Sign Spinners, 100 degree temperatures, and the "Chinese Menu Guy"

So we've already had an interesting first week in California. We've been very busy trying to get the house ready (in other words we're painting, cleaning, and doing general fix ups around the house) and have little time to do other things. But we decided to take a minor break on Sunday and while we were still running errands, we were at least away from the house. Cruising around town, I've noticed an increase in "sign spinners". If you don't know what a sign spinner is, it's basically a person hired to stand on a corner of a busy intersection, holding a sign with the business logo, attempting to drum up business. I rarely saw this style of advertisement in Hilo and I saw a few on Oahu. But they definitely didn't have the personality of some of these guys. They're out there spinning the sign (sometimes attached to a tri-pod, sometimes attached to themselves), throwing it up in the air, even doing a little dance or two. I thought, "Wow, some of these guys really take pride in their job". They definitely get attention and it must work in bringing in business because a lot of people are doing it. Most often the advertisements are for new developments but I'm seeing them for restaurants, AT&T, even a psychic.

They are the object of ridicule by some, but I find it hard to rag on these people. In this economy, I can appreciate people doing whatever they can to make ends meet even if it means taking a job that is rather undesirable. They stand out in the sun all day, acting like a goof, and they get laughed at and pointed at for their efforts. At least they don't have to wear a costume which I think would be suicide in this heat. But they're out there every weekend trying to earn some money. At least they're making an effort, which can't be said for everyone without a job.

Did I mention that it's hot here? Not the same kind of heat like Hawaii. It's not that dewey, sweet humid heat. It's that desert, arid, dry heat. We made it all the way up to 107 on Sunday. And yes it is uncomfortable, but so far, I'm not finding it unbearable. It is a different heat than Hawaii, but heat is heat, it's always going to be uncomfortable. One of the many positives I have in our new house (besides A/C) is the construction. The house is insulated very well. And remains remarkably cool despite not having the A/C on. Let's hope it stays that way.

And finally, I had my first encounter with the "Chinese Menu Guy" which is what I call all solicitors who stick crap in your door. With new houses still being built in this development, businesses come by daily to leave a flyer or business card or whatever in your door. If they're lucky (and you're unlucky) they'll catch you and talk to you for a bit. Well, of course we have the house opened up since we're working on it. The windows are open, the garage door is up, and we're milling about the house. We're easy prey for these people. So the doorbell rings and before we have time to shut off the radio and duck behind the fireplace, my father-in-law answers the door. Automatically I hear him call, "Matt, someone here at the door for you." Gritting my teeth I walk to the front door and my father-in-law gives me a smart ass smirk as I pass him. Standing in the doorway is a girl in her twenties with a clip board in hand and a fanny pack around her waist. "Hello sir!" she cheerfully says. I'd like to talk to you about your pest control options. I kind of snicker at this because in Hawaii, I'd deal with all pest control the same way, with the "Hawaiian Fly Swatter" a.k.a a big, rubber slipper. So being the nice guy that I am, I decide to listen to her presentation. It will include a walk around the house so she can point out problem areas that I might want to address. So she takes a quick look around and notices that we have no furniture, no paintings, no nothing in the house. She sees the paint cans and drop cloths and what not. She turns to me and says, "So you haven't been living here long?" Again, I snicker. "Not really," is my reply. She says, "So you haven't noticed if there are any bugs in the house?" Again, my reply is, "Not really." So she walks around the house and points out a few things to me. Then she presents me with what her company will do. In the back of my mind, I think, "Gee, this is pretty much what I'd do anyway if a pest problem should exist." And then she asks if I'm interested in the pricing. I politely tell her, "I'd like to live in the house for a little while to see what it's like. And then I'll call you. Do you have a card?" Of course I probably won't call them unless something really bad happens. But until then, I'll have my big rubber slipper ready.

Once again, I can't rag on these people because at least they're out there trying to make a living. But I reserve a little disdain for them because they come right up to your house. And some of them can be damn pushy (luckily for me, this girl was not). It's advertising you can't ignore because it follows you home. At least the sign spinners stay on the corner.