What Your Amazon Wish List Says About You

I don’t know exactly how it started, but we were having a family discussion about Amazon wish lists.  I think my mother was wondering what to buy my sister for her birthday.  My mother knew that I had a wish list and then started to quiz me on who had a wish list.  She asked if my sister had one.  I replied yes.  She then asked if my other sister had one.  While I wasn’t sure, I hedged my bets and said I thought so.  After a few more names, she wondered aloud if everyone had one.  My only reply was that everyone should.  It would save a lot of hassle when it came to buying them gifts.

On numerous occasions, my family and friends have expressed relief that I had several wish lists to choose from.  They had no trouble finding gifts for me.  My nephew was surprised when he saw a desk lamp on my list.  He wondered if I truly wanted it even after he bought it and gave it to me.  I was happy to tell him that it was a central part of my stamp collecting desk and that I had ordered the same one for my hobby room.

Today, I spent a bit of time perusing my list.  I am also reading Malcolm Gladwell’s “Talking to Strangers” and I had just read a chapter in which people are analyzing other people by the words they wrote down on a random blank word quiz.  While it struck me as complete nonsense that you could judge people based on this (and I think the psychologists who planned the tests weren’t testing the people who wrote the words, but rather the people who used the words to make judgments about them) I started to wonder if we could judge someone based on what is on their Amazon wish list.

When I go to people’s houses, if I have the opportunity, I always check out their bookshelf.  Most of the time, I am looking for books I can borrow rather than judging their literary taste, but there is probably some judgement in there too.

Going through my list I can make a few generalizations….or conclusions….maybe some confessions.  In no particular order:

• I must still secretly want to become fluent in Japanese since I have a few grammar books and other learning materials on the list.
• I need to let go of some old TV series even though they are cult classics, I don’t spend nearly as much time watching TV series these days. Do I really need to see all three seasons of Forever Knight?
• Also, my taste in TV is a little questionable.
• My days as an English literature major haven’t totally deserted me.  There are still a bunch of classics and post modern works that I want to read and a few I want to reread.
• My hobbies are well represented on my wish lists.  I probably spend more time reading about my hobbies than actually pursuing them.  It is probably a good thing I haven’t found a whole bunch of books on blogging–I know they are out there, but I have avoided the temptation of looking.  The first chapter probably starts out telling me I am doing everything wrong.
• Why haven’t I pulled the trigger on the hardcover complete set of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons?  Why?
• There are still a lot of Japanese things on my list.
• I need to edit my list a bit more often.  There are some items that haven’t been in stock for years.
• Sometimes I put things on the list only because I want to remember them, but not actually own them.  If they are books, I usually find them at the library, read them, and then delete them from my list.
• Why did I put a six thousand dollar bike took kit on my list?  I will never buy it.  Even if they gave it to me for free, I probably could only use fewer than 20 pieces of it.
• It is probably good that I have access to Amazon from Canada and not the US.  I know there is way more stuff available there.

I’d love to know what are the oddest, most expensive, or oldest things on your wish list.

From the Mailbox

The mail carrier/postal worker arrived rather late today.  This didn’t bother me, but it did make for a good starting sentence to this post.

Long after work was done, I made the short pilgrimage to the mailbox.  When I got there, I was pleasantly surprised.  There was a small package for me.  As I walked back to my house, I mentally went over my recent purchases, trying to guess what it was.  I am expecting a number of things that, thanks to Covid 19, are overdue.  These include birthday gifts, stamps, and some cycling gear.

Then it hit me.  It must be the screwdriver I ordered months ago.  I ordered this particular screwdriver because it was better suited to adjusting the derailleur on my bicycle as it was “Japanese standard”.  I don’t know whether it will really make any difference, but I saw a video that featured the screwdrivers and how all the top cycling teams use them,  like the idea of having bicycle specific tools, liked the design of the tool, and probably needed another purchase to qualify for free shipping.

