The Big DumpTruck

Do a search for "DumpCast" and you'll find me over on iTunes. Or, you know, click this link.
I know, any fool can get a podcast added to iTunes, but let's pretend for a minute that it takes more effort than that.

I need to figure out another camera to use because the sound on the little digital camera stinks royally. I thought maybe I had my hand on the microphone after the first one, but I don't think that's the case.

If you want to buy me a digital camera, I'd like an HD camera that records to hard drive. Not asking for too much, am I? Okay, so you all need to subscribe over on iTunes so I will become fabulously rich and famous! Oh, wait, this is all free. Well, nevermind. At least this is fulfilling my dream of being a world re-knowned documentary filmmaker. Cause you know, that's what these are, right? At least some of the time.

Labels: famous, podcast, video

Okay, maybe this will go faster once I get used to the software. Or if I hire someone to do it for me. That person will also figure out how to make the files smaller. Sorry.

Here is the first podcast, stored on my mac.com site because all the tools I use made it easy to do that. If you click on the "subscribe" button it will add the podcast to your iTunes list and any time I do a new one it will get picked up automatically. That's what we all want, right?

THE DUMPCAST IS HERE!

Labels: fun, itunes, podcast, video

I got an email yesterday from Chris Baty, the guy who created NaNoWriMo about this thing he does every year where you are supposed to commit to doing something you've never done/have always wanted to do but were too nervous, busy, whatever, to do it. You're supposed to list one or more of these things and then spend the next year trying to accomplish one or more of them. Some people change careers, some learn a new skill or language, some take up a hobby they've always wanted, or just take a class. Most of the things at this level take lots of thought and effort to accomplish, which is why it's important to actually commit to doing it. I was thinking about what I would put on my formal list. I had a few vague ideas, but as usual, I'm too wishy washy to commit to anything that looks too hard to do.

I did start thinking about things I have wanted to do that I would actually consider fun, and I have decided that I'm going to try to figure out how to do some kind of podcast, possibly a video podcast. The theme would be "being me" so the podcast would involve bits of my beyond boring life. Hey everyone! Come watch me do laundry! and that kind of thing. Maybe. Or maybe just an audio podcast. Still thinking it through, and trying to figure out how people do them.

I also want to submit a photo (or more) to some kind of photography contest. And maybe even submit something to the Bolton Fair this year, which I've wanted to do for a couple of years. The key to that is that it has to be printed, matted and framed, so that will be the part that requires effort.

Still thinking about all of it. I'd say I'd leave my life behind and move to Hawaii to live on the beach, but I'll save that for another year.

Labels: goals, planning

I have to work today. I have to work Monday as well, but that is not the point of this point. This is the point of this post.

There are songs that immediately put me in a different place and time. Like brings back smells sounds, everything. I'm listening to my iPod on shuffle and the song The Ballroom Blitz by Sweet comes on. Suddenly, I am at Mason's Bowling alley on a Saturday morning (I was on a bowling team - the Pink Panthers. I have no idea why I can remember the name of my bowling team all these years later, but there you go). There are whole bunch of songs that were on the jukebox at Masons for years - I assume the owner just stopped buying new 45s at some point - because in junior high I was on another bowling team (after school league) and a bunch of those songs were still on there.

But Ballroom Blitz is the one song from that bunch (Telephone Line by ELO was another one) that when I hear it I'm back at Masons. (There are a couple of songs that bring me back to the Mason's mini golf. I think I spent too much time there one summer, but my best friend lived around the corner and it wasn't that bad a walk from my house, so it's not all that surprising.

So anyway, Ballroom Blitz came on and I was just back in that bowling alley in a split second. Candlepin, for you out-of-towners. I think I need to go bowling now.

Labels: childhood, itunes, Leominster, music

I am full of roast beast (thanks to Mr. Dump and JP for picking out a lovely cut of beast, and Mr. Dump for seasoning it and putting it in the oven). I could use a nap, because someone who shall remain nameless refused to sleep in this morning. *sigh*

I would write more, but I'm trying to move a bunch of images over to my new photo frame (I never thought I'd want one of those until I just started thinking about it. And because all the pictures I have at work are old and it's just way too much effort to print some to take in to work to replace in my frames. Now I just replace the files in my frames! Brilliant!

