Tonight the NBC Thursday night comedies are back.
That golden hour with 30 Rock and The Office make me squee with delight. Also, I heard Boston might creep up to 70 today.
With all these happy developments, I will announce in advance that there will be taquitos for dinner! Good day indeed.
Labels: 2008, filler
By: Alyssa | Thursday, April 10, 2008 at Thursday, April 10, 2008 | | 
April first is that dreaded day when people who have a terrible sense of humor attempt to be funny or clever. I humor them with a smile. As person who is both imaginative and determined when it comes to making people laugh, I really hate amateur hour.
So no hilarity from me today. No elaborate jokes or pranks. Tomorrow I may return to the ring to be the clown that I usually am.
Wait - what hilarity you ask? Oh for shame. I'm going to have to buy a joke book. Perhaps I will start with knock knock jokes.
Labels: 2008, filler
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at Tuesday, April 01, 2008 | |
We've been taking it easy over the holidays. The good times should roll right through the start of 2008 when we'll be back rested, ready and strong.
So stay safe, stay dry, and check back in a few days. I hear 2008 is our year.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Sunday, December 30, 2007 at Sunday, December 30, 2007 | |
I had a day yesterday.
I got soaked in a "light" rain.
Lunch was bad.
My big mouth might have gotten me into some trouble.
An older woman hip-checked me, twice, on the T to get a seat.
When you have a day like this, there's really only one thing to do: go to bed. I sacked out sometime around 8:15.
I expect today to better. Do you hear me, Today? BETTER!
Labels: filler, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at Tuesday, November 27, 2007 | |
We're about to head into a second round of turkey - leftover from earlier today - and I thought this would be a good time to start thinking about tomorrow. Will my pants still fit? Will Deeps and I be able to leave the house or will we need the jaws of life to squeeze out the door?
You know - the little things.
One thing we've talked a bit about is whether or not we need to do any holiday shopping. The general consensus was no - but I thought I'd share a little tip in light of a recent trip to a Buy More store.
We went to pick up a video game and a video game controller. The grand total was about $50. The cashier started to put the h
ard sell on me to purchase some special warranties to cover my products."These things break down all the time," he assured me. "If you pay an extra $5.99 for the controller and $10.99 for the game, we'll replace them if anything happens."
I politely declined; he yammered on about how poorly made the products are.
Deeps and I beat a hasty retreat back to our car, reminded why we like shopping online and wondering about the mixed messages that Buy More is sending us. What is the incentive to keep your stock clean, intact and functional?
Buy our junky stuff, then buy a little more.
Labels: 2007, filler, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Thursday, November 22, 2007 at Thursday, November 22, 2007 | |
Back from a lovely visit to Indiana. Deeps and the cat kept the home fires burning while I celebrated Lyssmas in style. Crocs were given, $20 was handed out and a kid stuck her hand in my mouth. Overall, I'd say it was a good - if exhausting - trip.
I've been told I have filled the DVR to 97% capacity and I've got some stuff to watch. But we'll record tomorrow night and I'll be sure to share exciting stories of children, horror conventions and podcasters.
First, I have to clean the litter box.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Sunday, November 18, 2007 at Sunday, November 18, 2007 | |
I was listening to Marketplace this week when I heard a comment about how much something cost. According to the reporter a deal was going to personally net a CEO "about a quarter of a billion dollars."
That little turn of phrase reminded me of an editorial meeting I once attended, back when I worked for a large newspaper.
Someone was making their story pitch - trying to get on the front page. I'm fuzzy on the details of the story, except for one clear bit: the cost of the project in the story was "a quarter of a billion dollars."
The editor of the paper was a tough person, inscrutable in many ways. She leaned back in her chair a little and replied, "but that's really just $250 million." Deflated, the reporter's story didn't make the front page.
So what's the difference between a quarter billion dollars and $250 million? Not a penny.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at Wednesday, October 31, 2007 | |
So today is the first day of the World Series. The Colorado Rockies are here to play against the Red Sox. It might rain a little. People are camped out. Everyone is focused on the big game.
That means the city is mine. Maybe not all the city - I'll skip the areas around sports bars and Fenway, but the rest of the town should be quiet and peaceful.
I can shop or park or do whatever with relative ease. You might say, isn't that easy to do on a Wednesday anyway? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But I'm going to take advantage of the lull in activity to get some errands done.
This is a little trick I learned when I was a kid - I call it the Indy 500 effect. Regular readers may recall that I grew up in Indianapolis and every May we had a really big race. People flocked into town for the event and everyone crammed into like 8 square miles of space. The rest of the city was relatively empty.
No traffic jams, no jockeying for parking position and no lines inside the mall. One year I think I did a lot of Christmas shopping.
Anyway, I've got up to seven nights to take advantage of the luxuries of time and space as the good people of New England crowd around their TV sets. I'll make the most of it.
Labels: 2007, Boston, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Wednesday, October 24, 2007 | |
I'm not really a dog person or a cat person. I have owned all types of animals over the years and I don't really have a strong preference. Right now I have the vicious and temperamental tabby cat called Poopus.
Sometimes when I am out on a particularly nice day, like today, I think it would be great to have a dog to take out for long walks. Today I was strolling through the Public Garden on my way to work when a giant dog bounded out from behind a tree. He was chasing a squirrel.
Soon another joined him in his merry hunt. Two more dogs appeared on the scene. They all looked strangely similar.
Labradoodles.
And they came from four different owners who marveled at the coincidence. The dogs scampered about on the grass, darting around trees.
I don't have much else to say about this except that it probably isn't news that designer dogs have invaded Beacon Hill. Maybe we should alert the NYT Styles section.
