The crazy American

[northpaw]

So I've got the day off, and I decided to finally bite the bullet and spend a while lapping an old barber's hone that's been gathering dust. I headed for the neighborhood paint store, where I knew they carried different kinds of sandpaper.

I'm still learning the language, so I have to ask my wife for special phrases now and then. I walked in and recited for the young guy behind the counter "I speak only a little Macedonian. I need good, quality paper *pointing at the sandpaper* that won't quickly wear out". The guy nodded, then proceeded to say a whole bunch of stuff I didn't really understand. It sounded like he ended by asking me what I needed to sand. I'd brought the hone with me, so I pulled it out of my pocket, said "for shaving", and tried to pantomime lapping the hone and honing a razor.

The guy stared at me, bewildered, then, with a quizzical expression, he took the hone, wrapped a sheet of sandpaper around it, and pretended to rub it against his cheek!

I gave up on explaining things at that point, so I bought some 100, 280, and 600 grit sheets and left. I reckon he'll be telling his buddies that Americans like 100 grit for the first pass!

 

[smokelaw1]

LOL! That's awesome, thanks for sharing.
"No, really, guys...he shaves with sandpaper around a rock!"

 

[thunderball]

Ha! That's hilarious. You should have given him a real fright: shake your head, take the sandpaper-encased hone from him and pantomime rubbing the thing on yer nether regions... Crazy Americans!

 

[mdunn]

crazy Macedonian for even thinking about shaving with sandpaper!

 

[blackfoot]

That is hilarious! Way to represent!

 

[ADRSPACH]

Is that american version of dry shaving? When you want look cool with litle bit of bristle left use 100 grit. on the other hand to be smooth like babies bottom 2000 and higher grit is required.

 

[thunderball]

Is that american version of dry shaving? When you want look cool with litle bit of bristle left use 100 grit. on the other hand to be smooth like babies bottom 2000 and higher grit is required.

And surely some sort of electric tool (belt sander? buffing wheel?) would be required to get that hi-gloss metrosexual shine the ladies these days seem to love.

 

[blackfoot]

And surely some sort of electric tool (belt sander? buffing wheel?) would be required to get that hi-gloss metrosexual shine the ladies these days seem to love.

 

[tpoof]

he'll be telling his buddies that Americans like 100 grit for the first pass!

and they will all want to try it...
start by sanding with the 100 grit, then move to the 280, then on to the 600 grit, followed by some chrome ox rubbed on the face then finally slapped around with a leather strop....
hey..BBS...

 

[ouch]

I reckon he'll be telling his buddies that Americans like 100 grit for the first pass!

I guess we can check Macedonia off the list of possible invading nations.

 

[michael.scheller]

I guess we can check Macedonia off the list of possible invading nations.

Uhh.. I guess you never heard of a simple little Macedonian boy named Alex?

 

[ogopogo]

Uhh.. I guess you never heard of a simple little Macedonian boy named Alex?

Different Macedonia. The modern nation is Slavic, not to be confused with the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia or the modern region in Greece by the same name.

 

[Nadir M]

Too funny!

 

[michael.scheller]

Different Macedonia. The modern nation is Slavic, not to be confused with the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia or the modern region in Greece by the same name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(region)

I'm not confused. But the people of the region highly contest either viewpoint. I dare anyone to go to downtown Skopje, Macedonia and state loudly that "The real Macedonia is in Greece!!" or to go to Thessaloniki and state "Phillip and Alexander are from the country to our north!"

I actually didn't notice the OP was writing from Skopje when I wrote my post, I only noticed that he spoke of speaking Macedonian which is spoke in both countries.

I will almost wager that you are of Greek descent; I meant no insult to you. I know this is a highly emotional subject in the region.

But the fact remains that the lands ruled by Phillip of Macedon and his son Alexander included much of the current "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". These lands were later invaded and conquered by Slavs who forced out Macedonia's Greek ethnic composition. So, you sir, have a good point that old Macedonia and the new Macedonia are not the same people.

 

[ogopogo]

I actually didn't notice the OP was writing from Skopje when I wrote my post, I only noticed that he spoke of speaking Macedonian which is spoke in both countries...

I will almost wager that you are of Greek descent; I meant no insult to you. I know this is a highly emotional subject in the region.
.... So, you sir, have a good point that old Macedonia and the new Macedonia are not the same people.

Well, I didn't take offense, and I can see that you didn't know where the OP was writing from. I don't agree with the modern inhabitants of the Republic of Macedonia laying claim to Alexander as one of their own since he simply isn't, no matter how you look at it...but that's a theme for another thread in another forum.

Anyway, the OP's story was hilarious, it gave me a good chuckle.

 

[michael.scheller]

Anyway, the OP's story was hilarious, it gave me a good chuckle.

I agree. I also though it slightly funny that Ouch didn't see the relationship between the region and one of the greatest military commanders of history.

My experience is that the FYROM Macedonians lay no claim to Alexander. I wonder if they refer to him as Greek or Hellenic?

 

[blackfoot]

I have to admit, this was new information to me. I appreciate the geography lesson.

 

[SavantStrike]

I have to admit, this was new information to me. I appreciate the geography lesson.

It's always educational here. Always.

 

[ogopogo]

I agree. I also though it slightly funny that Ouch didn't see the relationship between the region and one of the greatest military commanders of history.

My experience is that the FYROM Macedonians lay no claim to Alexander. I wonder if they refer to him as Greek or Hellenic?

Well, looking at their flag I would think otherwise.

 

[Fnord5]

Uhh.. I guess you never heard of a simple little Macedonian boy named Alex?

Regardless of which Macedonia he came from, do you think he would invade a country whose people shaved with straight razors that came fresh off a 100 grit hone? I know I wouldn't.