Ponder THIS... if you dare!

ABC.com does it right!

2008-11-05T21:20:00.006-05:00

I've been having issues with my DVR box. The first one got struck by lightening, so BrightHouse brought me a new one. Well, then they did this whole "update" thingy, which fried the hard drive in the new box... soooo, they brought me yet another, although a different model. When the update came around for the newest box, it screwed up some of the series I had scheduled by setting it to record on the wrong channel.

Anyway, I ended up not recording two weeks' worth of Grey's Anatomy, so I did a Google search to see if there was anywhere I could view the episodes online. Lo and behold, right there on ABC's home page is a clearly identified link to their streaming HD video player. The video quality is fantastic, and you can even toggle to full screen mode.

Not only was I able to catch up on the missed episodes, but I am currently watching the entire series "Lost (OMG, it totally lives up to the hype!). Yep, they have all of the episodes beginning with the pilot, and they have the same for all their other primetime hits. This is awesome, because now I can become addicted to even more TV shows!!!

NBC also has full episodes available online, although their video player comes nowhere near the quality of the one ABC uses. As of now, CBS is sucking wind by comparison. When I finally plodded through their annoying site navigation and found the elusive "full episodes" link for Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer, it turns out they don't actually have any full episodes available for viewing. They need to get with the program.

Guitar Hero IV countdown...

2008-10-09T00:47:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'm so freaking excited about the October release of Guitar Hero World Tour. Not only am I eagerly anticipating playing with the bad-ass drum kit, but the available songs are the best collection I've heard of on ANY band simulation game, and if you've played Rock Band, you know how frustrating and boring a lame song list can become.

To check out the song list click here. All of the songs are master tracks, so no cover bands to groan over. The playlist is huge and diverse. You'll find Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ozzy, Wings, Van Halen, Linkin Park, The Eagles, Billy Idol, Willie Nelson, and so much more. Oh, and for the first time, those of us who have a Wii system will be able to download new music.

The guitar controller also has some new features, including a touch sensitive fret bar. The drum kit has raised cymbals/high-hats, and we're promised that it will feel more realistic than the drums for rock band... more responsive and quieter.

You can also create your own songs for Guitar Hero in the music studio section of the game. These songs can be shared online with other GH players, so you essentially have an infinite playlist.

The characters and instruments are fully customizable, so you conceivably spend hours playing with the game without ever actually playing a note... at least that's what happened to me when I started creating my avatar for the Tiger Woods golf game on Wii.

Anyway, I will definitely post again once I've played the game. Only a couple more weeks to wait...

Stealth Street Addresses

2008-09-08T16:28:00.003-04:00

The other day I was driving around in an unfamiliar part of town, trying to find a used book store. I had the street address, but that wasn't terribly helpful, because for some unknowable reason, none of the commercial buildings had visible numbers.

Is this some sadistic collusion on the part of business owners, hoping that if people slow down to try and find the address somewhere visible, that maybe some of us will decide to stop at their establishments? It makes no sense to me why a business would not do whatever it took to make their location easy to find.

How hard is it to slap some numbers on the building, door or window, so that customers who are actively seeking you, have a chance to actually find you?

I did eventually find the place I was looking for, and found that they had gone out of business. Lesson learned: CALL before driving across town at 4:00 pm, otherwise you may end up wasting time/gas.

Facebook... love it or hate it?

2008-08-28T17:25:00.003-04:00

I've been sucked into the world of facebook.com, and I'm not sure I'm a big fan. There are a few things that I find a tad annoying, mainly the newsfeeds that display every boring detail of what your other facebook "friends" are up to.

It's getting tedious wading through all the "David sent Maryanne a rosewater enema" or "Sandra joined the group I Love Miniature Bottles of Liquor" or some other such nonsense. And if that's not enough, it seems that if it's a slow day, the newsfeed will recycle old items, such as "Karen and Senor Douchebag are now friends", when you know damn well that Karen and Senor Douchebag confirmed their facebook friendship 2 weeks ago.

I may not be making any sense, so you'll just have to join facebook and find out for yourselves.

UPDATE (Sept. 5, 2010)
Okay, two years have passed and facebook has really gone to great lengths to make the site less annoying. These days we have the option to create custom filters, so you can choose to only see annoying updates from a select group of friends instead of every single idiot you went to high school with. You can also hide specific people without defriending them, so they'll never know how little you respect or like them. Privacy settings have become less obtuse, although it's still more cumbersome than I'd like.

All in all my FB usage has become a daily (okay, all freaking day long) thing, which is something I didn't see coming.

Oral Etiquette

2008-08-04T16:40:00.003-04:00

Let me tell you about a HUGE pet peeve of mine... people who audibly chew gum and smack their food.

Nobody should ever have to hear somebody else's gum smacking and chewing. It is not only rude to inflict your annoying habit on other people, but you just look like a piece of low-class trash, chewing away like a cow on cud.

There have been countless times where I've been trapped with such idiots, either in an elevator, in a queue, or in the movies (aaaaaaarrrrgggh). For some reason, god did not bless me with the ability to filter out the wet smacking noises... when I hear it, my brain releases chemicals that not only enhance my hearing of such noises, but put me into a state not unlike road rage. I find myself fighting the urge to reach my fingers into the offending maw and forcibly remove the gum.

This also applies to food. Most food smacking is accompanied by the repulsive sight of saliva drenched bolus roiling around in the mouth. Gawd, it's enough to make me want to vomit! At least most people do not have the capacity to eat for hours on end, unlike the seeming eternity gum chewing, but for me, it's a toss-up as to which drives me more insane. At this point in my life, just catching sight of somebody's jaw working overtime causes me to start getting anxious.

Other annoying things are those who constantly whistle (usually in the cubicle next to you, where you cannot escape their tuneless warblings), or make other oral noises... these are usually done on a subconscious level, so you feel like a real ass for saying anything about it.

I wish I could fire these bastards twice!

2008-07-20T21:57:00.003-04:00

Oh man, was I HOT when I realized that my lawn service had destroyed two sprinkler heads! I haven't really used the irrigation system this year, mainly because my water bill was up in the $170's (ridiculous), and I thought spending that much to water weeds was insane.

Well, I got all industrious last week and decided to seed and fertilize the backyard, because the bare patches of dirt are what my dogs make a beeline for immediately after getting out of the pool. The routine is this... get in pool, get out of pool, head for patch of dirt and roll around like a whore, get up and shake the larger dirt clumps off, carry the new coating of dirt back to the pool.

