The Saga Continues...

So I was flying high when I got my new camcorder the other day. Well that lasted until I tried to burn my first DVD. And my second.. and the third.. and well you get the point. Notice I said 'tried'

After a half-dozen coasters, the new camcorder was about to get chucked out the window that was so conveniently placed in my office for just these occasions. I consulted the book. And the digital manual. And the web. Well, then I got a little smarter. I read the freaking box. Turns out my dinosaur (circa 2005) of a computer didn't have enough (insert male anatomy part here) to handle it. We're talking Sony proprietary software -- not even something made by Pinnacle or Adobe. Nice. Thanks, dear hubby, for talking me into the AMD back then to save a few bucks.

So then my options were to (1) take back the camcorder, (2) keep it and never watch the movies I recorded, or (3) get a new system. Guess what I picked? HELLO Core 2 Duo :) So, since I haven't had a chance to install any software to bog it down, I feel like I'm flying. And the videos.. look great on DVD.

The only problem is getting the kids to get off their butts and do something video-worthy.

On Getting Older

A few years back, right after divorce #1, I started a tradition of buying gifts for myself. I had never allowed myself selfish purchases before because, well we were poor. My first gift was a digital camera for my first Valentine's Day alone in 2003. It was a Kodak LS 443 and yes, I paid $500 for it. That was an enormous amount of money for me, but I saved and paid cash. I was ROCKIN' with 4MP and a great zoom. I still have that camera today.

This year for my birthday I traded my MacMini to the husband and some cash for a new camcorder. I wanted the Sony SR300, but they didn't stock it in the store and I wanted it today, so I settled for the HDR-SR5. I'm still deciding if it will make it past the 14 day period when I can take it back, but so far so good. Now I need a new processor because these videos make mine chug ;)

It helped that I used the excuse that my little brother is getting married next month and I'd like to tape it for him.

Quite Possibly the Worse Idea Ever

Our local Meijer has TV Karts. For $1 you can lock a kid in the cart and shop in peace.... So they claim. The biggest problem is there is no front windshield (presumably so the kids can breathe). My kid thinks it's an escape exit.

Also, the doors lock - well they kind of lock. Unless you jiggle them enough from the inside. This cart happens to sit children right at the eye level of EVERYTHING THEY WANT. I end up with more junk than if I had used a regular cart. They are also not so cool to push around.

I appreciate the idea, but I hate TV Karts.

EnV

I finally bit the bullet and replaced my phone tonight. It was hard because (1) I'm really bad with change and (2) I'm really hard on phones. My current phone phone no longer charges a battery, drops calls, and barely get a signal. This is, no doubt, a response to the frequent trips it has taken to the pavement.

I knew I didn't want a Motorola. I used to have one and hated the menu and the phone. I was lukewarm to Samsung, having had one bad experience with a battery hog. I have always enjoyed my LGs. Problem is? The phones out right now suck. Unless you want a Razr (they are junk) or a Chocolate (junk), you are pretty much SOL. I briefly considered the shock-proof one, but is was made by Casio and ugly.

So, I let my friend be the guinea-pig. She got an EnV about a month ago. She still loves it. So I'm giving it a 15-day run. So far, so good. I'm texting, which I have never gotten into before. We'll see how long the novelty lasts. I purchased insurance based on my track record. So far my disappointment is shutter-lag on the camera. I'm used to shooting with a Nikon D200, so I am not surprised.

I even bought the husband a new (albeit cheaper) phone. And I hid the receipt.

Dollar Days

I saw a commercial today advertising that the Dollar General was having a clearance with up to 75% off. The Dollar General is a store that, like the Dollar Tree and countless others, offers generic merchandise for $1.

What kind of clearance could they possibly need? I say donate it to Goodwill and be done with it.

Petty Thief

I just spend 91 dollars at WalMart for laundry detergent and milk. Yea, that's right, the two year old was with me. Upon leaving, I get tackled by the greeters for some stuff that was too big to be bagged. I wonder about the effectiveness of this program. I know if I were a thief, I'd certainly steal a gianormous bag of jumbo paper towels instead of something I could easily fit in my pocket.

Perfect Logic.

Here Comes Santa Clause

One of the presents I got for Dan was a new electric razor. He's been using the same Braun since I've known him (four years now?). I'm hoping he'll like it.

I have two people left on my list. My mom and my grandma. I wanted to get my mom Cold Case on DVD, but apparently they have not released it and are not going to anytime soon. So, that's the only hard thing left.

And I have everything wrapped. I always give everyone a paper and then don't put names on the presents. I enjoy them trying to figure out what belongs to who by the shape of the box and they always forget that everyone gets the same paper for everything.

$122 for Cough Medicine?

Our family has a cough. Worse than the usual cough we have because Alyssa is basically allergic to the outside. She also can't drink milk when she's off her allergy medicine. Not because she is allergic to any diary products - my closest guess? Because cows eat a lot of grass. The allergist said maybe, but I think that was only to appease me. Anyway, our cough...

The babysitter insisted we get a new cough medicine. Generally I am very anti-medicate your cold. Not only because I think your body knows best, but because they simply don't work. Very hypocritical for someone who lives on a constant does of Advil to keep headaches at bay, I know. The babysitter, who took her daughter to the doctor for a mild fever and a cough, was told she MUST use this Mucinex Cough Syrup for three days. It is a combination cough suppressant and expectorant. I read a study a few years back that says to avoid using cough suppressants unless it interferes with sleeping. Coughing is good - gets the stuff out - and allows you to share germs with your co-workers.

