RL: Teh Bleh and Other Mundanities

RVing? Hell, why not?

2012-01-25T00:43:00.000-05:00

Now…I’ve never been a big ‘plant your roots’ kind of person. I’ve always lived in an apartment or other ‘not’ permanent housing. But the idea hit me today….why not get an RV! It’s like living in a mobile home but well mobile. None of that living in one spot, paying when I want a change in scenery. Aside from the car payment and gas, having an RV shouldn’t be too hard. I’ve even looked into getting 5th wheel insurance for my prospective vehicle. It’d be a random purchase but you only live once, right?

Welding...a Job for only the hardcore.

2012-01-17T20:37:00.003-05:00

Now I’ve never been into welding much, but the activity seems rather awesome if not dangerous. Like the equipment involved seems so hard core and a bit expensive. Welding involves wearing protective gear, doing said welding in heavy metal work, and lots of replacement welding cable.

I recall an old acquaintance that would tell me stories about his old welding jobs…sounds like wholesome dangerous fun. Nope, not for me though.

Daily Deal Hunting

2012-01-15T03:39:00.000-05:00

Well, as everyone around here knows, I live on a super tight budget. To achieve the simple feat of continuously living on my own while getting the bills paid and with food in the cupboards, I’ve been rather frugal. Certain things were cut back. One of these things was keeping up to date on fashion. Mind you, I sometimes troll ebay to find a great item but usually said item is marked up high, or a bid war starts – negating the gain I’d have in purchasing anything. And weeding through the many ‘name brand’ only to find many of them counterfeit is rather annoying.

But a name was dropped from an online friend on a shoppers forum - nomorerack. A rather pithy name this place was named under – no more rack. Mind you I’ve seen many an online store. You go to site, purchase, they ship. Wow, how mind blowing *sarcasm*.

But at nomorerack.com they do things differently. They only offer so many goods at a time. See, instead of rushing at an auction, they have it so select and new items are available all for a set price, set shipping ($2 flat fee! No people price hiking the fees to strangle more money out of you!) – but for 1 day.

1 day only. Really?

Really. So you on one hand have it so people won’t camp a certain item for days till it’s out of stock and wait listed. They even have the day and time that said deals expire so you are aware how much time you have to go. You simply haveta be there at the right time to buy. This does have it so avid watchers log in each day to find that awesome item to score. This may sound just like a trendy ebay but wait – the items are marked down super low.

These items aren’t cheap knock offs or counterfeit versions of the real thing. Real deal name brands that are available for 50% and more off, a sweetheart deal considering how high some brands are. You buy it, you pay the $2 shipping fee the site charges and you’re done. Also note that they offer various different things everyday so you never see the same item or deal twice, prompting you to give the site a quick daily glance to see if anything good is up. This is so much faster than combing ebay listings all day for anything worthwhile.

Getting my biker drama fill from Sons of Anarchy

2012-01-01T11:12:00.001-05:00

Guest post written by Heather Miles

I never really expected myself to be so interested in a show about these outlaw bikers. Never have I showed any interest in motorcycles or really anyone that rides them before. But I was surfing through the TV channels a few years ago when I came across the show and stopped on it out of curiosity. I couldn't tear myself away from the show and after that I decided to start watching it religiously.

I've maintained that loyalty to the show and was online looking up some more information on what's supposed to happen this season when I saw some stuff about internet packages. After I looked through it some and found some more here to show to my roommates, we switched over our home internet service to one of them.

I am even more into all of the drama this season than ever before. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's just because I've been missing the show so much that I'm enjoying it even more. But I'm not at all complaining about it.

Reflecting on old gigs.

2012-01-01T07:23:00.000-05:00

Oh man...This past year I had been working completely from home. Compleately. Not a dollar has been made in a normal brick and motar from me in the entirety of 2011. As I look back onto my job history, I know one line of work I'd not be thrilled with - Food Server Jobs.

I used to work for A & W Root Beer ages ago. I was the cashier but had to prepare at times drinks and a few hot dogs between taking money. That job...wasn't as fun as the TV made it seem. But, it was oodles better than that long ass gig at K-Mart *shudder*.