Where was I? Ah, yes, so after I seeded and fertilized, I went to turn on the irrigation system to water the seeds as instructed. As I'm testing out all the zones to make sure everything is working, I realize that one of my hedge sprinklers has been completely cut in half (weed-whacker is my guess), and it is gushing like a water fountain. Then in the back yard, another sprinkler head has been mauled to the point where it is spraying water straight up into the air.

The only way these things could've gotten busted is by somebody doing a shitty job of lawn maintenance. I understand that accidents happen, but what pisses me off is that NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT IT!!! And now, I can't really call them up and demand that they cover the repair costs, because I canceled their service last month.

Not only did they not tell me about the sprinklers they destroyed, but there were 5 Mondays in June, and they shorted me out of my final mow. When I called to complain, he swears up and down that they were here, yet I'm staring at tufts of weeds in the back yard that shouldn't be there so soon after a "supposed" mow. Liars!

On a positive note, I managed to tap into my inner handyman, and I replaced the sprinkler heads myself. I feel so empowered. :)

Blog Recommendation: LetsBitch.com

2008-07-13T23:34:00.002-04:00

If you're a fan of observational humor, and love to gripe and whine about life's little annoyances, then you absolutely must check out the blog "Let's Bitch: because it's cheaper than a psychiatrist".

The author, Becca, is a woman after my own heart. The things she posts about are things many of us find annoying, and she somehow finds the perfect words to express what we're all thinking.

A few recent posts of hers:
Save My Lucky Charms - a rant about the non-resealable bags inside cereal boxes.
Double Doors - explores the issue of how inevitably, one door of a double door never gets used.
Have You No Shame? - commentary on those who insist upon "dropping the deuce" in public bathrooms
The Squeaky Wheel - all about the trials of getting stuck with piece of crap shopping carts

Her posts are always short and sweet, and she posts frequently. It's the perfect distraction to indulge in... say, on a conference call or something equally tedious.

Return of the Black Boogers

2008-07-07T19:38:00.003-04:00

I know it's not a very lady-like topic, but "so what!". I've mentioned in another post how in order to cut back on expenses, I've canceled my lawn service. Well, today I was out mowing, eyes watering and sneezing up a storm, all the while trying to avoid twigs and acorn projectiles being ejected from the mower deck (push mower, in case you're interested).

When I was done, I looked like I was wearing black socks, my legs were so covered with dirt. Anyway, and you know where I'm going with this, I go inside to clean up, and when I blew my nose.... ugh! The black, dusty horror in my tissue was appalling. I thought that surely with all the sneezing, I would be spared this particular indignity, but it wasn't the case.

Maybe I should rethink that $140 per month for the lawn service?

Summertime caffeine fix

2008-07-05T11:10:00.004-04:00

Nothing is better than that morning cup of coffee. I like to sit on my back porch and look at the pool and get my morning caffeine fix, but now that it's so hot and muggy, a hot cup of coffee leaves much to be desired. What's a girl to do?

Well, this girl has decided to switch to iced coffee. All you really have to do is brew your normal pot of coffee, but make it stronger than you usually would, then let it cool down. If you're in a hurry, I recommend filling your sink with cold water and setting the coffee pot in it. Adding ice directly to the coffee may be quicker, but it will water it down too much.

Once it's cooled to near room temp, then you just add your sugar and/or creamer and a few cubes of ice. If you plan ahead, you can have the coffee pot cool in the fridge over night, then you don't even have to add ice. Since I like a sweet creamy blend, I use part heavy whipping cream and part flavored creamer... it's just as good, if not better, than the $2 bottle of Starbuck's Frappucino that you buy at 7-11... and so much cheaper. :)

Rock Band for Wii

2008-06-30T19:51:00.003-04:00

Well, Rock Band was finally released for Nintendo Wii, and for the most part, I think it was worth the wait. Although I didn't personally shell out the $160 or so that the game costs, I'm lucky enough to have a couple of friends who made the financial decision to do so.

So, let's talk about the game... for me, it's all about the drums! I have a fair amount of musicality and hand-eye coordination, but playing the drums requires hand-eye-FOOT coordination. Somewhere along the way my wiring got crossed, because I have the hardest time trying to play the kick-drum beats with the foot pedal. This is probably also why I cannot pick up simple choreography either... the feet don't know what to do, and when given the choice, they will generally do the wrong thing. However, when you find your rhythm and hit your beats, you feel like a total rock star!!

The guitar controller is not as good a fit for me as the controller for Guitar Hero. The strum bar doesn't click and feels "soft", so I'm finding it difficult to play quick runs. Then again, after doing a little internet research, it seems a lot of people are having issues with the strum bar not registering down strokes, or sometimes registering double strums, so maybe that's the problem. All I know is that I am playing on Expert level on Guitar Hero, but seem to be struggling with songs on Rock Band's Hard level.

Also, the + and - buttons are way too close to the strum bar, so sometimes during the middle of a song, my pinkie will accidentally tap a button and the song will pause. You can imagine how annoying this can be to your fellow bandmates. Ummm, oh yeah, the fret keys are flush with the neck of the guitar, so I find that it's easier to lose your place if your hand shifts... I much prefer the raised fret keys on the Guitar Hero controller. The Rock Band controller does have some unique features that are pretty cool, including the guitar effects switch and the solo fret keys (which I've yet to use).

The singing part is pretty easy. You don't have to be able to carry a tune or even know the lyrics, but you must be able to modulate the pitch of your voice in order to keep the arrow level with the pitch lines. I don't think I've scored less than 90% on any song that I had to sing, and most of the songs on the set list were new to me. And for songs that I actually know, I tend to score 100% or in the high 90's. Sweet! :)

This fall Guitar Hero IV will be released, and it will also feature drums and a mic, so that's the game I'm going to spend my hard-earned moolah on. From everything I've read about it so far, it's going to be a far superior game... can't wait to play it.

Alternative to airlines' new luggage fees

2008-06-17T23:52:00.006-04:00

Not being a frequent flyer, I didn't really give much thought to the news that many airlines were now going to start charging passengers to check their luggage. I recall thinking, "Wow, that sucks", but since I can't really afford to fly anywhere these days (I can barely afford to drive across town), I didn't ponder the situation all that much. Well, I just ran across an editorial piece that offers an alternative to this new fee... start charging passengers for carry-on items instead.

It's absolutely brilliant. Think about it. Under the current plan, the luggage fee only applies to checked baggage, not carry-ons, so that means people are going to start packing as much crap as possible into large backpacks and such, then drag all that mess through the security check points, further slowing down an already annoyingly slow process (and inefficient one, I might add). And after all that, these "carry-on" monstrosities are going to be lugged onto the plane, making boarding/disembarking a logistical pain in the rear. I'm not even sure there is enough overhead storage capacity to handle it.

