loose knob and chicken swarma

Ok I’m a freakin criminal, or at least I think like one sometimes. Yesterday I bought a volume control knob from my usual electronics store. This store has stuff all over the place in little bins and cardboard boxes. Some of the parts look like they’ve been sitting there for ages. So I bought this big-ass silver volume control knob with the least scratches out of a dusty cardboard box. I figured I would pay $4.50 for a slightly scratched, dusty one versus $8.00 for one all packaged up nicely. Yeah, $4.50 for a metal knob but that’s another rant for another day.

Last night I got home from work excited about my new knob (can my life get anymore exciting?) and right after dinner went to work on the headphone amp. Two fuck’s sakes. First, the knob didn’t fit properly. After sliding the knob onto the shaft of the volume control, there was still a big gap between the knob and the case. Second, the little screw that secures the knob in place was missing. I never bothered to check when I bought the knob. I was not pleased. I can live with a big gap but I cannot live with a loose knob.

Today I thought about going back to the store and exchanging the knob but who wants to go through the hassle of exchanging a $4.50 part? Then I thought about going back to the store and looking in that dusty cardboard box for the missing screw and, ah, reclaiming what was rightfully mine. Or liberating a screw from another knob. But that’s basically shoplifting even though it was just the tiniest, little screw. After my conscience and sanity returned, I went to buy my lunch instead. I’m sure I can scrounge up a crummy, old screw somewhere at home.

So I found a new place to buy my lunch. It’s a little Mediterranean deli, or at least that’s what the sign says. There’s a nice little, bald, Greek/Egyptian man (I just found out today after some woman asked if he was Greek – Greek father, Egyptian mother) who runs it and the food is pretty interesting. It’s not the cheapest or tastiest but it does have that healthy, home-cooked essence to it; at least it’s better than Subway or McShits. Monday I ordered something called a koshory, which is lentils, rice and macaroni topped with tomato sauce and fried onions. It was pretty good, and filling, and only $4.00. Today I had roast chicken with rice and veggies. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go for the chicken swarma.