From the Onion's gift guide-

For People Who Want A Watch That Isn't, By Any Practical Definition, A Timepiece

Nooka Zub 20 Watch ($125)


For a while, wristwatch technology was all about making it easier to tell time-lots of large, digital number displays, soft, glow-in-the-dark lighting, and comforting beeps. But eventually, consumers realized that they could get that same technology from their cell phones, but without having to remember to put on a dumb piece of jewelry in the morning. This shift forced wristwatch manufacturers to re-think their whole approach: "Instead of making it easier to tell time, we should make it more difficult," they thought, "That way people will believe they need wristwatches." And so the Nooka Zub 20 was born-a wristwatch that has a weird name, a flexible rubber band, and a face that looks like a calculator and that's "made of dots that represent the hours and a bar to tell you the minute plus a digital second window which toggles to show the date." Of course. Also, it's blue.

Find it at: Urbanoutfitters.com

and here's a pic:

I was going to write another whole post about this guy saga- but instead, I won't. (E:pyrcedgrrl) I think has hit it the closest. I think he really is just trying not to be an asshole, esp since he knows I had my heart a little traumatized fairly recently. Commendable behavior. But at the same time- (e:newjason) may have a point too. I don't want wishy-washy. I want someone to take charge, and to want me, and to let me know that. If he breaks my heart, maybe that's the price I pay.

And finally- for (e:kara) (and all other dog lovers)-

This recipe comes from Deb Sprague, who says:

Thought I would share one of Avalanches favorite recipes.
I made them today for the boys and they loved them too.!

2 Cups whole grain spelt flour
1 Cup Cornmeal
3 eggs
1 1/2 Cups canned pumpkin(make sure its canned pumpkin and
not pumpkin pie filling that is loaded with sugar!)

Mix all ingredients if it looks too sticky add a bit more spelt
flour and roll out to about 1/4"

Cut into bone shapes place on slightly floured cookie sheet

Cook at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes then turn off oven and
let them sit if you want them crispy..If you want them softer
for your older bullies take them out right away and they will
be chewy.

yummy! no wheat, and pumpkin is good for bully
digestion! I'm going to have to eat a few too.

And new info for you music peeps out there- Just learned there's a 5-disc Sufjan Stevens xmas cd out there. Downloading (legally of course) as we speak. Will give reviews later.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So I tend to always be cold. I can usually deal with it, but sometimes in winter, that chill just sets in to the bone... Sometimes I can get bundled up and face the cold and it's even refreshing... but other days I just dread having to go out there. I stall and make excuses... So today was one of those days. But finally I headed home. There's barely any snow on the ground, but the roads are DAMN slippery! I was crawling along at like 2 miles an hour like an old lady. Giving myself TONS of room before stopping or turning.... and my car behaved itself very well, all sorts of traction-control lights flashing on and off, and keeping me going in the intended direction.

So then I was coming down North, into the circle at Richmond. (symphony circle?) Going nice and slow, since there is a car stopped ahead waiting to enter the circle. Step on the brakes, car doesn't slow. Anti-lock brakes start stuttering... car is not slowing down. Traction-control blinking like crazy... I'm thinking 'wait, what is it? turn INTO the skid?' then realized "but wait, I'm not turning". Then I think 'pump the brakes?" "no, anti-lock brakes. Don't pump them."
Then it hits me- I am not going to stop. And I just sat there for what seemed like an eternity, thankful I had my seatbelt on, and wondering if my airbags would go off when the inevitable impact occurred.

Fortunately it was about a 2mph impact, so the airbags did not go off. And the guy was very nice. On his way to choir practice at Kleinhans. No one was hurt. My car is fine, from what I can tell. His was mostly fine- the plastic on one of the back lights cracked. So we exchanged info, and went on our ways. Then of course that god damned good-for-nothing detour on richmond is still up, which sent me skidding through yet another intersection. Scary.

My car was about to be in time out, until I noticed that every car I saw was skidding at the stop signs, so I guess it's just the shitty roads.

Blah... just what I needed on top of this lame day.
(I got a very ominous message yesterday from J, saying "we need to talk". Have not been able to make contact yet, but I find I am scared. Feel like a naughty child that is about to get yelled at.)

Anyway... I think some tivo and hot chocolate is in order. Stay warm (and off the roads!) peeps!

A

Ok, time to pause my babbling for something much more meaningful-

Just found another cool charity idea- Charity Checks the website is a little crappy, but the idea is great.
Basically you send them a donation, and they send your designated recipient a check for that amt of money, with the 'pay to' field blank, and then the person you send it to gets to make it out to ANY charity they want. Sort of like a Charity gift certificate.

Ok, can anybody tell me anything about the annoying detour on Richmond and W. Ferry that makes me late for work every morning since I forget about it? The road has been blocked for just that one block, for the entire week. And I see ZERO signs of construction, road work, anything. Does anyone know anything about this? Google was not helpful.

Ok, so the season of giving and getting and gluttony is officially upon us. I went to Target this morning (not as horrible as I was expecting) only to see bratty little kids out in full force. I saw one boy, 10 or so, yell at his mom- "Mom. MOM. MOM!! Skates! That's what I need. New skates. And not the crappy ones!" as he drags her down the aisle. Then he goes "and I want them NOW. I am SO not getting my speed up on the skates I have!" I wanted to slap him.

Anyway, so it made me realize that it's probably time to start thinking about christmas/holiday shopping.

And I remembered the perfect gift for the impossible-to-shop-for person that has everything.

Check out Heifer International . I've been giving people gift-donations from there for a few years.. I always wonder how much it actually helps when I send $20 to the Red Cross or whatever- but this one makes me happy. You "buy" an animal (chicks, ducks, rabbits, llamas, goats, sheep, heifers, etc., they even have bees, and trees- from like $20 up to "an ark" for $5000), and they give the animal(s) to a family in a developing country, and teach them how to raise it, breed it, etc. And part of the deal is that the family has to give one of their animal's babies to another family in the village to keep the whole thing going. You can buy a pair of ducks, and they teach the family how to raise the eggs, or a goat and they teach them how to milk it and make cheese and stuff.