Check out the article for a more in-depth explanation of the alternative plan's benefits:
article: Airlines are charging for the wrong bags

The Joys of Florida Thunderstorms

2008-06-12T09:53:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting here at the house, and I finally have internet service again. Two days ago we had a bad thunderstorm roll in the area, and it messed up a lot of my electronics (computer was surge protected with battery back up... THANK GOD!)

My friend and I had spent a day by the pool drinking beer, and when the weather turned ominous, we came inside to play Guitar Hero. We were right in the middle of a song, and suddenly there was a deafening crack accompanied by a flash of blue light, and we immediately lost power.

It took awhile to get the tv back on, but when we finally did, I realized that I no longer had cable (or internet). I did all the rebooting of the box and unplugging/waiting/replugging in of the modem, but to no avail.

As annoying as that was, it pales in comparison to the fact that all of the circuit boards for my pool pump and indoor control panel were fried. The service guy just left, and it cost almost $2600 to replace everything.

My Maytag dryer no longer functions, so I'll find out the extent of the damage on Monday when the tech guy arrives. And it was only 10 minutes ago that I realized my fax machine has given up the ghost.

As an aside, and completely unrelated to the lightning strike, I spent the night at a friend's last night, and when I came home this morning I discovered that one of the animals (the cat, I think) went apesh*t and shredded my fitted sheet and bit chunks out of my memory foam mattress topper. WTF? WHY?????

June is turning out to be an expensive month for me.

Step It Up & Dance

2008-06-03T12:48:00.002-04:00

Well, the finale is coming up for this show, and I've been hooked all season. If you're a fan of reality television and dance, then this show is something you should be watching.

I do find that it pales in comparison to So You Think You Can Dance. The level of dance skills on SYTYCD seems to be far superior. The dancers are more versatile... even the "untrained" dancers seem to do a better job stepping out of their genres. Maybe it's the quality of the choreographers they deal with?

On Step It Up & Dance, the format is more like Top Chef. We see as much footage of behind-the-scenes drama and conflict between the contestants as we do of actual dancing, whereas on SYTYCD, it's more like American Idol, where the focus is on the dancing, not so much on the "personalities" (although the rehearsal scenes let us get to know the contestants).

Either way though, the show is fun to watch. I'm sure they'll run a Step It Up and Dance marathon, so set your recorders and try to catch the entire season.

Laser Hair Removal is NOT worth it!!!

2008-05-28T17:28:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'll admit it, I hate shaving so much that I forked out a few grand for laser hair removal. Sure, it would cost money now, but think of all the money I'd save over the years by not having to purchase razor blades and shaving gel... not to mention the time I'd save by never having to shave again. Seems like a good deal, right? WRONG!

I went through 14 uncomfortable treatments, and I still have to !#@$#@ shave!!!! The process was this... you have to be freshly shaved when you go in, then they freeze sonagram gel and slather it on the parts to be lasered (sound fun yet?), then the laser light stings like a mother. This is what I went through every 3 to 4 weeks.

I'll admit that the hair is growing back softer, and I don't have to shave MOST places nearly as often, but the whole point was to NEVER have to shave again. I feel cheated, and am definitely $4000 poorer, which would certainly buy a lot of gas right now.

So, if you've been thinking about getting laser hair removal, make sure you get some sort of written pro-rated satisfaction guarantee. You'll be thankful you did.

Tennis... it's not just for fat cats!

2008-05-28T17:22:00.004-04:00

Ah, tennis… few other sports require the special mix of superlative hand-eye coordination, sprinting ability, tremendous aerobic capacity, and the gift to anticipate where the ball is going and be able to turn on a dime to get to it.

If you have watched any competent players at a tournament, they often make it look so easy… just swing the racquet and the ball goes over the net, right? WRONG! In addition to all of the qualities I’ve mentioned above, you also need to be able to be able to place the ball exactly where you want it to go, and also determine whether or not you want to add some topspin or backspin to it so that it either skips high after the bounce, or drops dead (for all practical purposes).

It isn’t until you actually try to play the game for yourself, that you realize how difficult and precise it really is. Tennis is somewhat like combining the precision of golf and billiards, but doing it all while running around like a soccer player.

Once you’ve played the sport, you gain a greater appreciation of the professional players, and there’s no better way to see them up close and in action than to go to a tournament. If ever get the chance to make it to one of the big tournaments where seeded players compete, then I highly recommend you take it.

Right now, the next major tournament coming up is Wimbledon. This is more than just a tournament… it is steeped in history and legacy. Tennis stars are made on the grassy lawns of Wimbledon. If you can do it, go! Good seats will sell out quickly, so be sure to Wimbledon tennis tickets in advance.

More information about Wimbledon can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Championships,_Wimbledon
http://www.wimbledon.org/

The Urban Dictionary

2008-05-28T13:03:00.006-04:00

I find that as I get older, I'm somewhat out of the loop on the current lingo of our culture... I pick up some stuff from television and movies, but unless you are immersed in the day-to-day life of a teenager, chances are that you are also hopelessly "un hip" (see what I mean?), as well.

Enter the wonder of the Urban Dictionary. Not only can you look up those weird phrases that you hear at the supermarket, bus stop, etc., but you can browse around to find the perfect phrase or word to express your meaning. Check it out...

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Cutting back on expenses

2008-05-27T15:25:00.002-04:00

Gosh, this economy is SUCKING right now! The cost of fuel is causing prices for everything else to rise, which means less disposable income to spend on children's furniture and massages (my two sources of income).

So, what's a girl to do? I have been cutting back on entertainment for awhile now... not eating out as much, not playing golf at all (unless it's free), etc., but those cutbacks aren't going to be enough in the face of dwindling cash flow.

For that reason, I've have decided to step up my game... I am discontinuing my pool and lawn service, as well as my rarely-used gym membership (savings of $280 right there), and am going to plant my own vegetable garden to help cut down on that grocery bill.

Think about it, how does the produce get to the store? How is it harvested? All of those things take fuel, and fuel prices are what's killing us right now... by growing my own produce (carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, beans, lettuce, squash, etc.), I will not only be "saving the planet", I will be saving myself a TON of money and have a better quality of food to consume.

Now, let's just hope I have a green-thumb hidden somewhere within me.

So You Think You Can Dance is back!

2008-05-25T12:18:00.003-04:00

Ah, it's that time of year again... when American Idol has finally ended (way to go, David Cook!!!) and So You Think You Can Dance is back.

Between the two shows, I prefer SYTYCD by a long shot. Maybe because I find dancing to be a more impressive skill, since it takes much more commitment and dedication to pull it off successfully, or maybe it's just because it is more visually appealing. Either way, I can't stop watching this show.

