While cleaning out my desk, I stumbled across a list of codes for FREE rentals at RedBox. Thought I would share them with you! (They expire on September 30; I suggest storing them in your cellphone)
• T354DGJ
• X5NNHVX
• HKRJHRR
• 4Z73MK4
Filed under: Home
• Weight Watchers English Toffee Crunch ice cream bars
Comments: I’m not a BIG ice cream eater, but when I crave it, it’s nice to have sitting there in the freezer, waiting for me. These bars are just the right size and are DELICIOUS. Nothing “diet”-tasting about these guys. If you love Heath candy bars, you’ll love these. Twelve bars.
• Sparrow’s Nest magnetic paperclip holder
Comments: I thought this was so Pop, I had to get it. They come in pink, white, lime (shown) and red. I got the red one. Too cute!
• Free Books app for the iPad/iPhone
Comments: A really great-looking and inexpensive app. 23,400+ books for just $1.99! You can’t beat that! Comprised mostly of classics, it’s a great app. I’m currently reading The Best Ghost Stories and The Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
A few weeks ago I was lamenting the fact that I went to the mall in nearby Fort Worth, for the first time in decades, and a lot of the stores I grew up with are now ancient history. If not literally, at least in this region of the country. Stores like Benneton, Hot Dog On a Stick, B. Dalton Bookseller, Oak Tree, Gadzooks, Peaches Records and Tapes and, of course, Chess King. *sigh* Sweet, sweet memories. I never have any urge to be younger than I am right now, but I do miss the 80′s.
This weekend, with some free time on my hands (huh? what’s that?) and some extra money in my pocket (what?!), I dropped in on THE place to be seen: Whole Foods. I was taking a chance, since I have none of the qualities that a premiere grocery store shopper like Whole Foods attracts: sweet ankle tattoo, 15% (or less) body fat, fragile/delicate eco-friendly intestinal fortitude and I’m not completely full of shit. Long story short: I emerged undetected by the hoards of pretentious fags and holier than thou greenies.
Anyway, while I was there, I actually got a bunch of good lookin’ carrots (shockingly, for a little less than what I pay at the peon’s store I normally shop at!), and a frozen pizza, which I will review once I’ve consumed it. Consumed it real good! Ah push it, ah ah ah ah push it…but I digress. (more…)
The Young Punks by Leo Margulies © 1957
Synopsis: Why do they go wrong? These are the ordinary kids you read about every day – “ordinary” until they shoot a storekeeper, rape a girl, torture a bum or wind up dead in a ditch. IRISH, Age 16- He had to prove to the gang he wasn’t yellow, even if it meant putting his life on the line. JILL, Age 16- Her combat uniform was blue jeans, her vicious weapon a beer-can opener. JOHNNY, Age 17- He found that the vengeance of his own gang was more terrible than running from the cops.
Comments: I’ve always been a fan of the whole juvenile delinquent-as menace-type books. Most of the ones I own were written in the late 50′s, to mid 60′s, an over-the-top, obvious scare-tactic in a more modern form (paperback book) than the antiquated ‘parable’ that probably wasn’t shocking enough to garner a shudder from evolving teens. It almost feels like the books’ demographic was aimed more towards the adults who probably bought them, under the guise that they were keeping themselves abreast of the changing times, when in actuality, it was more like the equivalent of our (shocking) reality shows of today. Weird. (more…)
Filed under: Idiocracy
A co-worker of mine is REALLY into realty shows, most of which I have no interest in, most of the time. However, I must admit, since I enjoy the occasional reality show, usually dealing with some kind of ‘disorder’ (i.e. Hoarders), my interest was piqued when she told me about a new series on The Learning Channel, called My Strange Addiction. With tales of people who eat glass, dryer sheets, toilet paper, hair follicles, etc., it all just sounded waaaay too fucked up to be real. I had no choice but to see for myself.
So, with a reluctant friend in tow, I found snippets and/or entire episodes online. (more…)
Filed under: Home
• Target brand (Market Pantry) Grape Fruit Bars
Comments: A mere $2 a box, compared to Dreyer’s and just as delicious. Not just frozen flavored water on a stick, like a lot of the store brand popsicles.
• Dreyer’s Slow Churned Rich & Creamy Chocolate ice cream
Comments: I had no idea this was “light” when I bought it, I just bought it because it came in an individual serving size that appeases my ice cream craving. SO good! Plus, I also like that I haven’t resorted to my usual favorite, Häagen-Dazs, which as you know, I’m currently boycotting.
• Hank Ketcham’s Complete Dennis the Menace: 1957-1958
Comments: I love the old Dennis the Menace. Not such a big fan of anything after the 80′s, but that’s just me. Having bought/read volume 1, and skipping volumes 2 and 3 (cuz I can’t find them here), I bought volume 4. Love it. One of the best single panel cartoon strips EVER!
Filed under: Life
…sometimes my mind wanders and I think about stuff. Off and on for a while now, I’ll REALLY think about the water I drink. It’s so clear and refreshing when it’s cold. I like the way the bubbles cling to the inside of the bottle or glass I’m drinking out of. I think to myself “This is a (relatively) free resource. It’s the base for so many of the things we all love; coffee, soda, soup, etc.” I’m really lucky to have it be so accessible, whenever I want it. There are people in the world who consider this a luxury; running water, toilet, bathing, etc. I take it for granted.
Then sometimes when I’m driving my car somewhere, I think: “I’m INSIDE a MACHINE that I’m controlling. How ‘futuristic’ is THAT? I’m controlling something that could do some considerable harm to things around me, not to mention myself. What a huge responsibility.” I’m so thankful to have an operating mode of transportation; whether it be the dog days of summer or the dead of winter.
That’s what I think about sometimes.
SO WHAT ARE QUORN SOUTHWESTERN CHIK ‘N WINGS MADE FROM?
Quorn Southwestern Chik ‘n WIngs are made with mycoprotein (“myco” is Greek for “fungi”) and are completely meatless and soy-free. There are believed to be over 600,000 varieties of fungi in the world, many of which are among the most sought after foods like varieties of mushrooms, truffles, and morels. (more…)
I‘ve recently been enjoying a lot of documentaries via streaming NetFlix, one of which was titled The Killing of a Chinese Cookie (a tongue-in-cheek reference to the film The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, for those who haven’t seen it); about the origins of the fortune cookie. It was interesting, but not great. However, one of the things I think I enjoyed more than the ‘Japanese vs Chinese’-origin story, was the segment on fortune cookies in pop culture.
And that’s what made me harken back to my junior high years. Across the street from the junior high was a little mom & pop convenience store, where kids would buy their breakfast (powdered donuts), cokes, etc. BUT the coolest thing about the store was that they still sold ‘penny’ (technically it was 2¢, but still) candy. On the rare occasion I would get to school early enough (and be able to sneak across the street undetected), I would buy loads of Fortune Bubble bubble gum. It had a distinctive flavor all it’s own and I got a kick out of the fact that (1) the wrapper was my favorite color (orange) and (2) each piece came with its own fortune!
