Techno Overload

The past few weeks, even the past few months, have been a bit too taken up with technology and related product problems. Lately, I've come to believe that you can't get anything that is correct on the first try, the latest examples being a vacuum cleaner that was missing attachments and a refrigerator that won't work in the garage without additional accessories installed.
Sometimes, spending money on technology, or anything that has to actually work as intended for that matter, becomes a precursor to the misery that will surely follow - fixing all of its problems.
Cell phones, computers, pda's, music players, and even vacuum cleaners can all become giant pains in the butt with very little help from the innocent person who dared to commit the unthinkable and actually buy something. Doing it right the first time appears to be giving way to doing it wrong all of the time.....what in the world is up with that?

A Trip to the Army PX.

Normally I write about trips, family, and other stuff that is pretty bland, making few comments critical of things outside of my immediate personal life. However, today I experienced something so utterly ridiculous that it simply must be brought to light.
I went into a store to buy some items including Windex, thread, and, on impulse, a bottle of liqueur I wanted to try. The man in line behind me was buying some booze too, as were many other people (it's displayed right next to the checkout lines).
The checkout clerk (a 40 something lady) scanned my items but upon encountering the liqueur promptly and without comment departed her station. Within a few minutes, another clerk from a nearby station came up and completed the sale.
Being a curious person, I asked what happened to the other lady, joking about the possibility she was underage and therefore not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages. "No" the replacement clerk replied, "She just won't even touch a container of liquor of any type."
Now that's a fine how-do-you-do, allowing a checkout clerk to personally decide what they want to sell and what they don't want to sell! Somehow, this just doesn't seem right - get a job someplace where booze isn't on the product list.

It's Cold Down Here..Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

And I mean cold as in the 20's which is pretty darn chilly for a beach town in NC. There's not much to do, outside anyway, except to take down the Christmas decorations and lights. Winter at the beach can be a dismal experience - there aren't even any people to watch because nobody's here. At least it's a change of scenery for a while, then back home for some house straightening and other, mundane chores.

New Year's Resolution...or Not?

For my 2010 New Year's Resolution I am thinking about a fairly simple one, yet one that sounds somewhat selfish without explanation - to be more self centered when it comes to protecting my time than I have been in the past.
We will always have obligations that are important for sure, but they work two ways; therefore, beginning January 1, 2010, my time is priority number one. Certainly I will share some of it with others, however I expect them to do the same and that includes leaving their own comfort zones once in a while just as we often leave ours.
So, beginning this New Year's, I am officially on the me train. It has plenty of room for anyone willing to reach out and grab their own ticket!

Christmas is Coming - Right?

Here we are in Virginia, getting ready for Christmas and some tripping around the Carolinas. Surf City first, then back to Virginia for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, then on to SC for New Years in Boiling Springs.
Shopping is done and hopefully shipping will be done soon as well. It's been a tough time for me, selecting gifts for people without breaking the bank and for Pat who did all the wrapping - she's a real Vanilla Ice. We got the gifts selected but I think the bank got broken. Time to replenish I guess.
Nothing else much going on - it's raining here and cold but not icy thank goodness. Soon it's off to a Christmas party/lunch combination - should be fun. We'll talk later - this season seems to be filled with things to think and write about.....least of all, a particular Grinch who tried to steal one little girl's Christmas - Bah, Humbug asshole.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho it's off to work I go!

What am I thinking? heading to DC to meet with DHS and at rush hour at that. I must be crazy since I am sort of retired. We will see how long this goes on. I never thought I would actually get any work out of my newly formed company. Humph!

Rain is a pain!

It's been raining for several days both at Topsail Island and in VA. Seems we're finally beginning to see some hints of Winter - ugh!
We had a great time at the beach this past Friday - Wednesday. The weather was nice until Tuesday - nice enough to have an outside seafood boil and invite the neighbors. Good thing we have a very big pot since we probably cooked 40 pounds of stuff that night and every bit got gone except about one pound of shrimp which was turned into shrimp salad the next day.
We're back in VA for a while but already planning our next ride South so here's hoping the weather cooperates.

Bored in Virginia

It's boring around here these days. Patti is in SC, I am in VA, can't go to NC due to classes I have to teach. The next two weeks are pretty much filled with things to do and appointments to keep so we'll be sticking around here for a while longer.
So, today I am being my boring self with nothing special to mention....maybe the weekend will hold some ideas.

What's a retiree to do?

Well, actually that's a partial retiree since school and Q Systems are still alive and kicking. Anyway, I know what I am going to do Wednesday - go to Surf City NC for a week. We picked apples this weekend and now Patti is busy making apple sauce. Looks good too but where will we put all of it?
Staying busy without spending money or eating is proving to be a challenge both to my imagination and energy. One can only ride a bike for so long. Oh well, it's a good problem to have I suppose so I will live with it.

Blog Not Lately

But we've been busy. Spent lots of time in Surf City, returned to VA while Pat went to SC for a family visit. Back in VA - Internet was down, phones are noisy, etc. Teaching class tonight at Andrews AFB and then back to NC by myself for a while. Here's hoping for good weather for the rest of the week.