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A Real Vending Machine of Awesome?
Sep. 13th, 2017 11:44 amIn my dreams a few hours ago...
Somebody sent me a very technologically advanced trifle. Either Coca-Cola, or the company that builds their vending machines, created it. Somehow they found out that I liked robots, and I liked party balloons, and I was interested in the Industrial Internet of Things...so I received a robotic device to stick to the ceiling of my room. Every so often, it would activate, play one of Coca-Cola's many jingles, inflate a balloon with air, tie it off and let it loose.
Why Coca-Cola? I don't know.
FP
FreeWill's At A Pleasant Elevation
Mar. 10th, 2015 03:20 pmSagittarius Horoscope for week of March 12, 2015
One of your important assignments in the coming week is to get high without the use of drugs and alcohol. Let me elaborate. In my oracular opinion, you simply must escape the numbing trance of the daily rhythm. Experiencing altered states of awareness will provide you with crucial benefits. At the same time, you can't afford to risk hurting yourself, and it's essential to avoid stupidly excessive behavior that has negative repercussions. So what do you think? Do you have any methods to get sozzled and squiffed or jiggled and jingled that will also keep you sane and healthy?
I've got some balloons but I need helium gas. In theory I can get a cheapy tank at WallyWorld...but would it be worth the hassle?
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Ascending Addenda
May. 20th, 2012 09:03 pm
As if to throw an exclamation point on my previous post, this hot air balloon set down on my next door neighbor's yard at dusk this evening. My mother the novelist couldn't get away with writing this. I believe she's trying to tell me something...
Ascending Order
May. 20th, 2012 04:18 pmI still dream of my mother just about every night. I guess she still weighs heavily on my subconscious mind.
Earlier this afternoon my internet connectivity refused to work properly so I decided to go to the area flea markets just to browse around. I pulled into the parking lot of one and in the slot next to Moonshine's there was a station wagon--and a helium balloon rested on its interior ceiling. Sure enough, I noticed a kid on his father's shoulder on his way back to the vehicle after their shopping.
Turns out today is Ascension Sunday, which commemorates the return of Jesus to Heaven following his Resurrection. Both it and Pentecost (next Sunday) are often excuses for church congregations to celebrate by releasing balloons and giving balloons to the children; since it usually coincides with the end of the secular school year it's often the end of the Sunday School year for the kids too.
I guess we're getting into a time of year I used to look forward to as a child, the transition from Spring to Summer. As an adult, that has lost a lot of meaning for me. Maybe that's the point of this "random encounter". For me, times need new meanings.
Earlier this afternoon my internet connectivity refused to work properly so I decided to go to the area flea markets just to browse around. I pulled into the parking lot of one and in the slot next to Moonshine's there was a station wagon--and a helium balloon rested on its interior ceiling. Sure enough, I noticed a kid on his father's shoulder on his way back to the vehicle after their shopping.
Turns out today is Ascension Sunday, which commemorates the return of Jesus to Heaven following his Resurrection. Both it and Pentecost (next Sunday) are often excuses for church congregations to celebrate by releasing balloons and giving balloons to the children; since it usually coincides with the end of the secular school year it's often the end of the Sunday School year for the kids too.
I guess we're getting into a time of year I used to look forward to as a child, the transition from Spring to Summer. As an adult, that has lost a lot of meaning for me. Maybe that's the point of this "random encounter". For me, times need new meanings.
Writer's Block: ONTD Games Giveaway
Jan. 27th, 2012 02:16 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
With My Luck, One Of These. Tho' I'm more of a sim guy, so it'd be more like a dream machine in my driveway, be it car, mecha or aerospacecraft.
With My Luck, One Of These. Tho' I'm more of a sim guy, so it'd be more like a dream machine in my driveway, be it car, mecha or aerospacecraft.
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If Only It Were This Easy...
Jan. 1st, 2012 01:49 pm( ...To Lift Everybody's Spirits )
My best wishes to all my readers for this and every coming new year.
My best wishes to all my readers for this and every coming new year.
Welcome October/Old Tyme Saturday
Oct. 1st, 2011 08:20 pmHey.
Old Tyme Saturday is Jeff City's annual street party, which is sorta fun but not quite as much fun as it sounds. Yes, you have the prerequisites for such an event: lots of little tent booths packed up against one another, expensive snack food, charity appeals, lousy gospel music (lousy meaning that they try to give so much "weight" to the message that they can't be bothered to learn to perform music compentantly), obnoxious clowns, too few porta potties, on and on.
