11/30/2012: (Deflated) Basketball

Darwin enjoys chasing this basketball around the yard and it's deflated just enough so that he can grip it in his mouth if he tries hard enough and doesn't run too fast with it. Rather amusing to watch him try to carry it back across the yard, he'll drop it several times. After dropping it he usually looks over at me with that "Are you gonna help me with this or not?" look dogs have. You dog owners know what I'm talking about.

See also: Dog Tire, 33lb Bag of Dog Food

11/29/2012: White Box

This white box sits on my Verona bookcase and, if I recall correctly, is full of watches I haven't worn in years (because they all have dead batteries). I'll have to open it and find out if that's true.

11/28/2012: Looney Tunes Coffee Cup

Despite the antlers on Taz, Daffy and Wile Coyote, this Christmas themed Looney Tunes coffee cup is used year round. Part of the random assortment of coffee cups I have. 

See Also: Empire Strikes Back Coffee Cup, Monkey Coffee Cup

11/27/2012: Game Cube

This Game Cube was the last in a long line of Nintendo console ownership. The original NES begat the Super Nigntendo, the Super Nintendo begat the N64, the N64 begat the Game Cube, and the Game Cube begat the Wii (which I loathed and sold soon after purchasing). Once upon a time, my Game Cube was the center of my entertainment world.  I'd play Mario or Zelda for hour upon hour. Now? No it sits unused in the basement, attached to an archaic 32" tube TV. Sad and abandoned.

Though I do miss Mario Kart...

11/26/2012: Horse

It's a horse statue. Sits on the floor in the corner of the living room. One of those cheap clearance things you buy at Target, get home and realize "Well I guess I own a horse statue now." But hey, the Bradys had one in their living room too right?

11/25/2012: Bird Feeder

When I bought the house this bird feeder was in the shed in the backyard. Free bird feeder with purchase of a house? SCORE!

11/24/2012: Cookie Sheet

After taking the pic I realized it may be time to invest in a new less nasty looking cookie sheet. And this is the better one of the few I have. But an aluminum foil lining seems to work well enough.

11/23/2012: Kraken Rum

I thought running to the liquor store in search of a bottle of Kraken rum was an excellent use of my lunch hour. I've been a bit obsessed with the rum since seeing a commercial for it while in Chicago last month... even though I haven't ever tried it. Why? Mainly because of the tag line... "Release the Kraken!" I can't even imagine how many times I'm going to say that after opening the bottle.

11/22/2012: Steak Knife

With my blockbuster silverware trilogy of Fork, Spoon and Knife concluded, I faced a conundrum often faced by Hollywood... how do I continue to milk a successful formula? I went the pseudo-sequel relaunch route with Steak Knife. Used to cut meat.

11/21/2012: Pasta Pot

Back when I got this pasta pot I believe it was one of those "amazing as-seen-on-TV!" things. It works like this:

Step 1: Boil pasta.

Step 2: Tip over pot and drain pasta.

Step 3: Eat pasta.

No colander needed! Isn't that amazing?! OK, so it's no smart phone or TiVo.  But definitely handy.

See also: Pot

11/20/2012: Shout

Let's see... since I almost never use the Shout to shout out stains, I would estimate I've had this for 5 or more years. Maybe even longer. I have no recollection of actually purchasing it. Of course it's not one of those exciting purchases you look forward to for a long time, saving up for until you have enough to finally get it.

See also: Washer & Dryer

11/19/2012: Potholders

Where do potholders come from? I don't think I've ever purchased any (any that aren't shaped like a shark or like Pac Man anyway) and yet... here these are. At one point when I was unemployed I joked that I was going to open a kiosk in the mall and sell hand woven potholders called 2 Hot 2 Handle. It was very important to replace the "Too" with "2" to give the kiosk more street cred.

11/18/2012: 32" TV

I find it fascinating how quickly conventional tube televisions just went away. Relegated to the attic or the guest room or, like this 32" TV, the basement. Heck, this isn't even technically mine, it was left behind by a friend that lived me me for a short period. I thin he just didn't want to carry it out. Thing weighs a fucking ton. Now it sits in the basement, with my old Game Cube attached. I always say I'll go down someday and play Mario Kart or something... but I don't. You can see the old coffee table, also relegated to the basement, sitting next to it.

11/17/2012: Gold Plate

This gold plate came from my grandparents house in NJ. Who knew the gold would go so well with my green walls? Probably anyone that's in interior design. Still, it was a surprise to me. And with this hanging in the living room I can literally say I have gold plated walls. (OK, not literally literally since it probably a brass plate but it is gold colored so I'm sticking with that.)

See also: Gear, Picture Frame

11/16/2012: Wireless Keyboard & Mouse

When I got the new computer a couple weeks ago, I moved the old computer out to the living room and hooked it up to the TV. Needed this wireless keyboard and mouse so I could use it and not have cords stretched across the room. The most incredible thing about them? They came with batteries included!

Sidenote: An optical mouse will not work on a glass top coffee table. Thus the magazine as mouse-pad.