Also, the judges panel on this show is not nearly as annoying as on Idol. This show features the two regular judges - one British guy and one female - but the third judge is always a professional choreographer. This panel just seems to know more about what they're judging than the Idol panel does. The fact that not one of them is Randy Jackson also pleases me to no end.

Conquering Your Inner Slob

2008-05-23T14:24:00.000-04:00

I've never been much of a house keeper. It's not that I like living in clutter, but it's such an overwhelming task that instead of tackling it and getting it done, I'd prefer to sit down on the sofa and watch TV.

I've got two large retrievers, and 4 indoor/outdoor cats, so the "fur factor" of my dwelling is off the charts. As if that wasn't bad enough, the dogs love to swim in the pool, then roll around in the dirt, so if left unattended, my living room floors would quickly resemble a beach due to the cubic tons of sand that they track in. As a side note, I purchased a Roomba awhile back, but the poor thing didn't stand a chance.... it now sits quietly in the "guest room", living a lonely, unproductive life of solitude.

Speaking of my guest room, I only call it that, because referring it to the "Dungeon of Clutter" tends to scare people. True, if pressed, I could move the items that are currently stacked on the bed onto the floor, but while this would leave space for actual sleeping, I'm not sure there would be an available path from the door to the bed, so it seems rather pointless.

Back to the point of my story. A month or so ago I reached my breaking point. I'm not sure what triggered it.. .possibly the fact that I tore the house inside out looking for my iPod, only to find it a day or so later, sneakily hiding under a sheet of paper on the desk in my home office. I just couldn't continue to live in such a disorganized way.

I recalled seeing something in one of those Quality Paperback Book Club catalogs that had sparked my interest. It was a book on how to get your house clean, and stay on top of the chores. I did a book search at Amazon.com, and several "get organized" books popped up, but after reading the reviews, I felt that the one that fit me best was "The Side-Tracked Home Executive". It was written by people and for people who do not possess the organization gene.

I won't go into details about their system, but I can tell you that I implemented it and it has made a huge difference. I have a friend that comes and dog-sits whenever I go out of town, and last time she came over, she asked me if I had hired a cleaning service, because everything was so clean and in its place. I was thrilled that somebody took notice of my efforts, and I can now relax in my house, as opposed to sitting on the sofa feeling anxious because of the mess, but too demoralized to do anything about it.

If you have the same organizational issues, I highly recommend that you check out "Sidetracked Home Executives", by Pam Young and Peggy Jones. If you end up implementing their system, please come back to this post and leave a comment.

Gas Prices Are Bringing Me Down

2008-05-23T13:08:00.003-04:00

OMG, I couldn't believe it this morning when I went to fill up my tank. I have to use premium gas, so am already forced to pay 20 cents more per gallon than I'd rather, but this morning I was heading back from Daytona Beach, and practically burst into tears when I saw that the price had jumped to $4.17 per gallon. When I drove into Daytona on Tuesday, I was shocked that it was $3.99 per gallon... who would've ever thought I'd regret not filling up at those prices?

I can't imagine how high it's going to go, but it's getting too expensive to even do "free" things, like drive across town to hang out at a friend's house. Just to get from my house to downtown Orlando is now an $8 round-trip... not counting the $1 I pay in tolls.

It's getting to the point where Americans are going to start having to live in multi-family dwellings. I live alone, and have for years, but the prices keep skyrocketing, and income keeps dwindling... I'm not sure where all of this will lead, but it's not looking good. I may have to get another roommate if things don't turn around.

Checkout "30 Days"

2008-05-18T12:14:00.005-04:00

Did you ever see "Supersize Me" by Morgan Spurlock? It was a documentary that followed Morgan as he did a little experiment to see what would happen if he at nothing but McDonald's for a 30 day period. It was funny, yet distressing, and I was unable to eat McDonald's for almost a year.

Well, Morgan has a show on the FX channel called "30 Days", in which he (or sometimes others) live in certain situations for 30 days. I caught this show late in the game, and so far I've seen a devout Southern Baptist gentleman living as a Muslim, a laid off tech worker who went to India to work as a call center employee, Morgan living as a prison inmate, and am currently watching an episode where Morgan and his fiancee are attempting to live on minimum wage (it ain't going so well). The show about to start its 3rd season now, so I've got a lot to catch up on, and I recommend you check it out.

American Idol: Now I'm going to pick on David Archuleta

2008-05-08T18:58:00.007-04:00

David, David, David... No, not the one with stage presence, a gigantic head, and sex appeal... the other one... the little one... the Hobbit Who Sings! You know who I'm talking about now, right?

David Archuleta has worn out his welcome in my household. I'm not sure if it's his stiff armed stance, the fact that he looks so uncomfortable in his own skin, or that he seems to lack the ability to connect with people... maybe it's because every time he is interviewed, he just grins that angelic, dopey grin and laughs nervously, as opposed to forming coherent thoughts, then speaking them clearly. At least when Jason Castro got the blank, stupid look, we could chalk it up to years of smoking weed... what's Archuleta's excuse?

Don't get me wrong... the guy has got an unnaturally pure, beautiful voice, but it's those dead, shiny doll-eyes, and nervous lip-licking, and epic lack of charisma that makes me dislike his performances so much.

I keep telling my friends that he's got that tween vote locked in, just like Sanjaya did, but unlike Sanjaya, David A. can sing... doesn't mean he needs to win the competition though. Who can you think of that would buy his CD and actually enjoy it?

Btw, I'm not alone in my opinion. Check this out... Coke vs. Pepsi: American Idol's David Archuleta makes me mad

American Idol: What is Jason Castro's damage?

2008-05-07T18:23:00.009-04:00

Did you happen to catch last night's episode? The theme was songs from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (why on earth did they build that in Cleveland, OH???). I was all prepped to have a rant about the increasingly somnolent effects of David Archuletta's performances - he's practically weaned me off Ambien at this point - but instead, I found myself wishing that Jason Castro was gone already.

When this season first started, I loved Castro and his disarming stoner-boy charm, but that's all he's ever offered, and now the guy can't even remember the d@mn lyrics to a song about weed?!?!? Are you KIDDING ME? Maybe he was stoned last night, or maybe he just doesn't want to be there any more, but his seemingly complete lack of effort or interest in giving a good performance has pushed me over the edge.

I wish AI gave us numbers we could dial that registered "anti-votes". I would get much more emotional satisfaction voting to send Jason home, than I do voting to keep David Cook in the competition. Ah well, the results are tonight, so maybe I'll get my wish and see Jason leave, although that would mean I'd have to sit through his farewell "sing out". I guess I could always hit "Mute".

My "sick day" routine.

