“All things natural” is the new sexy.  Chemicals = bad.  Organic, free-range, dye-free, not tested on animals that aren’t totally ugly – you name it, “natural” is in vogue.  While there are perfectly safe chemicals we ingest or apply on ourselves, there are others that are probably best left alone.  Organic isn’t the be-all-to-end-all and there is definitely going to be an issue in the very near future where we will be presented with the dilemma where, if everyone demands organic everything, how will that be feasible given the massive economies of scale most items that reach us are required?  Keep ...

It looks like Columbus Day is still the targeted date for metro Atlanta to begin having a normal supply of gas.  Most gas stations (at least one by our home and on my way to work) are still completely wiped out and when they do get gas (usually only regular blend), the lines form immediately.  The two gas stations that I saw that had gas yesterday had lines of ¼ mile into the street.  Dekalb&l ...

Periodically I will “cellar” some stronger beers since they get better with age.  Obviously I don’t have a wine room so the basement closet is where they go.  It’s also where I store the extra homebrewed beers that I have made.  To be honest, I’ve been surprised I haven’t had a bottle explosion due to over-carbonation or some other factor.

I guess I got lucky when I filled up my tank prior to leaving for Las Vegas (September 10).  In order to avoid having to fill up the morning I had to return to work, I wound up saving almost 50 cents a gallon due to the price hike after Hurricane Ike had it’s way with the Gulf Coast.  I also was fortunate that I didn’t have to fill up, as the supply of gas started t ...

Maybe part of it is my adverse reaction to the life-draining hotness of summers in the south but I’ve come to relish autumn as much as any other season.  Some of you know which of the four seasons my favorite is, and while spring and summer have their strong points, I’m beginning to lean towards autumn as being my second favorite season.  Here are my reasons behind being a fan of a season that most people dread.

For the past two years, Ally has LOVED the greeting cards that play songs.  We’ve saved the past few years’ worth and she randomly plays with them quite often.  So it was no surprise that she wanted to get a music card for Megan’s birthday (which is today but we celebrated on Saturday).  Ally was with one of her grandmothers when they went card shopping.  Turns out grandma wasn’t paying too much attention because when Megan opened up the card in front of everyone, it had Mr Garrison from

This might be a minor thing, as the cost difference means much less than the principle of situation.  It could even be human error from what is displayed on a sticker tag compared to what is actually in the system (although they should be tied together).  Regardless, if an item is priced on the box as, say, $49.95, when it’s rung up it should be $49.95.  If the register displays it as costing $50.00, then put that on the pricing sticker too.  It’s not the 5 cents that I care about, as pennies are irrelevant.  It’s the honesty that bothers ...

If Vegas could be summed up in one scene, it was the one in the airport terminal while I was waiting for my flight back to Reality.  I was facing the window, looking out at the planes and mountains.  On the floor to my immediate right was a guy napping.  On the floor to my immediate left was a guy sprawled out and also sleeping away the debauchery.  One of the guys had a wife with an annoying Fran Drescher-like voice who was commiserating to her mom on her cellphone how many thousands they lost. 

Sometimes a phishing email just begs to be repeated.  I’ve left the awesome grammar and oddly-formatted sentence structures.  My comments are in blue.

Attention: Dear Prominent User Of The Interne ...

I’m back from Vegas.  A bit worse for the wear, of course, but still back in one piece with my dignity still intact.  I knew it would be a good weekend when, at the first slot I put a dollar into (it was a nickel slot at the Palazzo), I wound up winning $176!  Even though I rarely gambled, the weekend just got better after that.