It's the customers which insult you that drive you crazy. It was a simple request. She wanted the music for Claire De Lune and Für Elise. In the same book. I know I've got it but danged if I know what particular book will pull those precise pieces together. OK, so she'll buy the sheet music. I've got both of those, right? Well, I did, but those two titles sold quickly. They're all gone. 6 of each. I've got a beginner-level Für Elise with CD and might be able to find Claire in one of my other collections. Nope. Has to be advanced level. So then she starts railing on and on that it's because people like me are merchants and not musicians that we're totally incompetent. Do you play anything? I mentioned that I also played music. Metallica is on the CD. She says, and you probably play music like that. Fair enough. She wasn't there long enough to get a cross sample. But because she has such a shallow opinion of my inability to find the friggin' book she wants I can't measure up to much. Probably never even heard of those songs, right? And I had to do the shopping for her while she sat in my chair and hurled insults at me because her back was hurting. I was ready to throw her out. Or open up the cupboards full of unfiled books and start throwing every classical one at her. Didn't. Sanity prevailed. She finally bought a book, and I've no idea if it had anything she wanted.

Why didn't I blow up? She's got something. A guitar. A guy died and left it to her. Probably pretty good. Probably pretty old. Fear turns to greed.

Later in the day now. This one stunk. A returned flute. She already exchanged it for a brand-new one yesterday. She bought the first one whilst I was away, but I knew of the transaction. Nothing wrong with this one that I can tell. The kids' teacher claimed it wasn't worth scrap metal. I checked with one of my teachers. No, nothing horrifically wrong. But after already exchanging it yesterday for one that really was a bit out of whack (fixable) she insisted on a refund. Ouch. Five hundred bucks off the cash flow. Legally I can point to my 'No refunds or exchanges' sign, but this ceases to become a legal issue. My customer is totally unhappy with their purchase and it's a non-trivial amount. Do the right thing and fork over the grocery money without one harsh word. Save those for as soon as she's out of sight...

Wasn't it only about a week ago that judge wouldn't let the defendant plead guilty? This time it's Moussaui. What's wrong with this justice system? You can't even fess up? Now in his case I'm solidly against the death penalty. Let him rot instead. We don't need to be creating any more martyrs.