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Holiday frames for everyone.

November 18th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Misc.

I’ve had my glasses for a couple of years now and I keep thinking I should get new ones. The biggest thing, aside from the money it’ll cost for new frames and lenses, is that stupid little test where they blast air right into your eyeball. Can we not figure out a more humane and tolerable way to do that? I always start blinking like I have Tourette’s and I have to blink 732 times and recite the Pledge of Allegiance before I can carry on with my life. All that blinking just results in them having to do it over. And over. And it’s still not pleasant.

My little black frames are perfect for me, at least my own opinion. But you know what could absolutely top these frames? Holiday frames. Oh, I said it. More specifically? Ones with poinsettias on the side:

Red is my favorite color and that’s really not a surprise to anyone. My car is red. My dog always has to have a red collar and leash. It may be slightly obsessive, but it’s not like it’s crack cocaine or something. Although, if they made that in red, I’d be more tempted.

Anyway, if it weren’t for Sally Jesse Raphael ruining it for every that’s ever had this same dream, I’d totally have myself a pair of red frames. I get that anything red or green can be considered holiday-ish this time of year, so I guess I’d just fit right in. I may take an extra step and turn my current black rim glasses into my own very special holiday frames by attaching some Christmas ornaments or little figurines of baby Jesus in a manger.

Man, I love the holidays.

links for 2008-11-17

November 17th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Misc.

ross louis t turd ferguson lumley

November 16th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Local

Oh man. So, we’ve moved past the “Browsing Craigslist” phase of our search for a two bedroom dwelling, and onto the “Scheduling Appointments” phase. And that part? Not going so well.

#1: We had an appointment to look at a duplex that The General had arranged via email. The lady renting out the duplex was very nice, willing to work with us, and extremely responsive through email. We set up a 1pm time to meet someone there to show us around. We got there a bit before 1 to show our committment to being polite and responsible. For 10-15 minutes, we spent time milling about the outside of the house, looking in windows where we could see piles of clothes thrown everywhere and trying to figure out why a gigantic dog kennel had been dismantled in the backyard. We ended up leaving, because too many windows for my taste were broken. Coupled with the fact that it was 30 degrees outside, I didn’t really have much desire to stick around even if somebody did eventually show up.

#2: We were set to go look at a house, this time arranged via email by yours truly. After a drive by or two prior to our appointment, we kind of fell in love with the garage, backyard with privacy fence, and the idea of having an entire house to ourselves.

The owner’s email said: “How about 6:30 on Friday. Let me know if that will work for you.” And I responded with: “That’ll work just fine! What’s the exact address?” In my world, that’s confirming an appointment time and one would probably think about writing that on your calendar if you were trying to rent out a house as soon as possible. Then again, I’m not a giant doucheward in the real estate investment business right now either.

We circled the block a few times, including trips down the alley and getting out of the car to bang on the front door, hanging around for another half hour. I’m sure we looked like psycho stalkers, but from the type of foot traffic we observed walking past the house, I’m not entirely sure anyone noticed. They were too busy pushing strollers with babies that weren’t bundled up when it’s barely 32 degrees outside.

I’d forgotten about it by the time we got home, and didn’t think about sending a scathing email until yesterday. But I didn’t have much scathe oozing from my bones and the email ended up like this:

Hi Louis,

Did you forget about our appointment on Friday? We shit somewhere on your property. Good luck.

xoxo.

We obviously didn’t shit somewhere on his property, but it made me feel good to write it. And it made The General feel especially good to think of it.

Granted, his name isn’t Louis. And I know that. His name is Russ Lumley, but his full name, as far as I’m concerned, is Ross Louis T. (Turd) Ferguson Lumley. And this is him (photo stolen straight from his company’s website):

I was going to link to his website, but decided against it. I don’t really want to help him get any business if he’s not going to keep a simple appointment to show a house.

His response to my shit email was the following:

Hello Wendy, I looked thru my schedule and did not see an appointment scheduled for Friday. Sorry to hear you had to shit somewhere. Please let me know where so I can locate it. I would like to return it. Greatly appreciate the follow up.

Now while I can appreciate his sense of humor and a good poop joke, it makes my head want to explode that he didn’t see an appointment scheduled for Friday considering it was on the PREVIOUS email he’d sent me.

He’s lucky The General talked some sense into me, because I had some plans that involved trying to jump so hard that I bust through the front porch, stealing the door of the sun porch, and permanently borrow that info tube that was sitting atop the RE/MAX sign in the front yard.

links for 2008-11-16

November 16th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Misc.

super 8 is not fertile

November 16th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in Travel

In planning my trip to MO/IL over Thanksgiving, I’ve had to act as my own travel agent, finding the cheapest hotels that’ll take a big fat dog in Coralville, IA, and my hometown of Sedalia, MO.

I abused Priceline for my find in Coralville. The Priceline Negotiator himself found something that almost results in them paying me to stay there. Since I’m leaving after work Monday of next week, I knew there was no way in hell I was going to drive all the way to Casa de Cuz. Coralville seems like a good halfway point, and we’re staying in an ultra classy Holiday Inn Express… I would have preferred a truck stop/hotel/restaurant/bait shop, but figured those kinds of places probably didn’t take online bookings.

