Whoopee.
Damn, up until I was 40 or so I didn’t’ know anyone with an August birthday, and now I know too many. Happy Birthday, Michelle and Stacy! For those keeping track, Kim Grove 7th, Michelle 12th, Stacy 14th, me 17th, Edie 17th, Neville’s mother 17th, and Kenneth 28th. I think that’s everyone, but feel free to correct me.
UPDATED: Broken headset has been repaired, removed from list!
More than a little late this year, I keep getting phone calls and email asking where it is-sorry (and keep those cards and letters coming). Almost completely void of toys, despite being a wishlist for a nerd with ADD/HD, a true sign of poverty. As always, thank you all very muchand!
We’ll start off with the true wishes. After years of sleep apnea and other woes my once fabulous memory is failing, especially my short term memory. Vitamin B1 supllements only go so far and seem to take a while to be effective. In the meantime I can’t afford the surgery or the mask, so I’m dependent on outboard memory. for years my outboard memory was a Palm Pilot device, but now my last one is dead (I have a pile of dead ones secreted away). Apple has Refurbished 8gig iPod touchs for $199. Yeah, locked, walled garden, but they can be jail broken. And they kill the current Palm devices in features, network connectivity, battery life and price.
(For everyone everywhere who has ever told me “why don’t you just write stuff down, that’s what I do,” you can sort through the wads of rain and sweat soaked illegible notes that litter my pockets, vest, and pack. My handwriting is illegible even to me, especially when I’m trying to write fast, one of the many reasons I got into computers. And frankly I’m tired of killing trees. If you feel otherwise and wish to impose your views on me your welcome to get me a few dozen Rite in the Rain pads, a Fisher Space Pen, refills, and a Esstac black pouch to carry it all in 
)
Next up: a Macbook or PowerBook G4. My beloved 12″ PowerBook is dead, and the one I’m currently using is on it’s way. I’ve had to replace the hard drive and one memory card this week. This has left me with less then a gig of memory, not even close to optimal for running Leopard.
The ever shrinking middle class: Snugpak poncho (one size $37.97). Odd for a poncho in that it has a hunched, longer back to accommodate a large pack, like my ever present 55 lb. pack, and it has a zipper and front pocket. Odder still, it has sleeves. So technically it’s a smock or honking large anorak. Waterproof.
What would a FFEJWORLD wishlist be without a plea for a vest of pockets? Cabela’s is blowing out the 5.11 vest (2x, Black, $49.99). One of the best vests out there. Please not the khaki
Now on to the cheap seats. First strategic planning for wintering in bus stops: Waterproof mittens (XL, on sale $19.98) and handwarmer (pick one of the colors on sale for $14.99) from Cabela’s. Someday I’ll write an essay on why you need more then one pair of gloves/mittens, and why handwarmers and muffs aren’t just for hunters and victorian revivalists. If the mittens sell out, go with the Thinsulate Fleece mitts for $17.99 I really really need a few pairs of glove liners (Sierra Trading Post $6.95).
Cabela’s packable waterproof rainpants (another closeout, black, $19.99, contact me for embarrassing size, Cabela’s sizes run small). Anyone who bikes or walks miles in the rain or snow knows why, but they also stop wind chill. Not as waterproof or durable as Gore Tex, but less maintenance and dirt cheap.
LA Police Gear is blowing out 5.11 pants, which Andy Ihnatko has dubbed internet pants (satirized by Merlin Mann here). Yes, all the pockets a nerdling would want. $18 for the original, $10 for the dress, $12 for the shorts, $10 for the short sleeve shirts. Contact me for sizing.
As detailed in a previous post I’m always looking for PALS webbing pouches and pockets. Tactical Tailer is blowing out their Go Bag ($15.79, one color). Damn good medium sized pouch, will hold 2 water bottles to the 55 lb. pack. Triple Aught Design’s are still blowing out their BC8 pouches ($7.67 in coyote brown), I could use a few for fiddly bits. And you can never have enough County Comm EOD utility bags ($19.95, black).
In a similar but not PALS equipped vein, the Nite Ize Hip Pockets ($18.95), a variation on the fanny pack with loads or fiddly pockets for my tools.
4 gig flash drive from Newegg ($10.99 free shipping!). Cheap, not the fastest, but I could use a handful, they’re the floppy disks of the current age
Last week Kim Grove, our own Swedish bombshell, has hit the big four oh! Happy Birthday Kim!
The irrepresable Ms. Heidi is celebrating today! She’s almost legal! If you happen to see her, wish her a very happy birthday!
I thought I’d jump on the hype train for friday’s iPhone 3G release with a post about some good cases that will work for said phone. It’s also a ramp up for my birthday wishlist, since I can find uses for these even though I don’t have an iPhone. Big duh, they’ll also work for your iPod Touch. All these cases will fit on your belt, and should work on a handbag strap or backpack strap as well.
TAD Gear has 2 cases, the vertical carry ICOMM ($16.95) and the horizontal carry BC8, ($13.95) which is also designed to carry 8 AA batteries in a holder. The ICOMM has more padding, and extra velcro straps for more carrying and attaching options. Both comes in a variety of earth tones and black, the coyote colored BC8 is on sale ($7.67). They’ll work with all MOLLE/PALS gear too. $6.50 s/h.
CountyComm has the vertical iPhone Carry Case ($10) and the horizontal PCC, ($7) which resembles the BC8 above (get the large). Any color you want so long as it’s black. $8 s/h.
Write the Bachelor’s guide to cooking with automatic drip coffee makers.
Learn to spell ciggerette.
Kill mosquitos.
Repair the cats bondage outfits.
Wash my watch.
Wax the candles.
Drink more tea.
Empty my pockets.
Jen (don’t call me a cabdriver no more) The Nurse asked me to post this:
EVENT: The “Hellloooo, Nurse!” Party, during which The Artist Formerly Known As Pickles’ Daughter, Jaybird, Jen the Bartender, Jen the Cabbie, Jen the Ex-Cabbie, and Jen the Nursing Student officially changes her nickname to Jen RN.
DATE and TIME: Tuesday, July 1st, from 5:30pm ’til last call
PLACE: Skylark Bar, 2149 S Halsted (Corner of Cermak & Halsted), Chicago.
It’s in the Pilsen neighborhood, straight down Halsted St, about 2 miles south of Greektown, past the old Maxwell St, past 18th and Halsted, before you get to Bridgeport. For those who are driving, you can take either the Kennedy (90/94) or Lake Shore Drive to Roosevelt. Make a right and go west to Halsted and turn left. Go south from Roosevelt to Cermak (1200 south to 2200 south, about 10 blocks). Park on the street. Come inside and enjoy.
(At which I interject, bring enough money to get Jen and yourself happy, and to tip your bartenders and waitstaff well for putting up with your shit. This is a party in a public place, not a private party, OK?)
Don’t even bother to read my post on Firefox 3.0, go read Andy’s post from the Chicago Sun-Times. Hell, go bookmark Andy’s column index over there, he’s a better writer then I’ll ever be (and certainly dig out out his blog from teh sidebar on the right). Worth a read if only for the last 3 paragraphs, which sum up much of tech writing and all the hype on Firefox.
Been trying to deal with a death in my extended circle, having trouble writing about it. More posts later about time sensitive stuff.