A Pool Side Gift

2011-12-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

Now I've never myself owned a pool before. But a friend of mine downtown does. It's a small place but the backyard space was used just so to to fit it in there along with a small poll house. Add on that the area they live at is by the bay, and you a have a water lovers dream.

But, they have kids too. Little not even school age kids. Kids that wander. They just moved there November too; so I decided to gift them pool safety covers. A useful and safety insuring gift. I am sure they will enjoy it in the warmer months when the little ones wander outside.

And so I shed and grow.

2011-12-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

As I sit on nearby Park Benches that line the apartment complex's property, I smile. It's long past sunrise and I've yet to go to bed. I've stayed up all night, doing something – or rather letting something happen. I let baggage go. I did not do what I did with that intent, but things sorta worked themselves out.

It's a strange feeling, letting things happen. It seems meant almost. Taking away the cancer. But without it, I'd never discovered the healthier parts to the whole of me. Yes, I'm waxing poetic. No I'm not high. Hear me out.

But it feels good. At first it felt uncomfortable. I put my feelings out along that set of Picnic Tables, the long worn ones that are ringed by simply made Adirondack chairs - and had them tossed back into my face. I felt unappreciated, and grossly misunderstood at best, directly lied to at worst. But funny enough, those that cared, that KNEW me and honestly liked being around me and themselves as equals instead of just being selfish and for themselves emerged. They supported and they defended.

They didn't have to. But they did.

Right now I'm swaying on some playground equipment. It's absurd, big old me on these silly swings. But I feel as free as the wind now. No black looming cloud. No arguing with a person filled with delusion. It feels great. It feels calm. I can now face this year with steady work, a place to live with only the guy at my side, and a relationship that may just work again.
I am happy. So happy.

Friendship is Witchcraft - "The Perfect Swarm" (1)

2011-12-20T00:55:00.000-05:00

Advertising overhaul

2011-12-19T06:43:00.002-05:00

Welp, I am poking around with this place: Advertising Agency to see if I can spruce this site up some. I've always pimped my 'bigger' gaming blog with ads, blog posting, link building, the whole yard.

But advertising a niche site is easier to a degree. You have a set audience built in, you know generally your topic will center around such and hey it easy to go answer questions like this:

'Hey, what's your site about?'

With simple one word answers like this:

'Gaming. Yours?'

But unlike with my money making and gaming blogs, this one is a personal blog, filled with baww, aww, and random. It's reflective of myself in reality. I have more than one interest. So does it. And that makes it hard. When I get asked about -this- blog I can only answer:

'It's about me.'

'What about you in specific?'

'Well..I got over depression and work and....relationship problems...and...and...'

I find myself at a loss as to what in specific this blog is other then it's about me. And so I find maybe bringing in a third party maybe a worthwhile idea. I mean it's not like I get paid for knowing where, when, who to post and pitch for with this blog. I don't. But the above people do. I'd like to think said people at said agency do and do well that whole web advertising thing.

They can deal with all that categorizing this blog desperately needs, and I – can stay on point with this blog and it's content. Win win? Win win.

Sometimes, amusement is as simple as this.

2011-12-16T23:34:00.002-05:00

And no, the video has nothing to do with butt sex. At all XD

zzzzz yawn 2011

2011-12-14T17:25:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe how slow this month feels. It's not cause I expect loads of gifts or anything, it just feels like this year is taking forever to end. Anyone feels like this? So slow 2011. Just end already.

An even better video downloader! Con't.

2011-12-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

Hmm...I remember talking about on my gaming blog about being able to download Youtube videos for free. I praised it for being well ...free, having great quality, and allowing me to watch a vid from off the site whenever I wanted to on my pc.

But fumy enough, I was referred to this you tube video download by a user email on this blog. Seems my readers finally realize I run both pages. Anyway, this down loader is a step above that last one – it lets you download the Youtube vid in varying formats too – for free! So I can easily move that file from off my pc to my smart phone. Rather snazy, I say.

Shopping sucks right now. You know it. I know it.

2011-12-11T04:11:00.000-05:00

Well, it's that time of the year. Everyone’s shopping their hearts out for great things to gift. But I being always one on the look out for practical gifts, I'm looking towards gifting others clothing. I'm betting everyone will be getting my niece new clothing – but what of her mom?