Planning for a two night stay in my hometown was a joy and a half. The American Inn was William Shatner’s first suggestion, but after viewing their website, I opted to pass on it. Even if there wasn’t a giant logo that said NO DOGS ALLOWED, the pictures that include a loveseat rammed between two beds and the picture of the dryer made me question the entire idea of staying there.

Super 8′s list of local features and restaurants sealed the deal for me. With lists like Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Golden Corral, and Applebee’s for restaurants and prime tourist spots like the Midwest Cattle Bidding Party, the Scott Joplin Festival, and Galaxy Cinema, it was definitely a shoe-in. After I booked the reservation, I got a pop up window prompting me for an online chat with someone from Super 8.

It’s 2:00 AM on a Sunday morning. If someone from a hotel chain wants to chat online with me, chances are I’m gonna do it. Especially at 2:00 AM after way too much Mountain Dew.

It resulted in this:

I was disappointed to find out it was only an automated chat person. And had to type things like CANCEL, STOP, HELP, BAD TOUCH, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE just to make sure I didn’t get signed up for some $11/month thing I would forget to cancel each month for the next 9 years.

Staying in a fancy hotel over Thanksgiving. At least they have fancy cable, free internet, and an iron.

links for 2008-11-15

November 15th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Misc.

super america breakfast café

November 14th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in Local, Reviews

A month or so ago, I really wanted breakfast. Since it was during the week, there was no way in hell I was going to get up and cook breakfast at home. Cereal, for me, is not really a breakfast option, because if I’m going to put forth some effort to eat a meal, it better be hot and have some sort of meat thrown in the mix. On the way to work, we stopped by Super America to get, what we call in our house, a fizzy pop. (“Fizzy pop” is a fountain drink, complete with ice. I don’t know. It just sounded cute.)

While waiting in line behind either the thugs, the homos, or the families of 8 where each kid gets one treat as long as it’s under $1, I had the opportunity to look over the fine selection of breakfast sandwiches. I saw one, for the low low price of 99 cents, that I just couldn’t pass up. On the label, it claimed to have gravy INSIDE the biscuit. That particular morning, nothing sounded better than a gravy explosion in my mouth for less than a buck.

And let me tell you this: it was worth every single one of those 99 cents. As far as I’m concerned, very sandwich should contain some type of gravy in the middle. I could live on Super America’s Gravy Explosion Sandwiches every morning for breakfast. Unfortunately, I think everyone in the vicinity of 35th and Nicollet has the same thought, because lately those sandwiches are nearly impossible to get your hands on!

links for 2008-11-14

November 14th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in Misc.
  • Mark Madsen of the Timberwolves doesn't want gays to marry. In fact, he donated $$ to help California ban gay marriages. He's also Mormon, which would explain that, but it doesn't necessarily make me think it's okay.
  • He has a Hip Hop Classics album, complete with 4 versions of Ice, Ice Baby. I love you, Rob Van Winkle!!!11111one

sharing pictures with everyone

November 13th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Internets

It probably comes to no surprise whatsoever that I’m a huge fan of Flickr. The sets, the sorting, the editing – it all makes me very happy and it’s probably one of my all time most favorite web things ever and that’s including other of my favorite like Google calendar and Facebook. The only thing I don’t like about it? It’s owned by Yahoo! and there’s some new rumor every six hours about how Yahoo is about to be purchased by Microsoft and ever since Vista, I’ve wanted to completely throttle the big MSFT.

So, from time to time, I entertain other options of where I might want to store photos, etc. I like some of the sites that are out there now that allow you to go through and find some stock-like photos to use for whatever reason you might need some blog pictures that fall into that category.

Acobox let’s people submit stock-like photos for other people to use, which is sort of awesome. It allows me to find gorgeous photos like this:

Blog Pictures | acobox.com

I love pictures of people breathing fire for about five thousand different reasons, most of them having to do with ill-advised amounts of Bacardi 151 in my mouth. But pictures like also make me want to ramp up my own photography skills to have some pictures submitted for other folks to use, too.

top chef after 1 episode

November 13th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in Reality Shows, TV

Much like my love for Project Runway and American’s Next Top Model, I have no idea why it is I love Top Chef so much.

Project Runway? I don’t know the last thing about fashion design or sewing or anything of the short. ANTM? I hate skinny bitches 98% of the time, so it must be my undying affection towards Tyra Banks and the Mr/s. Jay combo that I love so much. And Top Chef? I don’t know what confit is and the idea of something containing goat cheese balls scares me a little bit.

Top Chef is honestly one of my favorites, though, and here are my thoughts, so far, for Top Chef 5.

My favorite, after only one episode, is Greg – I’m a fan of anyone that’s self-taught in whatever their art might be. Not a real fan at all of Jeff. Any dude that works in a kitchen, like chefs are wont to do, and has someone fix his hair for him, kind of gives me the heebie jeebies.

It usually takes me an episode or two to figure out who I want to kick in the nards and who I want to really see stick around for a few more weeks. Granted, I wanted to kick this girl in her lady parts and she was around until the final episode.

And if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to go figure out how to brunoise some apples. Who am I kidding? I can’t even peel one.