2008-05-06T21:06:00.004-04:00

Good evening, my little blog-reading friends. I've been feeling under the weather today, so haven't really had the energy to haul myself off of the sofa, much less cook, clean, shower, etc. My routine has been to lie on the couch in my pajamas, reading my book or catching up on television shows that have backed up on my DVR.
Also, PizzaHut just made a delivery of some saturated fatty goodness, and it occurred to me that whoever invented the concept of "home delivery" was genius. Heck, I didn't even have to call the order in... just went online and added my stuff to the shopping cart, and 30 minutes later had food delivered to my door. They even make the coupons available online, so I didn't have to fumble around my junk drawer looking for one... it would've been expired anyway, I'm sure.
Anyhoo, I just thought I'd share, since I was tooling around on the computer anyway. I would've loved to have crafted something witty or profound, but it just isn't in me today. Have a great night guys... I'm about to sit down, eat junk food and watch American Idol... I wonder how well David Archuletta will handle tonight's "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame" theme? I'm sure that will be tomorrow's post.

The Soup is a most satisfying meal.

2008-05-03T22:18:00.006-04:00

Have you had the pleasure of catching a show called "The Soup"? Way back in the day, it was called "Talk Soup", and was hosted by Greg Kinnear, among others.

Currently, the fabulously hilarious Joel McHale is the host, and he pokes fun at pop culture and stupid moments on television each week, culminating in the "clip of the week". If you watch television, especially reality tv or talk shows, then you'll enjoy watching him mercilessly make fun of the hosts and contestants and guests.

View a sample 2 minute clip below, and I'm sure you'll become a viewer.

My hiking trip through the land of the Ticks!

2008-05-02T22:40:00.007-04:00

"Ewwwwwwwww!!! I'm covered in $#!!!@ TICKS!!!" That pretty much describes my reaction today during my hike when I felt something crawling on my leg, then looked down to see a tick with a white dot on its back. I've now identified this as a female Lone Star tick. I've thoughtfully provided a photo. You're welcome. :)

Well, I spent the next 4 hours of our 5 hour hike obsessing over the ticks. Every time I looked down there was at least one tick on the prowl, making its merry way up my leg to the more hospitable climate of my unmentionables. Aaaaaaaaaaaarrggh!

I could sometimes feel the big ones crawling, but there were so many pinhead sized "babies" that I could hardly keep track of them. I can't convey how crappy this hike was turning out to be. Sure, the scenery was really nice at points, but was it worth having to suffer through this tick onslaught? Methinks NOT!

In addition to that, I was wearing some old running shoes instead of proper hiking footwear, so my feet, and pretty much everything from the waist down, were aching and dirty.

Once we escaped our hell we went to the springs to clean off a little. That was a nice way to end a grueling and disgusting day.

Ahhhh... beautiful, tick-free, Wekiva Springs, FL.

American Idol... hardly even a contest at this point.

2008-04-29T23:59:00.004-04:00

I'm sitting here watching tonight's "Neil Diamond" performance night on American Idol, and it occurs to me that no one can even come close to beating David Cook for sheer star power and appeal. I'm sure there are some people who despise him, his gigantic head, and smug confidence, but I'm not one of those people. I can't wait to download his first album.

While David Archuleta has a pure, angelic voice and demeanor, that's not really what rock/pop stars are made of. I have no doubt that he will have a fantastic career, considering his huge tween fan base... maybe he and Miley Cyrus can tour together, although I think she might be too edgy and raw for him.

And have you noticed how Syesha is suddenly bringing her "A game"? Is Syesha a talent vampire, stealing away both Jason Castro's and Brooke's talent, because as they have gotten worse, Syesha has come alive. I will grant that Brooke's second performance of this evening was more like her earlier Idol performances, but it may be too little, too late. And Jason sounds the same on every performance these days, so I'm thinking there will be some Castro in the bottom two for tomorrow night's results show.

If you want to read a funny recap on tonight's show, please visit televisionwithoutpity.com for some acid wit and snark.

My Roomba is out of retirement.

2008-04-27T12:06:00.003-04:00

In my previous post titled "Conquering your inner slob", I mentioned how my poor little Roomba robot-vac was sitting idly by in my guest room, basically having been put to pasture because it couldn't deal with all of the dog hair.

I decided to give the little guy another chance, now that I'm doing a better job of staying on top of my chores. Once per day, usually first thing in the morning, I set him loose in the living room to gather all the sand and hair that my dogs deposited overnight. I find that with this limited task, done on a daily basis, it is able to handle the job. This is great, because now I don't have to lug out the Dyson vac every single day!

I'm always looking for a way to make my life easier, and I have decided that the Roomba does, in fact, contribute to the cleanliness of my household. I have to mention that I have laminate floors, so can't vouch for it's effectiveness on carpet, but I think that if you have a carpeted floor, you may want to stick with a good vac instead. It's more work, but that's the price you pay.

Guitar Hero for Wii - taking your game online.

2008-04-27T00:44:00.003-04:00

Today I experienced the joys of playing Guitar Hero online. I already knew this was a feature of the game, at least for the Wii version, but had never actually tried it until today.

It was so cool. I logged on to the Nintendo Wi-Fi, and chose "Strangers Match" from the list, and next thing I knew, I was battling head to head with a complete stranger who went by the name Evil Bunny.

Okay, so Evil Bunny kicked my butt, but I guess that's what happens when you compete on Expert level playing songs that you can barely get through on Hard. Even so, the thrill of the competition made it a lot more fun than just playing by myself.

If the shoe fits....

2008-04-21T14:27:00.005-04:00

As I've mentioned in prior posts (To run or not to run and I ran so far away), I am a newbie runner. I log less than 20 miles per week, but even so, my running shoes had worn out, and it was time for a new pair.

One of the things that I cannot emphasize enough it that you get good running shoes! This will make a huge difference in your success, enjoyment, and longevity as a runner. While you may think your run of the mill sneakers are up to the task, if you go out there without the proper support and design for your particular stride, then you will find that you'll develop repetitive stress injuries, and may even get to the point where you cannot run.

Each of us has a stride that is unique. Some of us underpronate (supinate), which means that we tend to run on the outside edge of our foot. There are running shoes specifically designed to compensate for this, and it is well worth the $100 or so dollars to make sure you get the correct shoe. You won't believe the difference it will make in your comfort level while running.

Then there are the people who pronate. This is when your arch flattens out on your down step, so these people need extra arch support in their running shoes. Also, there are varying degrees of pronation and supination, so make sure you get a shoe that works specifically for you.

