Upgrading my technology.

The institution that requires a disproportionate amount of my mental energy between 7 and 3 M-F has declared one of my favorite sites on the entire Internet, Pandora.com, verboten. Flickr, Pandora, People.com - gone.

... fume ...

How to survive? 90.5 FM reception isn't bad from the compound. 90.5 - an eclectic variety of music about 50 minutes per hour and news top of the hour. Pretty perfect blend. Just needed to score a radio.

I went to a thrift store on N. High across the street from One World Bakery (most excellent vegetarian place) and got this radio for $5. It may be my best thrift store buy ever. I wouldn't part with this gem for anything (below $50).

Features:
• Good reception, it'll be excellent when I get my window office (Monday!!).
• Plush 70's orangebrowngreenish shag carpet covering the speaker.
• It gets really warm when it's on. I think it might be flammable!
• It has a vicious power knock when I turn it on. Perfect for those slow-start mornings.
• It has AFC! I think that stands for Awesome Fantastic Control.
• The case appears to be walnut and was made in Columbia (GE knew outsourcing was the future).
• Dual speaker. I don't know where the second one is.
• Perfect size pedestal for a pothos, the official plant of the American work camp.

This thing is so cool, I may someday forgive the reduction of privileges.

Entomologist in Training?

Any parent knows how little influence they probably have over their kids' future. Except maybe those overbearing ones that force their kids into med school and then therapy.

Secretly, we try anyway. The Mrs and I got over our bug phobia when Frankie was born in an attempt to show her the infinite beauty of our natural surroundings in hopes she may someday become an entomologist. Don't know why we both like this discipline, but it seems like it might be a stimulating and fun way of life. She's beginning to spot many more bugs than we do; part a child's ability to not take their environment for granted.

This was an especially good sighting. When she sits still long enough, we're going to try to identify it using What's that Bug.

It's not just an urban legend.

Mrs Daves Beer: Honey, C'mere (while reading bedtime stories).
Me: What?
Mrs: Put out your hand (kid and Mrs looking at me).

Plop, a navy bean drops into my palm.

Mrs: That was in your daughter's nose since lunchtime.
Kid: Laughs.
Me: ewwww

I'm so grossed out, I thought sharing would help shed the memory faster.
ewwww

help!

This is the 30th or so time in my life I've tried to stop biting my nails. As of 5 days ago, they were approximately 1/16^th of an inch. For some reason, maybe it's just the excessive liquor and drugs in my system, I'm still hanging in. Just got tired of my fingers hurting and I'm fearing passing the habit on to the kid.

I've made it this far before; I don't know if I'll be successful, but I'm hopeful. If anyone has any suggestions on how to quit (other than drugs and alcohol), I'd love to hear them.

Update: 31-Jul-08
It's been a couple weeks. I've had about 3 cheats so far; skimmed a couple nails. Still not even close to falling off the wagon. The tough part may be coming though. When the nails crest over my finger tips in a couple weeks or so, it's going to be such a unique sensation, it'll drive me nuts. So far, I'm enjoying the absence of throbbing pain from biting.

What are things going to be like at $10??

Some recent observations ...

1. The Columbus Public Library (Whetstone Branch) is often busier than Barnes and Noble at Lennox these days. They've saved me hundreds over the past months. Maybe they'll get more financial support (I bought a t-shirt from them).

2. Volunteers of America (thrift store) on Indianola was jammed tonight! I even bought a pair of nearly new New Balance the other day for $4.99, very cool.

3. That cool little retro gas station on N. High by Kroger in C'ville that was turned into a scooter dealer is busy every single day.

4. I heard someone the other day say "10 on number 2" at the GetGo.

5. Subway recently had a $5 special for a bunch of their 12" subs. Subway was jammin' the one time I stopped by.

6. A while back, I returned a pineapple to Giant Eagle because it sucked. I've never returned a piece of food to a supermarket in my life.

7. Because of the Fuel Perks program at Giant Eagle, I've witnessed many filling gas cans after they fill their tank.

8. LOTS more bikes on the road lately (hooray!).

9. Will we all be getting Fridays off soon?

10. Beer is really frigging expensive!

after only five and a quarter years, the haircut ...