Labels: 2007, Boston, filler
By: Alyssa | Monday, October 22, 2007 at Monday, October 22, 2007 | |
I've tried out two products lately that I thought were impressive enough I'd actually write about them in the blog.
So I don't get paid for this. Nobody approached me, I'm not an expert - I've just used these two products under normal conditions. Is that disclaimer-y enough?
First up:
L'Oreal Bare Naturale mineral make-up. Basically, it's like a powdery foundation that you apply with a brush. I like it because it has SPF 15, which is essential for me, and because with a bit of practice I found it very easy to use. I'm not a big fan of foundation. As I get older I do appreciate a little extra smooth coverage, but usually it's just too much.
I needed to practice applying it a few times - it can be a little messy until you get the hang of it. It didn't take me long to get a light application, the way I prefer, with minimal mess. My skin looks even, which it naturally is under most circumstances, but there are times when we could all use a little extra help. I often only wear foundation make-up for weddings or big events. But this stuff is so light and applies so quickly that I've integrated it into my morning routine.
I bought mine for about $11 at Target.
My other product is
Pureology Hydrate shampoo and conditioner. I first tried it about nine months ago when my hair lady mentioned it to me at the salon. I don't normally go in for the shampoo upsell, but since I color my hair I have noticed that some shampoos preserve the color better than others.
In fact, I tried another type of fancy shampoo/conditioner when I ran out of Pureology and hated it with a white hot passion. Red hair color is hard to maintain because you get roots and the ends of your hair fade pretty quickly. I don't think this is as big a problem for blonde or brunette. Anyway, the Pureology stuff seems to keep all my hair the closer to the red I leave the salon with. Plus the conditioner (sold separately for about $22) is really nice and gives you a nice tingly scalp.
Now this stuff is more expensive, I think I paid about $25 at Target for the shampoo. But it lasts me a while. A little goes a long way and I do have a lot of hair. So there you have it, I have used two products that I liked enough I figured I'd tell my internet friends.
The other information you can infer is that I'm watching so much
TV for the podcast that I don't have other fun stories to share with you. I'm working on it!
Labels: 2007, filler, hair
By: Alyssa | Thursday, October 18, 2007 at Thursday, October 18, 2007 | |
I'm pacing myself, but I'm hanging strong. I've managed to sleep, shower, work and even shove a little bit of food in my face. Premiere week is almost over and I've watched a bunch of stuff.
Of course, tonight is the worst night of the week. But whatever - I'm ready. I tried to bring some people up to speed on both Heroes and The Office so that they'd be ready for the new season. And then I had to offer up some suggestions on what people might want to check out.
And then I had to identify the origins of the
Bloodhound Gang and the name of the
mailman on Mister Rogers.
I'm a one-woman pop culture omnibus. And I'm almost ready for Sunday's 50th episode of the
Big Red Podcast.
I don't want to brag or anything - but we got t-shirts.
Just Derek and I. Deeps refuses to wear one. He's not a team player.
Labels: 2007. television, filler
By: Alyssa | Thursday, September 27, 2007 at Thursday, September 27, 2007 | |
But just for one afternoon. We went swimming in the morning, just off the coast of Cape Cod and I was well protected with my SPF 45. But I forgot to throw some sunscreen in my v-neck t-shirt area. And after about an hour of mini golf I had a big red V on my chest.
Whoops!
Anyway, we're back from our first beach vacation. We rented a house near the beach with a couple of friends. Of course renting a house a week after Labor Day saved us a lot of money, but it also made us very aware how quickly September can turn on you. We still swam a couple of times. But I won't lie - it was pretty cold. Still, I'm tough. But you already knew that.
And we got a taste of what it is like to be retired. Apparently we were experiencing "elder" summer, when the over 65 set rolls onto the Cape in style - coach bus style. The nice part was we never had to wait for a table when we showed up to dinner at 7 or 7:30. Thank you early birds!
Anyway, I'm still trying to process photos and deal with mail and catch up on life. But I'm back and we even got a
podcast up. I'll try to think of something pithy in the meantime.
I saw the film crew on Commonwealth Ave yesterday, maybe there is some good fodder there. I'm off for observational adventures!
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at Tuesday, September 18, 2007 | |
I haven't forgotten about you. Don't worry.
But I am taking a short break to enjoy the last of the nice summer weather and to have a few exciting adventures. You'll hear about it later.
Until then, explore more than five years of archives and 40+ episodes of
The Big Red Podcast, America's favorite pop culture podcast. We'll be back on Monday - or maybe sooner.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at Wednesday, September 12, 2007 | |
Saturday it was around a million degrees, so we headed out to the local cinema to escape the heat.
I suggested that we see
Death at a Funeral since I'd read it was fairly decent.
The movie is okay - I called it the British version of
Superbad but with older folks.
Anyway, the point of my story is that this is the third weekend in the past month where we attended a movie with lots of chatters. But they weren't surly teen chatters, they were middle aged and senior chatters with unruly guts.
Death at a Funeral is a quiet film, despite being a "mad cap comedy" - there isn't a lot of loud incidental music or sound effects. So during the quiet times we were treated to the delicious cinematic analysis of our fellow film-goers.
This happened when we saw the restored version of
The Long Goodbye several weeks ago and then when we saw
Once just a couple weeks back. A herd of older ladies rolled in and chatted through the entire film.
Maybe people forget they aren't at home. Maybe they just wanted to escape the heat. Maybe they didn't notice they were in a movie theater.
Or maybe I'm just being ageist - apparently the AARP set can be just as clueless and inconsiderate in public as the rest of us.
