The waves roll in

This week-end I went to Atlantic City with a couple of retired senior citizens, and actually managed to have fun. I swore not to spend more than bus fare and lunch. It costs $28 to get to Atlantic City from Port Authority, but they gave out a $16 coupon , which I used to win $25 on the slot machine. So I actually just spent about $10. Not bad, huh? As soon as I won I cashed in and left Caesars to sit on the beach with fellow stingy young people while the others (tourists from California), who could afford to, lost more money. Then we met up with an aunt and waited for her to win (because she always does) so we could get ice cream money.
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I finally got a new phone (my old one had a water accident) after two weeks of searching for a store that had the cheapest price. The snotty clerk at one store we went to (in front of Century21 in Brooklyn) actually tried to discourage me from buying this particular phone. Me: "Hi. Can we look at the Nokia 6610?" Her: "Is Ericsson." Me, patiently: "No, it's Nokia, it's that one (pointing to box on display)." Her: "Oh, that one just came out three weeks ago (big fat lie). Is colored screen. Is tri-band. (all the while shaking her head, like I couldn't possibly want it)" Me: "Yes I know." Um, hello, aren't you supposed to do your job and try to sell it to me? Anyway, I got one from a store a block away for a hundred dollars less. In the Philippines, most people my age are willing to spend significantly more on their phones than I am. If my old phone hadn't drowned, I'd probably still be mulling over whether to get a tri-band one or not.
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I like Barsuk

{The New Year, Death Cab for Cutie}