iShopping - MacBook Pros on Sale!

If you're like me (or are simply a sensible human being) you LOVE your Mac and CRINGE at the idea of potentially dropping 3K on a new one.  If you're really like me then the computer you currently have is 10 years old (I will admit that I have attachment issues to my belongings) and the memory is so jammed you can't type a single letter without getting a "Disc Full - Delete Files To Continue" notice... I've already received two since starting this entry!

Gearing up to start a big project (and my new obsession with Facebook) forced me into the Apple Store at the 29th Street Mall late Thursday evening - yes the one manned entirely by college freshmen who have never lived in a world without computers... I was typing on this computer when my sales cutie was 8 years old.  

Josh (I think that was his name) could only look at me with one eye at a time due to the crazy mop of hair that hung down to his nose... he'd cock is head like a Jack Russel to shift the part back and forth depending on which eye he wanted to use.  It was like talking to a little Sheep Dog with a crooked grin- the urge to poke his belly & make him giggle was so uncontrollable I had to put my hands in my pockets.  Without a doubt he knew his stuff and there would be no way for me to talk shop about the computer I was looking to buy -  but at the same time there was a sense of balance in our relationship because I knew, that if I knew how, I could amaze him by pretending to pull a quarter from behind his ear. 

After the initial chit chat, Josh and I got down to business.  I explained that I needed a computer to, "communicate quickly, see and share videos, manage large files, work with spreadsheets, tons of spreadsheets".  As for the fun stuff  (what I don't need but like to have),  "I like to manage photos, mess around with basic editing and write "stuff".  I knew I wanted the 15" MacBook Pro (directly in front of me) tricked out with as much memory as it could hold (Josh complimented me on my research!).  At that Josh put his thumb and pointer on his chin, cocked his head, looked up,  thought for a moment, looked around the store as if there might be something with my name already on it, and then looked down and pointed to the computer on the table in front of us.  "Here it is! This is probably what you want".  On a side note: have you ever noticed the Apple Store presents choices to customers the same way the choices were placed in front of Goldie Locks? Three of each, small, medium, and large. If the 13" Mac is too small and the 17" Mac is too big, does liking the 15" mean I'm mamma bear?

So I agreed with Josh that the 15" MacBook Pro is what pulled me in this evening and I think I'm ready to purchase if he'll just give me a moment to test one or two things...  as I'm talking, Josh pulls up some punk band on "iTunes" and cranks the speakers to the highest volume.  He then sticks his head next to the keyboard and begins to, well... "dance in the knees" is the only way to describe it. He starts shouting about the "excellent" acoutics and all the other features "IPHOTO, GARAGE BAND, ICHAT, IDVD, ILIFE, EMAIL -  YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS BABY".  Other customers were beginning to stare at me, not at Josh mind you, at the woman twice his age looking to purchase a LOUD computer. "TOUCH PAD, GLOSSY SCREEN, SHARP DESIGN, BACK LIGHT...."

Now for the "Cheap Mac" portion of this tale:

As Josh kept screaming into the keyboard I noticed the new MacBooks are shaped like the AirBooks... I'm not a fan of this design and actually have a friend who thinks her AirBook is a piece of crap. So I asked Josh where the other models were and he announced that this model had just been released that day and all the "old" models were gone. UHG! Here's my other deal, I never purchase first wave models.  I know it sounds silly but I believe computer companies use consumers to work out the final kinks so the chances of getting a problem bug are greatly increased by purchasing a new version (this goes for software too). So I asked Josh what happened to the old models and he explained they boxed them up that day and sent them to the online clearance sale.  What??? An Apple Clearance rack with products that were in the stores yesterday?  In all my years as an Apple Customer I've never seen a computer on sale through the Apple Store.  So Josh and I pulled up www.apple.com and sure enough there they were, exactly what I wanted but on SALE!!!  So I poked Josh in the belly to make him giggle and ran home to order my new baby online for a pretty major discount.

The new computer arrives tomorrow and I can't wait.  If you're looking for a new computer I suggest you click on the link and take advantage of an amazing deal that (I'm positive) is not going to last much longer.  By the way, Josh told me the refurbished computers on apple.com are all new computers that customers probably took home and then returned within 30 days.  Apparently they do not resale "problem" computers, only the scratch and dents make it to certified sales. These prices were much lower then the clearance prices... considering they're under warranty and there's a 30 day return policy to fall back on should something go wrong it might not be a bad deal to consider.

Happy shopping!

S

Resolutions '08

So I've done a pretty good job of sticking to my goals... it's hard to tell by reading my blog (one resolution down the drain).   I'm still using my fashion bags for grocery shopping, not one plastic grocery bag this year!  I'm still reading books at a rate of way more then one a month and I'm definitely eating a salad type meal at least once a day. Unfortunately my work schedule kicked into hyperdrive over the Summer so the volunteer work had to shift to the back burner (I do feel terrible about this), and my tri goals had to be put off until next year.  What?  Why yes there are opportunities throughout the Winter months but ain't no way this lady's swimming in cold water!.

