Always, Alli

Well, I can’t Wii, but I can Touch!

Yesterday I brought a new piece of technology into the home- the iPod Touch. This has been on my list of wants for a while. And even though I was saving my money for a camera, I have had to rethink my goals in that area and decided to go ahead and spend the money on the Touch.

I’ve had an iPod shuffle for a while, and it did well for me. But it lacked any way to search for a specific song, and I realized I would prefer to be able to make playlists for specific experiences (car rides, exercising, bedtime, etc) so I longed for the day I could upgrade to a classic iPod.

Then the iPhone came out and I admit I lusted after it for a while. I didn’t really want the phone part, but I wanted the other stuff- the PDA with internet and MP3 player in one. So imagine how excited I was when the iPod Touch came out.

I had a smartphone for about a year when I was working and I have to admit, I was a bit addicted to it. I loved the access to the internet and calendar.

I’ve been having so much fun playing with the Touch. I named it Sparkle (due to the shiny exterior). I’ve been adding songs for our car trip to Atlanta and experimenting with ripping DVDs to put some of Fuller’s movies on it. I know the calendar will be very useful for our family and I love the clock with timer and stopwatch option. As long as I have the touch with me, I have a timer to use with Fuller!

Damon was very excited when he found out it had wireless access for the internet. Add the movies and music and Sparkle is a new favorite in the house. I’m looking forward to our trip next week when it will get lots of use.

Technorati Tags: ipod touch

I have been wanting a Nintendo Wii for a while, but D says his Xbox is good enough for now. Fine. Whatever. I know the rules. If I want something, I have to earn the money for it or win it in a contest. Which is why this phrase is so inviting: Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo® Wii™!

The deal is, if you are in an area where Charter cable and internet is available (I’m not, phooey) then you can preregister for an auction to win free Charter high speed internet for life. By preregistering you are automatically entered into a drawing to win a Wii. And not just a Wii, but the Wii, a Wii Stand, 5 games ( Bowling, Tennis, Golf, Baseball and Boxing), a remote, a nunchuk Controller, a sensor bar, the Wii AC Adapter, and the Wii AV Cable. From what I understand from friends, you can’t just go and buy a Wii, you have to go and buy all this other stuff too. So, this contest is really awesome because they give you all the other stuff you have to buy.

March 12th the auction for Charter internet for life begins. The starting bid is $10, but I would check the complete rules and terms for details.

And if you win the Wii, let me know so I can come play, please?

Technorati Tags: Charter internet, Wii contest

Courtney and I connected at the airport yesterday morning, managed to get a rental car, and headed over to Downtown Orlando. We wanted to be in downtown because that is where the Izea office is.

Courtney and I have both participated in paid blogging with one of Izea’s products: PayPerPost. In fact, I started doing paid blogging so I could earn money to buy my precious camera. And Courtney and I met at Izea’s conference in Las Vegas (PostieCon). We met a lot of the Izea staff in Las Vegas and we both thought it would be fun to meet up with them again.

While we were there we were happily greeted by Izea staff (in fact we met Ted in the parking garage, which was just a coincidence but still nice to have his escort). Ashley gave us a tour of the office and Courtney walked into a black wall. Next we were given a sneak peek of the next Rock Startup episode. It was very special because it is the episode Fuller and I are in. And just when we thought it would be over, they sprung an Izea specialty- the scavenger hunt.

We were put into two teams (Team Crumley.org and Team Traveling Thoughts) with various Izea staff members. We took pictures, I did a headstand, and we gathered items from about a four block radius of the offices. The points are still being tallied, but we think Courtney’s team won. But my team still had fun!

Alli’s Izea Report from mrscrumley on Vimeo.

Afterwards we went out for a light dinner and drinks with some of the Izea staff. It was a fun time of chatting and getting to know the fun folks behind the scenes of a neat company.

Technorati Tags: Izea, scavenger hunt

We have been introducing Fuller to various kiddie hobbies like Lego (shh… don’t tell D I called Lego “kiddie”) and playdough. He even has some remote control cars he has been really into. I had no idea how big remote control cars were as a hobby. Until I saw this…

RC Cars Tips and Tricks is one of those websites I will pass along to Damon. They want to take it to the next levels, this website can really help. It has a lot of content, plenty of pictures, and information even I understand. It amazes me when someone give their knowledge to the internet with such passion. And RC Cars Tips and Tricks has a lot of that.

Technorati Tags: RC Cars, RC Cars tips and tricks

Oops. I guess I relaxed a little bit more than I intended. Here I am! Still at Lake Martin with the family and in-laws. We will be packing up and going home sometime after lunch.

The main purpose of this trip is so my husband could attend two Auburn Basketball games. I tell people I am an Auburn fan by marriage, since I never really got into sports in any fashion until I met Damon. And even then I have had to grow into my enjoyment of the various sports, learning more about football then I ever tried to learn when I was a cheerleader in grades nine and ten.

When Damon began creating his Auburn Elvis alter ego, I embraced it with some timidity. But the first time someone stopped him to get a picture, it made me feel good to stand by and watch. And somehow I grew into the role of Auburn Elvis’ handler.

