It got here - and early too!

My replacement espresso machine arrived yesterday afternoon. I would have blogged about it then, but I got sidetracked setting the machine up and drinking espresso. I was pleasantly surprised because it didn't take the full two weeks that Williams-Sonoma promised.
Here it is in all its glory.

Kneel before it. Worship the espresso machine and the elixir of life that it provides.

Did something stupid today.

On my way out this afternoon, I was holding my sunglasses bag in my hand as I closed the garage door (not the big one, but the door to the garage). As the door closed behind me, I heard this crack.
Sure enough, I cracked the frame of my sunglasses. Boy, do I feel lame.

Watching movies on an iPod

Recently, Lifehacker, a blog on Productivity, had a post on converting DVDs to an iPod playable format. I downloaded the software (all free) and have started on a few. My thoughts on the process:

• Pretty darn easy to do
• End to end, it is pretty slow
• Pretty cool to have a movie on a video iPod

The instructions that the posting include are easy to follow and there aren't really that many settings to change. I did once pick the wrong audio track and got the director's comments on Star Wars, but hey, I was learning.

The ripping process is pretty quick, about 30 minutes for a DVD, but the encoding process takes some time. On top of that it is a two step process, and you have to manually start the encoding process. I've just let it run overnight and had great success with that. The Videora encoding software will also queue movies to convert, so that can be a time savings.

Then, I'd have to say it was pretty cool to be watching a movie on a video iPod. I don't actually have one, but I was borrowing my son's (while he had lost the privilege of using it). I was a little uncertain about watching a movie on that small of a screen, but what ended up being weirder was watching Blue Velvet before 8 in the morning at a swim meet!

I've got to get one of these video iPods!

I missed the audition call for this one...

Evidently, Harlequin book readers want to "want to escape from the relationship that they're in" and the publishers have decided to put real men on the covers of their books.

I missed the audition call! I'm sorry ladies, but you won't be seeing me on the cover. If only I had been in Toronto at the right time! I know they would have picked me. And you all know it too!

Isn't this the truth?

CNN has an article today and I just have to laugh at the title.

Cosmetic surgery rates up; breasts most popular

Well, I've got to agree with them. In a popularity contest, I would probably vote for breasts as my favorite too.

Thank you for taking this juvenile trip with me!

What is up with this weather?

It is snowing right now. Big flakes and fast. None is sticking as it is about 43 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It must be pretty cold up higher

And my wife pointed out that it is the first day of Spring (or the venereal equinox as I like to call it).

I don't get it.

My sons both wore shorts to school today. And one of them is still has to walk home this afternoon! It will make him stronger.

Don't stand between me and my espresso

For too long at least.

Today, my espresso machine passed away. It still makes espresso, but it just throws it out with the grounds. I'm not desperate enough to drink it from there. Yet.

And in actuality, it shouldn't be too long. My wife bought it for me at Williams-Sonoma and they have a lifetime guarantee on the stuff they sell. So, even with out a receipt, I can take it in and they will credit me the last recorded price for the item as I replace it with a new one.

But, while talking to the store manager on the phone, the manager suggested that it had been recalled. Sure enough, it had been. For risk of fire, no less.

So, what strange fortune. Who knows what risk we were taking by my drinking espresso several times a day.

Tomorrow, when they the company comes back to work, I'll be calling them. I've got to figure out how this recall thing will be working and I'll be wanting my espresso tomorrow!


Note: I apologize for my lengthy absence. I've been sucked into work for the last 7 weeks and have only now begun to pull myself out of that black hole. My project is coming to an end and doesn't need as much babysitting. Thank you to all you have kept coming here in my absence and I'm back on the posting path!