Mindless Ranting

Update: I went into the video store to return Disc Two and pick up Disc Three. The clerk gave me my total of 84 cents. I then asked about the late fee I knew I owed. He had already waived all fees. I guess I am that cute.

OK, before I post some pictures I have to get this off my chest:

Gas prices. I know, I know, they are high everywhere. But seriously, $4.06 in Pocatello, Idaho?? Ridiculous. That's all I have to say about that.

OK, the real reason for the rant:

Besides a couple of mom and pop video stores in the area we have two Hollywood Video locations. Obviously one is a little closer than the other. Matt and I caught the end of the third season of "How I Met Your Mother" in May. Now with the lack of good summer programming except "So You Think You Can Dance") I went to the closest Hollywood and rented the first two discs of the first season of HIMYM. It cost me a whopping 84 cents tax included for five days for each disc. I rented the third disc when we were done.

Grand total for Season One= $2.52.

Last Thursday I went to the "other" Hollywood Video for Season Two (only because the preferred store didn't carry it.) Each disc there cost the 84 cents. Each day. When I voiced my opinion the clerk said "yeah, that store is different than ours. They're running a test". I asked which store was running the "test" she replied "they both are". I decided to only get the first disc, she tried to talk me into the fact that it would still be cheaper to get all three now, bring them back as we finish and then just pay the late fees (only 84 cents) on the ones we keep longer. I conceded. Only because I hate finishing one disc and not having the next to start right away. We finished Disc One and after doing the math I took Discs One and Three back at 11:00 pm on Saturday night. Assuming it will take two more days to finish Disc Two:

Grand Total so far for Season Two= $8.40.

How is this a good deal???

This kind of marketing makes perfect sense for movies that you are going to watch once in a night. Sure, pay the 79 cents (where is the cents symbol?!#?) But for television series? I mean, we're a TV family, but I cannot watch the 9 episodes on a disc in a single night.

Now I wish this show was syndicated and I could tivo the whole series (like I have done with Scrubs, That 70's Show, Charmed and most recently the TBS version of Sex and the City where I'm on the 4th season).

And, yes, I have e-mailed Hollywood Video already. No response yet.

Happy Father's Day

I wanted to get a picture before church, when everyone looked so cute, but with rushing out the door, the kids being trained to change out of their church clothes first thing when we get home, and a baby who had a blow out, it didn't happen. Here they are watching the "Sunday Movie" (Monster's Inc.) together.

How old is he? 35
Who eats more? He does.
Who is taller? He is
Who is smarter? He is, especially now, when I'm going through a "dumbening" phase.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're in the bed than it's him.
Who pays the bills? I do, with "our" money.
Who mows the lawn? He does.
Who cooks dinner? I do, unless it's barbecuing, than it's him, most of the time.
Who has more siblings? He does. Youngest of ten.
What are his guilty pleasures? "So You Think You Can Dance" (yes, he might divorce me for airing that in the open).
What are his hobbies? Disc Golf, video games, books.
What is your favorite thing about him? There are a ton of things I love about him. He is such a good person and is a workhorse in the yard. He works so hard to do well in school (whe he is in school). He gets excited to talk about his Thesis (even though I tune him out smile and nod sometimes). He is a great dad and loves to play UNO with the kids. He will always share his fries with me and will usually give me the best one. He will get caught up on TV shows with me. (We're currently watching "How I Met Your Mother Season 1).

I love you Matt! Happy Father's Day. Thanks for being such a great husband and Dad.

Twenty-Nine Years

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad. In going through the boxes of 30 years of photos, I picked out a few of my favorites.

 

And, yes, if you've done the math, we kids were 5, 5, 3 and 1 (respectively) when they got married (not many kids can say they attended their parent's wedding reception.

(If you don't know the story, e-mail me, I'll be happy to oblige)

Chicken Little

Who will help me make this bread?

I am now the proud owner of this. It's awesome.

Now I can finally start using the 900 pounds (and, no, that is not an exaggeration) of wheat that we acquired last May. I knew it would be a great addition to our food storage and I calculated the amount we would need for our family of six for one year. I guess just having it sit in the basement isn't going to help us out in an emergency, is it?

Does anyone have a great recipe for whole wheat bread? If I can master it and my kids will eat it, then we will have something.




Note to self: Now purchase this for when the end of the world comes and we have no electricity.