Now, I am not a doctor, but I like a decongestant when I'm mucusy. Dry that crap up. This medicine is supposed to break up the mucus. But then.. instead of coughing it out and getting rid of it, it suppresses your cough. That makes very little sense to me. None, actually.

Back to why it cost me $122: I went to Krogers to buy it, against my better judgement, knowing that Tylenol Cold and Cough would work better (it does). See I hadn't eaten dinner yet and they had family packs of Pork Chops buy one get one free. So I did and then some.

Crisis Averted

We did another shopping trip tonight and I was a total grouch. I was still stressed over what to get the boy. I found a cool robot toy at MicroCenter, but it was $250! That's a lot of money to chance he won't like it. I did return the Palm. By the time I got home I was convinced he needed a dirt bike - the other 'adult' in this house is pushing for a compound bow or a gun...um yea. I check the reviews on the Lego Mindstorm NXT when I got home and they looked ok. Right up the boy's alley and he's been asking for a robot for a while now. WELL..... thank you fat wallet for this sweet deal: a coupon code at Barnes & Noble for 25% off and with my membership I got another 10% off -- so I paid $177.02 AFTER tax! Sweet! That's only a few bucks more than the Palm and I know he'll love this. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Yes, free shipping.

Why I Hate the Holidays Part Deux

Shopping for a 9 year old boy sucks. He's always been hard to please. I've tried everything. Some years I've bought by the reviews. Everything they say a boy his age will like I buy. It flopped. One year I bought everything he specifically asked for. I started keeping a list in October and then just went down it. A few years I've bought what I think he'd like based on toys he plays with elsewhere, his personality, etc. That bombed too. I know he's too old for Santa and I know he doesn't want to tell me that he is too old for Santa. His dad took him to see the old man and here is what he said: "I don't really want anything for Christmas, I have everything I need." HUH?!!!

I asked him if that was true, he said he wanted two games for his GBA, but didn't think Santa would understand. That's it. All he wants are two $30 games. Seriously. How am I supposed to work with that? I considered getting him a more advanced digital camera, but figured that would go to waste. I thought about one of those programmable robots, but I hear they break. I ended up buying a Palm E2 because he's always wanting to play with my Palm, but I don't see how that is going to be 'fun' for him when he already has a GBA. He doesn't want a Nintendo DS. AGH! When they were little I didn't have the money to get them what they wanted and now that I do, he doesn't want anything. Isn't that irony at its finest. So, I"m game for any ideas... what do you get a 9 year old boy who (1) doesn't play with trucks, (2) already has a computer, (3) and a pony, and (4) doesn't get into sports?

And I'm not buying a Playstation because we have a Gamecube that I have to ration out time on or he'd play it all day. I think I'll just save the money because it looks like I'll need it for therapy for him.

How'd It Go?

I slept around 4 hours last night and I've been up for 18 and 1/2 hours now. Today was exhausting. Mentally, physically, and well that is pretty much it. The Best Buy line was completely out of control. We waited until an hour after they opened because it was so long outside (people started lining up at noon yesterday). We still had to wait an hour in line. It wasn't so bad, we passed the time with clever games and picking up other merchandise. We got DVDs for $2.99! Even newer releases were that price. I didn't get the laptop for $299, big surprise there. We saw lots of empty stores by 10. All in all it was a success and a lot of fun. I didn't get much shopping done as I have NO idea what to get the kids. I think some of what I did get will go back. Things were easier when they were smaller.

I did not see one fight today, although I did hear about a few. I need to send out a special thanks to Amanda for hanging in there and driving me all over the town, Amanda's brother for an excellent, free Bob Evans breakfast, and Dan for keeping Megan all day. I can't wait till we can do it again next year.

Black Friday

I'm gearing up for tomorrow. Checking ads online, I'm very disappointed. It seems there are no great 'bargains' to be found. I generally don't buy on this particular shopping day, but as I love to see the nuts. It really doesn't look like there will be much reason for the nuts to be out. I'm going anyways. This year I will have camera in hand. It's sick, I know, but I hope something camera-worthy pops up. A good fist fight over the last Click DVD for $7.99 will do.

I have to get up at 3am *YAWN*

All I Want for Christmas

We usually don't do much of an adult exchange in my house. Christmas is traditionally reserved for the kids. I think it's selfish to spend the money on adults when there are kids to be spoiled. I don't mind getting nothing because I definitely make up for it during the year. We don't combine money in our house, so I don't have to justify my frivolous crap. I don't care what the other parental unit spends his money on either.

That being said, here is MY Christmas list:
Apple 2.0GHz MacBook
or
Sony VAIO VGN-TXN15P/B 11.1” Widescreen Notebook PC
or anything else in the ultra-portable line. My laptop is nearing the 5 year mark and weighs in at about 10 lbs. It was a hand-me-down and a great portable gaming machine in its day - it still rivals many desktops. It is not-so-portable and the battery life sucks.

So while I know that I haven't been quite that good this year, I'm hoping Santa will see my list anyway. My bet? I'll get a DVD like usual.

Feeling Nostalgic

Remember when the old people at the doors of WalMart were there to greet you and hand you a cart? Our town upgraded to a huge, SuperMart a few years ago. I don't remember quite when it happened, but somewhere along the way they turned the friendly face of the WalMart greeter into the theft-prevention cops. You no longer are handed a cart, they make a game of shoving them at you when you walk by. That is when they are not too busy writing down that the alarm went off without cause for the 6 millionth time that day. On your way out you are tackled for you receipt to prove you didn't steal that 300lb of dog food that is sitting on top and smashing your bread.

Why steal 300lb bags of dog food when you can take candy bars that fit nicely in your coat pockets?