Tales of the Grocery-Store Parking Lot!

Well, Ariane's had another birthday, and I was informed early on she wanted a new phone. And not just **ANY** phone; an new Motorola ROKR mp3-playing phone.

Why? To replace the one stolen when she was mugged.

I'd better start over, hadn't I?

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Ariane works in the southeast part of San Antonio. It's not the best part of town; it's poor, but not exactly prime real estate territory. You know what I'm saying here?

Anyway, she somtimes goes to the local grocery store (called "H.E.B.") to pick up something from the deli for lunch. One day last August she did just that. She was on her way out through the parking lot when she saw this kid walking towards her in the parking lot. He was walking very slowly and eyeing her oddly, so she wondered if he was lost or something. About that time the little punk snatched her purse and ran like a bandit (which, in fact, he *was*.)

Much to his surprise, hot on his heels was the lovely and gracious Miss Ariane in heated pursuit; screaming bloody murder at the little shit who snatched her purse. He high-tailed it to a waiting car and Ariane just missed grabbing him, so she -- get this, now -- JUMPS IN FRONT OF THE GETAWAY CAR and slams her palms on the hood, telling the punks to give her the purse back, NOW!!!

Fortunately a bystander pulled her away right before the little bastards would've run her down to get away. The better news is that she caused such a commotion that they got good pictures on the the TV cameras in the parking lot and a dozen eyewitnesses for when they catch the little punks.

Coincidentally, that turned out to be not too very long afterwards. Turns out the punk slammed his hand in the door in his hurry to get away from Ariane. So he went to University Hospital (the local hospital of choice for indigents, punks, and folks who want to remain anonymous and skip out on their bills) and when told he needed ID to be treated, he pulled out his cellphoone to call his mom to bring his wallet.

But his new cellphone was turned off; most likely because I'd had Ariane's credit cards and phone deactivated when I found out about the mugging. He got so angry he threw the phone down the hallway and caused a scene cursing and screaming -- which attracted the attention of the cops always on duty at University Hospital ER. They checked the phone -- the screen said it was stolen (Thank You, Cingular!) -- he was arrested, and promptly ratted out his little friends -- and is currently awaiting trial.

So -- the finale of all that is that Ariane needed a new phone for her birthday. Got it?

As much as a technophobe as she is, Ariane wanted one of these new Motorola ROKR phones that besides being anifty little American-made phone is also an MP3 player of no small capacity. She immediately got herself a subscription to Napster and has been downloading lots of French singers and European music of her childhood that I've never heard of, certainly.

Plus her friends at work are completely in awe of the little gadget, which is roughly the same dimensions and weight as a pack of cigarettes, but plays for hours on a charge. (It's the same one pictured at the top of this post, if you're interested.)

So, now you know. Never mess with my wife -- she's mean when agitated.

~~JD~~