Just My Luck
My Friday was all planned out. Three hours of photo printing and matting in the morning. Lunch. Teaching people how to do stuff. Quizzes and exams. A freelance project in its final stages. It was solid and going to put me ahead of schedule.
But then there's the idea of covering a funeral for a fallen fire fighter. They ask who can shoot it, no one responds. They look at me, I say "previous plans." So one of the most emotional stories of the year is slated to go untold by us. Bullshit.
I pushed photo back in my head. Then the exam. And the freelance project. I'll make time for it, I guess.
After spending a couple hours updating our website with video, I grabbed the equipment I needed and headed home ready to crash. Then I realized I should grab a wireless mic kit to make the shoot easier. A trip back to the communication building revealed that there are no usable batteries for the wireless kits. There were two on the charger. Not nearly enough, and one was an Alkaline - as in the kind that aren't rechargeable. Dumbass bastards. It was time to go buy some new batteries.
Off to Wal-Mart. I scanned the BATTERY CENTER for the cheapest double-As. "You could win $500,000 instantly!" claimed one 12 pack priced the same as all the others. "Why not," I thought. "At least I have a chance at making this evening worthwhile." I checked out with the cells and an 8-pack of oatmeal cremes.
I settled in to my car and as soon as the BBC world service began, so did a knock on my window. At first glance, I thought it was a person I know, but once my window was half-way down, I realized it was not.
"How ya doin' tonight?" the young black woman asked as she handed me a home-laminated card with columns of words I didn't read. "Do you like cologne and perfumes?"
"No. They're a waste of money," I replied.
"Don't you got a girlfriend or a wife?"
"No."
"Oh. Well try a sample. Give me your wrist." And I did. "Smell good for the rest of the night." This wonderful night.
"If you want some just let me know, ok?"
"Ok."
"Have a good night."
"Sorry. Take care," I meagerly wished.
"You too!" she said, though in a genuine fashion as if no one had ever given her such a salutation.
I opened the packaging and spill the batteries into my lap. A dollar sign. One. Dollar off. Good for your next purchase. Shit.
Two Alarm Fire Behind Wal-Mart, Unknown Cause
Firefighters spray streams of water and foam on the pile of compressed cardboard which caught on fire Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Kyle Anderson/NAZ Today)
FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today) - A large stack of compacted cardboard boxes behind Wal-Mart caught fire at approximately 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, closing McConnel Dr. between Beulah Blvd. and Woodlands Village Blvd.
The Flagstaff Fire Department issued a second alarm to request fire crews from Highlands and Summit Fire Departments to be available for other Flagstaff fire emergencies. Flagstaff firefighters then focused on controlling the fire and preventing spread to the nearby forest.
“Right now, we’re not exactly sure how this started,” said Mark Johnson, Information Officer for the Flagstaff Fire Department. “There don’t appear to be any heat sources in this area, so we’re looking at some other activity that may lead to suspicious activity.”