Billy Meets Rondo

On most Saturdays, Billy and Matt scope out suburban stores. The final store selection is not an easy determination. Oh not at all! Billy cavorts, haggles, and negotiates with Matt every Thursday night prior to the weekend. With great deliberation and many retractions like the infamous voice output button–“I changed my mind”, Billy makes his final choice. Trust me, you don’t want to be in my kitchen on Thursday nights when Matt and Billy are deal making on the device. Billy sits on a chair next to the device situated on the kitchen counter and Matt stands on the mirror side. The tension that exudes from the two of them is reminiscent of traders in the bullpen at the end of a day. From my vantage point, the ambiance does not lend itself to a calm or relaxing evening at home. The upside is that on Saturday Billy and Matt are in the car cruising to some retail establishment. Oh yeah!

Billy would make a great retail manager. When he walks into any given establishment, he knows immediately if a display is missing, moved or no longer on the floor. Apparently he also visually scans select clientele. One recent trip Billy and Matt went to Blockbuster. Always with black ray bans on in public, Billy started his scouting mission down the aisle. In full stride, Billy suddenly stopped, turned around and looked up. In order to capture his full height, Billy moved his glasses to the tip of his nose and well stared. Yes it was Rondo, the starting star guard for the Boston Celtics. But Billy didn’t know that. What he did know was this guy was in another league and Billy has always intuitively been impressed by athletes. So Rondo and Billy met. After Rondo and Billy had selected their respective merchandise, Billy and Matt stood in line behind Rondo. As they waited in line, Billy performed one of his notorious jumps which is a lifelong habit. Rondo recognized the kid’s talent and remarked “he can jump”. Yes Rondo, Billy sure can!

Really? Have the dough but no go

Weekend update with Matt and Billy-May 2010

Saturday afternoon, Matt and Billy walk into subway for lunch. Matt places the usual order pepperoni sub with mayo (I just found out- disgusting).

The lady behind the counter says that they have dough but not the bread if you wait 15 minutes, the bread load will be ready. Have you ever gone to subway and been told that they are out of the major staple? It’s like going to Starbucks and being told that they are out of coffee. But if you wait. . .

WAIT is not Billy’s favorite word particularly when he’s painstakingly reviewed all his choices on his device and communicated seamlessly to Matt his final selections in the interim. Matt has also been told there is a flat bread available. It’s time to play high stakes poker. Never missing a beat in the conversation, Matt tells the lady to start loading the flat bread.

Like Matt’s bodyguard, Billy scrutinizes everything the lady does. It is a tense moment and then relief. Billy will let this slide. The alternative would have been a deal breaker.