Geeking Out on a Sunday Afternoon

I am stretched out in the "media room" (I use quotes because it's just the beginnings of a media room...more on that later) with my laptop, iPhone, Vudu remote & HD tivo remote next to me. Ah, technology is bliss!!

It's the beginnings of a media room because I have the basics: HD TV, HD Tivo, VUDU, DVD player and VCR.

I almost started laughing when I typed DVD player and darn near keeled over when I typed VCR! I have a ton of VHS tapes, but I cannot remember the last time I watched one, nor can I imagine watching one...alas, the VCR is still hooked up! Pretty much a ditto with the DVD player. Who watches DVDs?? There are HD downloads that look spectacular!

The whole blue-ray vs. whatever the other contender was debate bored me from the outset. Even when those technologies were launching, digital downloads were around the corner. Do you really need to touch & feel to watch & enjoy? I'd rather click - order - watch without ever moving my lazy ass!

GPS Buying Advice

I am a huge fan of the Tom Tom devices. They are easy to use and just work (kinda like the ipod). I'd start your search with the Tom Tom One 130s and the TomTom XL 330 . I think they are both priced over $200, but you should be able to find them on sale for less than $200 this holiday season.

Whichever GPS you choose you want it to have the following features (1) text to speech directions, it should announce the road name you are going to turn on/at and (2) map share - this allows you to add a road to your map and then share it with the Tom Tom community when you sync with your computer. I bought mine before these feautures were put in devices under $200, so mine doesn't have them and I wish it did.

Check pricing on:

tigerdirect.com (great geek buying website)
newegg.com (great geek buying website)
radioshack.com (i'm a fan. great pricing. they always have tomtoms on sale during the holidays)
circuitcity.com (closing lots of stores, supposed to have some good deals this holiday)

Supposed to be good sales on electronics this black friday.

I am continually amazed by people!

I mean that in a good way!

Last week, I had some rocks dug up in my backyard. The previous owners seemed to be into the "less is more" mode of landscaping. Less green stuff, more rock/gravel stuff. Yikes. I prefer GREEN. So, I had three areas in the backyard where they laid down white landscaping rocks. They even did one area in a ying-yang pattern, black on one side and white on the other. Oye! Not a fan. Anyway, last week, I finally paid someone to dig them up for me. After they were up, I realized I had quite the dilemma on my hands. What do I do with them?!

I called "311" our city's information hotline. They were happy to tell me what I COULDN'T do with them, but the only suggestion they had to get rid of them was to take them to a landfill. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the conversation, I had explained that I had a 2 door convertible. Not exactly a rock hauling vehicle. So, I was stuck.

Then I remembered craigslist!! Within an hour of posting "landscaping rocks - FREE!!" I had a ton of emails. I responded to all of them with a mass bcc email telling them a little bit more - how many, where they were, where I lived, that I would supply shovels...etc.

Within 24 hours the rocks were gone and my problem was solved! Yay Craigslist!!

RSS...Twitter...Blogs...iGoogle Start Pages...

Readers, and I am assuming there are readers out there! Where do you get your information??

I get RSS feeds in Safari.
I bookmark Blogs that I like to read.
I twitter...and I follow interesting people/companies/tv stations/political candidates.
I add Google Gadgets to my iGoogle start page.

I'm looking for the magic bullet, the best combo of all of these varying sources of information. What's the best way to stay up to date without drowning in information?

Gigs for Extra Cash

I am in search of gigs for a little extra cash. I've signed up on ChaCha (www.chacha.com) to be a guide, it's a lot of fun - think playing jeopardy with google as your crib notes. I am toying with the idea of temp work through a temp agency and last, but not least, I am looking for freelance writing jobs. I've got two under my belt now, one as a contract copy writer, the other writing an article about inverted microscopes. I'm not real clear about how I'm getting paid for the article - I'm either making $2.50 or $25.00. That decimal point is pretty darned important. I decided to write the article no matter what they were paying so that I had a piece for my portfolio that is "professionally" written. We'll see how it goes. If you read this blog and like my writing style, let me know if you run across contract/freelance writing work!

Bridal Showers Galore!

I may one day eat my words...but I am not a huge fan of the bridal shower. They aren't so bad until the end, when everyone is perched on the edge of their seat with a napkin, fork and a slice of cake precariously balanced on a little plate while watching the bride open presents SHE PICKED OUT. Explain this part to me?? I get the showering with gifts (and, am, in fact, jealous), I get the games "how well do you know the bride" yadeyadah. I just don't get the presents. If it's so everyone can see how happy she is that she (again) got the items she registered for, SHE PICKED THEM OUT! Odds are that she is going to be thrilled.

After being a bridesmaid, let's just say, several times, I am adamant about sticking to the registry. The person who gives the monkey head book ends means well, and thinks they know the bride/groom soooo well that they will just LOVE them too! While they always appreciate the thought, time and energy that went into selecting the PERFECT gift, they really had their heart set on the Pottery Barn vase that they - here we go again - REGISTERED for! So, next time you think of veering off of the registry, feel free to do so, but pick up a set of place mats too.


Here's a little game we played at the last shower I attended. Guess which answers were mine?

1. A woman's work is never done.
2. A happy house has a lot of wine.
3. Behind every great man is a great woman.
4. A woman's place is not in the home.
5. When the going get tough, the tough get drunk.
6. A stitch in time is divine.
7. My house is (at address).
8. The path of true love is through a bottle of red wine & dim lighting.
9. Variety is the spice of life.
10. Every man's home is a mess w/o a significant other who cares.
11. True love happens.
12. Marriages are a legal contract.
13. A watched pot never boils.
14. If the shoe fits, wear it.
15. A penny saved is a penny earned.
16. Home is where the heart is.
17. Too many cooks makes Jen freak out.

A Day in the Life

This was yesterday:
New Tires on South
Up to NorthLake to view new listing with Mr. Bossman
Down to the office (picked up lunch along the way)
Went to showing, brought Mr. Bossman, other broker never showed.
Back to office.
Left at 515 to SouthPark
Bought: shoes (on sale), flip flops, lipstick (original reason for going), swimsuit, a couple of knit dresses (they ARE awesome, Dre was so right), a boob shirt and a dress for work.
Home by 630
Packed
At lauras at 705
Loaded car.
On the road by 715
Front Street brewery at 1050
Level 5 at midnight
Beach house at 130.

Not a bad day. :-)