Colin's Bloggin'

""Allo Papa Tango Charly" now available on iTunes!

2007-12-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

The CD with "Papa Tango Charly" is now available on iTunes! Yay! I actually emailed them a few years ago requesting that it be added. I wonder if it was my request that convince them to add it! I actually like many of the other tracks on that Bazbaz CD!

Apparently Will from over at Break the Illusion will visit Davey Wavey today and receive his Christmas present! Any ideas on what it will be? I hope they make a Talky Blog about it!

UPDATE: Camera and "Papa Tango Charly"

2007-12-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks for everyone for visiting my blog. More exciting and enlightening blog posts are on the way soon.

Unfortunately, on a recent trip to Chicago, my digital camera died. I'm currently in the market for a new easy to use point and shoot model. Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't really need an expensive camera, just one for everyday use and that is not too large to carry. My old camera did have issues with response time; when I would push the button to take the picture, it would take a while for the photo to be taken. It was fine for stationary objects, but it made it hard to take photos of moving things like such as my cats. As you may or may not know, I love writing hotel reviews for TripAdvisor so the lack of a camera has made it harder. Plus, my cats often are often in photogenic poses!

It seems the most common search term to reach my blog is "Papa Tango Charly"! There must be a lot of other Apres Vous! fans out there. I noticed someone posted a "Papa Tango Charly" video on YouTube. Check it out. I'm not sure exactly what they are doing. Are they wearing underwear on the outside of their clothing?

Are my shoes "nasty?"

2007-06-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

I purchased these shoes about ten years ago while working a summer job at a country club. I didn't wear them all that often and they must have looked pretty new because many other pro-shop and bagroom staff kept asking if I had gotten new shoes. I had heard female colleauges talking about dragging their shoes through a sandbox to get rid of the "new" look, so I took mine out to one of the bunkers to make them look a little less new. People still kept commenting on my "new" white shoes, though.

Now ten years later, my brother commented on how "nasty" my shoes looked! They are a little worn in, but I'm not sure I'd call them nasty. Would you? They are washable and I do run them through my dishwasher a few times a summer.

I love my new mini-chopper!

2007-06-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

I purchased this new mini-chopper on sale after Christmas for only 8 USD! Summertime means lots of chicken and tuna salad for me, and the preparation is so much quicker. I can chop an onion and some celery in seconds! Clean up is a breeze as the chopper bowl is dishwasher safe. This is one new appliance I don't want to be without!

Say it ain't so! Popular Fieldhouse Crest W License Plates are gone!

2007-06-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Say it ain't so!

I've been thinking about getting one of the fancy Fieldhouse Crest W license plates (http://www.news.wisc.edu/8233) for my car for a while now. However, when looking at the Department of Transportation's Web Site, it seems that Bucky Badger Plates are now back. Sad. http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/plateguide/uw-logos.htm

I wish there would have been a wide press release about this so I could have gotten my plates before the change.

UW Alums-->

Please write to try to get the Fieldhouse Crest W plates back for the next cycle of plates!

UW Alumni Association:
http://www.uwalumni.com/contactus/contactus.aspx

UW Chancellor:
http://www.chancellor.wisc.edu/contact.html

DOT:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehicles/personal/special/universi.htm

Problems with Milk

2007-05-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have been having problems with milk. I always seem to have either too little or too much. It's so expensive to buy milk in containers less than a half gallon, but I never seem to use it fast enough. Then when I'm cooking and need milk for macoroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper, or a host of other needs, my milk is bad.

For the past few months, I've been purchasing powdered milk to have around to rehydrate as needed. Has anyone used it much? I find it quite handy to have around for cooking when milk is needed. It doesn't really solve the problem of having no milk for morning cereal though.

Does anyone else have a similar dairy problem? How have you gotten around it?

Apres Vous!

2005-07-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a great movie to recommend! I decided to go to the cinema since it is currently so oppressively hot here; however, when I arrived the a/c was broken! I was
tempted to turn around and go home, but I stuck it out. It wasn't so bad..they had several fans and there were not too terribly many people in attendance.

