tmcg: (gargoyle)
[personal profile] tmcg
I hereby announce the Gilhoolie Awards. These awards, of which I hope there will be many, will be bestowed at will, and at times without the recipient's knowledge, on people or things that, usually in a random act of senseless efficiency or kindness, Make My Life Easier.

The Gilhoolie, also known as "the gizmo," is an ancient family heirloom, a metal gripper that helps twist off recalcitrant caps. It seems to no longer be produced by any company, although there are many comparable cap-twisters on the market. No longer being produced by any company is not a criterion for consideration for a Gilhoolie Award. Judging for the Gilhoolie Award is at my sole discretion and, moreover, at whim.

The recipient of the first Gilhoolie Award, in fact the motivation for the very founding of the award, goes to an unnamed checkout clerk at Waldbaum's. She guided customers through her line with preternatural speed and the authority of a security officer at an airport. "Have your club card out," she exhorted each customer who joined the line, addressing everyone as "mama" or "papi" with a delightful ethnic egalitarianism. "Have your credit card out, or your check card if you're paying by check." The woman ahead of me was paying by check, and received special instructions as the clerk was scanning her order through. When I got there, she scanned and bagged, I bagged and carted; it was an efficient, graceful, coordinated dance. I have never gotten through a checkout line faster. It was a thing of beauty.

There was a runner-up, an object that has slipped my mind. I'll update when I remember.

Honorable mention goes to another unnamed grocery clerk (I must learn to read nametags) who told me where I could buy Brita filters for a lot less than I was paying there. Making my life less expensive doesn't strictly meet the criteria, but is close enough for acknowledgment.

The first Gilhoolie Grand Master Award goes, on general principles, to Tom Powers, who just makes everyone's life easier when he can and is a way-cool guy.


Date: 2003-10-24 10:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helcat.livejournal.com
Golly. I haven't talked to Tom in the longest damned time. Thanks for the mental minder to look him up.

Date: 2003-10-25 05:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrymcgarry.livejournal.com
Did you decide to make it down to WFC? He'll be there. I hope you will!

Date: 2003-10-26 01:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helcat.livejournal.com
I'll be there, though I haven't bought a membership. I'm hoping to get a mix of WFC and Halloween among DC goths in there. I have enough for a membership, but I'm just hedging on whether I shouldn't just bask in the atmosphere and WRITE. Historically I've always been most productive after a WFC and then hit a snag afterwards because of relationship snafus that seemed to follow the con. THis year I have three stories to finish and I'm bound and determined to do at least one of them there. I've had a record productive run on the novel in the last six weeks (32K words) so I'm just going to keep pushing. But i will, at least, be present, and not having a membership should keep me out of the dealer's room where I burn too much (more) money.

That said, if you hear of someone trying to unload a membership...

Date: 2003-10-30 05:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrymcgarry.livejournal.com
I'm psyched you'll be there! You can always borrow my badge if need be to get into something you really want to see or do. I'm going to bask in the company, so I don't know how much programming I'll attend, beyond the autographing.

Hmm, you're probably en route. See you there!

Date: 2003-10-30 05:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helcat.livejournal.com
I'm arriving tomorrow! Dropping Kieran off at BWI around ten, so I'll be down in time for lunch. I'm staying with Jim, so I'll be sure to find you guys.

Date: 2003-10-30 05:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrymcgarry.livejournal.com
Great! I'm getting in to Union Sta. around 2pm, so I'll see you in early afternoon, I hope.

Date: 2003-10-24 11:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] akaspeedo.livejournal.com
Hmm. I am reading this just having returned from said Waldbaums. I did not have the same checkout clerk, however. Boo.

Date: 2003-10-25 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrymcgarry.livejournal.com
Most of them are okay, but not up to this level. And I like using the automated checkout when I can. I love its voice. "Move...your...Chi-ci-ta...ba-na-nas...to...the belt...."

Date: 2003-10-26 02:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thenetwork.livejournal.com
I loove the automated check-out. When you put a six-pack of beer on it, it says "this is... an age-restricted item... Set it aside... and a clerk will assist you..."

Then nobody comes and the six-pack is yours free and clear. *g*

Date: 2003-10-29 05:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrymcgarry.livejournal.com
LOL! That happened to me with coffee once. Coffee beans just weren't on the menu anywhere, so I just tossed them back in my cart and kept scanning. When I was done, I shrugged and bagged them. Alas, they've since rectified that omission.

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