Labels: 2007, filler, movies
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at Tuesday, August 28, 2007 | |
A lot of people take August off - they vacation, they don't blog, and they don't podcast.
I believe August is for generating free content - blog entries and podcasts for everyone! I cannot guarantee that it is all gold, but I try.
On episode 44 - Derek, Deeps and I talk about Jasper Fforde's novel
The Fourth Bear,
Superbad, Flash Gordon's second episode, the premiere of
Californication, Jekyll, and why you might have a shot of seeing the
King of Kong - a movie we
first talked about a few months ago.
Plus We get excited about the
renewal of Flight of the Conchords. Then I beg for iTunes feedback.
Listen to the latest episode.Subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, filler, podcast
By: Alyssa | Friday, August 24, 2007 at Friday, August 24, 2007 | |
I overslept this morning. Whoops.
But luckily, I was awakened by the dulcet tones of a jackhammer. And then another jackhammer. And then the sounds of dudes yelling over the jackhammer.
Ah - the death throes of summer construction. How I love thee so. Just another reason why I think August is the greatest month of the year.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at Tuesday, August 21, 2007 | |
This morning we were driving to work - well, Deeps was giving me a courtesy drop-off closer to the train station on his way to work.
We were having a very pleasant morning. We chatted a bit about the day and we approached a big intersection. A few bicyclists rode past us and we gave them some space at the red light.
It had been red for a few moments and we slowly rolled to a stop.
Then a big thud jostled us both.
A lady had hit us from behind. If she'd hit us much harder, she'd have pushed us into the cyclists.
I might have busted out something like, "Oh my goodness gracious me!" - or WTF!. I can't be sure. Deeps and I turned to look at the woman behind us. She just did a little shoulder shrug like "whoops." She didn't get out of the car.
She didn't hit us very hard, but she did hit us. We quickly popped out of the car to assess any damage. There wasn't any. Bumpers are for bumping, we reminded ourselves. She never bothered to inspect the damage to her car or ours. She just waved at us - like the the prom queen.
Last year a careless person hit us at an intersection close to our house. She apologized and owned up to what she did immediately. The dummy behind us this morning
refused to take any personal responsibility by even offering up an apology.
I got back in the car with disgust, Deeps pulled away and we assessed the situation.
Deeps: I'm not even sure what to say to someone that stupid so early in the day.
Me: You tell her that she shouldn't be such an irresponsible %@$#!.
Deeps: I'm not going to call her that.
Me: I know - that's what I'm here for. I swear for the family.
I'm hoping this won't be an annual event.The car wreck - not the swearing. That's a weekly event.
Oh who am I kidding?
Labels: 2007, filler, marriage, weird stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at Wednesday, August 15, 2007 | |
My friend is trying to buy her first home. She and her husband have scoured the greater metro area to find a small, single-family home that is in their price range. It's been tough, but they think they finally found the place.
Then came the inspection and problem with the foundation was identified. As we all know, foundation problems can be bad and expensive - it could be a dealbreaker. She was desperately hunting for a good contractor to give her an estimate on the repair.
Earlier in the week she'd talked to our mutual friend, Driver, who said he had a bad feeling about the house. Now this is not a completely weird thing for a person to say - but it is a completely weird thing for our friend Driver to say. I was dubious about his position.
Me: I think he's trying to backpedal from his general pessimism.
Homebuyer: So what's his feeling about the house?
Me: His feeling is that he doesn't want you to feel like he's a jerk.
Homebuyer: And what if there is something wrong with the house?
Me: Well, we already know there is something wrong with it. That's why you're calling the contractor.
Homebuyer: Yeah.
Me: Plus, you're buying an old house in New England. There is something wrong with it. It's an old house. I live in an old house - there's stuff wrong with it. Nothing is level or square or plumb.
Homebuyer: You're right.
Me: Of course, your house could be built on an old burial ground. Or it's haunted.
Homebuyer: Maybe the contractor can tell me about that.
Me: Right, you've got to understand what kind of ghost situation you're dealing with.
Homebuyer: Like are those load-bearing ghosts or are they non-essential ghosts.
Me: Is the foundation being kept up with paint, duck tape and ghosts?
Homebuyer: We'll have to wait for the report.
Labels: 2007, filler, house
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at Tuesday, August 14, 2007 | |
Regular listeners of the
Big Red Podcast got to hear something that doesn't often make it to post-production. This week's episode features a
blooper. Remember those?
If I were making stuff on DVD instead of podcasts, I'd call it an extra feature.
For reasons that are clear now - I was hot and tired - I neglected to edit it out.
So
enjoy my blooper. It's not really hilarious. It's just there. I might have muttered under my breath in annoyance. But that's not really new, now is it?
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | |
Summer means a lot of things to people - sun, sand, ice cream, and relaxation. For others, it means
white pants.
I like white pants as much as the next person, but they can be a little problematic. I think we all understand that white is unforgiving.
We've all been there, new white shirts seem to attract bits of food and drips of coffee faster than anything. Where'd this ketchup come from, you might ask? I haven't eaten ketchup since 2003 - and yet there it is on your shirt.
Today I walked behind lovely woman. As she climbed the stairs in front of me I noticed that her lovely white pants revealed more than she probably wanted to share with strangers. Apparently she forgot that when wearing white pants you should make sure not to wear blue polka dot drawers.
I guess it's not her little secret anymore.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Monday, July 09, 2007 at Monday, July 09, 2007 | |
We're in the early part of a long thunderstorm - so I'm not sure if that means fireworks are a wash or not. Regardless, it's cool and stormy this 4th of July.