Apres Vous
Review:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4709314

The sound track was great; in particular one song stuck out in my mind: (Papa Tango Charly )
Listen to it here:
It's track 6 on this page:
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001ZA1B2/402-4413965-9749720

What do others think of this movie?

I too miss my Nokia

2005-07-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

I too recently had to give up my old red Nokia phone. In order to sign a new contract with my service provider, I needed a phone capable of interacting with more types of networks. I ended up going with the Kyocera pictured above. If I'd been able to, I would have loved to stay with my old Nokia. That phone was great--great reception and a battery that kept going and going and going.

Fat Cat!

2005-07-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

He doesn't know it yet, but my cat is starting a diet tomorrow. Last month, we went to the vet for yearly vaccinations and he weighed in at nearly 17 pounds. The vet recommended switching to a lower calorie food. I know it will be for the best, but I hope he stays happy. I do want him around for years to come. All his life he's eaten Science Diet Natural Shapes; tomorrow he will get a mix of Science Diet Light Adult Formula. His old food had great shapes of fish, chicken legs and starfishes;the new food is just round balls. Will he eat it? The old food is much more appealing. I hope he realized the round balls are food! He doesn't even eat cat treats--just moves them around with his paws. Tomorrow will be the test!

Old Food

New Food

Sissies

2005-07-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

I really love the public radio show _This American Life_ out of WBEZ in Chicago. This was a great program, I love the intro especially. Take a listen.

Are there any other Ira Glass fans out there? His voice is so different from what you normally hear on radio.

Our Northern Neighbors

2005-06-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for the British and since they are part of the Commonwealth, Canadians too. Especially attractive ones. One of the things I enjoy about Canadians is the way they say "about". A-BOOT. It's quite distinctive. Candice Olson says it freqently on Divine Design on HGTV. I was attending a conference with several international people, and an attractive Canadian was quite talkative.

Did anyone else watch the Polka Dot Door growing up?

Mystery!

2005-06-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

What's happened with the format of Mystery! lately? Diana Rigg hasn't done an introduction for the past couple weeks. In addition, there is not the standard, "Mystery! is brought to you by MOBIL Corporation." I wonder if MOBIL Corporation has withdrawn its support, following ChevronTexaco's withdrawl from the Metropolitan Opera. Does anyone have the scoop? Now with the possibility of drastic cuts from the federal government, it seems the only support will be from "Viewers Like You!".

Knock, Knock!!

2005-06-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to visit a friend who also lives in a high rise building. He lives on the 10th floor, but I accidently hit "8 "instead. I quickly hit "10" as well; however, I then got out on the eighth floor thinking it was the 10th. I knocked obnoxiously loud on "my friend's" door. A frightened old lady answered! I just stared and realized my own mistake. She must have thought I was a freak!

Stocked Up!

2005-06-26T16:35:00.001-07:00

My grocery store is no longer open 24 hours. It's now open from 6 AM to 11 PM. Particularly whilst in university, I liked to go late at night. I'd study at the library until it closed at 11:45 PM and then quickly shop the Pig. By that time, most of the stocking had already been accomplished and I could breeze quickly around the store.

I went during the day today. There were a ton of hunky 30-something year old guys, one in particular with pepper and salt hair and great calves--(I guess the only good thing about the oppressive heat we've been having is the increased numbers of men in shorts and sandals!). I went before eating anything, which is never a good idea. My fridge and freezer are now stocked: take a look!

How do you keep your fridge stocked?

No One Won Powerball last night

2005-06-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

I admit it; I'm somewhat of a lottery junky. Most Wednesdays and Saturdays I do purchase a one dollar chance to win Powerball! I walked over to my neighborhood grocery last night to purchase a ticket, but their machine was down!--with less than an hour before the deadline. I walked across the street to another store, but they had a similar situation.

BTW--I received my first comment today! Thanks!

Lands' End Men's Sport Thong

2005-06-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

Since I currently don't own a pair of flip flops, I feel a bit left out in the recent left foot photothon. I do own several pair of Birkenstock knockoffs, however. If anyone would like to see, I'd be willing to post my left foot in on its cork insole. Whilst still in university, I did have a pair of Lands' End Men's Sport Thongs in a lime green; it seems the colour has since been upgraded to "Chartreuse". According to a recent New York Times article, even many straight men could now bring themselves to buy chartreuse Thongs; or, perhaps more likely, their wives are buying them.