If you're not sure which kind of stride you have, I recommend that you go to your local running store and have one of the staff members assess your stride. They will do this as a courtesy, and will make sure that you get into the shoe that is best for your needs. Whatever you do, do NOT go to a place like Sports Authority and expect the sales person to make a qualified recommendation on something as important as this. Unless you get really lucky, chances are high that the sales associate has no clue about which shoe does what, and you'll end up with a shoe that might very well open you up to injury. It's just not worth the risk.

To find out more, here is an excellent article on pronation vs. supination.

A woman's guide to savvy car buying.

2008-04-17T14:31:00.012-04:00

Although my title refers to women, this can be applicable to anybody. Buying a car has always been one of those distasteful things that must occasionally be done, and often we end up paying more than we need to, due to the sales techniques that we are assaulted with. This includes the high pressure sale, unnecessary add-ons, dealer financing, convincing you that you have to buy something that is already in inventory (even though it's not what you want), etc.

As a mobile massage therapist, I have to be able to carry around my table and supplies, so I recently found myself in the market for a crossover SUV. I began my search by going to the different manufacturer websites to see which vehicles I was interested in, then I did some more online research to read the reviews.

Once I had the field narrowed down to 4 contenders, I went and took test drives. This is probably the hardest part, because they don't usually let you do a test drive without trying to get you to buy that day. Fortunately, I have no problem saying "no" to that. If you think you might cave in during this step, bring along a friend for moral support, somebody that is not emotionally invested in the potential new vehicle, and instruct them that under no circumstances are they to let you "sit down and run the numbers" with the salesman. Get the guy's card, then get the heck outta there.

After test-driving, I was able to definitively say that I wanted the Mazda CX-7. It had great reviews, was in the right price range, and was a joy to drive... all this in addition to being a beautiful vehicle.

Once you decide which car you want, then do your pricing research. I go to edmunds.com and price new cars with the options I like. This will give you an idea of what others are paying for the same car, as well as give you the MSRP and invoice pricing.

If you have a trade-in, then you will want to value that as well. Be honest about your car's condition, and once you get the current trade-in value for your car, stick to your guns with that amount!

After I knew how much I was willing to pay, I went to the dealer's website and looked in their available inventory to make sure they had what I wanted on the lot (you have much better bargaining power if the car is already in their inventory, because they HAVE to sell it by a certain time, or else they begin losing money). It also helps if you purchase towards the end of the year, since the new models will be coming out soon. I made my purchase in September.

Once you've determined the amount you're willing to pay, including sales tax, tag and title, get pre-approved financing from your bank or credit union. This is just one more weapon in your Car Salesman Defense Kit.

I then sent an email to the internet sales associate at that location, and I told them the VIN number of the vehicle I wanted, and how much I was willing to pay. I also told them what I would be trading in, and how much I expected for my trade. I let them know that these numbers were non-negotiable, and if they could meet my price, then please get back in touch with me.

Of course, they were happy to oblige, because what I was offering, while it was well below invoice price, was still a good value for them. Plus, they knew I had done my research, so were less inclined to try and jerk me around.

I printed the email containing their acceptance of my terms, and told them I would be at the dealership the following day to make the purchase. You see what I've done here? I've taken the face-to-face high-pressure sales BS completely out of the equation. It's harder to rattle somebody's nerves via email than in person, so do all of your negotiation via email whenever possible.

When I got to the dealership, they tried to get me with a high interest rate, but since I had gotten pre-approval from my bank for a lower rate, they had no leverage. They actually ended up beating the bank's rate! Sweet!!! :) They also tried to give me less for my trade, but I just waved the printed email in front of them and was 100% willing to walk out without buying their car.... They caved in.

Needless to say, I got a great interest rate, full value for my trade, and well below invoice for the cost of the car. It was the best car-buying experience I've ever had, and I felt like I came out a winner.

One last piece of advice... you should always get GAP coverage when buying a new car. As soon as you drive the car off the lot, it is worth less than the amount you have financed, so you want to make sure that if you somehow total your car, that the entire loan value is covered, not just what the car is worth (this can be a gap of thousands of dollars, hence the term "GAP" insurance).

And I ran... I ran so far away... but how far, exactly?

2008-04-13T13:52:00.007-04:00

One of the fun things about running, is figuring out how far you ran, but this can sometimes be tricky to determine. Until recently, the only way I knew how to determine my mileage was to drive the route in my car. This is fine, unless you're running cross-country or in an urban area with one-way streets.

Fortunately, I recently stumbled upon a wonderful FREE tool that allows me to know exactly how far I ran, and I can even plan routes in advanced based on how far I want to run. MapMyRun.com is my newest favorite running-related fascination.

To get started, all you have to do is go to the site and click on the link in the upper left of the page that says, "Map New Run". In the Quick Start box, just enter your street address and zip code and click the little down-arrow on the right. This takes you to the map page.

There are several option boxes to choose from. I always uncheck the "Auto Recenter Map", otherwise every time you add a new point to your route, the map moves... this can be annoying. Also, I like to choose the "Follow Roads" option. It makes it easier if you're going around any curvy areas. You can even choose to show the elevation, which is great to know if you're running in a hilly area. Believe me, running 1 mile on a flat surface is worlds apart from running that same distance on a hilly surface. Since I run in downtown Orlando, I don't use this option... Florida is not renowned for dramatic topography.

If you're a runner, walker, biker, rollerblader, or whatever, this is a great way to keep track of how far you go, and if you happen to be traveling, you can look up routes that other people have saved. This will save you a lot of time driving around looking for a good place to run if you're ever in a strange town.

My neighbors are irresponsible idiots!

2008-04-12T15:35:00.004-04:00

Please tell me why anybody would let their dogs run around the neighborhood off-leash? For now, let's forget about the fact that not all dogs like cats or people, and we'll focus on the hit-and-run potential.

My home office window faces the street, so as I sit there working, I can see the cars as they whip down the street and squeal through the turn. This is a residential neighborhood, so we don't get through traffic, just people who live here or are visiting. I'm not sure why they feel the need for speed, but it makes it dangerous for pedestrians and pets.

Which brings me to the point about my neighbors being irresponsible idiots. The house two doors down from me has two chihuahas in residence, but they run free all day long. Their daily routine, which I anxiously observe from my office window, consists primarily of running in and out of the street and chasing cars, bicycles, pedestrians, etc. Naturally, since they are little dogs, all of this running and chasing is accompanied by shrill non-stop barking.

Do my neighbors not care whether or not the dogs get run over? Maybe they secretly harbor hatred for the noisy beasts, and are praying for the day that the dogs inadvertently become speed bumps?!?! Even if that was the case, which I highly doubt, why would they inflict this constant state of anxiety upon their neighbors? Every time I hear a car coming, I am compelled to look out the window and see if the dogs are safe. So far, so good, but there have been some close calls that have left me sitting there with my heart pounding in my chest... I don't know if I can take the stress anymore.