In an attempt to utilize what little training I had under my belt, I signed up for the "Venus De Miles", a 35 mile road bike race for women .  Here's the note I sent my family a few days after my photo finish.

So I was invited ride the "Venus de Miles", a 35 mile road bike ride in the pasture lands just north of Boulder. I've never ridden the bike before, never used the clips (shoes connected to bike) and have always known that it takes weeks of practice to get on a road bike. We'll I brushed off these concerns and managed to ride like a superstar, blowing Erin and Barb out of the water... but who's competing?

I finished up with flying colors! Literally flying colors... and flying feet, flying helmet, flying gloves, and flying exposed belly. After 35 miles of incredible riding, Erin and I decided to cross the finish line holding hands for her husband, Chris, who had parted the sea of spectators to stand under the finish line flag with his iphone, ready to snap a photo of our triumphant finish. I had unclipped my pedals to allow for more control as we moved closer to the crowd and when Erin and I clasped hands I immediately discovered I no longer had any attachment to the bike what so ever... I screamed "let go, let go!" but she saw the danger (along with everyone else) and held on tightly in hopes that she'd be able to control the situation from the seat of her bike - I fell off my bike, and grabbed her waist to stay up (dragging feet off on her left) thinking "if we pull this off it will be an incredible move that everyone would think was practiced and planned"... but come to find out, Erin and I don't think alike. Through a burst of adrenalin, Erin found the strength required to break my grip and brush me off while continuing to pedal herself toward the end of the race. I fell from her waist down onto her back tire (feet off to the left, arms and head off to the right, belly on the treads) and in less then one half of a rotation, found all three of my shirts pulled up over my boobs, and my fleshy belly exposed to the energy being transfered from Erin's thighs to her rear wheel. I remained balanced on the tire for about 5 feet, stopping only when God took a break from laughing is spiritual butt off and reached down and plucked me from the tire and dropped me (belly flop fashion) onto the pavement. I rolled over just in time to watch Erin recover and cross the finish line.

The crowd was silent... I played it cool - stood up, looked behind me as if to say "what was that?!", pulled my shirts down, gathered my belongings, gave a theatrical "HA HA HA" with a wave of my hand, and prayed the bike would be ok for me to at least cross the finish line. I finished by sitting on the bike and rolling the remaining 10 feet to Chris and his iphone (the crowd parted like the Whos in Whoville, swinging open like a little gate to let the Grinch into the circle). Fortunately I had a change of clothes in the car and was able to alter my identity to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon without all the "Is your stomach ok?" questions from the hordes of she-men who had finished the race before me.

I got home to discover half of the rubber from Erin's back tire was ground into a crimson tread mark stretching from my belly button all the way up to the under wire of my jog bra. The pain was too great to apply water, much less the soap / rubber remover required to bring the picture back to something that resembled human flesh, so I stayed on the couch with my stomach exposed and watched bad TBS movies for the afternoon. It wasn't until the evening that I noticed my knee was the size (and color) of a grapefruit. I guess that's the silver lining. All is well - my Chris got a good belly laugh out of it and I imagine the pain in my body will subside about the same time as the pain in my pride.

I think they're sparing me from the shots Erin's Chris took - if they surface I'll pass them along.

I hope you're all doing well!
I love you!
Wish you were here to occupy my time with more normal activities!
Spice

Ask A Boulderite - "Why Prairie Dogs?"

 Dear Boulderite,

Why does Boulder hold the Prairie Dog so dear? The reports I hear make it sound like Boulder is more willing to protect those rodents then it is to lend a hand to -  for argument’s sake let’s just say working moms with pregnant teens.  In my town we’ve got moose and even though they can do things like act in television shows and pull carts (if you train them) we’ll still shoot ‘em if they get on the playgrounds.   Why would the City of Boulder be willing to spend so much money to protect something you can’t even eat? When it comes to city dollars the scoreboard should read “Working moms 1 /  Moose,  dead”.  And another thing, if Prairie Dogs burrow wouldn’t that mean they’re a danger to the grassroots stuff that makes Boulder so famous?

-S. Palin
Alaska

Dear S Palin from Alaska,

Good question on a HOT topic!  Before I answer, are you by any chance… never mind! I invite all questions and respect every person’s right to anonymity. 

Let me start with your second question first. “Grassroots” does in fact refer to the portion of a plant’s biomass located beneath the surface of the soil. And yes, Prairie Dogs can damage these grassroots. But in Boulder’s case,  “Grassroots” describes the people who are participating in politics on a local level with the intentions of making changes to what’s going on nationally.  You might fine it interesting that the “Grassroots Effort” is considered the biggest factor in Barack Obama’s success … or maybe your not interested, I have no reason to assume something like this would matter to you.

