Random stuff

I forgot to mention that someone at work managed to get a first-gen iPad donated to our silent auction to benefit breast cancer. I put in a bid of $200. They’re selling for $350 on Amazon right now, but I’m not willing to go any higher for a first generation. It’s not like I have an overwhelming need for one either (although some of the games on my iPhone would be easier with a bigger screen) but if I can get one for that price I’ll take it. It’s kind of like time-share property: due to the various rules and up-front costs on them I’d probably never ever purchase one, but if I inherited one I probably wouldn’t sell it. Does that make any sense?

And just a clarification, the aforementioned tax refund, while gratifying to finally receive, was nothing huge. It’s not like I can pay off the car or buy a house with it. I was just super-excited to finally see it in my bank. And if I do end up buying a shotgun, it won’t be a top of the line semi-auto, trust me. I don’t plan on going into combat with it, I just want to be able to defend myself against burglars and unruly creatures of the wild. I’m thinking a double-barrel arrangement, but there might be some pump-action models in my price range.

I’d really like to get a double-barreled 10ga (side-by-side) so if I ever had to shoot a bear from my balcony or window I could amuse myself by stating, "that’s the best $1.80 I ever spent!" Which is really only funny to me, and only mildly (if at all) amusing to Billy the Kid enthusiasts/historians. Not really a good reason to buy a shotgun I’d have a lot of trouble finding ammo for, so a 12ga it is. If I buy one.

I was pricing pistols online, and was shocked to discover that things have flipped dramatically since I bought my first one when I was in my twenties. I bought a brand-new Browning Hi-Power in the early nineties for right around $400. Berettas were around $800, and Sigs were around $1100. Now both the Berettas and the Sigs are much less expensive than the Browning, and even the Glocks have come down below $600. It’s really a little strange, and I’m not sure why the change. Of course I haven’t done any research into it either, but I’ll be asking questions at the local retailer before I go plopping money down for one, that’s for sure.

My laptop is officially obsolete according to Apple. It won’t run OSX Lion because the processor is one generation too old. Whatver. As long as I can still sync my iPhone and iTunes I’m pretty much ok with it for now. I’ll probably need another one before 2013, but it can wait for a bit.

That’s all for now. I might go get pizza later, or now. I’m kinda hungry. I have burger stuff but it’s too hot outside to grill, and I don’t want to cook them inside because my exhaust fan isn’t really an exhaust fan, it just filters the oil out and flings smoky air all over the kitchen/den/dining room area that is my open concept front area. If I do end up buying the place putting a proper hood in my unit will be one of the first things I do, and I’ll fix the other three as opportunity arises.