There are two main reasons why I go: the antique cars and the helium balloons. While I did take my camera, the antique car show was set up in a cramped parking lot that meant it was too crowded with both cars and people to allow good photography. (That and my camera's batteries are getting old and pooping out on me on shoots.) As for the balloons, I didn't get one because 1) the Fire Department had run out of helium gas, 2) USBank was running out of balloons, and I didn't want to deprive the kids, 3) I felt strange about the idea of getting one of the balloons a Cancer charity was offering. They had somehow gotten surplus foil balloons advertising a promotion involving Serta mattresses and the American Idol TV show. This was the first time I had ever seen in person anybody using foil balloons as giveaways.
I don't so much do Old Tyme Saturday for fun as much as I do it for exercize.
Old Tyme Saturday is Jeff City's annual street party, which is sorta fun but not quite as much fun as it sounds. Yes, you have the prerequisites for such an event: lots of little tent booths packed up against one another, expensive snack food, charity appeals, lousy gospel music (lousy meaning that they try to give so much "weight" to the message that they can't be bothered to learn to perform music compentantly), obnoxious clowns, too few porta potties, on and on.
There are two main reasons why I go: the antique cars and the helium balloons. While I did take my camera, the antique car show was set up in a cramped parking lot that meant it was too crowded with both cars and people to allow good photography. (That and my camera's batteries are getting old and pooping out on me on shoots.) As for the balloons, I didn't get one because 1) the Fire Department had run out of helium gas, 2) USBank was running out of balloons, and I didn't want to deprive the kids, 3) I felt strange about the idea of getting one of the balloons a Cancer charity was offering. They had somehow gotten surplus foil balloons advertising a promotion involving Serta mattresses and the American Idol TV show. This was the first time I had ever seen in person anybody using foil balloons as giveaways.
I don't so much do Old Tyme Saturday for fun as much as I do it for exercize.
Hello! Mr. Chips
Jun. 9th, 2010 03:15 pmOr "Tech Envy I Can Use".
Got a Father's Day circular from Radio Shack and saw the specs on a memory chip to fit my camera, for $25. SIXTEEN TIMES the memory I'm using now. Room for over 2700 pictures, or TWO HOURS of cheap-@$$ low-rez silent video.
I can dig it. Wonder if I can swing it someday.
* * *
Dad is over at our elderly lady neighbor's place, chatting and doing odd jobs for her and so on. When he finishes, he'll bring her beloved Chrysler Cordoba here overnight so he can take it to her mechanic tomorrow morning. Again, Dad jokes to me every so often that he'll lobby for her to leave the car to me in her will.
* * *
Mum is re-reading Black Tie Affair as prep for re-typing it for a re-issue. She got the rights back from Kensington and not only is it a slam-dunk for an e-book version, but a friend of hers who produces audio books wants it.
* * *
Inner Child got a huge helium balloon from the used-car branch of Ted Russell in Knoxville just as they were closing overnight. Dunno how big it really is as I had to deflate it down to 27" so it could fit through Moonshine's back door.
It's raining and Moonshine really needs a wash. Sometime this week, I promise.
Got a Father's Day circular from Radio Shack and saw the specs on a memory chip to fit my camera, for $25. SIXTEEN TIMES the memory I'm using now. Room for over 2700 pictures, or TWO HOURS of cheap-@$$ low-rez silent video.
I can dig it. Wonder if I can swing it someday.
* * *
Dad is over at our elderly lady neighbor's place, chatting and doing odd jobs for her and so on. When he finishes, he'll bring her beloved Chrysler Cordoba here overnight so he can take it to her mechanic tomorrow morning. Again, Dad jokes to me every so often that he'll lobby for her to leave the car to me in her will.
* * *
Mum is re-reading Black Tie Affair as prep for re-typing it for a re-issue. She got the rights back from Kensington and not only is it a slam-dunk for an e-book version, but a friend of hers who produces audio books wants it.
* * *
Inner Child got a huge helium balloon from the used-car branch of Ted Russell in Knoxville just as they were closing overnight. Dunno how big it really is as I had to deflate it down to 27" so it could fit through Moonshine's back door.
It's raining and Moonshine really needs a wash. Sometime this week, I promise.
Feeding The Updata
May. 19th, 2010 01:58 pm*) All-Seeing Eye just heard back from the camera repair shop in Asheville. Olympus has been repaired, with a new part, and will be shipped back. Dad is paying the bill. Need to do something nice for him for Father's Day...so I'm open to suggestions.
