30 Days Until My Doom

Today is November 15th, which means that, in exactly one month, I turn 40. Huzzah! Most people approach such milestones in their life with a sense of doom & gloom. But not me!

To help with commemorating this date, that is today, nature has kindly provided us with a cold, grey, dreary, rainy kind of day. So, while I may not feel gloomy today, I guess nature does.

But that's okay... I actually like these kinds of days. Except when my vehicle loses its traction and careens into a ditch. Then it's not so fun. But that hasn't happened for several years anyway. And I got an SUV out of it!

The only thing I dislike about the weather we're having today is that we're not expected to get any snow. I like watching the snow fall, don't you?

Today is also the beginning of deer hunting season, rifle & shotgun edition. I overhead a group of deer talking about it this morning. As with past years, they're all planning to hide in caves & garages until the hunting season ends, at which time they'll return to their favorite activity... playing chicken with vehicles moving at high speed.

They were talking on the local news this morning about how all the deer hunters are whining about how ammo costs several times more than in past years. Babies. In my day, we hunted deer with slingshots. We were lucky if we managed to merely annoy a deer. And we liked it that way!

I once used a slingshot, I think when I was in high school. Yeah, I ignored my mom's warnings and managed to shoot myself in the eye. My friends called me "slingshot eye". But it's all good. And besides, now my eye is stronger than ever! But not as strong as Steve Austin's since he was all bionic and stuff.

Yeah ever wonder what a bionic cat would be like? We've seen bionic men, women, and even a dog. But what about a bionic cat? Would it's super strength help it sleep better on the couch? Or help it be better at ignoring you when you enter the room? If one of our cats were bionic, it'd probably bust through a window trying to chase after birds or squirrels.

We have several bird feeders at our house, which provide us and our cats with a lot of entertainment. The birds, that is, not the bird feeders, which really don't do anything besides just hanging around. There was a really loud bird at one of our feeders the other day. I secretly think it was using a little bird-sized megaphone.

Wish List 2007 - 40th Anniversary Edition

Welcome, one and all, to the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Official Dave Winter Wish List & Buying Guide, brought to you by our official sponsor, Spike the Wave (blog version).

This wish list & buying guide is meant to help you, oh gentle reader, in trying to decide what to get Dave for his birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion. Nonetheless, if you choose decide to "go it on your own" and give him something more, um, "creative", that would be okay, too, as he promises to accept any gift in the spirit in which it was given. Huzzah!

This list is divided into three sections. Be sure to check back often is I will be updating this blog post through the remainder of 2007.

updated 12/25/07

Stuff I Always Like Receiving

In a hurry and just want to dash into a store and quickly grab something I would like? Then this is the list for you, baby! These are in no particular order.

• macadamia nuts (any variation, they're all good)... I also like all other kinds of nuts (though would prefer to not be given peanuts, since they're not really nuts)
• summer sausage
• my wife's homemade sausage lasagna, with pepperoni
• M & M's: preferrably their chocolate mint flavor, but they're all good
• Starbuck's pre-ground French Roast coffee
• chocolate chip cookies, more soft than crisp... walnuts make them better, but are definitely okay without them
• large chocolate milkshake from McD's (no substitutes as theirs are really the best... seriously)
• gift cards: Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, pretty much any restaurant (so I can take my wife out on a date)

Stuff I Want

If you love me, or just planned ahead, then this list is for you. These are in no particular order.

• contact lenses (I really miss poking my eyes each morning)
• Dilbert books
• Positive Attitude
• Try Rebooting Yourself
• Cubes and Punishment
• Dilbert's Guide to the Rest of Your Life
• What Would Wally Do?
• movies on DVD:
• Ratatouille
• Shrek the Third (widescreen edition)
• Live Free or Die Hard - Unrated (2-Disc Special Edition)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (3-Disc Special Edition, though 2-Disc Collector's Edition would be okay)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
• Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (2-Disc Collector's Edition)
• Dilbert TV series on DVD: $29 at Amazon.com
• flash memory card - only the memory stick duo pro (any brand, at least 1 GB): usually $30 and up but will likely be on sale
• Sledge Hammer! TV series, both seasons, on DVD: $20 and $27 at Amazon.com
• music CDs:
• Loreena McKennitt: Nights from the Alhambra (2 CD + DVD edition), or An Ancient Muse
• Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas Live, Christmas Song (just released), or Fresh Aire 8
• convince Outback Steakhouse and Fazoli's to both setup restaurants in Holland
• magazine subscriptions: Christian Research Journal, CPU, and/or Linux Format (from the UK)
• Viore portable HDTV tuner for PCs: $55 at eCost.com
• PS2 video game 24: The Game (based on the TV show 24): $15
• snow globe (a nice one)

Stuff I Want Big-Spender Version

If you really love me, or just have way too much money, then this list is for you. Yeah! This list is in order, with most-desired items on top.

• SanDisk TakeTV, either 4GB ($100) or 8GB ($150) version (8 GB version preferred, but 4 GB version would be okay)
• Nokia N810 Internet Tablet: $450 (the older N800 model at $250 would be okay, too)
• Neuros OSD ($230) and/or Neuros Recorder 2 Plus ($140)
• DVD recorder with VCR and TV tuner ($200-ish) be sure to get a warranty extension/service plan (link is to an example)
• Sony PS3: $400 or more (depending on storage capacity)
• Nintendo Wii: $250

Remember to revisit this blog entry often, as I will be updating it continually through 2007. There will be a direct link to this post on the side of the blog site's main page.

And remember to "be excellent to each other". (from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure)

Don't Park in my Spot

Don't you just hate it when someone parks in your spot? Watch this video to see how one guy deals with that kind of situation.

A Happy Return

happiness
peacefulness
good cheer
serenity
bliss
joyfulness
my laptop returned to usefulness
after 5 months of dormancy
elation
contentment
exuberance
gladness

Turning 18

As of exactly one week ago, we now have a new adult in our home. That's right, Bethany turned 18. She allowed Spike the Wave to interview her (transcript below) about this milestone in her life.

STW: Congratulations on turning 18.
Bethany: What? (removes earbuds)
STW: I said, congratulations on turning 18.
Bethany: Oh, thanks!
STW: Do you feel more mature now, since the government would now consider you to be an adult?
Bethany: It's funny you should ask, as I was thinking about that earlier this morning.
STW: Really? In what way?
Bethany: Well, just how it's neat that since I'm now 18, I've magically suddenly become mature enough to do things I wasn't capable of doing as recently as the day before my birthday.
STW: Fascinating! Do you have an example or two?
Bethany: Sure. The first one is that, since the day I turned 18, I'm now capable of waiting tables at the restaurant I work at. I wasn't capable of doing that when I was only 17 and 364 days old.
STW: Ah. Anything else?
Bethany: When driving, I'm now able to have my younger brothers ride along without my parents having to be there.
STW: Are you getting enough oxygen?
Bethany: Um, yeah, I think so.
STW: Well, thanks for stopping by!