Oh, so you are probably wondering what I did on the days leading up to today (which, by the way, is a let down compared to the wonderfulness of the days leading up to today). Well, Junior and I spent 2 days building the Lego Christmas train that I got on sale. It arrived on Saturday, and we built it most of the day Saturday and finished it yesterday. It's a really fantastic train, but doing a thousand piece puzzle trying to find the pieces. We used every bowl/container we had to put the pieces in. You get a dozen bags of Legos, but the bags aren't broken down by train car. So you put everything in bowls so you can paw through it. But I think the final product is worth the effort.

Labels: Lego, trains, Xmas

I am the only person who eats peanut butter toast by dipping it in coffee. This strange breakfast treat comes courtesy of my dad, who is also the person responsible for my sister and I calling Kool-Aid "Bug Juice" our entire childhood. I believe we have the United States Navy to thank for both of those.

I think I'm going to have peanut butter toast for breakfast, because I've been thinking about it. Yesterday we set up the coffee maker we received as a Christmas present from Mr. Dump's business partner. This thing is what every home should own - you put coffee beans in a thing at the top and it grinds them into the basket as part of the brewing process. There is a water filter built in to take out the yuckies. And it drips into a caraf so it will stay hot for hours without being on a burner. I think today's peanut butter toast is going to ROCK!

Labels: food, gifts

I think there are a few things that I am not going to get from Santa that I see people getting all time time in television commercials. I like television commercials because they really do tell me how much my life stinks, and how very much improved my life could be if I would just get off the couch, roll over to the mall and spend my hard earned cash. It's so easy, even a child can do it. (For the record, Junior is not allowed to watch infomercials because he gets sucked in and he wants everything they sell. Right now the thing is that hydroponics herb garden. Because, you know, he needs fresh herbs.

1. A Car. An expensive car specifically. With a giant red bow. You know, I've been around for quite a few years, and I can tell you that I've never seen a car with a giant bow on it in anyone's driveway. And I notice things like that. Also, if Mr. Dump ever buys me a car without asking my input on make, model, color and options, he will be known from that point on as "Stumpy".
2. Gigantic Diamonds. Okay, this would be a very cool gift, I'll admit. But really, I do not want our checking account drained so that I can get a rock that would look more appropriate on Wilma Flintstone. Or whoever is currently married to Donald Trump.
3. A BBQ for tailgating. I don't tailgate. Maybe I would if I had a portable grill that can make a 14 course dinner before the game. But I don't have one so I will be grilled-meatless this Christmas.
4. A hydroponics tabletop growing kit. Even if the thought of endless cherry tomatoes is appealing, I'd be all over this if I thought I could get even one good beefsteak tomato mid-winter. I don't cook with a lot of mint, though, so I don't know if it's worth the investment.
5. Vinyl siding and replacement windows. Gosh, what a thoughtful gift! Could those replacement windows come in, say, a mansion of some kind instead of my little Cape? That would be great!

That's all I have for now. If I think of more, I'll add them today, because you know what? You are totally worth it.

And if you're looking for something uplifting to read (and like me, it's okay if you tear up at work) I suggest reading The Gift over at Suldog's blog.

Labels: christmas, lists

Why am I not finished with my Christmas shopping? I do not understand - I am usually better than this. I have people I need to buy things for that I will not see after Friday, so I have to get my royal butt in gear right away.

I'm happy to hear we might see more snowflakes tonight. That's great news. My street is still completely covered with hard-packed snow so this will really help out in that department. Ye Olde Minivan has zero traction as it is, so I think this may put me in some sort of physics black hole with negative traction. If I was better at science I could explain to you how negative traction works, but I am not very good at science, or math for that matter. I can't wait until Junior gets to the point where I am no longer of service to him for math homework. I think I have another year before I hit that point.

Labels: holidays, shopping, weather

Please note that the end of the driveway was not shoveled. However, tunnels on the front yard were very carefully made, because the boys have their priorities.

Okay, so if this is the kind of weather we get before winter even officially starts, what should we expect after the 21st?

