Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
How to Ruin Your Car Stereo While Saving Money at the Same Time
Graham has been a saver since day one. Before he was even born, he had a savings account at the bank, and we've been trying to teach him habits of frugality ever since. But today I found out that not all saving is good saving. Sometimes it can even cost you money.
For the last couple weeks the cassette player in my car has not been working. What's the big deal? you ask. Cassettes are so 80's. Who uses them anymore? The iPod, that's who. AM/FM modulators do not deliver good sound, and there's too much interference for consistency. I prefer the cassette adapter. I have about 20,000 songs on my iPod, as well as scores of podcasts, radio broadcasts, and books on tape. I am a full-bore iPod addict. Which brings me back to the point of this story: without the cassette player on my car, I've been stuck listening to the NPR pledge drive over the past two weeks.
So I got on eBay and ordered a new one. Well, not a new one, exactly. A refurbished model of the exact same stereo I currently had. $80, with shipping. Far better than the $150-200 for a quality aftermarket model, to say nothing of the $400 for a new GM system. It came today, and I installed it tonight after dinner, a five minute job. And what should I hear as I pulled the old stereo out of the bay? Jingle.
Jingle? you say? Yes, jingle. As in coin. Lots of coin. Lenient father that I am, I've been letting Graham sit in the front seat of my car when I'm trying to get work done around the ranch--like split wood, rake leaves, etc. He is content to sit there for hours, "dwiving daddy cah." But apparently he's also been on an aggressive savings program. By the heft of the old stereo and the sound of the coin, I'd say he's probably got most of the books for his first semester in college covered. Of course, the $80 I had to pay for a new stereo will take a bite off of his profit margin. Anyone interested in a GM stereo with AM/FM, CD player, and NO CASSETTE?
For the last couple weeks the cassette player in my car has not been working. What's the big deal? you ask. Cassettes are so 80's. Who uses them anymore? The iPod, that's who. AM/FM modulators do not deliver good sound, and there's too much interference for consistency. I prefer the cassette adapter. I have about 20,000 songs on my iPod, as well as scores of podcasts, radio broadcasts, and books on tape. I am a full-bore iPod addict. Which brings me back to the point of this story: without the cassette player on my car, I've been stuck listening to the NPR pledge drive over the past two weeks.
So I got on eBay and ordered a new one. Well, not a new one, exactly. A refurbished model of the exact same stereo I currently had. $80, with shipping. Far better than the $150-200 for a quality aftermarket model, to say nothing of the $400 for a new GM system. It came today, and I installed it tonight after dinner, a five minute job. And what should I hear as I pulled the old stereo out of the bay? Jingle.
Jingle? you say? Yes, jingle. As in coin. Lots of coin. Lenient father that I am, I've been letting Graham sit in the front seat of my car when I'm trying to get work done around the ranch--like split wood, rake leaves, etc. He is content to sit there for hours, "dwiving daddy cah." But apparently he's also been on an aggressive savings program. By the heft of the old stereo and the sound of the coin, I'd say he's probably got most of the books for his first semester in college covered. Of course, the $80 I had to pay for a new stereo will take a bite off of his profit margin. Anyone interested in a GM stereo with AM/FM, CD player, and NO CASSETTE?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
A pumpkin-y sort of weekend
Daddy is in Minneapolis at the 16th Century Studies Conference this weekend so Graham and I have tried to stay busy. Glitter glue and cookie dough are good ways to help us forget our 'we miss daddy' blues...at least for a little while.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
GPoD 10.25.2007
"Honey, where's Graham? It's quiet..."
"Oh MY WORD."
To which Graham replied, "I color."
The bathtub crayons are going on vacation. For a long, long time.
"Oh MY WORD."
To which Graham replied, "I color."
The bathtub crayons are going on vacation. For a long, long time.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Treats for our pumpkin
This week Graham received a rather large box in the mail from his Grandma and Grandpa Fink. Among the treasures was a bag of dum-dum suckers. There's nothing like a little preview of Halloween candy!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The State Fair
Thursday night we took Graham on his first outing to the state fair. The North Carolina State Fair, that is. The anticipation was high as we entered the fairgrounds, Graham perched upon his daddy's shoulders.
Were were not disappointed. There is always so very much humanity to see...
...and we were pleased to be reminded that in the south they have rather different notions concerning the separation of church and state fair.
We enjoyed some reasonably priced barbeque, compliments of the Methodists...
...and then we headed out back to watch a good old fashioned pig race.
There was chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick...
...which Graham heartily enjoyed, his mother's objections notwithstanding.
And in the chintzy souvenir department, daddy came through with a real, live light saber.
Graham's precocious saber skills caused a great disturbance in the Force.
But that didn't stop our little padawan learner from getting a closer look at them pigs.On the whole, it was a very successful outing, even though we were unable to find any deep fried cheese curds. We'll have to get Graham out to the real state fair.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
GPoD 10.14.2007
This picture was taken by our dear friend Emily Loney on our camping trip last weekend. Thanks, Emily!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Graham's First Camping Trip
We met Alex and Emily Loney and Josh and Amber Jipp for a weekend of camping at King's Mountain National Park. Graham had a hard time adjusting to tent sleeping on Friday night, but by Saturday night, he camped like a pro.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
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