5 posts tagged “ipod”

What are you saving up for? 
Submitted by Star. 

Apparently a new iPod.  I found out today at the gym that my iPod shuffle isn't working anymore.  I have a 30GB Video iPod, but that is hard drive based and you really aren't supposed to work out with it. 

We're also saving up for a new house.

Why is nothing in life ever simple?  I’ve undertaken two projects over the last 3 days that should have been simple, but were not.  Am I the only person this happens to?

It started when we decided we wanted to install a flood light on our front porch.  We didn’t really put a lot of thought into what light to buy.  We just grabbed one and I figured it would be easy to install.  Three hours later, I discovered I was wrong.  We live in a trailer, and it just so happens that mobile homes have different electrical boxes than normal homes.  You didn’t know that?  Neither did I.  The bracket that was used for the existing light fixture did not work on the new light, and the new light did not include its own bracket.  So, as the sun went down on Saturday, there was no light shining in our front yard.  I can only assume my dog did her business that night.  

Sunday, I went to Lowe’s armed with the bracket, new knowledge and determination to not wander around in the dark again.  I found another flood light that I thought would work, went home, and it was installed and functioning in about 15 minutes.  Now I can see what my dog is doing and the flood light provides enough light that aircraft have a place to land in case of an emergency.

Project number two started last night.  We ate at my mom and dad’s house and after dinner I ask my brother to help me configure my stereo so I can hook my iPod to it.  Again, this should have been a simple task, had it not been for the titan’s grip the car has on my stereo.  The manual says to remove the stereo you need two “keys” that were supposed to come with the stereo.  These “keys” look like nothing more than two thin strips of metal, but apparently they are made of some alien technology that makes them unlike the 20 pieces of small, flat metal we attempted to use to pry out my stereo.  Who knew that removing my car stereo would require alien technology and the skills of a world class jewel thief?  Two hours later, and I was no closer to jamming to tunes on my iPod.

I'm getting impatient.  I ordered some stuff for my iPod a week ago, and from what the tracking info says, it has been sitting somewhere in CA since the day it initially shipped.  Since Ford decided to die without telling me, I have to wait yet another day for my package to start moving again (I know.  I'm a true patriot).  Tell me, what am I supposed to do while I wait on the speakers for my iPod?  At least I have learned some lessons:

1)  Check if the place you are ordering from uses a real mail carrier or the USPS.
2)  Check on the health status of former Presidents, dignitaries and other important people before ordering.
3)  Don't order between two major holidays.

So, Christmas has come and gone, but the mess still remains.  This was Grace’s second Christmas, and she is nearly 2, so she got into it this year.  Christmas for us actually begins on Christmas Eve as we always go to my Grandmother’s house for breakfast that evening.  Yes, you read that correctly.  When I was younger, we would wake up on Christmas Day and go to my Grandmother’s house for breakfast.  One year, because of various circumstances, it was decided to go to her house on Christmas Eve, but to stick with the breakfast food.  So there is my family’s most unique Christmas tradition: eating breakfast on Christmas Eve night at Grandma's house. 

After dinner, we opened presents and Grace was really getting into it.  As a matter of fact, we sort of had to restrain her because she wanted to run around the room and open up everyone’s presents.  By far the cutest moment of the evening occurred when Grace's cousin (that is only a month and half older) stole a biscuit she was eating and she proceeded to chase him around the room yelling his name.   You had to be there to appreciate it, but it will probably be my fondest memory of this Christmas because it made everyone in the family laugh so hard.  Words really can't capture how cute and hilarious the moment was.
     
Christmas morning Jennifer and I woke up about 6AM and couldn’t get back to sleep.  It wasn’t from excitement.  Just insomnia.  We decided to get up and open our gifts to each other before Grace woke up.  I had gotten Jennifer a bunch of stuff from Bath and Body Works, a bathrobe, and a special edition of Scrabble.  I told her later I actually had a theme this year and that was to buy her stuff that would help her relax.  She got me a 30 GB iPod, which is what I was wanting.
   
When Grace finally woke up, we brought her out to the living room and got started on her presents.  Something new started.  I don’t know if it was because she had heard it being said the night before, but when she opened a present, she would say, “Oh wow!”  After a few quick gifts, she started wanting us to open boxes so she could play with what she had unwrapped.  We actually had a hard time getting her to open the last 3 gifts because she was getting so interested in everything she had already opened.  We got Grace a CD Boombox with some kid’s CDs, some JoJo’s Circus action figures, Mr. Potato head, Mega Blocks, a kid’s laptop education gizmo, and a Little People Circus play set.  Her and I sat around and played with her blocks and her Mr. Potato Head while Jennifer made Christmas dinner.

We invited Jennifer's Grandmother and Uncle over for Christmas dinner this year because last year they were all by their selves on Christmas Day.  The worst part of that is that her son lives in town and didn't bother to invite them over.  He's been sort of a loser lately.  That's a long story, but I wasn't going to let them sit at home alone this year.  Jennifer's family always made a big seafood dinner around Christmas time, so Jennifer decided to make a big seafood spread for our Christmas dinner.  She made crab cakes (Yes, MADE crab cakes), broiled salmon, shrimp cocktails, potato wedges, and broccoli.  It was all delicious.  It was all better then most of the seafood that I've ate in restaurants.  I don't believe I've ever mentioned that my wife is an excellent cook, but she is.

After her Grandmother and Uncle left, we went over to my parents and exchanged gifts with them and my brothers.  I got a Monty Python CD from my youngest brother, and the little bit I listened to was interesting.  I love Monty Python and the Holy Grail, so he must of thought I'd love this CD.  It is sort of weird.  I've only listened to a few tracks, but it was apparently recorded live and there is activity going on that you can't see.  You'll hear a lot of sounds like something is happening, and then people suddenly start laughing.  What the world?  Oh, and what you do hear doesn't sound that great.  The audio is pretty lousy.  I'm hoping there are some good tracks on it somewhere and that my brother doesn't read this blog (because it’s the thought that counts).

Live! At City Center

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Overall, it was a good Christmas.