the card reader and bag it.
The other day the customer in front of me couldn't figure out the card reader, even with some help from the cashier. I guess he was using a debit card which needed a PIN. He tried over and over until the cashier came around and walked him through it.
At the end of the conveyor there is a pad which you push with your hip or hand to advance the conveyor. This baffled him, as well. I was next to him and demonstrated on my conveyor which didn't help. I then reached over and touched the pad which is about a 8x8 square on a hinge with a switch underneath. This caused him to grab the switchpad and try to lift it. I finally went over and pushed it so he could get his stuff.

We get offers, but LSS needs the exercise.

That hardtail you posted looks to have a very old bottom end with a Shovelhead top end. I don't know what would be involved in doing that but it's kinda cool that you can do it.
I don't think any of the guys I knew who had Harleys or other choppers or cruisers ever had bad crashes. The ones who got hurt or killed were on crotch rockets or riding drunk or stupidly on other bikes.
My older brother rode motorcycles for 40 years without an injury. He rode to work, rode in Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

I used to work with an English woman who was very into motorcycles. She told me at one point, while still living over there, she owned some Kawasaki that was The Fastest production bike in the world at that time, and she was bombing down the freeway at 150 and realized, "If I keep this bike, I'm going to die." So she sold it. Over here, she and her husband got Harleys, which are much slower and thus less likely to kill you.

Yesterday afternoon, a flurry of automatic emails from my bank dropped into my inbox, all about a transaction outside the US. Turns out Mrs. GeneJockey bought her own Christmas present - a bassoon. Good brand (Fox), but also designed for small hands. More than any of my bikes, including the Canyon, and even the total build cost for the Battaglin.

Now I wish I'd jumped on those Assioma power pedals for only $554.....

Map of the Day

30 November 2021

Hot off the presses!


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e88852ab2.jpeg

Is she a serious bassoon player?? My nephew is. He is trying to find a job with a good symphony, which apparently is NOT easily done even if you are good. He is currently with the New World Orchestra in Florida but that's a 3 year fellowship and his 3rd year is now, so he does need a gig.

No. Not even close.

He needs to namedrop.

Velo Vol

All baggers are tipped here. And they're all old folks. We also tip the guy in the parking lot. I tip the guy who watches my bike. We(my wife and I) tip the pump jockey.

Of course

Boring.
I'm doing just fine.

Was just there for Moderna III. No food reward required (I'm not 10).

One of the pharmacists was kind of cute, but sadly she's not the one who came out to the booth to give me the shot.

Outside they have mountain bikes for $199. Maybe I should buy one and hit the gravels?

I can offer him a dream position as first bassoonist at Knoxville Community Band.

Remuneration: the joy of making beautiful music :bday: