November 30, 2007

Four Foods on Friday

Once again it’s Friday and I forgot to answer Val’s questions! She’s a nice gal & will still let me play, though, so here ya go:

#1. Jello. What’s your favorite flavor or recipe?

Favorite jello flavor - grape. Recipe? I dunno. I used to eat a dessert that showed up frequently as a “Sunday covered dish” that had jello & cool whip - that was pretty good. I’ve never liked fruit in jello. Why do people do that to perfectly good fruit & perfectly good jello?

#2. Red liquid covering for pasta. Do you call it sauce or gravy and why?

Spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce. I don’t think I call anything tomato-ish “gravy.” Why? Um - because that’s just the way it is? I grew up around some people who called it red gravy, but it’s always been sauce in my family.

#3. Cereal. What’s your favorite kind of cereal (can be hot or cold)?
Oatmeal. Not instant - the old-fashioned kind, so I can cook it up just almost chewy. Brown sugar or honey & real butter on top, please!

#4. What is the worst food smell you know of?

Cooked cabbage. Nasty, foul smell.

Now hustle yourself over to Fun, Crafts and Recipes and see how everyone else answered. You can still play, too, if you hurry!

Technorati Tags: food, food meme, meme

November 29, 2007

Share Some Good Stuff

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the bad news that we forget that there are good things going on around us all the time. We can’t change the headlines, but we can seek out that which is good, that which is uplifting, that which shines with a positive radiance - the good stuff. Here’s some recent feel-great stories:

Val wants everyone to know how proud New Jersey is of a local company who is donating greeting cards to the troops.

I found several stories that tell us winter has come to Hawaii and Christmas is on its way!

Do you have a good news story from your own community that you’d like to share? Write a post about it and send me the link. I’ll hook you up with a link above. Let’s ignore the ugly headlines, dig down deep and Share Some Good Stuff!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme

Good news in Hawaii!

It’s winter time and Christmas is officially on its way to Hawaii! How can we tell? Well, there’s snow on the mountain tops on the Big Island, for a start. Kinda messy up above the clouds right now, but people will be going anyway, to get a little taste of some winter weather. Christmas trees are arriving in the islands almost daily. There was an Ag Department scare because some alien wasps were found in an early shipment, but we are assured that inspections are going smoothly and trees will be avialable for all of us. A tree-lighting ceremony and parade will officially open this year’s Honolulu City Lights, an ongoing extravaganza that will put everyone in a holiday mood. And it goes without saying, if it’s winter in Hawaii: surf’s up!

What’s the good news in your neck of the woods? Can you look beyond the headlines and find some good stuff to share? Write up a post with your good-news story and send me the link. I’ll hook you up in my weekly roundup of Good Stuff!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme

November 28, 2007

Measuredup.com gets in the last word

How are you doing with your holiday shopping? Are you one of those horribly efficient people who had eveything bought, wrapped and shipped before the Thanksgiving turkey was carved? Yeah, me neither. I’m still trying to work up my nerve to face the hordes at the malls. I’m not crazy about shopping crowds on any given day, but during the holiday season? Ai, ai, ai!

I’ll go, of course. The only way I know to keep my sanity, though, is to do some homework first. I’ll read the Sunday papers and do some surfing around the net to find specific items I want and to find out where I can get them. I’ll ask friends and family about their experiences with the things I want to buy and the merchants that carry them. And now that I know about MeasuredUp.com I’ll go there too, to find out how real people have rated the products and services I’m interested in.

Rate and Review Customer Service. Free, Fun and Easy

Wouldn’t you rather know how actual consumers feel about something than to have to rely on the information in a slick advertising campaign? That’s what MeasuredUp.com provides! Real people like you and me provide ratings based on real-world experiences. If the surly barista at a certain coffee shop always gets the orders wrong, wouldn’t you like to know that ahead of time so you can go to the one around the corner where friendly and efficient personnel take good care of the customers? If your favorite department store’s return policy is to wear you down with red tape so you’ll give up, don’t you want to spare others from the same ordeal? Of course you do! That’s kind of information you’re not going to find on the company website, but you’ll find it on MeasuredUp.com. I’ve already bookmarked MeasuredUp.com and know I’ll be visiting there before I do my shopping. I’ll be going back afterwards, too, so I can share my own experiences and help others. It’s the least I can do, since they’ll be helping me avoid some shopping nightmares!

MeasuredUp.com - where shoppers have the last word!

Technorati Tags: consumer complaints, consumer ratings, consumer service

New hidden object game with holiday theme

Big Fish Games had added Christmasville, a new hidden object game with a holiday theme, to their menu of great games. I enjoyed playing it, but have some reservations about giving an outright recommendation.

From the Big Fish download page:

Santa Claus is missing and Christmas is doomed! You`re Private Detective Arthur Knight, and you are the only one who can solve this mystery. Travel to Christmasville, where you`ll find help in the form of the Abominable Snowman, Reindeer, and Elf! Help these amazing creatures discover the truth about Santa Claus in this eye-popping Hidden Object Christmas adventure for the entire family!

Gameplay is exactly as we’ve come to expect. A rather lame story line explains why you’re searching for the hidden objects. As you clear each board you move a step closer to finding Santa Clause. Mini-games sandwiched between the searches are easy enough for a child to solve without getting frustrated.

The art is bright and colorful. Most of the hidden objects are pretty easy to locate, though there are a few that are somewhat difficult to see at first. Some of the scenes provide you with a list of items to find. Other’s provide a menu of silhouettes for you to match. I found some of those difficult as it was hard to separate the shapes from the clutter around them or the backgrounds that they’re placed against.

Caveat to those with children who are still young enough to believe: the story is not very flattering to Santa Clause. He’s said to be getting senile and forgetful. He is depicted as bumbling and thoughtless, causing his friends to worry with his unexplained absences. I think a young child might become fearlful that Santa doesn’t care about them and might forget them this Christmas. So, while the game gives the appearance of being great family fun, you might want to play it yourself first and consider how your children might react before you decide to play it with them.

This is not the most challenging hidden object game I’ve played lately and I don’t think it’s likely to shoot to the top anyone’s favorites list. Still, you can download it for a free hour of play from Big Fish Games if you’re craving a new hidden object game. It will help you pass some time until the next release.

Technorati Tags: Big Fish Games, Christmas games, Christmasville, games, hidden object games, holiday games

MWH Slippah Fund reminder

Today is the last day to get your donations in to the Slippah Fund if you want me to match your donation! I have been notified of donations from these generous readers:

Karen

Christine

Lee

Beth

Marisa

Corrin

If you contributed and aren’t on the list above I apologize! Please let me know so I can match your donation and acknowledge your wonderful gift!

If you didn’t already know about the Slippah Fund, go read my original post about the project or go straight to the source and visit with Auntie Lyn (linked above) to see what it’s all about. Together we can give a lot of keiki a wonderful Christmas and put slippahs on their feet too! Make sure you send me a copy of your receipt so I can match your donation.

Technorati Tags: charity, children, Christmas wishes, Hawaii, rubber slippers, slippahs

November 27, 2007

Tueday Teaser photo verification

Let me see if I can explain this to all of my beautiful, much appreciated readers. I do Tuesday Teasers for two reasons. Reason number one is the most important: it’s fun, for me and for you. Reason number two counts too, though and y’all keep thwarting it. It brings me traffic. The longer the contest runs, the more visitors I get. See how that works? So maybe, starting next week, y’all could agree to put your brilliance on hold for the first day of the contest and let me build a little traffic? I realize that raises a problem because you’re each afraid someone else will make the right guess before you post it, but I think I have a solution for that. You could all give your word of honor that you would only post stupid answers on day one. I know all of my readers are sincere and their integrity could be trusted, so no one would be sneaky and jump the gun on day one, right? well, it’s woth thinking about anyway!

Congrats to Sarah over at Puss Reboots for once again applying her artistic eye to the problem and coming up with a solution. She correctly guessed that the photo bit was from a picture of a plastic hair clip. Mahalo to all of you for playing. Now that you’re not tied to the keyboard you can get on with your day. Go Christmas shopping. Bake some cookies and put some snowflake decorations in the windows. I’ll see you all next week, and do think about leaving your intelligence behind for day one, please?

Technorati Tags: contest, photo, photo puzzle, winner

I’ve lost my street cred!

The board of directors for our community finally found a contractor to repair and repave our roads. They’re supposed to be out there working right now, but they haven’t shown up yet. Some of the prep happened yesterday, though. You would think that with dozens of spots to place this lovely little gem, the delivery man would have put it somewhere a bit out of the way where it wouldn’t offend too many folks, right? Wrong! The idiot put it in the entrance to my driveway, blocking access to the extra stall my friends park in when they visit. I stared at it all afternoon and then decided I just had to do something about it. I called a friend on the board and she assured me that the arrangement called or the portapottie to be positioned outside of the park fence down the road. She gave me the number of the paving contractors and I called them first thing this morning. They, too, were surprised that the rental company had not followed the work order instructing them to park it at the park. Within half an hour the jobber showed up and moved it.