Last night we went to a big Independence day barbecue complete with oceanfront fireworks. We ate hot dogs, drank beer and oohed and ahhed like champs. Today we are reflective and relaxed. Some members of the family might have napped while others lounged on the front porch.
Tonight we'll watch some stuff for the podcast and hope for clear skies for fireworks. The cat is hoping for rain - not a fan of loud noises.
Looking for something to help you through the rest of the week? Hit the
podcast page and check out the giant library of 37 episodes. Better still, subscribe to the podcast with
iTunes or your favorite
podcatcher. Don't forget to leave us some iTunes feedback.
Labels: 2007, filler, weather
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, July 04, 2007 at Wednesday, July 04, 2007 | |
I don't usually have a case of the Mondays, but yesterday I was a little crabby.
I realized that as I waited behind a particularly slow woman at the coffee shop. She took forever to order and then spent a lot of time chatting with the other slow customer while stirring and sipping her coffee.
When you become completely enraged for very tiny infractions like say - taking too long with the cream and sugar at the coffee kiosk you probably need to reevaluate your relationship with caffeine. And you might need a vacation.
I'm going to spend out some exciting times on the Internet today. Browsing is the first step on the road to recovery.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at Tuesday, July 03, 2007 | |
I often volunteer to help friends with their home improvement projects. I'm not really skilled in many ways, but I am more than willing and able to do stuff like clean and paint.
A few weeks ago I was part of a small, elite team of painters who tackled a vicious baby nursery project. Okay - it was just a little room that we painted a soft green, but that version is boring.
I guess stories about painting, in general, are boring.
I'm also good at demolition.
Yesterday I arrived at Sparky and Electra's house for what they described as "light demo". If you ever get the opportunity to rip something apart and then build it back up, especially at someone else's house, you should take it.
So I borrowed the pry bar and put my hammer to good work. We made quick work of their old screened porch and have left the main structure in tact to rebuild in the future.
At one point Electra and I were wailing on the a post - wood and dirt was flying - when Sparky noted that we were a deadly force to be reckoned with. But only on structures below five and half feet.
"Yeah, we'll need a ladder," Electra agreed.
"I like the idea that we're agents of destruction for cities and towns under six feet tall," I replied. "Like tiny Godzillas."
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Monday, July 02, 2007 at Monday, July 02, 2007 | |
Scott over at Moonshine Mountain has tagged me with another music meme. (I'm a little
foggy on the rules, but whatever.)
I don't know why I keep getting tagged with music - it's my worst field of knowledge. You know when people play Trivial Pursuit and there's that one subject that you're weak on? An always elusive pie piece?
Music is my elusive piece of pie.
But
in the year 1992 I was a a lass of eighteen. I remember a bunch of my friends took me to a divey Greek joint in downtown Indianapolis where we at flaming cheese and rocked out with some belly dancers.
I might have even rocked out to some of these songs.
10.
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston - I'm somewhat ashamed to say that this song hit about the time I broke up with my boyfriend. I drove around for a week listening to this song and crying. Driving and crying isn't what you learn about in driver's ed.
6.
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana - I remember the first time I heard this song. I was driving, again a popular teen activity in Central Indiana. I still have a pretty visceral reaction when I hear it.
2.
I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred - Man, 1992 was this perfect storm of end of 80s metal, the exploding rap and grunge scenes and of course bizarre one-hit-wonders like this. I might still sing this while doing laundry. I'm too sexy for folding socks.
45.
All 4 Love by Color Me Badd - I think that extra D is for savings. This song reminds me that I also graduated from high school and college from the kids of Beverly Hills 90210.
3.
End of the Road by Boyz II Men: This was the song I heard about 3 million times during graduation. I get it. We're like changing and stuff. Of course, that would assume I actually attended my high school graduation. I did not.
By the way, the people who choose this song to play over and over again for our graduation also tried to push really hard for a
Tears in Heaven theme for prom. S
ongs about dead kids make for a highly skippable event.
Now you're it:
Kristen,
Grumpy Frump,
Janna,
Steve, and
Nabbalicious.
Go nuts!
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | |
I know it is summer because the humidity arrives and I am forced to wear short pants. Stupid short pants.
But the other way I note the arrival of summer in Boston is that the baby ducks are born. Yesterday I finally saw some flitting around the lagoon - they were very tiny. But they were fast.
I'll admit, I was starting to get a little nervous about them.
The Peregrine falcon has been flying around and I was wondering if he'd gone for an easy snack. Oh yeah, I went there.
The ducks were too far away for me to photograph with my crappy camera, so imagine some baby ducks in your mind. And while you're at it, imagine a coupon for big savings on a digital camera. Now imagine that I've won the lottery.
What? Too much?
Labels: 2007, animals, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, June 06, 2007 at Wednesday, June 06, 2007 | |
Sandal season is upon us and I finally caved in. Sure, it's like 40 degrees in the morning, but by the afternoon we're well into the 60s. Sandals ahoy!
I got a delightful pedicure. I'm not constantly running out for one - although I could devote a whole post to the ladies at the pedicure place. "Can you break a hundred?" one woman asked.
You know, you have to go into the bank and make a special request to get hundreds. What's the point? Also - who carries that much cash? Her purse cost more than my monthly mortgage payment.
Anyway, my feet are always being abused. At least, that's what one pedicure lady told me.
"Your feet will never be beautiful," she said. "You walk too much."
Really? I'm in close proximity to
America's Walking City - of course I hoof it. That's also why I have a small collection of shoes at my office. I truck around in my sneakers (or if you're from Indiana,
tennis shoes).
What does this have to do with anything? Well -
not everyone has addressed their feet for summer footwear. I don't think you have to go get a pedicure. You should just do a little bit of basic maintenance - trim a snaggly toenail. Maybe throw on a little foot lotion.