Mr. Dump is out snowblowing right now, and we have chicken in the crock pot ready to be served as soon as he comes back in, and a fire in the fireplace. Did I mention how much a crock pot rules? It rules. RULES. He just won't let me cook with onions anymore because the smell stays in the house for a day or so after and he can't stand it. I totally see where he's coming from. I am hyper-sensitive to smells myself. That doesn't mean I don't want to make stuff with onions, however.

Junior thinks he won't have school tomorrow because there is so much snow. I heard we'll get 50mph winds overnight and into the morning. Did I mention that I forgot to take the flagpole down back before it started being Antarctica around here? Ya, I'm going to pay for that, I'm pretty sure. No way, no how I'm going to be able to do anything about it now. Maybe if we get a freak warm streak I can at least lower it.

Off to throw another log on the fire and start the rice for dinner. Man, I could really get used to hanging out having days like this for a week at a time.

I will share the question of the day, as posed by Junior when I was talking about the little girl who was born with 4 extra limbs being able to go home.

"What if Britney Spears had a baby she named Spears Spears and it had two faces."

Well, that is is good question, isn't it? I'm not sure why we're discussing Britney, specifically. I'd be interested in discussing anyone who has a baby and gives it a double name and oh, by the way, the baby has two faces.

So there you go. There's your question of the day.

Here's my question of the day: Shaws was out of peppermint extract, which is needed for this ultra simple dessert I was going to make. I don't want to go to a different grocery store the Saturday before a nor'easter because I am not stupid. I went to Shaws before 9am for a reason. What other store do you think might carry peppermint extract?

Labels: celebs, food, quiz, shopping

My desk at home is next to a window, which if you know me, is practically a need, not a want. I love looking out the window. This morning I was rewarded with a trash truck ballet, in which two different trash trucks slid and skidded and basically had no control. Ya, it's slippery on my street. No sanding again, which is nice. Eventually the truck that slid past the end of my street was able to get itself turned around before the other one almost took out a small snow bank. Eventually they just parked the two trucks and all stood in the street talking, probably asking themselves if it was really worth it to come in to work this morning.

Photo evidence of the two trucks out my window.

Labels: driving, photos, weather

I only want a wintery mix if it involves peppermint candies and chocolate. Okay, that didn't make a lot of sense, but I got tired of trying to think of something funny. Maybe I should not have said anything then? I'll leave that up to you.

I'm going to try to take a little movie of what my Christmas tree is currently doing. It's blinking. But very slowly. It could blink faster but it's hugely obnoxious. I know because it was doing it recently. (We bought a remove on-off plug thingy that you can use to plug in three strings of lights and what it does is turn them on and off at different times so it looks twinkly, but we have a pre-lit fake tree so it doesn't twinkle, it just blinks like a crazy person.

Saw the movie "Enchanted" today - it was fantastic. Highly recommend this one, especially if you have any experience watching Disney Princess movies.

Here is our tree and the current fire. Note the soothing blinkage.

Christmastree.mp4
Christmas tree.mov

Labels: christmas, fireplace, movies, weather

I need to get a better understanding of anatomy because I still don't understand how one side of your nose can be completely stuffy and icky for days at a time while the other side is free and clear. Does that make any sense? Aren't your nostrils just two tubes going into the same place? Like the in and out doors to the kitchen at Denny's, so to speak.

While sitting around and being lazy this morning I updated my Amazon "Be Like Jody" store. There you can find some of things you should buy if you want to be like me. I have a ton of things that I should add to it, but it's a good start. There were two items on the old version that I said I wanted, that I needed up update because eventually got upgraded versions of both of them.

So go ahead and be like me. And remember, if you use my link to get to Amazon, for whatever you are buying, I can make a few pennies and I will love you forever. And you want me to love you forever, don't you?

Labels: Amazon, me, shopping

With NaNoWriMo over, I'm trying to catch up on all the other stuff I've been putting off. I have to do Christmas cards (maybe...I'm getting really bad about them) and our annual Christmas calendar (which requires a little more work than I've had time for).

I am also still going through all the Disney photos from October...slowly, ever so slowly.

Here's another one for you, because you've been patient. If you like this one, there are a few more like it over in my flickr photostream.

Labels: chores, Disney, photos