BTW? What makes Diet Coke with Lemon gay?

Missed Connections

2005-06-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever actually heard of anyone connecting with a missed connection ad?

Fewer Calories?

2005-06-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with a medical student online who seemed very into health and fitness. Part of the conversation went like this:

A: I've got to get dinner ready.
B: What are you having?
A: Hot Pockets
B: Now that sounds healthy.
A: Actually,...they are Lean Pockets.

A: Med Student B: Me

My Very Own Rubber Tree

2005-06-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

I purchased a small Ficus elastica plant last winter and it's been growing very well--one to two additional leaves per week! I've been wondering whether it needs any sort of pruning for fuller growth.

Are there any straight men who would wear Baskit boxer briefs?

Hot Fudge Sundae

2005-06-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

As I was driving home last night, I got a craving for a Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen. Unforetunately, I pulled in at 10:04 pm, just four minutes after closing time. I settled for a Hot Fudge Sundae from the drive through at McDonald's. Tasty--but no peanuts :( The man at the window asked for one dollar with six cents. I thought that was a neat way to ask for it. I may start using it.

Do you have a Swingline?

2005-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this link to Virtual Stapler from another blog a few weeks ago. I thought it was pretty cute. In fact, several months ago, I purchased one of the newer model 747® Business Stapler in black for home use. About a year ago, I put in a request for a personal stapler at my desk at work; it was denied--the reason being I could walk down the hall to use the common stapler. After a few months, I became sick of walking and purchased a cheaper model Swingline for my own use-- the Standard Stapler. It's made of plastic and feels a little flimsy at times--the 747 is really the way to go.

Heat Wave and Partners

2005-06-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a lebsian coworker this morning when a woman I don't really know but who I have seen around the office joined our conversation. She later mentioned she was going to a conference with her "partner." I assumed this meant she too was a lesbian, but then she added that his field was chemistry. One rarely hears straight women calling their boyfriends "partners." It seemed a little odd to me.

The heat wave continues, and my cupboards are bare. I'm resorting to eating long frozen Stouffers Cream Chipped Beef for dinner. I need a place with central air; my window-type unit is not quite cutting it.

I folded a fitted sheet!

2005-06-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Who said reading blogs can't be productive? Whilst reading _NoF0_ last week, I learned How To Fold A Fitted Sheet. I put the tips into action and you can see the results!

At university, we were supplied with only flat sheets, so it was easy to keep them nicely folded. However, cool sheets like mine shown above often only come in sets with one flat and one fitted sheet.

Le Petit Ecolier

2005-06-01T04:10:00.000-07:00

I first discovered Le Petit Ecolier cookies whilst on a train from Paris to Brittany in the spring of 1999. About half way through the trip, an attractive French man retreived a box from his baggage and began to eat them. They looked so good that I found a grocery store almost immediately after disembarking from the train.

They can be found in the US and I often can be found eating a few with my lunch. I prefer the hazelnut flavor.

Periodicals

2005-05-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

I let my subscription to _The Altantic_ lapse this year. Work over all has been busy this year, I haven't been able to keep up with them. I did, however, subscribe to _Entertainment Weekly_ last night. It will be my 'trashy tabloid' subscription for the year--good to read in the bathtub. On the upside, it will keep me informed of any good movies coming out this summer. That leaves my current periodical subscriptions at:

1. Entertainment Weekly
2. Budget Travel
3. New Yorker
4. Money
5. The Advocate

What do you subscribe to?

Postage Stamps

2005-05-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Day today! Sunny and mid-seventies! This past month has been slow at work, so I skipped out a little early.

I received a postcard from PostcardX today! I love both sending and receiving mail. In fact, I just bought some new stamps! Since I haven't had to write out a paper check for bills in over a year, I haven't had to buy many stamps. I tend to stay away from the generic flag stamps and bought several cool designs. I like to see different stamps on the envelopes when I receive mail.