It has been so long that I was starting to think it would never arrive.  I had already started mentally composing my complaint letter to Amazon and the supplier of the screwdriver.  It felt pretty good when it showed up in my mailbox.  It wasn’t Christmas, but it was Today’s Perfect Moment.

Morning Reading

My mornings used to be rushed to get myself out of bed, clean, fed, and on the bus.  It was on the bus that I had time to relax, read, and even do some lesson planning.  I’ve chronicled this many times.

Things are different now.  I wake up quite early and have lots of extra time in the morning to enjoy my coffee, eat my breakfast at leisure, remember to take my vitamins, watch my neighbours take their dogs for walks–though, humourously,  some dogs seem to be taking their owners for walks –and generally ease into my day.

Up until recently, I had also spent that time checking the news and playing Words With Friends on my phone.  What has changed is that I have spent at least some of that morning time reading.  Since my commute went from more than one hour to about 30 seconds, I had let my good reading habits slide.  I was reading 60 to 70 books a year, but had fallen off that pace.  Sure, I’ve been reading woodworking magazines, but I should be reading more.

In one of my last Amazon orders–the one that brought me the bathroom fan motor I successful swapped out–I also ordered a book.  For the last bunch of mornings, it has accompanied my coffee and whatever else I had for breakfast.

The book is called For Fukui’s Sake and chronicles the two years the author spent living in Fukui Japan.  Having spent three years in Japan almost a quarter of a century ago, I often find myself reading books of the same genre.  Some have been good and some have been mediocre.

The important thing for me seems to be the search to find someone who had the same experience as I did and decided to write about it.  Before you think me foolish, I am well aware that no two experiences are going to be the same.  This is true of any place and any time, but this is even truer in Japan.  Despite economic stagnation, many things have changed in the country.  Things change quickly and wildly.  As a result, I have never found an experience like mine, but I keep reading.

What I do find are moments that make me smile and remember that young man who stepped off a plane into the warm Osaka night air, took a ride in a car that came equipped with a TV, and ventured into an unknown world full of vending machines, temples, convenience stores, rice paddies, and experiences whose significance continues to resonate.

In this particular book, I haven’t found so many of those moments, but it has still been a good way to spend my morning before teaching.  This isn’t going to be a book review.  This book was printed on demand by Amazon and it has given me some inspiration towards self publishing.  Maybe instead of reading the adventures of someone hoping they’ll be like mine, I could just write mine…or a totally fictional account that just incorporates some of my experiences…..

In case it needs to be said, reading while enjoying my morning coffee is Today’s Perfect Moment.

Observations on a Saturday

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I made the weekly shopping trip today and I have a few observations.

It seems like people have made the adjustment to physical distancing.  Stores have put up glass shields and have got some form of protection on people.  Self checkout lanes are not only more prevalent, they are probably used more often.  Once in place, I suspect these things are here to stay.

Many stores have given up paper flyers/advertisements.  While this is probably a good thing, it does affect the town I live in.  All of this printing was done at a local place that employed a large number of people.  They already took a hit when they stopped making phone books, and then stopped making catalogs for the bigger stores.  I guess some retraining is going to have to be done.

I also notice people are getting more used to maintaining physical space in stores.  It also means they are a bit more decisive about choosing products.  They don’t seem to linger.  I don’t know if this is a good thing or not.  Does it mean we won’t try as many new products?

At the magazine area of the drugstore, there was a sign saying not to “unnecessarily handle the merchandise.”  I certainly get it, but would you buy a magazine that you don’t normally read without browsing through it?  Since I have been watching a lot of crafting/maker videos, I had a bit of an urge to look at some of these magazine–but I didn’t.  I probably wasn’t going to buy them, so I didn’t bother to look.  Maybe this bodes well for buying more books on Amazon, especially if they allow you to look through some of them.

Even at usually crowded stores, there seems to be more parking spaces.  That’s pretty awesome.  I suppose this will change when things get back to “normal”, but maybe not.  Maybe we will realize that shopping should be done quicker and we could be doing the more with our time that we are doing now.

These are just a bunch of quick observations.  I would welcome any of yours–both positive and negative.

