Doing Business on Idaho's Craigslist

Craigslist is an amazing tool if you're looking for some extra cash, or a fun mormon hook-up.  (I just wish you could find other thinks like mobile poker apps on it.)  Recently, I decided to sell my old Wii system, since it has been sitting in a box for about 6 months.

I first took it to the local 'buy back' place, thinking I could get a deal.  When they offered me $35 for the whole lot, and told me all the on-board games would be lost (they have to do a factory reset before reselling) I knew I would have to find a buyer on my own.

I put it up on Craigslist, and almost immediately got a hit.  Someone was interested, but wasn't free until Tuesday (4 days from now).  After some back-and-forth, I decided to keep it for him.

Tuesday came along, and they wanted to meet at the local Home Depot.  Why?  No fucking idea.  I waited, and about 20 minutes later a car finally pulled up next to me.

The person I was dealing with was named Raul.  The person exiting the car looked more like Consuela from Family Guy, and didn't speak a lick of English.

She points at me, and simply said "Wii?"  I nod.  She starts to look through the box, see the games, the system, the controllers, then she puts it down and gets on her phone.

She starts talking to someone, in Spanish.  I don't speak Spanish really well, but I understand enough of it to hear she was trying to 'get a deal from the white boy.'

She hands me the phone.  It's Raul.

Raul is TEN YEARS OLD and starts negotiating with me...

I didn't budge, he started to whine, and thought he could win me over.  So he asked me to give the phone back to his mom.  They talked, mom kept saying 'try THIS on the white boy, try THAT on the white boy.'

She hands me the phone again.  The kid starts to negotiate again.  I respond, in my white-boy spanish, "Stop playing around, child.  Do you want this Wii or not?"  Mom shits herself then and there.  Kid hangs up.  Mom pays full price, and glares at me while driving away.

It was fantastic.

Sorry peeps, I grew up in the California ghetto.  I'm not your average corn-fed Idahoan...  That shit doesn't fly with me.

An Amazing Story of Charity (and it involves Mormons!!)

'Tis the season.

'Tis the season to shop, buy, decorate, feast and enjoy company with friends and family.

...but for those that have less, 'tis the season for colder weather, scarce food, and hard living.

Christmas always leaves me feeling a little hollow, because it feels like it's all about presents and shopping and gorging and excess.  I feel for the needy this time of year, because I have so much.  And the point of this holiday season is to buy more and get more.  'Tis the season, for me, to help others in need.  To help pick up those who have been knocked down, and to make the season more meaningful.

When I saw this story pop up on my newsfeed, a tear came to my eye:

When a Mormon Bishop dresses up like a homeless man and panhandles in front of his ward, it's an eye-opening experience for all.  It's very easy to ignore people in need.  When they find out they shunned someone THEY KNEW, everything changed...

This lesson, and the reaction from the churchgoers, is a much-needed one.  I'm not saying to give everything you have for the needy, or you're a horrible person unless you donate your time at a local soup kitchen, but think about what you have.

If you can, give.  Not to the Salvation Army and those annoying bell-ringers, but to your local community.  Give to your local food bank.  The animal shelter.  Head Start programs.

Something local, something small.  A place that will make a difference.  I prefer donating food and money to my local food bank.  It stays within the community, they have small overhead costs (unlike the salvation army, where a HUGE CHUNK of your donation goes to administrative costs and salaries) and it makes a noticeable difference to those in need.

As much as I rail on the Mormon church, this was a well-taught lesson, and one we all need to reflect on.

'Tis the season.  Do what you can.