One thing I am glad about is that these are small dogs, because the big dogs make me uneasy (that's what happens when you've been mauled before), and I've had two cats killed by big dogs... both times, right in front of my house. I can't even begin to tell you how that makes me feel.

Anyway, if you are a dog owner, and you actually care about your dogs, PLEASE make sure they are safely indoors or in a fenced in yard. There's more at risk than just your dog's life. Thanks for listening.

Drunken Golf (The law of diminishing returns in action)

2008-04-11T17:41:00.008-04:00

Today I woke up at dawn to play in our hosting company's annual golf tournament. If you're not familiar with how these things work, this one was what is called a 2-person scramble. Basically, it means that there are teams of two people, and each person tees off, and whomever's ball lands in the best spot, both team members hit their next shot from there. This "best ball" play continues right up until the ball is hit into the cup.

I like scrambles, because my score tends to go up dramatically in that sort of situation. I also like to have cocktails while I tool around the course. Around 9:30 is when I cracked open my first beer of the day. Up until that point, I was playing horribly. My drives were dribbling off the tee and landing anywhere but the fairway.. my short game was virtually non-existent, and my putts were overshooting the cup by several yards.

My game play gets better once I've had my first drink. I'm not sure if this is because I'm more relaxed and not thinking about my shots so obsessively, but whatever the reason, it's a statistical certainty that I will play better if I have a buzz.

I peak right around the time the 3rd drink hits my bloodstream, but this is where the Law of Diminishing Returns comes into play. If you're not familiar with that, let me break it down into simple terms. The Law of Diminishing Returns states that if one factor of production is increased while the others remain constant, the overall returns will relatively decrease after a certain point. For instance, if my alcohol consumption increases, while my goal of hitting the little white ball down the fairway into the cup remains constant, there will come a point where any increase in alcohol consumption will cause my ability to hit said ball down the fairway into the cup to decrease.

Now, this isn't exactly the correct usage of this economic principle, but I can tell you from experience, that while cocktails 1, 2, and 3 cause improvement in my game play, anything after that causes me to royally suck. By the time I get to the final hole, I could care less about playing, and am annoyed by the fact that I have to waste precious drinking time aiming that stupid ball for my putt. As a result, my last few holes are usually double-bogeys or worse.

But, ya know, what other "sport" can you play that gets you outside on a gorgeous day, and allows you to get your drink on without endangering your life? For instance, even though tennis will get you outside, have you ever tried playing it while under the influence? It ain't pretty, folks, that's all I gotta say (picture yourself doubled over with gut-wrenching nausea, and heart palpitations that cause you to seriously consider calling 911).

Now that I've said my piece, I think it's time for a nap. Nite nite! :)

To run, or not to run?

2008-04-10T13:55:00.013-04:00

I've always been more of the "sofa athlete" than actual athlete, but beginning in my mid-30's, I realized that not only had I retained all of my high school fat, but over the years, those fat cells had made many friends, and they were all beginning to congregate in the most unappealing places.

Whatever meager metabolic magic that had worked to keep me toggling between a size 8 and 10 throughout my 20's, had apparently felt a little "crowded" by all the new fat cells, so it moved elsewhere, and left no forwarding address.

So, here I am, getting fatter and fatter... Well, I've always known running was a great way to stay in shape (have you EVER seen a fat marathon runner... NO!), but I just knew that it wasn't for me. It was too hard, and the constant pounding on the pavement made my boobs hurt. Luckily, I had the incredible good fortune to acquire a friend that was a runner, and she showed me the light...

For instance, did you know that to be a runner doesn't mean you have to sprint the entire time? I had no clue... no wonder I couldn't run more than 100 yards without wanting to throw up. Also, taking short walk breaks was not only permitted, but even encouraged by professional marathoners (Check out Jeff Galloway, author of several books on running).

We started out nice and slow... we would run (slow jog, is more like it) for 2 minutes, then walk for 1 minute. We kept this up for over 2 miles, and I didn't puke or collapse once! Prior to this, I had never even run 1 mile... the closest I came was in 7th grade P.E. class when I did almost 1 complete lap around the track (that's only 1/4 mile). Currently, I am doing a 5 minute run with a 1 minute walk break, and I run between 10 and 13 miles per week (3 days).

When I finally participated in my first 5K, I found that the excitement of being in a foot race with hundreds upon hundreds of other people gave me the energy to run even faster than my usual times. I completed the 5K in 42 minutes or so, which is just under a 14 minute mile. My fastest 5K time is only 36 minutes, but that's a terrific improvement over the non-running couch potato that I used to be.

Sell me some insurance... PLEASE!!!

2008-04-09T13:52:00.011-04:00

I really should start a spreadsheet that tracks all of the solicitation calls I receive. After today's rash of calls trying to sell me health insurance (We'd like to give you a free quote to show how you can save... blah blah blah), I'm convinced that there must be a pattern. Maybe the 2nd week of the month is "insurance" week. If there is a pattern, then last week was surely "long distance carrier" week.

Certainly, when you run a small business, you have to expect a certain number of solicitation calls, even if your number is on the "Do Not Call" registry, but what would be lovely is if these people would just take "no" for an answer and end the call without you having to transform into a total jerk just to get them off the phone.

I'm not the type to go off on somebody, even when I'm getting sub-standard customer service, but when I tell you "I'm not interested", then I don't expect you to come back with "I understand, BUT...". Really, just shut the $!#@ up already! Even if I was inclined to purchase your product or service, now that you've gotten me riled up, I'd rather chew broken glass than buy from you. Capice?

In a future post, we'll touch on the ever-popular topic of email spam. :)

Guitar Hero, my personal Mount Everest.

2008-04-08T19:34:00.011-04:00

If you were alive during the holiday season of 2007, or are a regular viewer of The Ellen Show, you may have heard of a little game called Guitar Hero. My first exposure to this game was one evening in November, when after a day of playing golf and drinking beer, my friend and I stopped into Best Buy (I cannot remember why).

The place was PACKED full of holiday shoppers, and easily the most crowded section was where the video gaming systems were being sold. In the area where the demo games were set up, you could hardly move for the press of pre-pubescent bodies clogging the isles.

Well, miraculously, an opening appeared in front of a system set up to play Guitar Hero (Rock Band was nearby, but since I don't own that yet, I'll leave it alone for now), so I jumped at the chance and picked up the guitar controller before any of the nearby tweens could get to it.