Damon started this crazy thing with the goal to get on TV (and he did!), but I love supporting him in it because the fans really get into seeing him in all his Auburn Elvis splendor. Last night I got a kick out of how many kids were kind of in awe over him. There was a little girl sitting in front of us who kept turning around to stare.

I haven’t been to all the games Auburn Elvis has, but Damon tells me he has more fun when I am there. I love taking the pictures and making sure anyone who wants a photo op gets their turn. I hand out business cards and talk to folks learning things like it is someone’s birthday, someone loved Elvis when she was a girl, or someone saw Auburn Elvis at another game. I tell the fans how Damon made his own suit and bought his wig on the internet. And I explain we don’t go to a lot of games since we actually live in Chattanooga. Of course I tell folks to look for us in March when we head to the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament.

It really makes the games more fun by tagging along as Auburn Elvis’ handler. In addition to the role of wife, I really embrace the role of handler as well.

Have a self portrait to share? Post it on your blog and leave a comment over at DigiCass! We want to see you!

Technorati Tags: Auburn, Auburn Elvis, Elvis, fans, Self Portrait Sunday

Hee. I once heard a stand up comic call the Food Network Food Porn, and ever since then I can’t stop calling it the Food Porn Network.

But at our house, we love the Food Network. Paula Dean, Iron Chef, and the Food Network Challenges are all my favorite. Around Thanksgiving Damon and I started watching a Dinner: Impossible marathon and we were seriously thinking about staying at the lake for another day just so we could watch the rest of it.

I bring this up because tonight, 10 p.m. EST on Food Network is Dinner: Impossible. I plan on watching it, instead of waiting for the rerun, because tonight Robert Irvine will be tasked with creating a gourmet dinner for 1000 decorated officers, enlisted, and VIPs. It is to honor the Air Force’s 60th anniversary and the lucky base is in Wichita Falls, Texas where my dad is currently stationed.

No, my dad isn’t part of the show (he wouold have told me a long time ago!), but I’m still excited to see Daddy’s base on TV.

Technorati Tags: Dinner: Impossible, Robert Irvine, Air Force Anniversary, Wichita Falls, Air Force

There is a story from when I was dating Damon. It’s the potato salad story. It goes something like I was supposed to make the potato salad for Easter lunch and I did. But apparently I made it wrong. My version of potato salad is heavy on the mustard and has no eggs in it. The version almost everyone else around the table wanted had eggs and more mayo than mustard. Todd’s Mom, the parental unit at the Easter dinner (and whose table we were gathered around), got up boiled eggs and revamped the potato salad to everyone else’s liking. Except me. I wanted mustard.

When I make sandwiches, they are heavy on the mustard. So much so, my husband had to give me a little talking to and now I am careful to be easy on the mustard when I make his sandwiches. And he still likes my sandwiches, so I must be doing something right.

All this is to say: I like mustard. When I was in college I would make a snack of cheese and mustard. Nothing else. I was heavenly.

I’ve been given two samples of new Grey Poupon mustards to try and give my review. My honest review.

First up we have the Harvest Coarse Ground, which is not new to me. I have had coarse ground mustard in Europe and like the solid punch of flavor it gives. The seeds give it amazing texture.

The second mustard is the Hearty Spicy Brown. This was equally as good. The texture was smooth. The spicy nature drew a nice sweat above my upper lip. It was the kind of kick that clears out your sinuses. If I were eating brats I would be drawn to this mustard.

On the evening I tried the mustards, our family dined on turkey tenderloin, a pasta salad, and cold sugar snap peas. Both complimented the turkey without overpowering the poultry. Of course mustard can overpower anything when you eat it by the teaspoon full. Which is how much I like mustard.

Technorati Tags: Mustard, Grey Poupon

I decided this weekend to make good on part of my 2008 goals: I read a book. I’m supposed to read one book a month, so I’m on track so far!

For Christmas I purchased some books as gifts and due to a deal I was able to get a third books for a cheap price. I could have purchased something for someone else, but this book caught my eye and I gave it to myself for Christmas. I wrapped it up and put it under the tree with a gift tag “For Alli From Alli.”

The first book of 2008 was The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. And what I knew would happen, happened. I got sucked in and had a really hard time putting the book down until I finished this evening.

Just read this inscription from the front:

All children mythologize their birth. It is a universal trait. You want to know someone? Heart, mind and soul? Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won’t be the truth; it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story.

The author weaves the tale in the story within a story within a story format. The transitions from one to another allow clear divisions, which helped me plow through the book with delight. In other books I have read with this storytelling device I have often been confused and irritated, not know exactly whose voice I was reading at the time. Diane Setterfield mastered the story within a story.

I was attracted to several themes within the book: the mysterious world of twins, ghosts, scandal, loneliness, and reading. Yes, reading was theme throughout the book, which at first glance might seem boring, but really, it wasn’t. The author was able to accurately describe exactly what it means to pick up a book, and enter the world the author has created. The various main characters- Margaret and Miss Winter- each have their own ways of swimming in a story and it translates to how the reader is also lost in the sea of the story worlds. It sucks you in and when you are finished, you surface as if from a deep sea dive.

The ending was not what I expected, but was still a pleasant surprise. I recommend the book as a great way to start your literary year.

Technorati Tags: Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale, reading