7/31/2012: Back Brush

A back brush is something that I've been intending to get for years (because let's face facts we all have that square foot or so on our backs that we've never actually washed, it's merely been rinsed after years of showering because no matter how we twist you just... can't... quite reach...) and if my local Target hadn't recently remodeled I likely never would've gotten this one. I was going to get more facial tissues (NOT Kleenex of course, Kleenex is a brand name not a generic product), turned down the aisle to where they used to and instead found bath stuff. Spying the back brushes I thought "Hey, I've been meaning to get one of these but never remember to pick one up. My back must be filthy," put one in my basket then wandered off to find the Kleenex (screw it, that's what everyone calls them). The Kleenex  are now located where the dog food used to be. I'll worry about where the dog food moved to when I finish going through what's left of the current 33lb bag of it I have.

See also: Body Scrubber

7/30/2012: Tomatoes

While much (actually just about all) of my garden has succumbed to the ravages of the drought (RIP zucchini plant, we hardly knew ye), my tomato plant seems to be doing just fine. I think next year I'll just stick to buying my vegetables at the store or become one of those farmers' market people (*shudder*), the whole backyard garden thing is just a pain in the ass. So why not let it be a pain in someone else's ass? And honestly I was only trying to grow my own stuff in preparation for the coming zombie apocalypse, but I'm pretty much screwed when that happens anyway. Haven't been doing my cardio. 

Think there's enough tomatoes here to make a decent batch of salsa?

See Also: Wrought Iron Cafe Set, Mandolin Vegetable Slicer

7/29/2012: Omelet Pan

I'm not sure it this is officially an omelet pan, but it's the smaller of the two frying pans that came with a cookware set I purchased and I primarily use it to make eggs. Not omelets really, just scrambled eggs with cheese.

See also: Pot, Cast Iron Skillet

7/28/2012: Ladder Shelf

I've always liked the stuff in the Pottery Barn catalog but until recently wasn't in a financial position to purchase anything from them, what with their stuff being ridiculously expensive and all. So often I'd see something I liked and then wait until there was a cheaper Target knock-off version of it. And here's that cheaper version of the PB ladder shelf! These shelves also contain quite a few items I've already posted including my birthday plate, cousin's picture, key cabinet, stack of books and small wooden donkey. And clearly a couple more weeks' worth of other miscellaneous crap yet to be photographed.

See Also: Anderson Media Console, Pendant Lamp

7/27/2012: Purple Plate

This purple plate is another in my random assortment of dishes. I use it to put food on so I don't need to eat directly off of the dining room table. Oh, who am I kidding, so I don't have to eat directly off the coffee table. I really need to consider getting a set of dishes that match...

See Also: Pink Cereal Bowls, White Dinner Plates

7/26/2012 Mandolin Vegetable Slicer (with cucumber slices)

After peeling the veggies it's time to slice them up! What prompted me to pull out the mandolin vegetable slicer this week? I recently read an article about a BBQ that included a recipe for cucumber salad... and it sounded delicious (and, more importantly, really easy). So I made some... and it is! Make it yourself if you don't believe me, there's only four ingredients and it's addictively tasty. (You'll be freebasing it in the alley behind the local Kwik-E-Mart in no time.) 

Combine these items and let sit in fridge overnight:

1. 2 sliced cucumbers

2. 1 diced/sliced medium sized onion

3. 1 cup white vinegar

4. 1/2 cup sugar

That's it. 

See Also: Vegetable Peeler, Big Ass Metal Spatula

7/25/2012: Vegetable Peeler (with cucumber)

This vegetable peeler is actually one of three vegetable peelers I own. "Why would one person need three vegetable peelers? Who's he trying to impress?" you may ask. It wasn't intentional. Here's how it happened: when I need one I don't think I own one so I go out and buy one only to get home and realize there's already one (or two) in the random kitchen gadget drawer. I don't do a lot of vegetable peeling so it's not a regularly used item and gets forgotten.