A Chance to Use my Tools

Always good when you can break out the tools.

There’s is nothing like a home repair done well to make you feel accomplished.  Okay, there are lots of things that make you feel accomplished.  However, since I am not a particularly handy man….or handy handyman…..whenever I get something done well and not half-assed duct tape MacGyver style well done, I feel really good.

Last night my parts from Amazon arrived and I could tackle the screen door.  I really didn’t want to have to resort to Amazon.  I wanted to visit my locally owned hardware store, but the truth of the matter is that they have all been forced to close.  Also, I probably didn’t need to buy the whole set up, but that is what I could find online.  Besides, the other one, while still functioning probably needed some TLC, rust removal and a new paint job.

The job itself was very easy, but I made sure to clean up and sand the area after filling in the old screw holes a few days ago.  I really should have painted, but since the paint store is closed and the temperature is still not optimal, this will have to wait a month or more.  I even read the instructions.

I got to  break out my tools and apply some of my newly found patience.  I feel good, and that’s what makes it Today’s Perfect Moment.

What DIY/home projects are you now tackling–assuming you have the time?

Christmas Three Days Early

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Owing to a typical family situation, it isn’t possible for everyone to gather in one place on Christmas day. Families have branches and extensions and some broken branches.  The world is a hectic place and traffic has only gotten worse.

What does all this mean? It means that I had one of my Christmases on Sunday.  Three days before Christmas is quite good as I can recall having celebrated a full two weeks before the date. However, since they start playing Christmas music and decorating the mall from Halloween (or before) it wasn’t as hard as you think to get in the mood.

If you read about my problems with Canada Post, please rest assured that I got replacement gifts for almost everything that wasn’t delivered. In fact, I bought most of the same stuff at the Indigo Bookstore on a weekend that saw me get a twenty percent discount on prices that were almost as good as Amazon’s to begin with.  I think we will call that a win.

I was most excited to give my gifts to my youngest nephews and niece. I bought them bottle rocket kits and a dexterity puzzle.  I also grabbed some kinetic sand to replace the slime that wasn’t delivered.  Probably just as good.  They seemed to like it, but were somewhat more excited about the colouring books that I picked up at the dollar store.

It would be hard to pick out the Perfect Moment from all of that, but some contenders include:

• my nephew calling his dad (my brother) and “old cranky man.”
• my sister taking a sip of scotch and grimacing as it burned its way down her throat
• hearing an older nephew explain why his tattoo was a better investment than keeping his car in running shape.
• having my girlfriend with me.  We had just started dating last year and I didn’t want to subject her to the chaos of family Christmas, lest I scared her off.  Now, all bets are off.
• outsmarting my girlfriend by knowing the difference between lunch, supper, and dinner–and having the Oxford dictionary back me up.
• listening to my father rail against the Amazon’s of the world and how they would be the death of retail stores.
• tasting a different take on nanaimo bars–I am not too clear on it, but I think mint was involved
• giving my sister a collection of Roald Dahl books and noting that everyone had read James and the Giant Peach as well as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
• having the first turkey dinner since Canadian Thanksgiving in October
• talking hockey and Don Cherry
• wondering why my Dad’s Christmas tree looked worse than the one from the Charlie Brown Christmas
• eating on time–this is an inside family joke

Thanks for Nothing Amazon

I got an email today telling me that a package I ordered from Amazon is being refunded. I don’t blame Amazon for this.  Based on the tracking, this is a Canada Post matter.

However, I do find it frustrating that the best Amazon can do is offer me possible reasons why the package was not delivered. Was it damaged?  Was there something in the package that they didn’t want to go through the mail system?  Who knows?

If delivery was attempted, they left no note to go and pick the package up at the post office. Also, there is a big package holder in the superbox across the street from my house.  I doubt that I will ever know the real reason.

It is frustrating because these were Christmas gifts. I ordered early to avoid any problems, but I found problems nonetheless.  I don’t know if I should order them or go out to the store and pick them up there.  Just a little information would be nice.

I feel like Charlie Brown and the football.