Paperless Nostalgia

Joe and I have found the perfect way to satisfy my pack-rattery while maintaining order in the house. We like to call it Paperless Nostalgia.

Basically, we're going digital with all of our little paper and photo keepsakes and sending mounds of former trees to the recycling center. In honor of the occasion, here's the rest of that letter Joe received from his alma mater, you remember, the one that began "We've been thinking about you (name):"



We probably should have started this process oh, say, a year ago when we purchased this scanner/printer ... But let's just say the program didn't get installed until a few days ago.

We might be procrastinators, but soon, we'll be Paperless Procrastinators with a wonderful digital collection of our lives. And we might just have to share some of the gems that turn up during our switch-over.

Speaking of which, here's a flashback portrait of me from Joe's old wallet:

Crazy Griddle

If I were you, I would never buy this griddle:



The Teflon on our Black and Decker griddle started scratching off (oddly, where some peanut butter fell on it) so Joe went to find us this one as a replacement. It sounded great, like those As Seen On TV products loud smiling people try to sell you late at night.

It even seemed to work fine, at first. Then we noticed that the cooking surface not only has hot and cold spots, but also seems to randomly choose what temperature it's going to be.

But the best (i.e. worst) thing about this griddle is that when it's about to do something crazy it starts to make this clicking sound. Of course, you never know if that means it's going to get super-hot, or way too cold or take off into space.

The other day, Joe thought he heard the clicking sound when the griddle was not plugged in. It's going back to the store today.


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p.s. What we really want is a table top griddle that doesn't have non-stick coating. Our research tells us this is impossible to find at a price we're willing to pay. But if anyone ever sees one that's affordable, let us know.

My Birthday Gift to You

It's my birthday. This year, I'm giving you the gift of the craziest birthday song ever created (courtesy of Saturday Night Live and Jack Black).




I expect you all to learn this song and recite it from memory for my next birthday.

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And I'll also offer this aside about music infomercials:

The other night I fell asleep with the TV on and started having a dream that involved a bunch of 70s music. Right before I woke up I came to this realization in my dream that 70s love songs were actually pretty awesome. Then I woke up to a TV trying to convince me of the same fact.

I think that's their goal, to get you to fall asleep and play enough music that you grow a subconscious attachment to their crappy cds. They're dream advertisers.

Attack of the Giant White Duck

This was taken moments before the duck and little girl in its stomach took a dramatic turn and headed straight for me. I managed to get out of the way, mostly. The only casualty was my pinky nail.

So, how did I get run down by a giant duck? We were at an Art Sled Rally in Minneapolis, where people sled down a hill in artistic sled creations, some being more decorative than functional. The pictures probably say it best:














And my favorite, the Mammoth:

Rock Band

Joe and I spent Friday and Saturday night at a conference for my work at the Northland Inn, which we thought would be the perfect chance to try out Rock Band with a large group of people. After dragging the whole Rock Band get up — the XBOX360, drum set and two guitars — along with the Wii, we were devastated to find the hotel TV wouldn't allow us to plug in any kind of external device.

So on Saturday Joe saved the day by driving back home to get our own TV. We were surprised we didn't get more strange looks as we carried it in, up the elevator and to our room.

It was worth it, as you can see:


(photo by Erin)







(photo by Erin)

The Cephalopod Effect: Commode

See original Cephalopod Effect post first.

Joe and I were brushing our teeth, when he turned to say something to me, screaming "OWE!"

Brooke: "What?"
Joe: "I hit my leg on the commode."
Brooke: "The what?"
Joe: "The commode. You know, the cabinet."
Brooke: "I'm pretty sure commode means toilet."

A Wikipedia search returned this definition: "a cabinet, with one or more doors, which served as a washstand with a washbasin and water pitcher..."

He could offer little explanation as to how he knew what commode meant, considering it is a pretty archaic word from the days before plumbing. Though we both suspect his dad, friend of old world novelty words, probably uses it.

I wasn't completely incorrect, however, as Wikipedia continues by stating that commodes "also offered an enclosed area below for storing a chamberpot."

The Cephalopod Effect

Press Play to begin.

Joe and I spent a lot of time listening to Andrew Bird's album The Mysterious Production of Eggs yesterday, particularly the song "Opposite Day," which begins with Bird's astonishment that he has "not become a cephalopod."

Neither Joe nor I could explain what a cephalopod was off hand. Nevertheless, Joe came up with this elaborate scenario for a music video for "Opposite Day" involving a factory worker who turns into an octopus.

Then, this morning, Joe created this pancake, which he says was not created purposefully ("I dripped and was trying to connect the drips to make a pancake," he said):




(I added the blueberry eyes for effect.)

Finally this evening I decided to look up what a cephalopod is and was astonished to find that an octopus is a cephalopod! And this image, which I think look astonishingly similar to Joe's pancake, was sitting right there on the Wikipedia page:


(photo by Hans Hillewaert)