See Also: Corkscrew/Bottle Opener, Milk Frother

7/24/2012: Birthday Plate

Several years ago on this day Jennifer Lopez turned 40. As did I. This birthday plate commemorates the occasion, signed by those that joined me for the party. It also shows my reluctance to turn 40 (I'm sure J.Lo felt the same way) by referring to the day as my 20/20 birthday. I suppose if I was even more delusional I could've just called it my thirty-teenth birthday, but that seems to be pushing it.

See Also: Small Wooden Donkey, Key Cabinet

7/23/2012: Lawn

I'm going to call it. Time of death for my lawn, 6:51PM on the 23rd day of July, in the year 2012. Rest in peace grass, rest in peace.

On the plus side I've saved a LOT of money by not having to have my lawn mowed ever this summer.

See Also: Sprinkler, Lawn Mower

7/22/2012: meh. T-Shirt

This meh. T-Shirt sums out my outlook on a myriad of different topics. The word gained popularity after being used in an episode of The Simpsons though the concept of meh can be a difficult one to explain to someone unfamiliar with it. Here is the best definition I found after Googling it and looking at 3 different results:

meh (mē')

1. (n.) A multi-purpose response, primarily used to imply a degree of indifference. Tone of voice and circumstance often implies a meaning. Can be used when you don't want to answer an awkward or embarrassing question, or if you just plain have nothing else to say, and you want the other person to interpret the "meh" however he/she chooses. As in: Q: "What do you think of my new dress?" A: "Meh." or Q: "What do you want to do tonight?" A: "Meh."

See Also: Homer Coffee Cup,  Stephen Hawking Action Figure
.

7/21/2012: Goonies T-Shirt

As far as Gen-X shared pop-cultural touchstones go, Goonies is a big one. That's why, even as an adult of 40-something, I felt the need to buy this Goonies T-Shirt.

7/20/2012: Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock T-Shirt

This Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock T-Shirt was inspired by an episode of The Big Bang Theory. I'll let Sheldon and Raj explain it:

Raj: [Suggesting a way to determine which TV show to watch] I'll tell you what. How about we go rock-paper-scissors?

Sheldon: Ooh, I don't think so. Anecdotal evidence suggests that in the game of rock-paper-scissors, players familiar with each other will tie 75 to 80% of the time due to the limited number of outcomes. I suggest rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock.

Raj: What?

Sheldon: It's very simple. Scissors cuts paper. Paper covers rock. Rock crushes lizard. Lizard poisons Spock. Spock smashes scissors. Scissors decapitates lizard. Lizard eats paper. Paper disproves Spock. Spock vaporizes rock. And as it always has, rock crushes scissors.

See Also: Millennium Falcon T-Shirt, Key Bowl

7/19/2012: Belt

It's a belt, what else can I say... it keeps my pants from falling down, so in that respect it's been an excellent belt and fulfilled its belty purpose here on earth. This belt, as well as my other belts, tend to be stored on one doorknob or another throughout the house. If I ever can't find a belt it's probably because I hung it on the back of the door and just can't see it.

See Also: Towel Rack

7/18/2012: Dog Food Bowl

Twice a day this is Darwin's favorite place in the house. After he finsihes humping his 33lb bag of dog food (and on nights when he's not eating out of his Giant Kong) I dump three-quarters of a cup of delicious dried IAMs pellets in the silver dog food bowl. Mmmm mmmm that's good eatin'!

See Also: 33lb Bag of Dog Food; Giant Kong

7/17/2013: Watering Can

I don't use this watering can nearly as often as I should which is why I tend to only get plants that can tolerate being ignored for long periods of times. Well, I get other plants at times but they don't survive me for very long.

7/16/2012: Calendar

This calendar hangs on my wall at work. I use it so I know what day it is at work and how long it is until Friday. (Just four more days!) Was a promo item from one of the temp agencies I sometimes use for contracted employees. There's some sort of sports facts on it to tie into a "winning team" theme.