You're worth it. And if you won't do it for yourself, do it for me. Oh - this applies to dudes too.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Sunday, May 06, 2007 at Sunday, May 06, 2007 | |
I also like to make about 400 cubic tons of food during a blizzard.
On the menu today is my world famous turkey meatloaf, breakfast for dinner, and lentil soup.
No one will starve at my house. Except the cat. And she's totally faking it. If your pet waddles, she is not starving. Also, I feed her ever morning at 7:15 or all hell breaks loose.
Happy blizzard, New England!
I might share some tasty recipes later. I'm a giver.
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Friday, March 16, 2007 at Friday, March 16, 2007 | |
This morning I got the first blast of sunshine in the eye. I should note that sunshine in the eye is tough to do in my bedroom because I have black out shades. Someone left a door open.
Yes, I like to make my bedroom very cave-like. Or tomb-like. Take your pick.
A few days ago, before New England plunged into a serious deep-freeze, I heard some birds chirping.
I'll think they're cool for a couple of days. Then I'll start to hate them. I'd like it noted that the
evil blue jay family from last year never really departed for the winter. Stupid global warming.
It's hard to think that in less than three months I'll probably be sweating in the garden. It's harder to imagine what I'm going to plant.
The sun is nice, a little warmth to go with it would also be fine with me. I'm not talking a lot. Even 40 would make me happy.
Labels: 2007, evil bird, filler
By: Alyssa | Thursday, March 08, 2007 at Thursday, March 08, 2007 | |
I like reading about
personal finance. I'm at an age where I'm thinking about how children might affect our life, what my parents are facing in their retirement and then just my regular
day-to-day costs of living.
For practical purposes,
money is very tightly connected with your hopes and dreams. Can you afford to
stay home for a year? Can you do the around the world trip you always dreamed of? Can you
ever retire? So this is why I like to read about it.
We don't actually have complicated stuff - it's pretty straight forward. We just squirrel our money away into lots of different locations. Today I grabbed a little money from my checking account for a friend's birthday lunch. I looked at the receipt and sighed.
We have a little savings account attached to our checking - just for overdrafts. But our main savings is in a very high yield savings account outside our brick-n-mortar bank. I leave the bare minimum in the overdraft account so that we're not charged a fee by the bank. I probably don't need it anymore, but it may be more trouble than it is worth to get rid of.
Anyway, to my point. I saw the little interest payment for February. It was $.06. That's right. Six freaking cents. I have a savings account (aka the patio account) that has about the same amount of money as my overdraft account - except it is earning a much better rate of interest. The interest for February was a little over a dollar.
Small change, yes, but significant over time. So if you still don't have a high-interest rate savings account from one of the
reputable online banks - you might want to do a little investigating. My
ING account is currently paying nearly 17 times the interest that I get for my brick-n-mortar savings account.
See, math is fun!
Labels: 2007, filler
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at Wednesday, March 07, 2007 | |
I've gone for my bi-monthly hair doing.
That's for you
Mike Pope -
BIMONTHLY! Every two months. Go crazy people.
Anyway, I usually bring a book, an MP3 player, a magazine and some kind of doodling thing. My hair lady and I get along just fine, but I'm there for a long time (over 2 hours!) and frankly, I don't think she's obligated to talk to me the whole time.
I read for a while, then we chat, then I read some more. Tonight we talked about feeling old.
Hair Lady: I don't really do sports.
Me: Yeah, I don't ski or anything like that.
HL: What if I broke my hand? I'd be out of luck.
Me: You're starting to sound like a fogey now.
HL: I really am.
Moments later she flipped huge hunks of my hair in such a way that I was compelled - by law - to make a
Flock of Seagulls joke.
HL: Oh yeah! That was bad.
Me: Yeah, nothing like weird black hair with platinum tips.
HL: What year was that?
Me: I'd say early 80s - like 82 maybe.
HL: That's why I don't really remember it. I was born in 83.
Me: No.
HL: Yeah.
Me: Wow, I thought we were closer in age.
HL: When were you born?
Me: 74.
HL: Wow.
Me: Yep.
We were silently contemplating the years between us. Nearly a decade.
HL: 74 isn't bad. Could be 24.
Me: You are very comforting.
HL: So you weren't kidding about going blonde at 40.
Me: Well, no. I think about these things now.
HL: It's still a long way away.
Me: For you maybe.
She laughed politely. I tipped her anyway.
Labels: 2007, filler, hair
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at Wednesday, February 28, 2007 | |
Most of the time I did a good job while navigating in Florida.
Driver is a little more overprepared than I am and he had lots of maps printed out and ready to go before we even got to the car rental place.
He handed me a map and off we headed to beautiful Orlando.
As we drove I marveled at the palm trees (a personal favorite) and the number of small fires we saw burning. I’ve read a lot about the building boom in Florida; things are moving so fast that crews are sometimes burning debris as they clear land.
And it was weirdly humid, like it gets in the spring just before it starts to rain.
So I was a little distracted and fell down on the navigating job almost immediately. We reached a large fork in the freeway and I read the directions in a hurry.
Me: It says head toward Disney World.
Driver: Really?
Me: Yeah, right here is where we go.
I read the next line and realized I’d made a little mistake (I'd read the line above where we were actually located), but we were well on the way to Disney World.
Me: I screwed up.
Driver: Oh.
I looked around for a place to turn off, but there was none. We were just blazing a trail to Disney World being welcomed by large signs and beautiful landscaping.
Me: Oh *%&@, we’re going to Disney World.