See Also: Coffee Table

11/15/2012: Cleaver

I probably should've posted this cleaver closer to Halloween, huh?

11/14/2012: Microwave

Built in microwave over the stove. Used primarily for reheating leftovers. As most microwaves are. Sometimes when I'm watching Mad Men I wonder how Betty Draper reheats leftovers.

11/13/2012: Frying Pan

This frying pan is the larger version of my omelet pan. For some reason the red has really faded on this one, compared to the other cookware from the set. Probably because it's used and washed the most. I wonder if there's a way to bring back it's original finish...

Can you use Turtle Wax on a frying pan?

11/12/2012: Spatula

This spatula is used for flipping pancakes among its many other food flipping related functions.

Yeah, right, like I make pancakes.

11/11/2012: Gravy Boat

My parents brought this over for Christmas Eve dinner as I didn't have a gravy boat of my own (never having been married to register for one). It's Fiesta Ware. My dad has kind of a weird thing about Fiesta Ware. Stems back to dishes my grandmother had that my uncle now has that my dad apparently wanted. It's all very Shakespearean, but with dishes.

Though technically this isn't my stuff, my parents just forgot to take it home after dinner... eh, it's on to of my fridge, close enough.

See Also: Shark Oven Mitt; Salt & Pepper Shakers

11/10/2012: Solar Light String

This solar light string is current hanging on the remnants of my gazebo. I say remnants because a spring wind storm pretty much destroyed it. Stood up what was left to add some definition to the patio and the seating out there. Plus need something to hang the lights on, right? Don't want to be sitting out there drinking beer in the dark. That's just sad.

See Also: Shed

11/9/2012: Desk

This desk is something that I probably should have gotten rid of long ago (in my quest to obtain more adult furniture items rather than assemble it yourself press board crap) but I like the simplicity of what I've got. It's high enough and doesn't have that damn keyboard tray that hits my knees and there's nothing underneath to obstruct leg room.

See also: Dell Computer; Samsung Computer Monitor

11/8/2012: Salt & Pepper Shakers

These salt and pepper shakers sit on top of the fridge. I'm not much of a pepper user. Actually, I never put pepper on anything - chances are that same pepper will be in there 10 years from now. Most of the salt too, not much of a salter. I have these shakers primarily for family dinners. In fact, I think they may have been a gift from my parents.

See also: Pac Man Potholder; Shark Oven Mitt

11/7/2012: Scrubber

This scrubber is used to... well... scrub things. Primarily for cleaning the sink as pots and pans go in the dishwasher. That's what it's for.

11/6/2012: Colander

For extra convenience, this colander has arms the extend so it you can drain your pasta without having to set it directly on the nasty sink bottom itself. Which I always thought was pretty unappetizing.  I suppose I could just keep my sink cleaner...

11/5/2012: Dell Computer

The new Dell computer arrived last week. The old Dell computer worked well enough... unless I wanted to have three things going at once or dared to open a photo for editing in the ancient version of Photoshop I used. Going to hook the old one up to the TV to see if I can use it for videos. Probably be the last true desktop I get. But why are they still so huge? I thought things got smaller and better. Shouldn't it be a fifth this size by now?

See Also: Cartman Mouse Pad

11/4/2012: Caesar IV

I actually bought my copy of Caesar IV 5 or 6 years ago, when it was new. At the time I couldn't play it on the computer I had because the video card wouldn't support the game. So I stuck the game on a shelf, knowing someday I'd have a new computer. That day was today. Kind of geeking out about getting to finally play, loved all the Sierra city building simulation game back in the long long ago.

11/3/2012: Cheeseburger Sleep Pants

Phone rings

Me: Hello?

Caller: What are you wearing?

Me: Cheeseburger sleep pants.

Caller: Uhhhh.... *click*

NOTE: It is never acceptable, under any circumstances, to leave the house wearing sleep pants with novelty prints on them. EVER. Seriously, when did that become OK? They are for home wearing and lounging only, not suitable for public places. So just don't.

11/2/2012: Iowa Egg Council Promotional Jar Opener

Normally I'd refer to this Iowa Egg Council promotional jar opener by it's colloquial name, a rubber husband. The idea being that women folk are too dainty and demure to open spaghetti sauce jars on their own, and lacking a husband, they require some rubber assistance. Apparently I am also dainty and demure.

Anyway, picked this item up at the Iowa State Fair this year, next to the hard-boiled eggs on a stick. Both were free... SCORE!

Although I don't know about the "Eggs: They Keep Getting Better!" Slogan. Do they? They pretty much are what they are and are what they've been since... they came first. Or was that the chicken? 

11/1/2012: Rome Travel Book

I've always planned to travel to Rome someday, and this travel book is the one my grandparents used when they visited the city back in the 70s. I can vaguely recall them going, seeing pictures when they got back, getting the postcard and such. That's one thing I remember about them from when I was very young, they always seemed to be traveling off to somewhere exciting. And of course bringing me (their favorite grandson) souvenirs back.

See Also: Key Bowl