I need to upgrade my landscaping. Curb appeal is everything, you know? I appreciate the guy trying to help me out, but I’m thinking a gazebo for the front yard would be a little more appropriate.

Technorati Tags: home, humor, just stuff, portapottie

Howard Miller Clocks

I have an uncle who collects clocks. Part of each summer vacation when I was growing up was spent helping him dust and lemon-wax the cases, and hearing his stories about the origins of each clock and the special qualities and functions built into them. Both of us have health problems that keep us from traveling these days, but we’ve remained close via phone calls and emails. A couple of years ago we were talking about his clocks and how special they were to both of us. A few days later I was surprised to get a large package from him and to find a beautiful heirloom, key-wound mantle clock inside! It holds a place of honor in my bedroom and brings on instant fits of nostalgia every time I see it or give it a little TLC with lemon wax. I’d love to have one of his grandfather clocks, too, but shipping from his home in the desert near Big Bend, Texas to my home in the islands is a nightmare neither of us wants to contemplate.

Whether you’re a collector or not, fine quality clocks make a wonderful legacy to pass on to succeeding generations. Unlike Grandmother’s brooch or Aunt Sophie’s turkey platter, they can be on display, used and enjoyed every day. Howard Miller grandfather clocks has an extensive collection that includes contemporary grandfather clocks that would actually work better with my decor than the vintage ones my uncle has. I have several lighted curio cabinets in my living room and found a grandfather clock that includes a mirrored curio cabinet and would be a perfect match with my existing room design. My son lives in a compact space and is a watch collector. He’s looking to buy his own more spacious home, though, and a grand clock like this is something he would enjoy having there when old Mom kicks off and leaves everything to him.

I found a post at clocksblog.com that can help me (or you) decide which clock is just right before buying. It’s the first in a planned series of posts about clock buying. The blog also has feature articles on various clockmakers, collections and even how to maintain a fine clock so you can pass it on to the kids. If you’re hoping to find a really special gift for someone this holiday season go there and do your homework first, then check out Howard Miller Clocks. They have something for every taste and decor and can help you make a grand gift-giving statement.

Technorati Tags: clock blogs, clocks, grandfather clocks, heirloom clocks, mantle clocks

Tuesday Teaser for November 27, 2007

Can you identify the item depicted above? Just take your best guess and post it in the comments below. If your guess wins, you’ll get a nifty prize. Here’s how it works:

1. Write a comment giving your guess as to what the item is.
2. First person to identify the item wins.
3. The author of this blog will be the sole judge as to what constitutes a correct answer.

What will you win?

1. The author of this blog will write a LINKY LOVE POST (review) about the winner’s blog (commercial sites ineligible.) The LLP will contain the url for your blog plus at least two deep links and will be posted here on Skeet’s Stuff, a PR4 PR2 PR0 (bah google!) blog. Skeet writes good reviews.
2. The winner’s name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks or Amazon.
3. Drawing for the gift card will be held on or about November 30, 2007, and will include all weekly winners for the month. There are four Tuesdays in November, thus the maximum number of people who will be eligble is four. CORRECTION: Since there was no winner for the last week of October, that prize carried over. There will be a maximum of FIVE winners in November.

Other stuff -EDITED - PLEASE READ!

1. All comments to this blog are time and date stamped. The winner will be the first person (according to time and date stamp) to provide the correct answer. Guess as many times as you please, but please place each guess in a separate comment.
2. No hints will be given.
3. Answers must specifically identify the item. For instance, if the item depicted were to be a button on a remote control, the answer “something electronic” would not suffice.
4. Decisions of the judge are final. Don’t argue with me. I won’t answer.
5. I will attempt to post every few hours as to whether or not a winner has been declared, but I am not continuously at the keyboard so please be patient.
6. Entries must be posted before 2:00 a.m. Thursday, November 29, 2007, Hawaii time (GMT -10, approximately forty-eight hours from now.)
7. This is intended to be an ongoing feature at Skeet’s Stuff. If it turns out to be a dud it will cease to exist, but all qualified winners will get their prizes.
8. Skeet’s Stuff is a do-follow blog, so you get some link value just for commenting.
9. You do not have to have a blog to enter. Your review can be donated to a charitable or non-profit site if you don’t have a blog or just want to share the love. Sites to be reviewed are subject to my approval. I’m not harsh, but I’m also not interested in donating space to a radical political non-profit site or a blog that is dedicated to porn. Commercial sites are ineligible and comments with commercial links will be deleted. If you would like to advertise on my site I’ll be happy to discuss your needs and my fees.
10. Let the fun begin!

Technorati Tags: contests, photos, photo contest, blog contest