Last night my camera (an old Olympus C-2100 Ultra-Zoom) went kaput. I suspect there’s a little motor that’s responsible for moving the lenses to adjust focus, and it’s failed… as neither the auto, nor the manual focus work. (Unlike an SLR, the “manual” focus is still electronic – pressing buttons rather than twisting a ring on the lens.) I mentioned this in a post yesterday, but I wanted to talk about it again because it’s a crushing blow. My camera is like my various writing tools… I don’t put them to as good a use as some, but I enjoy [...]
Going for Broke
Ouch
It occurs to me that water is somewhat unique, in that gives and sustains life; but also can bring tragedy and death. I don’t want to play up this entry too much. This pales in comparison to the large scale disasters flood waters have brought to many parts of the world. I just seems that I take water for granted… that I only notice it when it’s jumped the tracks, loosed from it’s shackles and running amok. This morning I saw a little bit of stray water, but it wasn’t the amount that gave me pause… it was it’s location. [...]
Fluff, courtesy of the magic bean
I am torn. I aspire to be a coffee snob, but I’m finding that some of the equipment is a little too pricey. My first steps to snobbery weren’t too expensive… whole bean instead of ground, a once forgotten coffee (blade) grinder received as a wedding gift, and a French press. I’ve come a long way from coffee flavored, instant chocolate milk (General Foods International Coffees). The next step is perfecting the grind… and that’s the problem. Good grinders cost a mint. I’ve read that the key to a good, consistent brew is a good, consistent grind – something that [...]
Beware of area code 352
My wife thinks I’m being silly. But that’s not news. My latest adventure down the road to lunacy involves my alma mater: The University of Florida. It was about mid-April when I received my very first solicitation for money. “Can we count on your donation of $1000?” If I had been drinking it would have shot from my nose in a fountain of incredulity. “Ah, no.” “Can we count on your donation of $500?” “You’re still cold, but your getting warmer.” “How about $250?” “Would you take $100?” And there it was. I had agreed to send my old school; [...]
Out of control
Everyone says I should indulge myself while I’m in the hospital. If only they knew. Armed with a credit card number and a wi-fi connection I’ve been a shareware paying, upgrade buying, web host upgrading mad spender. And the madness doesn’t end there. In between bouts of fever, chills, and pain I could be resting up. Instead I’ve undertaken a huge project to reorganize my genealogy data, and a slightly smaller project to reconfigure the html files over at mykauffman.com for a new server. I probably could have just changed a server setting instead, but what fun is that?
Not a shingle dollar
Thats right friends, no play on words is to lame; we’re officially poor. Late last week we employed a classic strategy for budget busting known as “roofing.” Any time you employ someone to perform strenuous labor in uncomfortable circumstances AND you involve a primary component of the structure of your house… you’re likely to end up hosed. What’s more, like the garden variety, there are several ways you can take your hosing… the traditional “soaking” method or the lashing technique are but two examples. Either way your bound to feel ill afterwards. I don’t know about you, but I’m about [...]
Grocery update
I’ve come to the point in my week when our stores of name-brand products have run dry. I’m almost exclusively down to the generic alternatives I bought on Friday, following my most recent fiscal epiphany. First let me say that anyone who claims generic tastes the same as brand either never tried both, is lying, or is incapable of picking sugar out of a line-up of artificial sweeteners. The difference in taste is inescapable… to my persnickety palate anyway. However, that’s not really the point, is it? Just because something tastes different doesn’t mean it’s better or worse, and this [...]
Next
I’ve got great news! I just saved a bunch of money on my grocery bill! I used to be a grocery snob. You know the type, those people who fall for the raz-mataz of a “name brand.” I’d go grocery shopping and look down my long, anglo-germanic nose at “those people” with the store labels in their cart. Well a funny thing happened on my way to insolvency… I decided to try and save a little money. There are several ways to solve a budget problem: 1. increase income; 2. decrease expenses; or, 3. die. I’m a happy-go-lucky civil servant, [...]
I smell a rat
… a dead one, as it turns out. Perhaps this was a little heavenly payback for mocking a well-meaning gift giver. Let me explain… It all started in Adam’s bedroom. It smelled bad, but that’s not completely unexpected considering Adam is only one year old. All manner of smelly stuff “happens” in there, so the smell was kind of ignored for a couple of days. Well not exactly ignored… the nose can be a powerful and constant reminder, but let’s just say that a bad smell in Adam’s room fit perfectly with my world view. On day three the bouquet [...]
And the band played on
“Hello, Mr. Kauffman? This is (censored) from (my HMO). I just wanted to give you a call to let you know that we’ve resolved the issue with your daughter’s PCP (primary care physician). The claim submitted in October 2004 will be resolved, and you will not be responsible for any charges previously billed by the PCP.” “You mean the 10/1, 10/2, 10/3, and 10/5 claims that I called about last week; I believe it was 11/28 of this year?” “I don’t have the exact dates in front of me. I just thought I would give you a call on my [...]
