Tag: christmas

Fruit Cake

On By Michel McDonaldIn Food, HolidaysLeave a comment

I plan on buying ingredients to make Fruit Cake for Christmas.  But, instead of just doing it the traditional way by either making it like a loaf in a loaf pan or doing a circle with the middle missing, I’m going to do a loaf but then cut it down the middle then cut the 2 pieces down their middle so it’s 4 long pieces so when you slice it, it comes out like cracker sized.  This way if people aren’t sure if they like it or not then they can just get a slice to taste it.  This way people aren’t taking these huge pieces of fruit cake then taking a bite and realizing how gross it is then throwing the rest of it in the trash.  That would piss me off considering how expensive they are.

Now, when I say “how gross it is” I’m speaking purely on other peoples opinions of fruit cake.  I like fruit cake.  I’ve loved fruit cake since I was a kid so to me it’s not gross at all.  Frankly, I don’t know why people would even give them as gifts at Christmas time considering how expensive they are to buy.  They are also a little expensive to make, not as much as if you were to buy one but still expensive.

But cutting them in cracker sized slices is a good idea, I think it is.  You can probably also make cup cake sized fruit cakes so they are individual and you can use the cup cake paper things so you don’t have a huge mess.  Hey that’s a very good idea.  I’m also thinking of putting some german chocolate cake frosting on the top of the fruit cake to disguise it a little lol.  I’m sneaky that way.

Christmas is Almost Here

On By Michel McDonaldIn Christmas, HolidaysLeave a comment

Well I decided to get the Christmas tree from the shed and set it up.  I’m so excited that I can finally set it up.  The Christmas spirit has taken over my body hehe.

Here is a picture of our Christmas Tree from last year.  It’s the same tree, a pre-lit tree.  I took a picture of our cat with her Santa hat on and made it into wallpaper for my laptop and my desktop.  Since my laptop is 1024×768 and my desktop is 1280×768 I have 2 versions of it.  So if you want to download it just click the little version below then it goes full screen, just right-click it and save it to your computer.  The widescreen version isn’t actually 1280×768, it’s smaller but I have it stretched on my screen.

Rawhide Sticks

On By Michel McDonaldIn PetsLeave a comment

When we went to Target today I bought some Rawhide sticks for Flower because she has been chewing everything in sight.  She has chewed so many holes in my comforter and pulling the stuffing out so I wake up most mornings with all this stuffing all over the bed.

Darrin was afraid of giving her rawhide because she is such a small dog and he was afraid that the rawhide would splinter and she would get it stuck in her throat.  Which is a valid concern but this stuff when chewed becomes soft and it doesn’t splinter.  He just hasn’t had any experience with giving rawhide to dogs and so I can understand why he was worried.

But since I gave her one when we came home she’s been chewing it and he holds it for her hehe.  It’s so cute to watch him holding it for her.  She just loves it too.  So now I know what she will get for Christmas.  Now hopefully she will stop chewing everything including my shoes.

Light Set for Bike

On By Michel McDonaldIn CyclingLeave a comment

My light set finally came today.  I bought it exactly a week ago on Saturday and it came today which is a Saturday hehe.  That’s ok, I wasn’t too impatient… NOT!

I installed it immediately and almost right away I ran into a huge snag.  The headlight could be installed in 1 of 3 locations.  2 places on the handlebars, the screw on top that you use to adjust the handlebars but that screw doesn’t come out.  You unscrew it and it is connected to the bottom of the pipe to tighten the handlebars so when you adjust it to go up or down it tightens.  Then there is a screw in the middle of the handlebars in the front that you use to adjust the handlebars to tilt them up or down.  That screw comes out but it was too thick to go into the hole for the light bracket.

So my only alternative was the brakes.  As soon as I took the screws off the brakes I messed things up.  The diagram shows that you have to remove the brakes and put the light behind them so it’s all the way in the back which I was able to do no problem.  But when I went to replace the brakes and tightened the nuts the brakes wouldn’t work.  They were locked in place.  I didn’t put it back on right and the way the spring is on there you cannot put something behind it.  It’s just not done.  So I had to take the light off and figure out how to get the brakes back on right which I eventually did.  I got the manual out but couldn’t find it in there.  It then occurred to me to look at the back brakes to see how they are installed lol DUH.  Anyway, I got them back on and put the light in the very front of the brakes.  It’s all good now.

The generator got put in place and so did the back light.  It all works.  Although I can’t really tell in the daytime, I have to ride it when the sun goes down to see how well it all works.  From what I remember when I was a teenager and having this same light system the lights aren’t very bright when you are riding a normal speed which I guess is 10mph.  When you are going down hill the lights turn on bright because you picked up speed.  So it makes sense that when you go faster the lights go brighter.  And of course as soon as you stop the lights turn off.

I’m just glad to have it finally so I was able to check that off my wish list for the bike.