*) The above is also good for my Reviewer Corps project because now I don't have to borrow somebody else's camera to photograph my work.
*) Sweet Tooth adores the Russell Stover Chocolate Sauce. It on bread is too decadent for breakfast...you might get away with it on a coffee break, but only if you've done something important that morning first.
*) I just inflated a 16" royal blue balloon for Inner Child.
*) The above is also good for my Reviewer Corps project because now I don't have to borrow somebody else's camera to photograph my work.
*) Sweet Tooth adores the Russell Stover Chocolate Sauce. It on bread is too decadent for breakfast...you might get away with it on a coffee break, but only if you've done something important that morning first.
*) I just inflated a 16" royal blue balloon for Inner Child.
Updata Where It's Straighta
Apr. 19th, 2010 04:00 pmFollowing-Up On THIS POST:
*) Reviewer Corps article is done and may be available on the IPMS/USA website soon.
*) Sweet Tooth just had a granola bar.
*) The hole burning a hole in my wallet just got filled in with a payment from the IRS. May go shopping tomorrow.
*) All-Seeing Eye is pained because Olympus Imaging America in New York State REFUSES to repair the broken digital camera 'cause it's five years old. "We'll hold it till July and sell you a sorta-new replacement camera for 'we promise' a fair price." Otherwise, All-Seeing Eye is screwed.
*) Inner Child sees that the air is too dirty to pway with bawoons. Blame the volcano.
*) Reviewer Corps article is done and may be available on the IPMS/USA website soon.
*) Sweet Tooth just had a granola bar.
*) The hole burning a hole in my wallet just got filled in with a payment from the IRS. May go shopping tomorrow.
*) All-Seeing Eye is pained because Olympus Imaging America in New York State REFUSES to repair the broken digital camera 'cause it's five years old. "We'll hold it till July and sell you a sorta-new replacement camera for 'we promise' a fair price." Otherwise, All-Seeing Eye is screwed.
*) Inner Child sees that the air is too dirty to pway with bawoons. Blame the volcano.
Updata And Upgradata--FreeWill
Apr. 7th, 2010 10:27 pmSagittarius Horoscope for week of April 8, 2010
This would be an excellent time for you to take inventory of what brings you pleasure. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you're due for an update and upgrade. Some of your tried-and-true strategies for generating joys and thrills are fraying at the edges. You should consider refurbishing them, even as you also think about going in quest of fresh sources of delight. For extra credit, see if you can gain access to an experience that could accurately be described as "a blessed state of bliss."
Inner Child wants a bawoon. Writer wants to finish the latest Reviewer Corps article. Muse wants to finish ripping bootleg rock CDs. All-Seeing Eye is angry because digital camera was sent to wrong repair shop and will have to return to sender. At least Sweet Tooth just had a Pop-Tart.
This would be an excellent time for you to take inventory of what brings you pleasure. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you're due for an update and upgrade. Some of your tried-and-true strategies for generating joys and thrills are fraying at the edges. You should consider refurbishing them, even as you also think about going in quest of fresh sources of delight. For extra credit, see if you can gain access to an experience that could accurately be described as "a blessed state of bliss."
Inner Child wants a bawoon. Writer wants to finish the latest Reviewer Corps article. Muse wants to finish ripping bootleg rock CDs. All-Seeing Eye is angry because digital camera was sent to wrong repair shop and will have to return to sender. At least Sweet Tooth just had a Pop-Tart.
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Writer's Block: Childish Pleasures
Jul. 19th, 2009 01:22 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Those who know me, know.
Those who know me, know.
Writer's Block: Unique Talents
Jun. 11th, 2008 11:01 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
My famous toy balloon fishing habit. I mention it on my Stories website.
My famous toy balloon fishing habit. I mention it on my Stories website.
Writer's Block: The Perfect Crime
Apr. 5th, 2008 02:16 am[Error: unknown template qotd]
Swiping an oversized balloon from a car dealership. It hadn't been inflated, still in the bag. 17", which doesn't sound like much, but is very large compared to the 9 to 11" balloons that are commonly used in promotions.
I still have it. I've inflated it twice but don't have many opportunities to inflate it and keep it inflated.
FP
Swiping an oversized balloon from a car dealership. It hadn't been inflated, still in the bag. 17", which doesn't sound like much, but is very large compared to the 9 to 11" balloons that are commonly used in promotions.
I still have it. I've inflated it twice but don't have many opportunities to inflate it and keep it inflated.
FP
