Archive for September, 2010

Epic Fail

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

It is cosmically not fair that I was trying to make myself a half not horrible for me snack and I managed to burn myself in the process.

It’s even worse that I burned my FOOT making POPCORN! Someone could have told me this happened to them and I would not have been able to figure out how such a thing could happen — which might explain why I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me.

The popcorn was just starting to pop and a couple unpopped kernels were flying out. It seems one hit the bowl and ricocheted out and landed on my foot. Of course I felt the pain and began age appropriate swearing (there were young ears around).

“Fudge! FUDGE!” I screamed. And the kids came running. I shook my foot which was where the pain was coming from but didn’t look down until that action failed to make the pain stop or even subside. For a moment I thought the pain might continue forever. I told one kid to get a wet wash cloth for me and off he ran. At this point it finally occurred to me to look at the foot – only to find a blistering hot popcorn kernel wedged between two of my toes!

I got it out and found brief relief. My kid delivered to me the wet wash cloth and my relief was extended. He had the nerve to look at it and say it didn’t look too bad. Now I have two blisters – one on each toe – but no pain. Perhaps the nerve endings have been cauterized.

Clean Water

Friday, September 24th, 2010

One of the first things we did when we moved into our new house was to trot on over to our local water filter supplier and buy a new water filter for the water line that runs through the fridge. The house came with one of those refrigerators that dispense water and we’d never had one of them before so we figured it would be nice to have one.

And it is. It rocks. Especially the ice dispenser.

I’m better than you because I’m never going to have to remember to buy ice at the store ever again (I think).

Don’t feel bad, I still like you.

The Guilt Factor

Friday, September 24th, 2010

I’m bored. What’s the emoticon for that?

The most inspiring thing I can think of to do at this moment is go to Target and buy dryer sheets. The problem is, I could probably think of a bunch of more interesting things to do but all of those come with financial guilt. Or parenting guilt. Or both.

For example: I could go for a car trip – I love those. BAM! Financial guilt – don’t want to spend the money on gas.

Another example: Take my daughter to a movie. BAM! Financial guilt mixed with parental guilt. Movies cost money and I could just wait for it to come out on DVD. Also, should I be taking a 3 year old to the movies when I can have her watching PBS at home?

I don’t even bother to mention that every time I get in the car I feel environmental guilt even though I did buy the most fuel efficient car I could find that seats 6 and isn’t and SUV. I’ve actually wasted part of my life contemplating whether or not it would be more environmentally beneficial to have two cars that are super fuel efficient (35mpg still) to transport us or if one car is the way to go. I’ll never get those moments back.

Did I mention I sometimes feel guilt about feeling guilty? I’m so screwed up.
One Ton of Guilt

Directory Submission

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

It’s nice to know that there are sites out there that are willing to help with SEO but not charging a fortune to do it. At least one will help with directory submissions and not ask for money in return. A simple backlink on your site is all they want. They call this a reasonable request and I think I agree.

Gift Idea for Me (or Your Nerdy Loved One)

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Yes, it’s true that I already have three pizza cutters. All that proves is that I like them and want more. So if you are so inclined, you can send me this one.

I promise to hand wash it as directed but it WILL be used to cut pizza. I won’t just use it as a paper weight.

Trench Coat Bribes

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

I could make a lot of money if I knew for sure what the best fat burner is. I’d walk up to people in a trench coat and whisper in their ear, “10 bucks for the secret to the best fat burner.” And they’d believe me because I’m in a trench coat.

We probably can’t set aside the possibility that they give me the $10 to keep the trench coat closed.

Math Logic is the Only Logic

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

The promises of rain were greatly exaggerated – by about 70%. I make that based on the following faulty logic: The chance of rain was listed at 70% and there was no rain so they were off by about 70%.

Raise your hand if that sounded like a good argument to you…..

Ah, you poor, mathematically illiterate fools. I can convince you of anything.Hand Raised

Blackhead Removal

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

You want to know how to remove blackheads?

Well, if you’re me you go buy the strips every few years and work your way through the box and then give up. Sure it feels good to rip the crud out of your pores and cool to show the stalagmites of oil and dirt stuck to the strip to all your friends not to mention the fact that it gives me a sense of fulfillment, but it only takes a box before I figure out that the same pores are clogged again the next day.