That was really all it took. My first song was Slow Ride, and I rocked it (on Easy, but it was my first time, so cut me some slack). I HAD to have this game. Well, I quickly found out that they were out of stock, and they had no idea when the next shipment was coming. Over the course of the next week I went to stores all over town, but it was the same story everywhere... as soon as they arrive, they fly off the shelves. I must disclaim, I was looking for the Nintendo Wii version... there seemed to be plenty for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Anyhoo, I finally found it on eBay, and paid quite a bit over retail to get it, but it was worth every penny. As soon as I got it set up, I began my Guitar Hero addiction.

I quickly made my way through the game on Easy, then began to tackle the songs on Medium. After another few weeks, I had graduated to Hard. This is where my skills have let me down. I cannot beat this game on Hard. The only thing I have left to do is beat Lou at the end of the game, but I just can't seem to pull it off.

At this point, I've gone on to Expert mode, and opened up everything my skill level will allow there (I am stuck on The Metal, by Tenacious D). Now I'm finding that I am regressing. Sure, I don't have as much free time to play as I used to, but I think the real culprit is that my forearms are too tight... I blame that 100% on the fact that I'm a massage therapist.

I'm not sure I'll ever get past the point I'm currently stuck at, but the game is so much fun to play, that I don't really mind going back and rocking out to songs that I've already completed. If you haven't played this game yet, then I can't explain what it's like. You actually feel like you're the one playing... you feel like a Rock Star (minus the sex, drugs and money.... well, maybe not).

I think everybody should head on down to Best Buy and take a crack at it on the demo. From what I've seen by having my friends come over and play, not everybody is cut out to be a rock star... musical talent, or at the very least, rhythm, is a skill that will get you far in this game. Also, being a 12 year old boy would probably help, since that's the demographic that truly ROCKS!

American Idol Revisited

2008-04-08T18:15:00.012-04:00

Against my will, I have become a regular watcher of American Idol. I missed the first few seasons, but got on board with the program the year that Taylor "Soul Patrol" Hicks managed to beat a slew of people infinitely more talented that he could ever dream of being. Despite that crushing disappointment, I was back the next season, where I was happy to see somebody who can actually sing well win (way to go, Jordan Sparks!!!).

Although the show itself is entertaining, what keeps me coming back are the recaps of each episode that are posted at TelevisionWithoutPity.com. More often than not, the episode recap is more entertaining than the actual episode. The writers' sense of humor is dark and laced with sarcasm, which is the kind of humor I find the most appealing. No contestant, judge, mentor or host (hey, Seacrest, that's you) is safe from the biting wit of Jacob or Joe R, the poor souls who are forced to watch and comment upon each episode. This may give away my age, but they are to American Idol what Joan Rivers was to Elizabeth Taylor back in the days... BRUTALLY HILARIOUS!!!

Even if you don't watch Idol, there are entire slew of shows that are recapped weekly, and I've thoughtfully listed a few below. Check it out!

American Idol Recap
Dancing With The Stars Recap
Desperate Housewives Recap
Survivor Recap

These are only a few of the many shows that get the TWoP treatment. For a complete list, visit TelevisionWithoutPity.com and choose your show from the drop down menu. Enjoy!

UPDATE:
Wouldn't you just know it.... the day after I the above post, TelevisionWithoutPity.com goes and changes the layout of their website. I gave instructions on how to navigate to see all of the shows that TWoP does recaps on, but now those instructions have changed. Instead, here is a link that points directly to a page on their site that lists all past and current shows that they recap (TWoP Shows).

I must have bad computer-karma

2008-04-05T09:28:00.010-04:00

In yesterday's post, I described my recent experience with the Windows Vista operating system, and how it was a total piece of junk. Well, wouldn't you know it, but this morning as I was reading a blog, my Mac G5 shut off for no apparent reason, and wouldn't turn back on.

I recently had the power supply replaced, so not quite sure what the issue is. Thank god I've got my MacBook laptop, otherwise I would be computer-less, which is an absolute horror for me to contemplate!!!

Maybe Windows Vista isn't so awful... it might just be my bad computer-karma. :(

Why Windows Vista sux!

2008-04-04T12:16:00.006-04:00

I work from home and have both a Mac and a PC. I do all of my day to day stuff on the Mac, but have had to keep the PC around for software that I use that is not currently available on the Mac platform (ridiculous as that may seem).

Anyway, my PC was really starting to have issues, even though I was only running 2 programs on it. It was running the Windows 2000 operating system, which is probably the most stable Windows platform there ever was. I decided it was time to bite the bullet, and upgrade to a new PC.

I went online and did my research, and determined that Dell was the way to go, because I wanted to get Windows XP as the OS, instead of the dreaded Vista that I had heard nothing good about. Well, after reading some more, the software I was using on PC recommended that I use the Vista Business Edition, so that's what I ordered.

A week later my new computer arrived. I couldn't wait to see how it performed in comparison to the RAM-deficient dinosaur that I was replacing it with. I got to work setting everything up, and after a couple of hours I had all of my software installed on the new machine. I tested it, and it seemed to be working just fine. Woo hoo! I was glad to see that my fears about Windows Vista were not justified... I should've reserved my judgement though.

I thought it was prudent to set up the automatic backup that comes with Vista, so I chose all of the files I wanted to include, then hit the button to begin the initial backup. Well, the backup failed due to a "catastrophic failure"... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

Okay, brand freakin' new computer, out of the box less than 8 hours, and already there are major issues. Ugh! I tried adjusting which files I was backing up, thinking that maybe I was including system files or something else that was a "no-no". I eventually got it down to a few .jpg files that I wanted to backup, but even so, I kept getting the "catastrophic failure" error. I did some research online, and apparently this is a common issue with Vista... NICE!

So, I was fiddling around some more, customizing my screen saver and all that kind of stuff, and I wanted to shut it down. I go over to the Start button in the bottom left corner and click on it. What is supposed to happen is that a menu full of options pops up, and I can choose "shut down" from there. What actually happened was that a menu-shaped blurry area popped up. It had nothing in it to click on... it just looked like a pane of frosted glass. What in the heck am I supposed to do with that?

I ended up shutting the stupid thing off by holding down the power button on the tower. When I booted back up, it seemed to be working fine. Anyway, I experienced the Start button issue again the following day, and that's when I called Dell to speak to tech support.

Their suggestion was for me to reinstall my operating system. I'm sorry, but that is simply something I should NEVER have to do with a day old computer. My next question to them was "What is your return policy?". Fortunately, I was able to return it for a full refund. The UPS guy finally picked it up from my house two days ago (getting Dell to arrange that was a nightmare, too).

I am now a Mac-only girl. I've found a work-around for those Windows-only programs I was using, and if I have a choice in the matter, I will never own a PC again.