As my sis is more the fashionable sort just any clothing wont do. So I was putting around looking for clothing for girls (no offense sis!) betting this gear would be down her alley.

I mean she's always been the fashionable one, priding over her high end boots, skirts, and whatnot. Labels > everything. But I am as always on a budget and wont simply go to any store. But this store I'm eying has rather doable prices, is wintery (nothing like buying summer clothing mid winter!) and could make for truly fashionable wear.

And I can order it online! Score! Downside is this is highly last minute. I know how mail system is during this time of the year. Though shopping out in a brick and mortar store is very unappealing. Ugh. What to do. What to do...

Collectors gunna collect

2011-12-10T04:19:00.000-05:00

Apparently you can buy gold bars online from Golden Eagle. Now buying a block of solid gold...isn't that like buying a huge chunk of a diamond? Yeah it looks awesome but you can't wear it, and you can't spend it. Just something huge to shove somewhere safe so it doesn't get stolen.

What's the point of that. It's just as silly as collecting coins.

...and yes, the bf does collect coins. >.> He has like all of the special quarters they came out with years ago.

I can see him finding collecting bars of flat out gold fun. I just don't.

Then again I collect sailornmoon art books. One of then is easily worth $1k and yet I barely touch it. Guess this is more a pot meet kettle moment, huh? XD

Sometimes...

2011-12-10T00:47:00.001-05:00

You gotta let 'em know.

Jiggle dat belly Santa. Jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle, yeah!

Popups. No not of the the internet kind.

2011-12-08T00:46:00.000-05:00

Pop ups. When you think of that you think of silly things like those browsers full of lame ads that just appear in front of your real browser (I got one for a youtube vid a bit ago). Or toast. But did you know those displays you see at say a cosmetics booth, or in any general store with food, counts as one? See, pop up displays are everywhere. Remember that large colorful cardboard thing that held your chips neatly at the local supermarket? That was a pop up display.

Funny that these pop up booths also have bigger uses. Like, guns have trade shows. Jewelry sellers have their own trade shows. But most people don't just lay said wares out onto a spare table – they use pop up displays. These pop up trade show displays are made of sturdier and more flattering materials than their super market counter parts. Many trade show pop up displays are made with fabric and harder materials like plastic and or wood to beautifully display items.
This isn't their only use though; many are used at job fairs too.

They remind me of a DM screen though. Or those science fair things I remember making in school. But way nicer.

Bunny Ears are still in use? Woah.

2011-12-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

Now, I'm gunna be honest here. People still use antennas for tv ?! I mean seriously. I haven't seen an antenna on a TV since I was a child. And that was ages ago. I remember having to fight the bunny ears on my old TV that only caught like 10 stations – and you had to turn each station by using a numbered dial that clicked. I know my sis would prolly blank out not even knowing what life was like before everyone got (or rather could afford/not steal) cable.

I guess there are some old holdouts out there that are very anti cable. Though if that's the case, you might as well not have TV LOL. Then again I rarely use my TV for more than gaming. So the need for ears is moot.

Winter Costume Party Plans

2011-12-06T05:24:00.002-05:00

I though it'd be fun to have a different kind of holiday party. I am a bit of a geek about costumes. So why not take the fun of Halloween fun and transplant it toward the holidays? Every year there’s a holiday party with the friends out of town. Though instead of simply having a regular going out and drinking party, why not dress up as random professions? As I am a zombie movie geek, and could see this being used for this party and in future other events (namely a zombie walk later next year) I decided to go and purchase a white lab coat.

http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ had a slew of the things, at rather cheap prices. It was like going to the doctor's office and stealing a coat! I ordered a few cause knowing how we party one coat will walk in white and walk home with many beer strains. Though getting it dirty ma help it easier transition into a tore up zombie doctor coat...

Anyway, with my two coats in tow, I plan to have a rocking good time as the good doctor, drinking spiked egg nog and generally delivering doctor's reports generally consisting of 'You dear sir are drunk. Keep it up.' XD

Yes, I once cleaned houses.

