The last post for my blog about 7-11..

"I swear Boy Blunder, you are the biggest moron that I have ever known! How come you have so much trouble holding on to a job? You got fired again?" I had just broken the news to my cousin Sally in Kansas. Unfortunately, I'm now unemployed. It was my fault..I was reckless..And for that, I sincerely apologize. I know that they don't think to much of me right now, and I hope one day I can change their minds. When I first came back to 7-11, my soul purpose was to figure out a way to make a job like that different..Stretch the job as far as I could, so to speak. The people who own 7-11, they didn't really care about any of my ideas..But they never got in the way of them either..Anyways, I want to take this opportunity to thank my former bosses and co-worker's..It was a pleasure and I bare no hard feelings at all. My mother told me this a long time ago, it was after I got fired at another job:) "Jesus son! When are you going to stop acting like the village idiot? Do you know how embarrassing it is to have to tell people that you are my offspring?"

I chatted with a very intelligent Kansas guy today. He lives in Las Vegas, I'd been trying to meet up with him for quite some time..When I first started doing my research on him? I was astonished, at how accomplished he is..His specialty is hyper-local journalism. This gentlemen is the best in the business when it comes to hyper-local. Why is that so important to me? The last few years have been a time of change for me. Had to! I've been analyzing, pursuing, whatever you want to call it? Collective buying power..By now, most people are familiar with sites like Groupon and LivingSocial..Anyways, the process generated 2.5 billion in revenue for year 2011. Future revenue projections? By year 2015 analysts are predicting 8-10 billion! I'm 100% convinced that hyper-local is the future of CBP.

I was walking down Grand Canyon, on my way to INN-N-OUT for a Double-Double, when my phone rang. I looked at my caller ID, and when I saw it was him? I just about jumped out of my shoes. Anyways, we've gotten to know each other a little..I answer the phone, we exchange pleasantries, and then he tells me to give him my pitch. So I told him this.."The future of collective buying power is hyper-local. Here is what I'm envisioning. Put a site up, and then recruit a number of Guerrilla marketer's to help promote the site. But instead, of concentrating on a wide area. We narrow it down to a very defined area (hyper local). Picture this as a starting point. Start at Durango and Russell. Take Russell up to Hualipi. Take Hualipi all the way down to Charleston. Take Charleston all the way back to Durango..Durango back to Russell. This would be a nice little slice of SW Las Vegas. I don't know how many businesses are in this area? Most likely thousands. The area I'm pointing out is well populated, and it's a great part of town. Finding businesses for a service like this is easy..It just takes persistence. I've got tons of that! The trick is building an organic data base. If the right team is put together? Who knows how many you could get? I like the sounds of that. I can tell you one thing, this is my calling and I'll go to hell and back to try an make it work!" I had to let him know I mean business. Anyways, I asked him what he thought.."Hello are you their?" As usual the karma kings were looking the other way with me. My phone died during my spill:( so I have no idea how much he heard.

I like to think to myself a lot! After my phone died? I started thinking to myself..AGAIN.."A lot of people think you are a blithering idiot. The problem being? Most people don't understand what I'm talking about..Well, this guy? He knows exactly what I'm talking about, plus a 100x more. If some how I could get some direction from him. Who knows what would happen?"

One last thing, this is my last post for this blog..I promise everyone who is enjoying this blog. I'll be back soon with something 10x better..My blogging days are just getting started! Thanks..Rob Astle

The Mark Wahlberg fan club at 7-11..Part 5

I talked with my cousin Sally in Kansas today. Last time I chatted with her? Her mood was not very pleasant:( Anyways, I had something important to discuss with her. "I'm sorry for calling you a loser the other day. You know I didn't mean it. I was just pissed off about the game. Even though my Hawks came up a little short, I'm still super proud. I was just sniffing another national title. Oh well, I'm OK now..What's up?" I could tell right away that Cousin Sally was in a good mood:) Besides, I had to tell her something important. "Cousin Sally. I need to ask you something, not about business..I think I'm falling in love? Do you ever have those feelings anymore?" Cousin Sally has kicked a thousand guys to the curb, she's a real heart-breaker, but if anyone would know the answer to my question? It would be her, I thought cousin Sally was going to be nice to me today? I thought wrong.."Boy Blunder, if you've found a candidate for the third great one, just be sure to tell her what kind of fucking idiot you are." Oh well, she's my cousin Sally, and I love her.

