Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Shopping Experience
I have not written much recently because I’ve been quite busy. I had a big report mid-June for my summer employment. I then had my sister here for a while, and then Whitney’s parents visited for a couple nights. So I’ve been busy.
I just went grocery shopping and got accosted by two sales people. From their questioning and suggestions, despite my profession of no interest, it is clear that they thought I, as a young male, only know how to grill and likely don’t know how to even marinate that which I might grill. It’s true that Whitney is the better cook of the two of us, but I’m not completely clueless and what I felt to be rather overt implications that I am put me in a foul mood.
Perhaps they weren’t thinking all that, but I felt that they were. On the plus side, the iPhone app Whitney found to store our grocery lists and allow us to keep them synced, seemed to work quite well.
Anyway, I’m home now, back to work.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Tool Box
We’ve been needing a toolbox in the garage for a while now. The tools used to live inside a small toolbag but we outgrew that when I brought my tools down. Mine were living in a large cardboard box at that point. I found a plastic slide out bin that kept the tools in one place, but was awful for finding what you needed. I didn’t really want to spend upwards of $100 on even the most basic 3-drawer toolbox. So yesterday we went to OSUsed. This is the surplus store for OSU. It is only open once a week, and I had never been. I didn’t expect to find a toolbox, but thought we might find a dresser or old cabinet that would be going for cheap.
What we found was a storage cabinet for index cards. According to a sticker on it, formerly part of some engineering program. Since all my big tools are stored in the shed and not in the garage I didn’t need large drawers. So for $40 we got as much drawer space as a several hundred dollar unit and with an arrangement of drawers that is far more suited to my usage. Instead of one long drawer for screwdrivers for example, I can have three smaller drawers for phillips screwdrivers, flat screwdrivers, and screwdriver bits. Much better.
I spent a good part of today putting tools away, making labels, and generally cleaning the garage. I also did a little more work on the Scirocco and placed an order from German Auto Parts. When it comes in, I can button most of it back up. Still need to figure out a plan on adjusting the valve clearances. Half of them are out of spec, and I don’t have the tools or access to shims to fix them. Not sure if it’s worth the effort to procure them, or if I can get that work done at a shop.
The other attached picture is what it is like to be a toy at my house. One dog stares and whines at the toy intently until it is thrown, the other pays some attention in case the toy is thrown but otherwise ignores it. Aw, puppies.
Also, I seasoned a cast iron wok today. We never properly seasoned our wok, and I’ve been looking into getting a cast iron dutch oven, and recently picked up a used cast iron griddle for camping, so I learned how to properly take care of them and started with the wok. The griddle will be done this weekend. Being used, I really want to burn off / scrape off the old gunk before starting fresh with my gunk. That will take a lot more scrubbing, so didn’t happen today. Now to find a good 8”-10” camp style (i.e. flat top and with legs) dutch oven. Thrift shops in town were no go. Other local ideas anyone (I don’t want to order new online)?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Deodorant
An exciting topic as you shall soon discover.
Why can I not find a decent deodorant? I want a stick, because the gels just go on slimy and the aerosols are scary. I don’t buy into the invisible solids that are white, they end up turning the armpits of my shirts white. I shouldn’t need to wear an undershirt just because my deodorant sucks. So I want a clear stick. I also want one that both doesn’t smell very strongly (I don’t need to compete with my students for whose body products can be noticed from a distance), and one that is effective all day. Gillette (I think) used to make a line of these, in two scents (out of three) that I approved of. They have since phased them out. I cannot find the Cool Wave Clear Stick nor the Wild Rain Clear Stick anywhere. Every substitute I have tried so far, either smells so awful it never gets purchased, or only works for most but not all of the day. After I found both a shampoo and a deodorant that I liked, both companies discontinued those product lines. What’s next? Is Colgate going to discontinue my flavor of toothpaste?
I’m in lab, I’ve done nothing particular active all day, I have another hour of dealing with students, and my deodorant is starting to fail me. I’m rather annoyed about it. I don’t like being smelly.