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

So Hot You Could Barf

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

There’s afire aburnin’ an the ol’ west.

But it’s supposed to be quenched tonight when it rains. No more 115 degree days when the dog days of summer should be done with by now. No more running the a/c at 70 just to get the place to cool down to 90. No more sweating more when I get into the pool which is a make-you-want-to-throw-up-it’s-so-hot 95 degrees.

At least not until the weekend.

I’ll put this post in a special category.

Tempting Read

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Some of the comment posts on my blog are for male enhancement. You’d think it would be awkward to read those (like it is reading posts from the people trying to peddle family vacations but who call themselves “swingers vacation”) but these tend to be coherent and not at all racy. Usually they’re for a well known drug and they’re just telling you how to get it. As spam posts go, that tends to be the boring kind.

Golden Tongue

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Golden Tongue

Most of my spam posts sound like Yoda talking.

Like, “Finicky article, finicky blog, I give rise to bookmarked your blog, it is worthy responsibility this. Thank you….”

But anytime a person uses the words “worthy responsibility” they’re bound to sound like Yoda.

“My poo is worthy responsibility this.” for example.  It’s just fact that certain phrases change the tone of a conversation.  Try it sometime after a night of drinking.  It’s good for some laughs.

And if you’re bored of mundane conversation with your friends and don’t want to talk about how Billy and Maggie aren’t getting along and how everything is drama, slip in the phrase “exothermic reaction”.

For example, “Billy and Maggie are heating up just like the exothermic reaction in my mulch pile.”  You’ll get a lot of attention for that turn of phrase.

Price Change

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Now may be a good time to invest in a Playstation 3.  The Xbox people have decided they have to raise their rates for Xbox 360  Live but the Playstation people still don’t have a fee for that kind of thing.  You might even think of it as getting $60 off the cost of the Playstation which has been coming down in price anyway.

Stress Reducer Foiled

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Problem with this house?  A child’s door has a keyed lock.  And it got locked.  I was all for taking a sledge hammer to it (I’ve got some tensions to work out) but cooler heads prevailed and instead a weird looking tooth pick was used.  It kinds worked like the old credit card method but with a twist – you had to twist it.

Now how do I relieve my stress?

Second Home Option

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

It is possible that this very moment in time is not the right time to buy one of the Outer Banks homes currently available on the market what with the weather there right now.  But next week is.  Coastal North Carolina is a beautiful destination with many attractions and events to amuse you.  Having a vacation home there would be idyllic especially if you, like me, are a west coast (or western US) native and have never been further east than the Mississippi River.   There would be much easier access to cultural sites all along the eastern seaboard.

Fluxx (not Capacitor)

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

I mentioned before that I like the game Fluxx.  It’s easy to learn and easy to play and as long as you don’t get a person who likes to think really hard about the order they want to play their cards in (I love you anyway sweetie), it’s very fast paced.  Fluxx is a card game  for 2-6 players and there are many different versions which can be played individually or mixed together for a wild and crazy time (I haven’t been brave enough yet).

The rules:  Draw one, play one.

Could it possibly be that simple?  Yes it could but usually it’s not because people may play cards that change the rules.

The Goal: Whatever the ‘Goal’ card says.  Sure there might not even be a goal until late in the game and the goal may change from time to time (often just as you are about to win) but it is usually having a combination of specific cards on the table in front of you.

Just last night I broke out my latest version: Martian Fluxx and had a wild time with all the adults in the house at the time.

Looney Labs (the makers of this game) also have Fluxx, Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, Eco Fluxx, and Family Fluxx.  Did I mention that this is the same company that came up with Nanofictionary (another one of my favorite games).

Bull Market Capitalists

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Right now, playing the stock market is an extreme risk for all but the most experienced and most prepared people. It’s still quite volatile and there’s no way to know when a rebound is going to stick. If you choose to get into this market, be prepared to stumble a few times before you succeed. But to keep to a minimum your failures, make sure you go in armed with as much knowledge as you can.

You can’t just look at the NYSE section of the newspaper anymore. You need to find a company that will help with statistical analysis and make sure you have real time access to the current numbers. Check your Forex charts (find people who will give you the charts) and diversify.

You’re a brave soul – this market isn’t for the squeamish. Good Luck