Driver: That’s now how it goes in the commercials.
Labels: 2007, filler, travel
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at Tuesday, January 30, 2007 | |
My dentist was very concerned about my pain issues. But I think he was focusing on the wrong stuff.
He talked to me at length about the possibility of a root canal if I felt any extreme pain.
I tried to get him to quantify the pain for me, but he had a tough time describing it.
Me: Is it like, mind altering and life changing?
Dentist: Yeah, that’s a good way to look at it.
Me: But not stuff like being sensitive to hot and cold.
Dentist: No. Sensitivity to hot and cold is normal, but like really excruciating pain is a problem.
Me: I’ll keep that in mind.
Dentist: Look, you’ll know it if it happens.
Me: I like how you’re selling it to me.
What he kind of underplayed wasn’t the hot and cold, although I’m certainly sensitive, he didn’t mention that my face would feel so sore and tender and bruised. That I’d feel like I went a few rounds with some guy with the name Macho or Sugar in his name.
Today it is smoothies for me and
more chicken soup for Deeps. Between the two of us we’re like one normal person.
Maybe normal is a relative term.
Labels: 2007, filler, health, marriage
By: Alyssa | Monday, January 29, 2007 at Monday, January 29, 2007 | |
Last night we had a fine dusting of snow during our drive home from work. As we slowly made our way up Massachusetts Avenue I felt like we were in some kind of
heinous video game.
I was the spotter and Deeps, per usual, was the driver.
The spotter helps you, the driver, understand what terrors await you and who will try to crash into you.
A spotter might say something like:
Watch out for that cop, he’s going to walk right in front of us.
I don’t think the lady in the mini van sees us.
I’m not sure what this guy is doing? Oh he’s on the phone.
That dude may try to ram us.
Why do people insist on jaywalking with their babies in a stroller? Do they not love their children?
Oh God!
We’re going to die!
What is wrong with people.
Sometimes the spotter falls down on the job. Now in other circumstances and towns the spotter would be a backseat driver. But we drive as a team and whenever I’m not spotting I hear about it.
Why didn’t you tell me about that cop? It’s really dark out.
Or
Did you see that dude who tried to ram us?
Yeah, so it goes both ways. Since I’m often most-likely to die from the ramming or car crash, I figure I’ll just keep spotting and apologize later.
This kind of defensive driving is necessary and important. Now, add in a mysterious element like snow and the drive can be a little treacherous. Sure, there was a dusting of snow, but it was a enough to be a little be slippery.
Me: This added element of danger makes the drive home more exciting.
Deeps: Hmm.
Me: And by exciting I mean, why are these people so stupid?
Deeps: I don’t think they are intentionally stupid. They’re distracted.
Me: Right. It’s a hard day. You get into a vehicle that weighs, roughly, 2000 pounds and decide this is a good time to talk to your friend and do your taxes.
Deeps: People are busy.
Me: Yeah.
Deeps: Besides, these people are just getting their stupid on.
Me: What?
Deeps: See, they forgot what winter is like so today is the first day that they can get their winter stupid on.
I started to laugh, but found a gasp instead as a guy ran a light and nearly sideswiped us.
Deeps: Classic winter stupid, that's what you have there.
Labels: 2007, filler, marriage
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at Tuesday, January 23, 2007 | |
Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote
500+ word tome about buying new furniture for my bedroom? Yeah, that was good stuff. Some day you’ll have children who will balk at writing 500 words about Huckleberry Finn.
Anyway.
The furniture was delivered and when Deeps got home, we set about tearing apart the huge boxes the goods arrived in. Now we didn’t get flat packed furniture, which was the point, and our “assembly” was pretty straight forward. We had to screw some legs onto the dressers and put the bed together.
Now when we purchased the furniture we had the option of paying $15 to have the bed frame assembled. It is just a low platform with a headboard – we opted to put it together ourselves because how hard could that be?
I’m sure you know where this is going.
It’s about three hours of hard. Three hours of tired. Three hours of stupid. Three hours of silent seething. Three hours of watching your marriage come apart at the seams. Okay, maybe not that bad. But still.
We had to put the bed together in order to go to bed – so we were motivated. I won’t go into details, but let it be known that two adults who’ve spent the week working very hard at their respective jobs are not always in the best condition to assemble furniture. Even something as simple as a box with some slats to hold up a mattress.
That night, we slept the sleep of the righteous. Before we drifted off, I asked my husband a question. Was it worth it?
Deeps replied, “I think so.”
I added that some day we might have to hire guys to move the furniture out of the bedroom, because I won’t be helping.
He laughed and said “You’re kidding, right? We’re selling the bedroom furniture with the house.”
Labels: 2007, filler, marriage
By: Alyssa | Monday, January 22, 2007 at Monday, January 22, 2007 | |
Me: Wow.
Deeps: I know.
Me: You know - I actually clean under there.
Deeps: Me too. I pull the bed away from the wall and vacuum behind it too.
Me: I guess there is no way to easily move the dressers for cleaning, huh?
Deeps: Guess not.
Me: Does the cat sleep under there or something?
Deeps: It looks like something bigger than a cat was under there.
Me: Gross. At least we don't have a carpet under there.
Deeps: Seriously, where does all this stuff come from? We've only lived here for a year and a half.
Me: For a while I thought those cat litter commercials were just little stories to sell litter. Now I realize they were also warnings against cat parties. I think that's what's been going on. The Poopus has been rocking out up here.
Deeps: With the other cats from the neighborhood? Could be. I know she's been sleeping on my side of the bed.
Me: How do you know that?
Deeps: Well, if I don't find her there when I get to bed, I find the big cat-shaped dent with the mysterious warm spot.