Women and weather..Weather and women..I don't care how you say it. By now? Everyone should know what my two favorite things in Las Vegas are..The weather part is easy (78 & sunny)..The women part? Seriously, I'm running out of adjectives to describe them..In a few of my earlier posts, I mention how a regular at 7-11 is a big fan of Mark Wahlberg..Anyways, she brought her Mark Wahlberg loving self back into 7-11, and we resumed the conversation about our favorite thespian. "Do you think Mark Wahlberg will ever win an Oscar?" I've asked myself that question on a number of occasions, and to hear it come out of the mouth of a girl who looks like a Victoria Secrets' model? Well, it was like a dream come true. Besides, this is where my extensive knowledge about trivial shit, really comes into play.

"You better bet your blue boot's! Mark it down! No doubt about it! Mark Wahlberg will win an Oscar! It may not be for best actor..Maybe director? Supporting actor? Producer? Who knows for sure? It's going to happen! If I was an odds maker in Vegas? I would lay even money that he wins an Oscar in the next two years." When I saw this girl for the first time, and she told me that Mark Wahlberg was her favorite actor? Lets put it this way! That moment will be ingrained in my memory forever. Now, I've asked this girl out a number of times and each time she has said NO:( I still think their is a vibe between the two us, so I asked again.."What do ya say? Let's rent a few of his movies and make a date out of it? Come on..It will be fun." Well, to my chagrin:( My suggestion was rebuffed.."Mr. Blogger, how many times do I have to tell you no. Your just not my type, but I do like hearing your opinion about our favorite actor..Can I have my change now?"

After she left? I started thinking to myself..AGAIN.."This girl is everything you could ever want in a women! She's beautiful, charming, and to top it all off! Mark Wahlberg is her favorite actor. Maybe she could be a candidate for the third great one? The problem being? She ain't to interested in being a candidate for the third great one."

The spandex queen of 7-11..

Today I talked with my cousin Sally in Kansas again. I made the mistake of calling her when the University of Kansas was playing in the championship game. I knew better, and I wanted to apologize.."Cousin Sally I'm sorry for calling you at such an inconvenient time. For a minute or so I thought KU might be able to pull it off..Second place isn't that bad." I thought? Maybe? She would have calmed down a little from the last time I chatted with her. As usual, I was wrong.."Boy Blunder, first of all you should have known better. Don't bother me when I'm watching my Hawks! Boy Blunder, don't ever say second place isn't that bad. That's what losers like you think!" Sally was a very competitive person when she was young. Straight A's, prom queen, star athlete..All the things you would expect out of a solid mid west girl..Nowadays? All she wants to do is sit on the side line and criticize. Oh well, she's my cousin Sally, and I love her..

I was standing behind the counter waiting on customers, when I saw my friend Natalie come into the store. What's the best way to describe Natalie? It's like this. She was a very attractive women the first time I met her, now that she lost her baby fat? GULP..She makes her way through the line, we exchange pleasantries, and then I tell her this.."Looks like your getting ready to head for the gym?" She was wearing a spandex outfit that uhhh..uhhh..Well, let's put it like this..The outfit was very complimentary of her figure. Anyways, she looks at me, smiles, and says. "Headed to the gym for my yoga class, after that I'm going to sit in the steam room for a while, sweat off some of the alcohol that I drank this weekend."

After Natalie leaves..The next guy in line, I had never seen him before, tells me this.."Whew..Goodness, man, that was one of the best looking women that I have ever seen." What makes his statement funny but true? I hear those exact same words about 5x a day from a variety of male customers..After this guy left, I started thinking to myself..AGAIN.."It's amazing how well a lot of these Vegas/California girls keep themselves in shape. To say a lot of these women are well kept? That's an understatement!"

The karma queen of 7-11

I was talking with my cousin Sally today in Kansas. As usual, she was in a bad mood. Well, throw in the fact that her beloved Kansas Jayhawks lost in the title game, and her mood was twice as nasty..Anyways, she told me this.."You know that I don't like to be bothered while I'm watching my Hawks." Cousin Sally is an alumnus of the University of Kansas. She bleeds Crimson and Blue. "But still you call me when they are playing. I swear Boy Blunder, if I could reach through a telephone and choke some one. I would do it to you!" Back when I lived in Kansas? Cousin Sally and I used to go to a lot of KU games..Well, that was a long time ago, and the truth be told? I don't give a shit about any basketball game..Not Sally! When it comes to Kansas basketball? She puts the atical in fanatical.