On to Boulder’s affair with Prairie Dogs, (Genus Cynomys): Back in ’73, while harvesting a tiny crop of pot plants near what is now known as Airport Road, a Senior Bio Major at CU stumbled upon the petrified remains of a Jurassic baby seal … if it had fur it would have looked like the ones you see in National Geographic.  By scraping under the claw (there was only one) a Bio task force was able to date the time the Jurassic baby seal was alive back to about three years after the Ice Age, when things were beginning to thaw but there was still a span of ice crossing the Artic Ocean to Alaska. Through Carbon testing, DNA testing and acupuncture, the task force was able to determine this:

    Long before the Native Americans, the Eskimos, or the Russians… a small group of white baby seals (being chased by a Polar bear - speculation) turned South and began a trek that would bring them into the Western portion Laurasia (the other supercontinent…not Gondwana) and eventually land them smack in the middle of the land that would eventually be called Boulder Colorado.  During this long journey these precious little creatures changed colors, developed beady little eyes, discovered a joy for digging and evolved into what is now known as the modern day Prairie Dog - keeping only one similarity with it’s distant ancestor… the lack of a useable tail.

The citizens of Boulder choose to see beyond the fleas, the destruction of land and the wads of cash wasted trying to relocate the little mutts and focus on the history these little creatures carry in their blood.  A knowledge that will only be shared after the little guys find a plot of land they can truly call "home".

And there you have it S. Palin from Alaska! 

Thanks for the question and keep them coming!

-The Boulderite

"Pretty Lucky Fellow"

"Homeless man struck by car and train in same 7-hour period"

Published 9/25 in the journalistic pride of Boulder, "The Daily Camera": 

Robert Evans, 46, told police he was involved in a hit-and-run accident at Folsom St and Canyon Boulevard around 10 pm Tuesday, when a car struck him while he was on his bike.  He was taken to the Boulder Community Hospital and treated for minor injuries.  After being released from the hospital around 3 am Wednesday, Evans told police he began his 4 to 5 mile trek to a campsite he uses in east Boulder (Spice interjects a "whaaa?" right here). Around 4:45 am he decided to cross a railroad bridge between Pearl Parkway and Valmont Rd, "That's when an empty Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train hit him and his bike (it took him 1 hour and 45 min to ride 4 miles?) sending him plunging into the creek below" reports Sara Huntley, Boulder Police.  Evans sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his head and leg and was listed in good condition at the Boulder Community Hospital late Wednesday.

-John Aguilar, Staff Writer

Even I can't make that up!

-S

ARE YOU SERIOUS??!

Ok, so it's been 5 months since I stood on the old soap box... I'm not even Catholic and I'm feeling guilty about how long it's been since I've shared a thought or two (or three or four). 

I'm not sure why I stopped publishing my "views" on the blog, I've written plenty of letters to editors and I've shared more then a few hours of wisdom with girlfriends over these past few months... I guess I just got busy. To be honest, I had forgotten about the blog but with Chris gone these past few days and the old insomnia kicking in (I swear it happens every Fall), and a CRUMMY bookclub book, my computer has been calling and I've discovered that I miss seeing my thoughts in print.

I thought I'd start a new catagory called "Letters Home".  I try to send little updates back to my family (more then anything, I use it as therapy for my Boulder issues) and this was one of the latest - it made me feel better!

Hi All!

So I'm up early this morning for two reasons - 1. Since 5:30 this morning, two magpies have been outside my window reenacting the scarecrow scene from the "Wiz" and 2. While standing outside throwing rocks and screaming my head off (in my boxers and tank- following them down the street!) the neighbor (getting his paper) shot me a terrible look and got my "Boulder's a bunch of freaks" dander up!  I tried to go back to bed but my husband seems to be applying the Iranian approach to diplomacy in the mattress territory... apparently the magpies weren't an issue for him so therefore "he snoozed and won".... please send sympathy.

All is well in Boulder - my last day of work in Denver will be Tuesday - WAHOOO!  It's been a crazy deal... I don't think I'll ever understand what the job description was. I was supposed to fill in for the staff producer but instead discovered I was third in line to supreme power - I awarded time off, told the assistant producer when people got free lunches (a random selection that I've never figured out), assigned artist to jobs (the one thing that made sense), told the bosses when to come to work (very weird because they'd fight me and say stuff like "really? Don't you have the password to my computer?  I thought I left a key to the drawer with the checks... Awwww!), negotiated all money spent and received - from printers, to freelance help to bidding jobs, and gifted maternity / paternity leave on three different occasions.  In my 12 weeks there were three babies born, two company trips to NY, 1 employee relocation to Denver, 10 employee vacations, 4 funerals, at least 20 different sick days and 2 family emergencies... this is a company of 10 people!  I'm exhausted.