2011-12-04T04:03:00.000-05:00

Ha! Seeing these guys brings back memories! I recall years ago working for a maid service. I was looking through some classifieds and saw an ad out for Maid Service Rockville MD. I was tempted to check them out but I live a few cities too far away for me to drive. Makes me wonder if these guys are in my town. This made me recall working for another house cleaning service before. Before you guys go, 'that's easy work' – it's a lot harder than you'd think!

For one it's not the same as cleaning your own place. You don't have all day to clean; in fact you are expected to clean a whole place usually within an hour or so depending on the size. Large mansions tended to take a bit more time. Usually you went in teams or two or three. Now you'd think because of the short time that you'd have to do the bare minimum. No sir! You had to find every nook and cranny requiring eyes like a hawk! Your partner tended to double check behind you – usually one would be the bathroom/kitchen cleaner and the other the duster/vacuum person.

It was a very intensive job that worked you out especially if you had more than one place to do each day! If any of you guys plan on checking out and hiring any service, treat your cleaners nice. They will appreciate it (and tend to put even more into their cleaning work!).

The Apartment's Shaping Up Nicely...Save for the AC and Heat

2011-12-02T20:25:00.001-05:00

It's been almost nine months. As I sit in one of our extra deep sofas, I am actually proud of this place. The walls are a bit thin, but we both wear headphones a lot of the time. So aside from that, this place has been rather awesome.

I'm typing this right now on a extra deep sofa and can only smile about it. Yah, money still is an issue as one of my bigger projects ended but so far it's doable. The place looks actually 'homey' now. I can smell a bit from the neighbors - they totally had friend chicken for dinner. This smell is being canceled out by the pasta that was made earlier by the guy.

This place also holds in heat and ac in. A bit too well I'm afraid. We live on the second floor so when the neighbor turns on his hat it rises to us. So sometimes we end up getting free heat - heat that makes it feel like a sauna. But turning on the ac is silly this time of year. Alas we don't have hunter fan blade arms or any type of fans installed here so we cheat and use the small floor fans to keep cool along with the windows.

Right now I'm debating between turning our own heat on or just dealing with the cold as ironically the neight has yet to turn his own heat on. Dang. I like free heat XD

The Real World

2011-12-01T17:58:00.000-05:00

Guest post of the week by Deangelo Spencer

Making the leap from college to “real world” has been…a challenge, to say the least. A few years before I graduated, my friends were landing stellar jobs months before graduation. They all had the ability to relax and enjoy their last semester of college, and many deferred starting their new job to travel a little.

I had neither of these luxuries. Graduating in the worst economy in generations has afforded me few interviews and no offers. It’s been very tough, and while my parents have helped me out as much as they can, it’s still a bit of a struggle to make ends meet. I’m living very frugally and cutting costs absolutely everywhere I can.

I very rarely eat a meal that I didn’t prepare (and let’s be honest, I normally throw a frozen meal in the microwave), and I clip more coupons that I would have thought humanly possible two years ago. I could have my own television show, really. At the suggestion of my dad, I also gave texas electricity providers a call. They were able to save me a lot of money on my natural gas costs, and I am so thankful for every single penny they saved me.

Lingerie or how I learned to love what I got.

2011-11-30T22:09:00.001-05:00

Now, these past few years I've been on a campaign to well see things in the positive. Not just in my mind by bodily. I don't think I'm all that hot or anything, but for a while I was not thrilled with what I had going on. Not thrilled with money being non existent, not thrilled with everyone around me, and not thrilled by my myself physically.

Somewhere in that black void of time that I call 2006-2008 I found a few sites. No, not self help type crap sites but a simply few lingerie sites. Now for the longest while I never got the 'point of lingerie. Like socks I found them well..pointless. Well more superfluous – you were them for five minutes just to well take them off huur.

It doesn't help that most sites like this, they aren't sized for us larger chicks. But one day I checked my email and found some victoria’s secret coupons in my spam folder. I normally ignore said things, but decided to just go see what was with them (a risk, I know). Despite myself I found myself ordering a few pairs of cheap undies. Undies that I wore not for anyone but myself. Those small purchases led to me exploring myself in fashion but also in mind.