In a previous post, I mention my friend Lacy..aka..The Royal Flush Queen..She hadn't been around 7-11 in a little while, but today? Well, she decided to bring her Royal Flush karma back into 7-11. Lacy is a little different from a lot of the beauties who come into my 7-11. I hate saying karma, because people tend to over use that word nowadays..I've racked my brain for a better word..Their ain't one..This girl has the absolute best karma I've ever experienced, and every time she comes into 7-11? She proves it:)

She makes her way through the line, we exchange pleasantries, and I told her this.."Where have you been? Know one has hit a Royal Flush since the last time you were in here." A lot of people think I'm being overly superstitious about her..I'm not..I've received a number of nice tips because of her karma, and it's not just me, a number of regular player's feel the same..Anyways, she looks at me with her luscious blue eyes, smiles, and says. "Working, going to school. All the same stuff." I've thought about asking her out on a few occasions, but then I thought again. I'm 98.5% sure what the answer will be. Besides, I don't want to mess up the karma she leaves behind for me.

After she left, I noticed that all of the machines were empty..I immediately told a couple of my friends who had just walked in to put a few dollars in one of the machines. Well, they did, and about half an hour after she left? You got it! Royal Flush. After that happened, I started thinking to myself AGAIN.."This girl would make an ideal candidate for the third great one. She's definitely not selfish. She shares her karma with me every time she comes into the store. I wonder if she's a Mark Wahlberg fan?"

The Whitey Bulger of 7-11..

I was talking with my cousin Sally in Kansas today, and she told me this.."Remember? When we were young, cruising the back roads of Kansas..Not a care in the world..I miss those days, and I can tell that you miss those days as well." Every once in a while cousin Sally will show her soft side..Before I go much farther, I need to clarify a few things about cousin Sally. First of all, she's not really my cousin, not blood anyways..Second, she's a girl from my home town in Kansas..The best way to describe cousin Sally? "Back in the day? She would have given any one of these girls in Las Vegas a run for their money. She was Playboy material..Now, she never bothered paying that much attention to me..We were always friends..Sally was way out of my league..I harp on Vegas girls all the time, but if their was ever a Las Vegas girl in Kansas, it would be cousin Sally..Back in the day, anyways."

What's the best way to describe 7-11? To me? Diversity is the word that comes to my mind..Throw in the fact that Las Vegas is a diverse town..Well, you catch my drift..Anyways, a regular at 7-11 is my friend Mickey. This is one interesting character, he was born and bred in South Boston, a Southie is how he describes himself. He moved to Las Vegas years ago, and was a professional bartender for many years. He's sinced retired, and nowadays? He spends most of his days gambling or thinking about gambling. The thing I like about Mickey the most? From the sounds of it, he's lived one helluva life.

"Uncle Whitey!" Every time I see Mickey come into 7-11, that's my standard greeting for him. Mickey grew up in South Boston during the Whitey Bulger era (For those of you not familiar with Whitey Bulger? Watch The Departed, the character Jack Nicholson portrays, is based on Whitey Bulger)..Well, whenever he comes in, we spend a few minutes chatting about politics, women, whatever the topic of the day is? Today? We spent a little time talking about our home town. I told him this about mine.."Small town Kansas, good place to raise a family, conservative, all the things you would expect in Kansas? My home town has. Tell me more about Whitey Bulger." His home town is a lot more interesting than mine, and like most everyone else in America. I love hearing stories about the mob. He then told me this:

"My grandmother, god bless her soul, babysitted Whitey Bulger and his brothers when they were youngsters. Even back then, they were a rambunctious group is what she told me. She lived in the same house in South Boston for 57 years. As she got older, Whitey and his crew would always check in on her. Let's put it this way. If anyone in South Boston back then, gave my grandparents any grief..They would have to deal with Uncle Whitey..No doubt he's a criminal, but during his time in South Boston, he took good care of my grandparents. No matter what the media or movies say, South Boston was a great place to live, as long as Uncle Whitey wasn't mad at you."

After Mickey leaves, I start thinking to myself AGAIN.."7-11 sure is an interesting and diverse place. If you want to be a writer/blogger? You had better have something interesting to share with your readers. No problem with that at 7-11."

The Olivia Newton-John of 7-11..

