Smorgasbord

1. I hooked up the s-video cable last night, and using an antenna splitter (purchased at Dollarama, 2 for $1!), a combination of s-video, RCA and coaxial connections, I can now get both analog and digital signals on the TV and the VCR, so I can record and watch simultaneously, just like before. I had to split the audio since there is only one set of audio outputs on the CM-7000, so it’s only mono, but I think it should be fine. It’s not like I’m watching blockbuster action movies with Dolby Digital surround sound. I had to draw a diagram for myself because it was too much to remember in my head. The wires are all over the place and the antenna is sitting on my chair, for optimal placement. I need to find a better place for it without sacrificing my NBC and CBS reception. The colours are more vibrant with the s-video cable and the picture seems to be a tad bit sharper. Sadly, my VCR does not have s-video capability.
2. I saw a lady wearing a nice black and white patterned skirt today. It was nice except for a very wide band of fuchsia satin trim at the bottom, which made it look yucky. I do not like satin.
3. Gossip Girl returns tonight.
4. Today I found a block of cheese that expired in December 2008, or 2006 depending on how you choose to read the date, but it was 2008. I know that for sure. There’s no way I could not have noticed a block of cheese for two years, one year maybe, but not two. Anyway, it is in perfect condition, as it had never been opened and was stuck in the back where the temperature is pretty constant, undisturbed for many months until today. It tastes fine and there are no visible untoward growths. Yet.
5. I think I will go running today as the temperature has reached double digits. I went out on Saturday, mostly walking, with a bit of running, and I also bought a bunch of groceries and then wished I had brought my backpack. I hope there’s not too much mud out there.
6. I was going to write about Jacksonville and eavesdropping on these girls on the plane, but I’ll save that for later. There was no entertainment on the plane from Chicago to Jacksonville, other than listening to other people’s conversations. I forgot to bring a book or crosswords or anything to entertain my brain. The flight from Toronto to Chicago was not bad though, it was short, there was a communal TV, and we had to circle the airport for a bit, so I saw 12 planes in the air, also in a circle pattern. That is the most planes I have ever seen in the air at one time. They were very tiny-looking, and reminded me of ants, but of course, they were planes.
7. Life After God by Douglas Coupland. I almost brought this to read on the trip, but wasn’t sure how much I was liking it, so I didn’t. I’m still working on it. It’s been my bathroom book for the past few weeks. I’m not liking it as much as Eleanor Rigby or Microserfs, but there are parts that I like quite a bit.
8. All The Sad Young Literary Men by Keith Gessen. This sounded interesting, but I don’t really care for the writing style. I read a few pages and then skipped to the end. This was another bathroom read and did not pass the toilet test.
9. The bathroom is an excellent place to try out new books that you are not too sure about. You get a set amount of undisturbed reading time. And as long as you don’t bring too many things in there, you will probably give the book a decent chance. I find the system breaks down when you have more than three items to choose from; it takes longer to decide what to read, and then as soon as you become even slightly disinterested, it’s very tempting to switch out for another book. Too few items though, and then toilet time is not so entertaining. I have sometimes resorted to reading shampoo and moisturizer bottles in these cases. If it passes the toilet test, then you can take it out of the bathroom and read it in other parts of the house.
10. I was late returning a book to the libary last week. I was very annoyed at myself for that. I hadn’t even been reading it. It was just sitting on my air conditioner AND I thought I was returning it on time, but I read the date wrong. Idiot!