Years later, I'm not all that much smaller, but I'm well and above happier. I can look at myself and smile. And well, if a simply pair of frilly lingerie can do that, then so be it.

A discovery was made....about men's underwear.

2011-11-26T08:42:00.000-05:00

Well I never thought I'd see two words put together: men's lingerie. Now think about it. When I see the word 'lingerie' I think of frilly, 'feminine', soft fabrics. The very things I just don't think men would gun of. Mind you, I'm not excluding the very secure kinda guy could who may like frilly undies for whatever reasons, just that those types are not as prevalent.

But in my curiosity I look up what would qualify as mens lingerie . I though it was just boxers and briefs for them. Apparently stuff not made of cotton, sheer thongs, and various fancier versions of generic mens underwear counts as lingerie. Never knew that. I feel enlightened. After this discovery, I told my guy that some of what he owned qualified as lingerie. The look on his face – a mix of horror and amusement – was just priceless.

A Pet Emergency Over Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T05:14:00.000-05:00

I heard over thanksgiving that the situation with a family member's pet dog wasn't shaping up well. Let me back track. The bf's brother and his wife own two darling pet Dachshunds. Lively and spunky dogs they are. Well one has befallen a slew of medical issues of late, mostly due to age but still very trying. The price tag keep rising but it seems no relief in sight for the poor thing. Those two are like children to them and a decision to euthanize has been discussed.

This isn't the first time a pet's loss has been mourned by the family. The guy's mother has experienced the loss of one dearly loved cat, that fell to a rapidly growing tumor. But instead of simply having the poor dear be put to rest at a vet and left, they opted for a home burial. I never knew that was even an option for pets (I never had a pet of my own), but you can either bury your loved pet in the back yard, then have the area marked by pet memorial stones. Or you can hopt for pet cremation – which is what his mother chose to do.

All I know as this thanksgiving was spent not only eating, but giving thanks to those in good health, and giving those in need of it hope for improved health. I really hope it doesn't come to that, that dog was so full of spunk and his just as spunky partner in crime will be so lonely :(

Computer Blues

2011-10-29T13:41:00.001-04:00

As I sit outside just marveling at the random snow in October, I peck away at this slow as mud laptop. Considering I couldn't just drag my pc up here (and especially now with the snow), nor have the privacy I'd want on their three gamer ready pcs I brought along my sluggish laptop.

For what it has to do it's not bad. It opens up browsers albeit slowly. Okay it opens up IE slowly, FF is still rife with that lag bug other have that make it unusable. Open Office slows it a bit unless I don't let it auto save. Anything beyond writing on it is just not worth it. And the fact that I'm writing this with it sitting on a TV tray is killing my back.

Out of boredom I looked around for maybe a get around for this. Laptops in general are okay and I could be holding it in my lap (hence laptop) but a well running laptop can get extremely warm becoming murder on your legs. I have considered though tablets. Now at first glance to me, tablets look like over glorified huge smart phones to me. And as a person who likes it simple I could honestly not give a shit about those type of things.

But tablets are more than that. See I've always wanted to try drawing digitally. I mean I've doodled with a normal pen and paper but never digitally. My pc can handle stuff but I'd need to buy a special pad and is just inconvenient especially when you like drawing in a sketchbook in a comfy chair, not a computer chair that starts to hurt after a few hours of sitting. An this laptop is just ugh.

Now tablets...they have the portability of a laptop while the power of a pc. I've seen what they can do: play movies - not youtube clips – but actual movies without stuttering. And you can use it like a sketchbook holding it like a book in your hands on in the lap. And you can 'draw' on it. The only way I saw that I could ever draw on something electronic was with a mouse, and that is ridiculously hard. A simple stylus and bam on the way to drawing town.

But that is almost the same reason why I'm hesitant about them. I remember working at a local store that had self checkouts. One day as I came in the touch screen part of it was cracked as if someone punched it with a pen. Now I don't see myself pressing down THAT hard on a screen but those self checkouts were made to withstand such pressure and failed. How strong will my screen be? Will I get mad one day and thwack I just ruined a huge investment? That is a big worry for me about tablets...how durable are they?