Me: You're like Colombo!
Deeps: Colombo with the hideous under bed dust bunnies.
Me: I think bunnies are too small to describe these. We have to think bigger.
Deeps: Mastodons?
Me: Look at the big brain on you!
Labels: 2007, filler, marriage
By: Alyssa | Thursday, January 18, 2007 at Thursday, January 18, 2007 | |
I got a surprising and alarming call last night.
Cuddles called with a quick update about summer plans. We chatted for a few minutes when I noticed that Deeps’ ears kind of perked up.
He mouthed to me: They’re coming?
I nodded.
He mouthed: All of them? Here?
I nodded.
He got this goofy grin on his face. I’m not sure if it is the promise of hilarity to ensue or if he’s still got a nerd weekend hangover.
Regardless, Cuddles is finally coming to town. With BIL. And their three children. And something I like to call
The Mighty Cthulhu. They are making a short visit to Arlington en route to a good friend’s summer place near the Cape.
Cuddles and co. travel in style. I think their RV is has more square feet of living space than my house. This should be awesome.
It is too big to fit in my driveway, let alone my street. I’m not even sure we can bring it into Arlington. Luckily, I have six months to solve that problem.
Labels: 2007, filler, holidays
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at Tuesday, January 16, 2007 | |
Deeps: Just to remind you, I'm going to the movies today.
Me: Oh yeah, to recover from the nerdstravaganza you're going to the movies.
Deeps: It's a movie that is very rarely shown on screens.
Me: What is it again?
Deeps:
Sátántangó. It's a Hungarian epic.
Me: Okay.
Deeps: I'll be back really late. It starts at 2 and runs until like 10 tonight.
Me: You're going to see an eight hour movie.
Deeps: Yes.
Me: You know, other wives lose their husbands to football every Sunday. I lose mine to nerd puzzles and an all-day movie.
Deeps: I've got a different set of priorities.
Me: And I love you for it. Now....
Deeps: Yeah?
Me: Are you packing sandwiches?
Deeps: That is your solution to everything.
Labels: 2007, filler, marriage
By: Alyssa | Monday, January 15, 2007 at Monday, January 15, 2007 | |
I went in for my bi-monthly (that’s every two months, right?) visit to the salon for the Big Red Spruce Up. I get a cut, I get a color, I get to read for freaking ever because I have so much hair and it takes so long.
I finished the last third of
“The Case of the Missing Books” and got about half-way through
"The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove. Both were/are quite enjoyable.
Anyway, I’m usually in a low-level coma by the time I arrive at the salon after work. I need to eat, but I don’t have time and then I sit around for a couple hours with a bunch of foil on my head while a teenage girl with some new hair experiment shampoos me with the same method I’ve used to bathe unruly dogs.
My hair designer usually asks me if I’m comfortable enough or if I need anything or if anything is burning (we are using chemicals here). This week she warned me about half-way through the process that I might not like the initial highlights because she essentially creates these white blonde streaks that she later tints a soft shade of copper.
I decide this is a great opportunity to mess with her.
She pulls the towel off my head, I keep my head in my book as she gives a quick blow-dry before the next round of coloring. When she’s nearly done I look up and gasp in horror.
Then I loudly cry, “Oh my god – what have you done to my hair?”
The salon goes totally silent.
My hair designer isn’t really sure what to do. I wait a moment, letting the delicious tension build. And then I start to laugh. Really, really hard. It was great. The salon erupts in laughter.
My stylist is greatly relieved and I tell her it is hard to freak me out unless, of course, my hair starts falling out in clumps or something.
I guess I know what awaits me on my next visit.
Labels: 2007, books, filler
By: Alyssa | Friday, January 12, 2007 at Friday, January 12, 2007 | |
Friend: I see that you’ve got that snowy scene on your blog now.
Me: Yeah, I thought I should swap out the Christmas ornaments for something that would last for the rest of the winter.
Friend: It’s good to take down your Christmas stuff as soon after Christmas as possible.
Me: Yeah, that rule isn’t just for the icicle lights on your porch. It’s for the blog too.
Friend: But I can’t help but notice that we have had no appreciable snow this winter.
Me: Yeah, I dug this out from my photo archives. I think it’s from a storm we had a couple of winters ago.
Friend: But we haven’t had snow this season.
Me: What started out as seasonally appropriate has now become ironic.
Friend: Right, but your winter scene isn’t really reflective of reality.
Me: Neither is my blog.
Friend: Good point.
Labels: 2007, filler, weather
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at Wednesday, January 10, 2007 | |
Today, we take the plunge to buy new bedroom furniture. We are grown-ups. We own property. I just paid a huge property tax bill. I guess we're probably ready to have a dresser that isn't old, broken, and the best thing I could afford in 1998.
My husband agreed with this sentiment like four months ago when he pointed out that one of the dresser drawers wasn't opening right. Then he tried to "fix it" and things haven't gone well since.
We discussed our furniture options. At the time we didn't have a lot of choices. At least w in the Midwest the options were either very high end or very cheap. There wasn't a lot of middle of the road. I had no idea furniture and politics had so much in common.
When we were in Chicago we had a hard time finding stuff we could afford. So Ikea helped a lot. I think they have nice things - but we're ready for something that isn't flat packed.
Of course, flat pack would solve a lot of our problems. We live in an old house - now a townhouse - but once a single family home. This place clocks in at about 120 years old. Walls are uneven, hallways are narrow and closets are more implied than actually realized. Good storage is important and how to haul that furniture up three flights of stairs to our bedroom is the big dilemma.