Dell DJ Battery Replacement

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, Music, Products I LikeLeave a comment

Darrin bought me a Dell DJ for Christmas 2004 and during 2005 I was listening to it all the time everyday, on the way to the gym or sitting at my desk or even while doing the dishes.  I was always listening to it.  But over time the battery would die sooner than it was supposed to.  Sometimes it would even freeze up and I had to just wait for it to start playing again.  I couldn’t turn it off or do anything.  I just had to wait for it.

The battery is supposed to last like 5 or 6 hours or something and over time the amount of time it actually played kept going down until eventually it only played for half hour.  Now when I unplug it, it just dies immediately and gives me a screen saying the battery is low.

I’ve treated that Dell DJ like a baby by never dropping it or losing it.  I’m a good nerd, I respect my electronics enough that I don’t get them broken or stolen.

I’ve called Dell that first year when the battery started dying and they wouldn’t help me even with my warranty.  I was too late in renewing my warranty and so when I called for help they said sorry you don’t have the right warranty for this.  I was like dude, I have a $318 paper weight now.  Thanks a lot.  They were like I know, I can understand how frustrating you are but we can’t help you.  I was like well can I just buy a new battery and ship it to you to replace it and they said yeah for like $75 or something like that.  I’ve never had the money to do that.

Every once in a while I do a search on the net for Dell DJ Batteries and I found a website that has them for $24.95 + shipping and it has the tools to do it yourself.  It says it takes a few min but a testimonial says 10 min.  I don’t care, I just want a new battery and $25 is not a bad deal.  I will have to wait until I get some money because I’m tapped lol.

Web Design

On By Michel McDonaldIn Web DesignLeave a comment

I just finished a new website yesterday. I was asked way before Christmas time if I would design more websites for Chips brother and his son (Chips nephew) and I’ve been saying yes for a long time but never got any info on it.

So Darrin told me that David called again and left another message and told me “would you please call him?” So I did then as Darrin was giggling he told me that it was an old message. Well, that’s ok because it got me to call him and remind him that I still wanted to do it.

So I got the information and pictures and stuff and made the website. It’s at www.superlodgeelpaso.com.  I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself.

PSP Arrives Today

On By Michel McDonaldIn Games, PSPLeave a comment

My new PSP will finally arrive today. I am so excited about getting it. Since I bought it I would hardly consider it to be a Christmas present that I would wrap and put under the christmas tree. If it were for someone else then I can understand wrapping it but I bought it for myself. That might sound selfish to buy something for myself but it only opens up the possibility for others to buy me PSP games for Christmas.

See? I’m helping to give people ideas of what to get me. Unfortunately I don’t have the money to buy presents for people and that is why I’m making presents. That is if I can put the PSP down long enough to finish making them lol.

Update: My PSP came today and I am using it right now to type this blog entry. I am so happy! Although, it takes forever to type anything LOL.

PSP

On By Michel McDonaldIn Games, PSPLeave a comment

I’ve been really thinking about it for the last month and I really want a Sony PlayStation Portable aka PSP. I’ve been looking at all these websites trying to find a good price and where is the best place to buy one, online or at the store. Well because Christmas is this month all the stores are out of them.

Last night and this morning I saw the Wal-Mart in Bakersfield (2 of them) had them still but then all of a sudden they sold out. But they still had some at their website and so I decided to just get one.

I know I could have waited or you know, I don’t really NEED one but I want one. I didn’t want to buy a used one because I’m too afraid it might have a virus so I chose to buy a new one.

It’s the one with Daxter and the Family Guy freakin’ sweet collection and also it has 1GB of memory. I wanted the Star Wars one but that didn’t have a memory stick or a movie. Just the Star Wars game plus Darth Vader silk screened onto the back which I can almost guarantee will rub off.

So I bought it and it should be here next week between Monday and Wednesday.

Safe Holidays

On By Michel McDonaldIn Games, Holidays, PSPLeave a comment

I just wanted to wish everyone very safe holidays. There isn’t really much going on here. I’m knitting stockings for Christmas and I want to make some ornaments for the tree which by the way we haven’t decorated yet hehe. I put it up but it hasn’t been decorated.

I want to buy a PSP for myself because I deserve a treat, however, I can’t find one anywhere, not even on the internet. I don’t want a used one because my neighbor told me his has a virus, yes a virus. They can go to websites and you can catch a virus from a website so if you go to a website with a PSP you can get a virus and I’m sure used ones are at risk. I have a 50/50 chance of buying an infected PSP so I just feel I might as well buy a new one.

The Core ones which are $165 or something. The ones that come with a game are $199. I could buy a Nintendo DS but those don’t go to websites nor do they play movies or let you view your photos or work as a mp3 player. I also saw a PSP with GPS capabilities, I assume you can buy the GPS for any PSP. I will have to wait until after the holidays to try to buy one. I’m sure they will be on sale after Christmas and/or New Years Day.