7/15/2012: To Do List Pad

This is my To-Do List Pad calendar. I've got one at work to. The home version is generally only utilized on the weekends. I find unless I have a list of things to do I'll most likely waste most of the weekend on the couch. I still wasted most of this weekend on the couch, but got up every once and awhile to do something so I could check it off. This weekend's included such riveting items as emptying the dishwasher (I tend to be the type that takes one clean plate or an individual fork out of the dishwasher as I need it), folding my laundry (Finally! It's been on my weekend to do list awhile now...) and doody duty (one of the greatest joys of dog ownership).

See also: Blue Pen

7/14/2012: Shark Oven Mitt

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the kitchen...

This shark oven mitt went from seeing to wanting to having in the space of about 5 minutes. How could I not immediately make it mine upon discovering it at Target during my Raid wasp spray trip? It's an oven mitt shaped like a shark that looks like it's eating your hand when you put it on! My only regret is that I didn't buy two...

7/13/2012: Gas Cap

For the first time in all my years of driving I found it necessary to purchase a replacement gas cap. Seems last time I filled up I left the previous one on top of the Jeep. Oops.

See Also: Jeep

7/12/2012: Raid Wasp & Hornet

Was sitting on the patio after work and a few moments later was thinking "Where the hell are all these wasps coming from?!?!" Few things make people flinch like a wasp buzzing anywhere in their vicinity. Maybe Katy Perry songs, but that's about it. So it was off to (where else) Target to pick up a can of Raid Wasp & Hornet killer. An hour or so later I was standing 10 feet back from the clothes-line pole the stinging bastards had taken up residence in soaking their nest in a steady stream of poison.

In addition to helping me kill the wasps and destroy their nest, the can of Raid provided a valuable Spanish lesson. Here's a few phrases you may need the next time you're traveling south of the border:

English: Kills the Entire Nest!

Spanish: Mata el Nido Entero!

English: Kills Wasps and Hornets on Contact!

Spanish: Mata Avispas y Avispones al Contacto!

English: Electrically Non-Conduction Up To 32,500 Volts

Spanish: No Conduce Electrcidad Hasta Por 32,500 Voltios

However, Raid in Spanish is still Raid.

See also: Raid House & Garden, Outdoor Coffee Table

7/11/2012: Blue Pen

I use this blue pen to write with. As opposed to using it to brush my teeth or mow the lawn.

See also: Toothbrush, Lawn Mower

7/10/2012: Zucchini

Presenting these two zucchinis the first harvest from my backyard garden. Which once again begs the question... what the hell do I do with zucchinis? They're some sort of food, right?

See also: Wicker Love Seat

7/9/2012: Hose & Reel

I hate this hose and the reel doesn't really help either... "never kink" my ass.

7/8/2012: Sprinkler

Oh... the lawn should be green? Time to get out sprinkler I guess.

See also: Green Hose, Red Hose

7/7/2012: Buddha Head on a Stick

What home is complete without a disembodied Buddha head on a stick?

See also: Mask on a Stick

7/6/2012: Bears Cap

The story goes that a friend of mine (and fellow Bears fan) found this Bears cap lying in the street. Some of you may be thinking "Ewwwwww dirty street hat" but I was thinking "Free hat!" Especially since it had been hard to find a Bears cap that fit my oversized head AND didn't look brand new. In the cap world it's the same as new white sneakers... they need to be scuffed up and worn in to look right. And don't worry I ran it through the dishwasher before wearing it to avoid getting scalp ebola (or whatever else may have been growing on the cap).

See also: Bears Hard Hat, Bears Hat

7/5/2012: Trash Can

Remember metal trash cans? It's hard to imagine Oscar the Grouch living in one of these. Seems most cities have these plastic trash cans now. Where's a green muppet Grouch supposed to find a home?

7/4/2012: Bed

Nothing like coming home to your own bed after a few nights on the road. Especially a bed that isn't located anywhere near the lounge of the Bismark ND Comfort Inn.

7/3/2012: Deodorant (Travel Size)

Keep in mind I'm on the road and don't have access to all my stuff. Still I do like travel sizes of the things. Makes me feel like a giant when I told them!

7/2/2012: Blue Cooler

With comfort grip!

7/1/2012: Red Suitcase

Packed with a few pairs of shorts in a few extra t shirts and ready for a few days on the road.