As for wedding season - it's been tons of fun.  Last week Heather and I worked a wedding at the most amazing home yet... it's a 400+ acre ranch north of Boulder with 10 bunk houses all tricked out in western gear, horses, ATVs, cross country skis... you name it these homes have it,, barns, decks, lakes - everything.  The father of the bride was a famous music producer in the 70's. His top band was "Chicago" with Peter Satera (sp?).  He was lovely! His wife was a great nut case who has perfected the use of the f-word to an art form.  Heather tells a fun story about meeting "Lucy" for the first time on a snowy day in the family Escalade (the rugged vehicle of choice on Boulder ranches). Lucy was driving as the gang was scouting the wedding locations (the caterer, the florist, the decor designer and the bride - not the best bucket of tools should you find yourself in a winter emergency)... Lucy got to the farthest pasture from the big house and drove off into a snow drift up to the door handles - she looked into the back seat and casually said "now we're f-k'd!

The wedding was beautiful - it was rained out of its first location so Heather and I (along with the two assistants and 40 catering staff) managed to set up an entirely new ceremony under the small tent (the big tent was set for the reception and dancing) in the time it took to put the 250 guests back on the shuttles and bring them up to the big house paddock.  It was a great moment in Calluna Events History - the light sun shower turned into a huge downpour (you never know what's coming over the mountains) and in the craziness we managed to keep the bride and the groom on separate buses, the guests engaged, move all the flowers from one side of the ranch to the other, instruct the ranch hands in golf cart etiquette - they were asked to man the ATVs to move hay bails after the ceremony but we needed them to shuttle guests -, set up 250 chairs under the "cocktail tent" , and keep Lucy partially sober. All of Lucy's signs said we were f'd but when the bride and her 10 bridesmaids walked down the impromptu isle the crowd erupted and Lucy sighed a little "F yes" and then gave me a hug.

The other weddings have been fun - not as eventful but still entertaining. Chris has been home for about a month now.  As soon as my hours calm down it will be nice.  We have plans to camp, hike, ride... all the usual activities.  He called me the other day from a fly-fishing class (nope, I had no idea) and then yesterday he went to hit golf balls (another thing I knew nothing about). It's looking like his mid-life crises will be pretty mellow.  The evening temps have been lovely so we take the bikes downtown for dinner and people watching.  Yesterday was the big-wheel rally... yes, the big-wheel rally.  The adults in town all ride big-wheels and ram into each other, block cars, turn doughnuts on the pedestrian mall and ride off the edges of steps and benches to "catch wicked air".  My favorite was a 30 something lady dressed to match her yellow and pink big wheel - her granny panties were flying as much as her dress - she was smoking a cigarette, giving high-fives, and barking over her shoulder "follow me" to no one.  Classic!

Today will be some office work and hopefully a hike.  I've got a new client that requires some 24/7 management - this weekend has been a doozy. Julie (the woman returning on Monday) doesn't know what she's in for.  The bosses keep telling me about "the dream" that involves my continued participation but in all honesty, my "dream" involves me working from home... they laugh like I'm joking.  I've gotten some feedback from them (and clients) that makes me feel good.  I noticed a letter to Julie from Joel (president) to continue to incorporate some of the fun that has been introduced to the office over the past three months... Joel likes the ice-cream parties and Friday pizza parties.  I'll keep you posted on what they have in mind as far as a more permanent role for me. 

Let's see, what else -  the little foxes have started to "hunt". It's so cute to watch them in the mornings stalking the magpies and then freaking out when the bird flies off. Mom, did you get the article I sent? Isn't that great?  The fawns are a little more steady on their toes - they are about 30" tall these days. The mother's are weening (sp?) so the little ones spend the morning trying to get milk but instead get pushed away - they spend a few moments mimicking mother by moving from bush to bush, tugging on leaves and scratching the grass before trying again.  One of the mothers tucks her baby into the pocket of a bush in the back yard and then goes to feed for a few hours. I get to watch the little one about 2 or three times a week.  She's told to be still but in the comfort of sleep she ends up lounging around like a little hound dog.  The twins haven't been around lately but I'm sure they're having the same experience in someone else's yard.

Iran is stirring - coffee negotiations are generally more peaceful then the  400 count cotton trade so I'll wrap this up and see what's on the books for today. I think about all of you every day and miss you so much! Tell the kids hello (thanks for the b-day cards - they made my day!) Mom and Dad - we took ourselves out for a lovely dinner with your anniversary gift - Thank you!!!

Invitations are always extended if you ever want to come visit!
I love you!
Spice