Friday freaks.

Cable guy is here to replace install our new phone line.

By reneging on their internet deal, Qwest lost not only my account at the store, but the account here at home and at Linda' store.

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I was pretty stoic yesterday, except that I got into a "these darn kids today..." discussion with a guy, that became less than accepting of what I can't change. It also started to veer into politics, which I opted out of: "I don't want to talk politics."

"That's not fair."

"What's not fair about it? I don't want to talk politics...."

"But I wanted to comment on the health system,"

"Yes, but you were coming at it from a political persuasion....I don't want to talk politics."

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Apparently, they started putting up the yellow tape on the block of Oregon Ave. last night, which is a full day in advance.

Do these promoters have any idea how daunting the yellow tape is to people? Even though the streets aren't officially closed until 10:00 tonight?

I have to cross my fingers, like I do for every event, that when they set up the stage in front of my store, that they do it in such a way as to allow easy access and visuals to my store, and somehow not encourage people to stand in front of my door.

Of those three goals, they usually allow my door to be opened, but the other two -- the visuals and the crowd control pretty much suck.

Because the promoters pretty much don't care about us. These events aren't about the small businesses....

NOTE: On the way to work, I noticed that they have already set up for tomorrow. So Oregon Ave. gets to have a closed street all day, but no activities. Pretty much the worst of both worlds.

Hey, downtowners. If you don't speak up, they'll just keep encroaching and encroaching.

Just saying.

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The solution, of course, is for me to make myself scarce and put my guys in the store. Last week we had a pretty good weekend, and I'm hoping for the best this weekend too.

I ran out of Pokemon cards, yesterday, one of the few items I can sell to the kids at these events. Bad planning for me -- I very rarely completely run out of a viable product...

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Watched Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call last night.

Expected it to be a harrowing movie; the descent of a cop into drugs and corruption.

Well, it was all that. Along with a bullmouse looney performance by Nick Cage -- which at the same time was funny and pitch perfect.

His relationship with his girlfriend was kinda sweet, and he obviously had a moral code -- that maybe only he understood.

It was more Hunter S. Thompson as cop, than Requiem for a Dream.

It had a strangely redemptive and uplifting tone, that I couldn't explain if I had to, and I think it's become one of my favorite movies....