I have two fetishes that are somewhat out of the ordinary. As far as fetishes go.
The first is maps and general cartography. I have openly admitted I will cross the street to go look at a map. The same can’t be said for your average porn. People tend to judge you if you get hit by a bus because of a naked women. The same isn’t true for a sweet piece of equirectangular projection.
My other fetish is time. I always want to know it. If I don’t have access to a watch, I tend to get antsy. I am one of the few people who still use a wristwatch instead of consulting a cellphone. (Looking at the wrist is faster than shuffling for a largish rectangle and pressing a button. Keeps your hands free too.) It is always there, through sleep, showers and [redacted].
I wonder what a psychologist would say about these two obsessions? Do I feel the need to be in control of my environment at all times? Is this because I feel so out of control of my life that I am compensating in other areas? Maybe a need to have knowledge of my surroundings?
It is the latter compulsion that is my current contention.
For the past month I’ve been noticing that my wristwatch is getting dimmer. If I used the light option (or Indiglo) the face would disappear entirely. So it was not without complete surprise that on November 22nd it decided it had had enough of life and gave up completely. i.e. The battery died.
I have used a Timex Ironman for almost all my life. There was a point where I could say I had the exact same watch on my wrist for half my life. Sure the wristband needed changing every so often, but the watch I had since grade eight survived me a long time. Then the buttons started to break in half and that was that. Since then, I haven’t had a watch that lasted more than four years. (I might be exaggerating, but I think that’s about it. The average is definitely below that.)
In the past decade, the quality of Ironman watches has gone down in other areas. Chiefly the watchband. The bands are now non-standard and are integrated into the watch. It is much harder to replace them. Once I had to replace the band by sending it into Timex. The weeks where it was gone were not pretty. Living in a constant state of fear of not knowing the time of day.
Now this watch I’m currently using is, maybe, a year old. So the battery dying this soon? Feels like I’ve been gypped. I certainly don’t want to send it into Timex in Ontario to get it fixed. And that watchband certainly looks like it would be in the way of taking off the back. I looked around to see what my options were. London Drugs couldn’t help, but they suggested Sears.
I went to Sears. It was not the greatest experience. I went to the watch department where the counter was empty of anyone resembling a retailer. I waited, occasionally going back to customer service to ask if the watch department was even open. On one of those annoying trips, someone did come to man the counter, and a pair of girls boggarted her. When I finally did get help, I was told that I should have been in the watch repair department. It’s over there.
Over there, I found a nice oriental man who was happy enough to replace my watch battery with a minimum of fuss and at a reasonable price. I made sure that he put the watch back on the correct side up. (I’ve had experiences where it was placed upside down which allows the watch to continue to function, but prevents it from making any sounds.) I also confirmed that it wouldn’t affect the waterproofing at all. If there were any problems, I had the receipt and could come back.
Two days later I noticed that it was starting to fill with water. That is not a design feature.
So, last Tuesday I went back to Sears and made my way to the watch repair department. This time there was a Hispanic woman manning the counter. She wasn’t nearly as helpful, and said that it would take them 3-4 weeks to send the watch back. Fine, I guess I have to. Not happy about it though. The agreement threw her, and she then started saying that I would need to speak to the supervisor. She’ll be in tomorrow during the day. Well, I work regular hours, I won’t be in. Okay, she’ll be in on Saturday from nine to two. Okay. I’ll return then.
Today, I drove through snow and incompetent Edmonton drivers to get to Sears. The same Hispanic woman was behind the counter. She was surprised to see me. The supervisor wasn’t in. She had changed her schedule. Try tomorrow.
I was making an effort to be polite and calm. I did not what to be that entitled customer who yells at people. I’m wondering if the tone of my voice was a little too stiff. She offered to phone the supervisor. I didn’t hear what was decided as she was speaking Spanish into the phone. The only word I recognized was “Amigo.” I think that was me.
She once again said that I could come in tomorrow to speak to the supervisor. I asked, “Do I have a choice?” She seemed somewhat meek when she shook her head.
I have passed through fear. I’m onto anger. Hate is coming up next.