The Chronic Consumer

I have a crack in my Kindle Paperwhite screen! It was totally my fault, though, so I have no one to blame but myself.

I was traveling recently and decided to shove all my electronic devices (Kindle, phone, iPad) into a single ziplock bag so the security screeners at the airport wouldn’t have to inspect them individually. The Paperwhite wasn’t in a protective sleeve or anything, and must have gotten jostled against the edge of one of my other devices. Or maybe I sat/leaned on my backpack the wrong way, forcing the phone or iPad into the Kindle screen.

Either way, there’s a noticeable crack on the screen now. It’s annoying as hell, but is small enough that I don’t feel an overwhelming need to purchase a new device just yet.

Chalk this up as a lesson learned. Off to order a Paperwhite case now!

So we’re thinking about taking a vacation in December. We don’t want to spend a lot on the trip, so we’re thinking of going to a place that people usually only visit in the summer. The off-season rates should suit us and of course availability shouldn’t be an issue if we do it this way.

Thus far we’ve checked out north carolina beach house rentals, Martha’s Vineyard bed & breakfasts, and even San Francisco tours. We’re kind of leaning towards North Carolina as the most affordable, but we’re certainly open to suggestions.

Any ideas?

I’m selling my old laptop because I never use it anymore. When I’m at home, I’m far more comfortable using my desktop PC, and when I’m on the road I use my iPhone or iPad to stay connected.

This is actually the first time I’ve ever sold an old computer because I usually use them until they die. As a result, I had to do some quick Internet searches for reformat hard drive vista. I finally found the answer and think I did everything right.

I might go ahead and spend twenty bucks on a drive scrubber just to make sure, though. After all, I had all my financial information and Internet passwords stored on the laptop. If someone recovers that data, they’ll be able to do some real damage.

Anyway, let’s hope I get a decent price for this thing!

It’s a little late for spring cleaning, but since it’s not technically summer yet, I can still call it that. I took the day off from work yesterday and was able to spend several hours organizing the garage. It’s amazing how much junk can accumulate in a space that we hardly ever even use!

I first hauled everything out to the driveway so I could sweep and hose down the entire interior. Then I started sorting stuff before putting it back in. Any junk I came across went right into the trashcan, while the keepers were organized as much as possible. For example, I designated different shelves for seasonal goods such as snow chains and gardening tools, and even busted out my label maker so everyone in the family would be able to figure out what goes where.

Historically, these efforts at organizing the garage last for just a few months before things get out of hand again. This time I’m hoping for a more sustained result!

Now that I’m working outside the home again, I have to spend more money on a suitable wardrobe. The last time I had a full-time job, I wore one of those full work jumpsuits that cover everything. That’s not gonna fly for my current position, so it’s back to shopping at department stores for suits, slacks, skirts, blouses, and other apparel that is deemed “business casual”.

You know, as much as I love shopping for clothes, I sometimes miss those halcyon days of wearing sweats or a uniform to work!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! Have the trick-or-treaters come by your house yet? I know some towns had their official trick-or-treating last night, but mine is doing it today, which is of course better.

What kind of candy are you giving out this year? I always give out Snickers or Twix because those are my favorites and obviously I’ll need to eat any leftovers we might have. I tried giving away non-candy treats one year, like McDonald’s gift certificates and things like that, but the gesture wasn’t as appreciated.

What do you think? Is it better to give out traditional candy, or do you prefer handing out something healthier like fruit or nuts? Have you ever gone the extra mile and given a gift certificate for a local business, such as the best carpet cleaning holly springs nc has to offer or the tastiest pizza Raleigh residents could ever hope to eat? Those things are way too expensive to give to every single trick-or-treater, but it would be cool to give out one certificate at random and really make someone’s night!

Anyway, have fun and stay safe today!

Thank goodness the fall fashions are now coming out at the mall. I can finally walk through there without feeling like a bloated cow as I look at all the skimpy bathing suits that I would never, ever fit into. After passing each summer display, I would vow to exercise for three hours a day and consume nothing but diet pills until I dropped 10 or 15 pounds. Now that I see hoodies, sweaters, and other baggy items, I don’t have to worry about things like that!

One of my friends is trying to get me involved in Amway. I am not a salesperson at all, though, and doubt I could ever build any kind of network with the company. But I wonder if it would be worth signing up just for the discounts on all the products. I have tried a few Amway things over the years, but nothing really stands out as being high-quality. What do you think? Do any of you use Amway products regularly and do you think their stuff is better than regular store brands?