Yeah You Right

Wednesday, September 29, 2004
 
Consumerism
So I got this big four-year "retention" bonus from my firm. Not big in the Shearson Lehman sense, I suppose, but big for this small town boy. Retention, not in the "you're carrying so much water weight we feel sorry for you" sense, but the "you're still here? have some money" sense.

So I got the big payoff and here's what I've purchased:

• Night on the town for me and the Boy -- ie., all the tuna tartare one can eat at Twist and tickets to Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow;

• Two front tires, Toyo Proxes FZ4 (marketed as for the "Luxury Sedan," but placed on the 1995 Mazda 626);

• 10 chances at winning 1996 Cadillac limo tricked up in LSU colors (deductible);

• charitable contribution to the church that runs the Boy's school (deductible, plus garners discount rate for tuition -- enlightened self interest, baby);

• Yamaha PSR-275 61-key computer-ready keyboard (the Boy is getting into music; next, drum kit);

• RCA Lyra RD1090 256mb mp3 player (hey, digital music bandwagon, can I time-warp back to 1999 and jump on?);

• CDs:

    • every Hound Dog Taylor CD not already-owned;

    • Shemekia Copeland, Talking To Strangers (Johnny Copeland's daughter; produced by Dr. John);

    • Jane Monheit, Taking A Chance On Love (the new hot jazz babe);

    • Von Bondies, Pawn Shoppe Heart;

    • Little Sonny Jones, New Orleans R&B Gems;

    • Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark;

• DVDs:

    • The Kid Stays In The Picture;

    • Lost In Translation;

    • No Doubt: The Videos 1992-2003 (or, as I call it, Gwen in my den);

    • The Director's Series, The Work of Spike Jonze;

    • Star Wars Trilogy (I don't care how much angst diehard film fans get over after-the-fact digital re-editing, to a 10-year-old, those Tie Fighters sound really cool in 5.1 Dolby Surround);

    • re-stocking the store of Kentucky Spirit;

• new tennis shoes for the Boy (to accomodate pre-ALTA tennis lessons);

• custom framing:

    • LSU 2004 Sugar Bowl panoramic print (w/ticket);

    • Pregame at Tiger Stadium photo;

    • custom matte for print of vintage Sunset Boulevard one-sheet;

    • Sammy Davis Jr. Now (1972) fold-out album cover

Don't know that the list is representative of anything except stuff I've been wanting. I've heard tell of other people taking this bonus and buying a new car or somesuch. Maybe it means all I'm looking for in life is a bunch of moderately priced junk.

 - posted by Tommy Paycheck @ 1:03 AM   |    permalink    |   
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