I had a couple of experiences in the last two weeks that made me wonder about the local moniker City of Brotherly Love. I’ll just touch on the highlights.

• I was asking a guy sitting next to an empty bench if he planned to sit down. He said no. Just as I was about to sit down, some total other guy walked right in front of me and sat down exactly where I was about to park. I explained my situation and he told me he didn’t care. Too bad.
• I was buying something at the local deli and they were running my debit card. I stepped aside so this guy next to me could check out. He moved in the direction I moved, so I moved the other way — and then he moved the other way, too. I was thinking this guy is a moron — but I was thinking it silently. He pipes up and says, ”Stop friggin’ dancing.” Isn’t that nice?
• I buy something from Cinnebon and realize I need a plastic fork. I take a fork from this chinese buffet place dispenser that I’m standing next to. The guy at the buffet starts yelling at me and threatening to call mall security. Admittedly, I think this was the only real breach of etiquette that I crossed, but I didn’t think it deserved contact with The Man. I quickly left — still in possession of my pilfered plastic fork.

I also get a lot of good behavior from my fellow man while I’m here, but since it’s more interesting to remember the bad versus the good, I’m presenting the bad so that the good will make me remember that I had the bad. This makes sense to me. If it doesn’t make sense to you, please let me know and I’ll draw a yellow picture in the snow.

This weekend, I went to Lowe’s and bought packing boxes and sarah wrap tape. You wind this around things to protect them, plus it’s not sticky. It’s a little unwieldy, but I’m getting used to it. My truck for moving is scheduled for pickup first thing Monday morning. The trip that I’m going to take will easily take up two days. I’m going to have my SIRIUS S50 satellite receiver in the car to keep me entertained. I’ll also have Chew Chew strapped into the passenger seat. I’m thinking about calling him Fred temporarily. I’ll ask him to hang on to his *ss whenever the Bandit shows up, perhaps. I’m going to turn my move from PA to MN into my next podcast, so stay tuned. Marky and the Bandit, anyone?