Bleargh. It’s chilly out. The lack of wind makes it palatable, but still by no means acceptable. It’s 6° (~43F) for cryin’ out loud!
I had a significant lack of sleep the night before, owing both to the fact that it got rather cold in the apartment, and more significantly, two of the cats wouldn’t stop tearing around the apartment and meowing for no reason other than to piss me off. So I ended up with some 3 or so hours of sleep. I got more last night, but I need more still. Worse, I forgot to take my vitamin pill today, so I may end up wanting to curl up under my desk for a few hours. (I’ll make up for it by taking the pill when I get home, though it kinda defeats one of the benefits, at least for today.)
At least the weekend is within sight, even if the weather plans to be a miserable old bastard for the duration.
I’m annoyed at Apple. I’ve been digital window shopping for an iPod Touch, having decided I do, in fact, want one. So what do I find? Apple.com sells it online for US $399 (C$388). Apple.ca sells it for C$449 (US $466). Yes, despite the fact that the Canadian dollar is worth more than the US dollar right now, the Canadian Apple Store sells it for C$62 more. :mad: I didn’t want to have to hit up eBay or some US eStore that delivers to Canada (and doesn’t have a Canadian branch to sell/overcharge from) to buy it, but if need be I might have to. sigh
Blah. Phone is ringing like mad. Won’t me a mo.
…
There. I’m back. Why anyone would spend more in parts to fix a unit than the whole unit is worth is beyond me.
And I just got a moron end user on the phone. I directed him to a local dealer where he might get the part he’s looking for. Dumbassery ensues:
Him: “I want to pick it up from you.”
Me: “I’m sorry, we can’t do that. We don’t sell to the public.”
H: “Well why not?”
M: “Because we are a distributor. We only sell to dealers.”
H: “Well that’s a hell of a way to run a business.”
M: “That’s the way all distributors work.”
H: “No it’s not.”
M: <smacking forehead> “Actually, yes it is. Distributors sell to dealers, and dealers sell to customers like you.”
H: “You can just sell directly to me.”
M: “Um, no, we can’t. We would be selling out from under our dealers. If our dealers knew that they wouldn’t buy from us.”
H: “You don’t have to advertise it to them.”
M: “It’s company policy. We work on an account holder basis only. You must have a dealer account with us to buy from us.”
H: “Fine. Bye.”
I love being in in my position. I can’t outright tell them off or be rude, but I don’t have to agree with everything they say or to whatever they request either. They aren’t technically our customers so we don’t really give a damn if they don’t like what we have to tell them. 
Plus, ultimately, they need what they need. They have to get it from a dealer, and the dealer has to get it from us.
Some seriously cute critters round here. As long as we’re sharing, I might as well share our menagerie:
Patches (ZZZzzzzzz… / “I can has close-up now?”)
Charlie (“I’s can fly!” / Claws / Tongue! / Sickeningly Cute / “I has a box.”)
Tilly (“OH, HAI GUYS!” / Chillin / Sleepin / HAY!!)
Dutchess (Young lady / Don’t bug me)
Weee!
Time for break.
