Please excuse our mess

I'm seeing how I like the new paint colours.

« Previous | Next »

MacGuyver

About a year ago we stopped GeoCaching.

Not because of any loss of interest (although we'd hit a bit of a hurdle and hadn't had any recent successes), but because our waterproof Garmin Etrex Vista suffered some trauma. Wet trauma. Wet soapy trauma. Followed by a spin cycle (front loader) and yep, even through the dryer. Hiking in the south is quite strenuous.

Needless to say...it didn't turn on. With my fab new ebay skills I thought about buying a new one. Crap, too expensive. Hmm, ok, how about the forums at groundspeak? While I'm here, I might as well see what people say about GPS'rs not turning on. Well, Well, lookey here...."Vista LED repair". With colour pictures.

20 minutes later and we have Satellite. 8 of them, and the caches I put in to find when I was in Vancouver in the spring of 2004 showing up just a few blocks from our house. The repair all went very smoothely, didn't have any electronic cleaning fluid, so I used Samson's "drool diaper" soaked in gin.

The Highland Park Rangers/HighlandPark Rangers are back in the saddle, er..hiking boots?

« Previous | Next »

Gobble Gobble Gobble

« Previous | Next »

E-bay whore.

We've finally lost our e-bay virginity. I know, I know...it's humbling to admit it, but there you go. This all started about a month ago. Our first only born's birthday is coming up and we were discussing what to get him. More than anything in the world, he wants action figures and the dragon/drawbridge component to finish up his Lego set.

No problem we thought. As usual, lots of problemos.

As most of you know, there's no way in heck that I'll allow McKay to have action figures with weapons. Unfortunately, most of them out there have multiple death causing accessories instead of clutch purses. I finally found this FABULOUS line of action figures, that won all kinds of awards and promises that your child, too, will always be a conscientious objector. "Great", thought I. That's done. What else does he want? Legos...right. Dennis and Jackie gave him this really cool set of "Castle Lego" last Christmas that he plays with almost daily. He's asked many times for the dragon that goes with it.

T-2 weeks, Ok, lets get stuff ordered, that way if we have to, we can have it sent to Chicago and C&H can bring it with them. First Bendos online store: out of stock. Second online store: 2 football players left. Third bendos online store: jungle animals left. What the....???? Ok, what's going on here? I write the manufacturer for some information, a day later I get back the letter below.














Ran it's normal toy life???" My god woman, we've been playing with Fisher Price Little People since before there was fire. Anyhow...I decided to look on E-bay. I wasn't quite ready to get beyond the heavy petting stage so proceeded to "buy now" a bunch of used Bendos. Feel a bit bad buying him used toys for his birthday, but I tried!

Next step Lego. This set is not available in NORTH AMERICA???? Wha??? What are the chances of this? What next? I won't be able to find his 100% organic betel nut cake??? I wasn't looking for the Ark here folks. I just wanted lego. Back to e-bay. The only "buy nows" were too expensive. Two sets available for bidding. Severe anxiety sets in, am I ready? Is it time? Is this the right person? Do I have protection? After a quick trip to Pay_Pal I decide I'm ready. With crossed fingers, and breath held, I place my first bid. $6.00.

2 days later, and I'm walking the streets and calling out to Johns. That first auction was mine, I outbid the bastard by $0.11 with 55 seconds left. Amateur.

« Previous | Next »

TGTBTU II

The Good The Bad and The Ugly II

The Good

Didn't know about these until K&K loaned (gave) us a few poo bags. Yes, that's right, poo bags. You know it's true love friendship when a friend will bring you poo bags when asked and the GOOD ones too. After spending $100 at MEC (Am trans: REI) last night, noticed they're using these too!

I spent a little bit too much time looking at these java applets. The pink sphere with the dots on it was quite mesmerizing.

We knew there was a lot of filming going on in Vancouver, but not how much. Almost weekly we'll see the parked caravan of white trailers/RVs along the side of nearby streets. Even had a whole film crew outside M's school one day (they were filming in the gym). If you wanted to know what was going on in our 'hood. Check out the BC Film Commission. So far I've been able to keep Dan off the Battlestar Galactica set.






The Bad

People can be paid (poorly) to talk about specific products in their blogs. Not that I don't think people should make money on their blogs (that's what adsense is for) but why sell your soul for the amount that this would pay? I just don't get this.

The Ugly

The concept of a scrapbooking cruise frightened me more than I can describe. You know this sort of thing can't end well. Someone is going to die horribly, with gore. The blood smeared decorative edged scissors will be found the next day under lifeboat 23.

And this weeks stangest site goes to the good old Catholic Church. At first glance, nothing too strange about this. Then you pause, and think, and think more. WHO is this for? Who wants this? Who needs this? Does this count as church credit? Is El Pape checking up on the quality of the sermons? Do the parishioners have to sign a "your prayer may be monitored EULA"?

« Previous | Next »