Deeps went window shopping in lots of locations. I gave him a budget to work with - since I wasn't especially inclined to endure the hard sell of desperate furniture sales folk. He's immune to them because he'll pretend he doesn't speak English - or any language they could possibly know. It's one of his super powers.
After a few weeks he told me about something he saw that he thought I'd like. We drove to the store and took a look. We measured the door, the hallway, the other hallway, the little weird part at the top of the stairs where the hallway actually gets more narrow.
We thought we could make it work. Done. Sold. We'd just wait for a sale.
Those stupid furniture people must have been on to my plan because there was never a sale! No Halloween sale (which I'll admit, didn't surprise me), no Thanksgiving Sale, no Christmas Sale, no After-Christmas sale, and no New Year's Sale. The stuff we wanted never went on sale.
Not only am I buying stuff - but I'm paying retail? You've got to be kidding me! My husband has been very patient about this. He and I alternate playing the role of "let's just get this over with" and "let's see how this plays out."
He's been ready to pull the proverbial trigger since October. I've been holding him off until today.
I told him last night we could buy everything today. He was quietly pleased.
"Good," he said. "But we have to do it - because now that furniture is dead to me."
Labels: 2007, consumerism, filler, marriage
By: Alyssa | Saturday, January 06, 2007 at Saturday, January 06, 2007 | |
There's nothing like clean sheets on a bed. You climb in and they feel cool and good. Yeah, that's good stuff.
Apparently I'm not alone in this thinking.
I went upstairs last night to go to bed and noticed a large lump in the middle of the bed.
I poked at it and it moved. Then it made a little meow sound.
I poked the lump again and it made a bigger meow sound, but refused to really budge. I took the hint.
"Fine, Poopus," I announced. "But if you throw up on my bed you're out of the family. Got it."
She didn't answer, but I took her gentle cat snoring as a good sign.
Labels: 2006, filler, poopus
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at Tuesday, December 19, 2006 | |
The site has moved - or rather re-directing to a new domain. Sure, I'm still Alyssa Boehm but the blog has taken on life of its own. So I think it deserves a separate home. So here you are, at the new home of The Big Red Blog.
Looks pretty similar, eh? Act surprised! I fully expect things might be a little wonky for the next couple of weeks. Please bear with me....
I'm also kicking off
the Decemberstravaganza fund raiser at Donors Choose in lieu of some holiday gift giving (ahem, Cuddles).I'm trying to raise a modest $200 for kids at public schools in Indiana (ahem,
Darren).
Nothing says Happy Holidays like helping kids learn to read. Doesn't that warm your heart, Internets?
I'll be back - posting fresh content here at
The Big Red Blog - this weekend when I get back from fabulous business adventures!
Labels: 2006, filler, good stuff
By: Alyssa | Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at Wednesday, December 06, 2006 | |
Actually, I'm swamped at the office and will have to do a bit of business travel. So posting will probably be a little light. So please accept my apologies, loyal readers.
I should be back and posting by the weekend and podcasting as usual on Sunday. Have you heard my
podcast? It's somewhere between amateurish and totally awesome.
Labels: 2006, filler, podcast
By: Alyssa | Tuesday, December 05, 2006 at Tuesday, December 05, 2006 | |
I called my father last night, well - I tried to. The call was intercepted by my niece, Blondie, since she was hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa. We chatted for a few minutes, I made a joke and Blondie promptly announced that I'm weird.
"But I'm you're cool aunt!" I insisted.
"You're weird," she replied with a giggle.
"You know, you're hardly the first member of the family to tell me I'm weird," I sighed.
We talked about Science class (it's good), the death of recess (it's coming) and what kind of projects she'll be working on in the future. Sounds like she's going to have to build a roller coaster. That's the kind of science I can get behind.
Labels: 2006, filler
By: Alyssa | at Tuesday, December 05, 2006 | |
So last night I had this very specific nightmare. And really – this is so revealing about me as a very shallow person I can hardly stand to share it. I probably wouldn’t except that I’m a little light on blog content today.
Ahem.
I dreamed that I had an appointment to get my hair “done” (which is a lengthy 2+ hour process that involves dye, razors, scissors, product and trashy magazines – and occasionally panicky calls from my husband). In my dream I also had a Very Important Meeting with someone named Nick.
The meeting was in conflict with my hair appointment – which I realized as I sat down in the stylist’s chair. I looked at my hand and saw a little piece of paper with Nick’s name and a time on it. I looked at the clock and realized I had to motor – ditching my appointment.
In the dream I was deeply disturbed that I had to reschedule because it would be at least two weeks before I could get into the salon again.
And then I woke up.
This is the kind of stuff that haunts me. Plus I have on idea who Nick is.
Labels: 2006, dream, filler, hair
By: Alyssa | Thursday, November 09, 2006 at Thursday, November 09, 2006 | |
Deeps is hard to rattle when it comes to…. Just about anything. But that doesn’t stop me from trying.
Me: What’s going on with your hair?
Deeps: What?
Me: Your hair looks different.
Deeps: Hmm.
Me: Yeah, like… like anchorman hair. But I like it.
Deeps: Oh I used your shampoo.
Me: The red stuff or the volumizer?
Deeps: I guess the volumizer since my hair isn’t red.
Me: And the bathroom doesn’t look like you’ve hacked up a body.
Deeps: Is that from the shampoo?
Me: Wow. I had no idea that volumizer actually works.
Deeps: I guess it does.
Me: I think I have too much hair for it to work.
Deeps: And I have just enough.
Labels: 2006, filler, hair, marriage
By: Alyssa | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at Thursday, October 26, 2006 | |
Jacki @
7:34 AM
mike @
2:33 PM
