by macewan on January 26, 2008
Hey there I'm Robert MacEwan the author of Ideal Absolutes. If you're new to macewan.org, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.
We’ve been teaching Ollie a fun game. Take all the Sunday newspaper circulars and go through them, one page at a time. Every person has to point to one thing on the page they will buy. One thing that they need. Or want. Val says she played the game as a kid and the Sears catalog was big fun because it contained just about everything.
She said some pages contained embarassing items, or really cool stuff… men’s jockey shorts to curtain rods to toys. One way to play the “Catalog Game” is to turn the page and each player must point without looking. Whatever your finger lands on, you must buy.
Okay, lame to some of you but it’s fun to play it with a three-year-old because he laughs so much when he has to buy a dress or women’s shoes.
Sometimes we play with a Captain D’s ad, or a Pizza Hut circular. Yes, it’s true. We live in the ass-end of the Great Dismal Swamp and fun is hard to come by. Entertainment options are few.
This is why the Internets are so important to us all. Like the Sears Catalogs from the turn of the 20th century, online catalogs provide
information and have unlimited entertainment value.
This week, we’ve played the Garden Gnome game. When Val plays the game, she invariably goes to the Southern Yard Art filled with $85,000 fireplace mantles and marble columns. One of the most interesting aspects of the southern yard art landscape is the no holds barred approach to what is in and what is out.
The Heidi Klum of lawn decors — “One of you gnomes is safe. The other — out.”
by macewan on November 6, 2007
For years of I’ve emailed “AndrewG” and discussed Linux-related issues. As in all long-term correspondence, conversations sometimes became personal. AndrewG’s sister got married, his mother went through chemo-therapy, and he moved to London. Now he is getting married. I want to send some flowers to the restaurant where the reception is being held.
Flora2000, begun in 1999, is a leader in international floral delivery and gift baskets. The company successfully delivers to over 150 countries. Since the wedding is going to be celebrated in December, AndrewG says his wife will be decorating with traditional holiday colors — deep reds, dark greens, and silver and gold sparkle-things. I know that when I contact Flora2000 and describe what I want to send, they will make sure something gorgeous is designed for the couple. When sending a gift/floral arrangement to someone far away, you have to find a reliable source from which to order — a company you can depend on not to embarass you by sending something cheesey and cheap. A company that gives you quality when you send them for your hard earned cash. Flowers impress and convey friendship. AndrewG and his new bride will be able to look at the arrangement I buy and smile — knowing our lasting friendship spans the globe and is real, not just an online chat.
I have one photo of AndrewG and he’s walking through a street-fair with his parents somewhere in England.
by macewan on November 2, 2007
Some people go for candy. Others like flowers. Or teddy bears. Or fruit. Then there are people like me who want aCoffee of the Month Club membership. Some people (hint hint) would really love fresh roasted beans sent straight to my door. For three months, six months — heck, how about a whole year’s membership? Send me some espresso… a bag o’goodness in the shape of coffee beans.
Gourmet Gift of the Month Clubs has something for everyone. The idea of two different selections of coffee sent right to my door, every month, is really sounding like a clever option for anyone searching for gift ideas for moi. A three month, nine month, or twelve month gift membership please. I don’t need a fitness club. I need a caffeine club and here it is, right in front of me… ready for some loved one to fill in the boxes with their VISA card number and my shipping address.
Fresh ground or whole bean? My choice is whole bean because it seems to stay fresh longer. We try to work our way through an open bag of coffee within two weeks but it’s not always feasible.
Cold weather means a nice hot cup of coffee when I get home from work. What could be better than opening the mailbox and finding 100% Arabica waiting for me? Just pass me a mug, a glut of sugar, and I’m set to go.
Then again, there’s the Cheese of the Month Club… hmmmmm.
by macewan on November 2, 2007
LED Christmas lights.
You don’t need Al Gore to explain the importance of energy efficiency during the upcoming holiday season. This you can figure out for yourself.
My neighbors light up the area with a fantastic display each year. Their utility bill is directly proportional to the number of strings of lights they tack or wind around their porch. This year it is all about LED Christmas lights. Yes… LED stringlighting. Beautiful and energy efficient. Over 80% less energy than incandescent lights. Funny, I never thought much about sustainable Christmas. Never considered environmentally friendly decorations — “green”in more than one sense of the word.
We are fans of warm white Christmas lights, the sparkly kind. With a white glow around the inside of the house, the colors of bows, ornaments, and decorations like garlands and poinsettias stand out and become a real part of the holiday for us. Cheerful – sustainable – energy efficient – and beautiful.
We’re buying LED lights this year. Yup. And I’m going to surprise the grandboys with lights around the big Leyland cedar outside the living room window. Can’t wait to get my order from holidayleds.com. The website has all kinds of tips, suggestions, and ideas for your holiday home. Christmas will be fun this year! Three year old and 20-month-old boy guaranteed! Imagine how they’ll love “Rob and Nana’s” house when we light it up for the holidays!
by macewan on October 6, 2007
Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes acceptable choices when shopping for outdoor furniture. We want quality, style and comfort. Our plants and ornaments may be eclectic but we want to sit and dine on something nice.
There’s an interesting website featuring outdoor furniture and patio furniture. You’ll have to be prepared to spend some time online with the CedarStore.com website. It’s jam-packed with gazebos, redwood furniture, patio sets… benches… sometimes the sheer amount of merchandise offered can be over-whelming to the casual web-shopper. The best way to view the site is to get an over-all feel for the products offered — the categories of items shown — then settle down to the specific item(s) you seek. Take time — why? Because the prices are reasonable, shipping is usually free, and the online payment system seems secure.
Pergolas, cabanas, gazebos and pavilions. Great selection of all things yard. If I buy a piece from them, I don’t have to build it from scratch myself. Trust me… Val likes to have me “see” her vision and construct it. I’d rather have her “see” her vision in a catalog and have me buy it. We are seriously considering redwood deck chairs for the back porch. One for Ruth and maybe a couple more for us. Stability is very important, no folding chairs for a 90 year old to sit on, eh?
by macewan on October 2, 2007
Maybe we’re all just a little lazy these days. If it were not for the spell checking of Google define most of my documents would get bounced from the editor. I see this while reviewing the hamdmade wedding rings.
Besides the finishing touches, the little quibling edits required for a spiffy content load — Element Jewellry is rather pleasant to shop online. Good layout and colors with a swift load time. Alright, I’m on cable modem but that’s beside the point.
What is the point? The point is that Element Jewellery, set to go live on October 15th., deserves to be bookmarked as a shopping destination for those searching for anything from amazing bridal jewellry to handmade silver pieces.
by macewan on September 30, 2007
Once again this is another idea from Blogrush via ChipChick. I’m hoping to see it in a house nearby sometime soon… ha ha. You know who I’m talking to…
Brighten work with Simpson LED USB Desk Light. Homer says “I’m just not that bright” but you’ll be with this Homer Simpson USB powered LED light on your desk. Flexible “lamp” approx. 10” long. 4” diameter lamp base. Makes a great gift for your Simpsons collector. (#9588) A ComputerGear exclusive.