One of my favorite movie's of all-time? Grease..John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, the soundtrack, Grease Lightning..When I was a teen my first car was nicknamed...Grease Lightning:) Anyways, their is a girl who comes into 7-11 that is a dead ringer for Olivia Newton-John, and to top it all off, her name is Sandra..Oh, one more thing, she's originally from Austria. I know Olivia Newton-John is from Australia, not Austria. But to me? It's all the same. I've gotten to know her a little, so the other day when she came through the store? I had to let her know for the 20th time, that she was a dead-ringer for Olivia Newton-John. Well, she makes her way through the line, we exchange pleasantries, and I tell her this:

"You know, I watched Grease again, for the 100th time, did I ever tell you that you could have been a stunt double for Olivia Newton John?" I've hit on this girl about a 100x, and been rebuffed every single one. It's my persistence that keeps me going. So, I figured it was worth another shot. Again, you never know if you don't ask...Even Multiple times.."You know what? One of these days we should rent Grease, and a couple other Travolta/Newton-John movies, make a marathon out of it. What do ya say?" After I made the suggestion? Let's put it this way..I was about 98.5% sure that she was going to say no, but theirs always that 1.5%..Anyways, she looks at me and says:

"Every time I come in here, you tell me that I look like Olivia Newton-John..Thank-you, the comparison is very flattering..And your so persistent. How many times have I told you no? And you still keep asking." For a minute, I was starting to believe that I had worn her down. Maybe she would finally agree to go out with me? To my chagrin:( she added this to her conversation.."I'm busy, really busy. Your a very handsome and polite man, but your not the one for me..Can I have my change now?"

After she left, I started thinking about something a friend of mine in Vegas told me. "Dude you've got to get a fucking grip on how things work in this town. Your wanting a 10 girlfriend:), without a fucking dime to your name. You need to go back to the farm! Jethro.."

The Dr. Phil of 7-11..Part 4

"The great thing about 7-11? You see it all..From the bum on the street, to the hottest girl in town. At one time or another? They all come into 7-11.."

-Robert Joseph Astle


"Now, you write this really nice post about Las Vegas, and you mention how one of your friends at 7-11 is interested in your idea about Guerrilla Marketing. The problem with you? You miss the simple things. You don't spell Meghan with an h, the correct spelling of her first name is Megan (Cousin Sally was referring to the fact I misspelled Megan Fox name in a previous post) Spell check! You know I've been thinking more and more about your new nickname..Boy Wonder..I've decided to change it..The Boy part still fits..From now on I'm going to call you Boy Blunder..Yeah Boy fucking Blunder.. That's you!" Some times I wonder why I bother with cousin Sally? Nowadays? She never has anything nice to say about me. My biggest problem? I still  think of Sally as that girl I knew when I was young. The one who could kick any ass. The reality? Cousin Sally has gone soft on me..Oh well, she's my cousin Sally, and I love her.

READING POINT: The state of Nevada is working on legislation that will legalize online gaming, for the state (state by state issue)..I'm not to much into politics, but the words I'm hearing? Legalize and Tax! I know a lot of people who read this blog could care less about this..And that's fine..On the other hand, I don't want people telling me down the road.."Why didn't you tell me so.." My best guesstimate on when this happens? After the elections.. Let me put it this way.."It's not a matter of if online gaming will be legalized in this country..It's a matter of when!"

I was talking with my friend at 7-11 the other day, he asked me this.."When you live in Kansas, doe's everything end at midnight. I heard you can't even buy alcohol in a lot of places in Kansas." Now my friend is a youngin'. He's stereotyped a lot of people from the mid west. I had to let him know that things weren't that bad in Kansas..So I told him this.."You've been watching to much Wizard of Oz. I'm going to give you a subtle difference between the two. When I visited Kansas a while back? I went into a 7-11 after midnight and tried to buy some beer. The clerk told me that he couldn't sell it to me, and that I would have to come back at noon..Kansas has a state law prohibiting the sell of alcohol in convenience stores from 12AM-12PM..Now, Las Vegas on the other hand..No such law exists..You can buy alcohol and gamble 24/7..Doe's that kind of give you an idea of how the two differ?" My friend looks at me and says.."So what do people in Kansas do for fun? It sounds like the sidewalks roll up at midnight." I thought for a few moments before I answered him.."Well, that's easy! They come to Las Vegas."