It's Here!

Not Xmas, not election day, Halloween and the family is up at 5:45. Mom is facepainting, I'm cooking for a potluck, and tonight will be trick or treating and undoubtedly a meltdown by 9, Wish us luck. Pics later (once we scrape her off the ceiling).

I can't believe you guys picked "D".

And, for the most excruciating 5 minutes of your life
vimeo.com/2137887, password = the kid's name

Vote

Paid content still rules. So does Angie.

    

Some of the best things on the net are still, and may always be, for fee. Buying local is important. Despite the looming depression, we still (judiciously) buy lots of stuff and services.

About a year and a half ago, I dropped our Angie's List subscription because they had doubled their membership fee in about 7 years. I remember the days when homes used to appreciate at that rate. Since my salary didn't, I dropped it.

While the family was deciding on end of the year capital home improvements, we realized how much we needed objective recommendations and decided to renew. With e-coupons, I was able to drop the membership price quite a bit. Angie's List is indispensable. There is no rival for consumer reviews of local goods and services that go through an editorial process. This editorial process is what differentiates Angie's List from the hundreds of available free listings with reviews. Yelp, Yahoo! local reviews, Insider Pages, etc. (me too for that matter), all suffer the same problem. Mostly soapbox rambling with little authority.

Angie's has a seductive bonus too. An annual report drive. Submit a bunch of valid (*they check*) reports on service providers and they give you a gift with serious buzz value. This year's gift is a Flip video camera, one of the hottest little items in gadgets today. Easily worth the price of a membership. I don't subscribe for the gift (but it's always awesome), it's because I almost always find great contractors without having to get an insane number of bids on a job.

Those images? They're snaps taken from a video clip with my current little video device. I can't wait for my Flip.

jack

Hmmm. Maybe did this one a bit too early. Many bugs climbing in and out of it last night. Looked pretty cool and creepy though.

I'm currently considering, on the next attempt, to cut the top more carefully and place a fondue pot inside.

Bye 'Bux

I've tried weaning from the Starbucks teat for a long time. I'm closer than I've ever been.

About five years ago, my daughter began attending daycare in Worthington. There was a Starbucks next door. When she was very young, I remember with perfect clarity, the real work of the day began after my leisurely 9-to-5. Before picking up the kid, I would stop in Starbucks for a meditative break before the nightime mania. It was there I'd adjust my patience and expectations between my professional and personal life.

The Worthington Starbucks on N. High (sadly - closed now) delivered the coffee giant's marketing directive: the Starbucks Experience. I'd shoot the breeze with the baristas, share with them my current read, tell them of parenting horrors and victories, and knew their names. I was at Cheers and chatty as Cliff Clavin. I got coffee too.

Frankie's now in school and closer to home. I was transferred to the North Broadway location. Sucks. The employees greet you properly - smiling and happy. I am served efficiently. I return to my table with my steaming hot beverage. I can practically hear the sigh of relief as the workers fall in and resume their chatter entrenched in each other's daily lives. My coffee's half empty and I can't stand it anymore.