Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wednesday Roundup

BMV Hey there, dudes and dudettes, nothing big happening at Nutwood, so here are some odds and ends.

I went to the BMV this morning, my first time since they opened the new branch (consolidating a couple of smaller ones). My license expires this month, so it was time to renew. They were so nice and friendly, and I was out of there within 15 minutes, my new license with its crummy new picture safely tucked away in my wallet! They've also gone from a four-year expiration to a six-year. Sweet! I took my book along, but only got through a few pages while they printed out the new license. Indiana's Governor Mitch Daniels deserves a lot of credit for making the BMV a relatively painless experience these days. He's taken a lot of flak for a couple of the things he's done (leasing the Toll Road and having us go on Daylight Savings Time--jeez, what a cruel and horrible dictator!), but anyone who fixes the BMV is okay in my book. I voted for him, and guess what? He's a Republican! Personally, I think he's done a pretty good job.

It was also fun driving up there, because it's on one of the remaining brick streets in South Bend. The main roads have all been repaved, but several of the side streets are still brick, and I just love them. (I have a brick paver from one of the roads that ran by one of the Studebaker buildings.) The brick streets have a sort of nostalgic charm, and they sure seem to hold up well.

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You know my entry about the Alice Cooper show? I had an email from Milwaukee Dan #1 who said that he sent it along to a music critic. The guy read it and asked Dan to pass along to me that Alice is a big fan of Studebakers and even owns two. Very cool on two counts: a music critic actually read my entry, and Alice loves Studebakers!

Speaking of that entry, I found out that a UK fan site linked to it, so I've had visitors from all over the world stopping by. Again, very cool on two counts: someone found that entry and linked to it, resulting in lots of visits, and people still love Alice all around the world!

Ahhh, there's sort of an international feeling in the air at Nutwood...can you sense it? Almost an...I don't know what...je ne sais quoi.

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Silver Squirrel Award There are still two Silver Squirrel awards pending, with no correct answers yet!

1. What TV miniseries used the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in the opening credits?

2. When I mentioned the python that Alice used to bring onstage, I wrote that maybe the snake was dropped because he was getting too demanding, specifying no brown rats in his bowl of rats backstage. What was I referencing there?

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When I was at the store the other day, they had a big bin of cantaloupes, and they were INDIANA cantaloupes. I was on those babies like milk on cereal. I'll cop to a complete and utter (and probably illogical) bias here in my belief that Indiana cantaloupes are the best cantaloupes evah. They always seem to have a sweetness and flavor that I've never had elsewhere. I'm sure that part of it is that they aren't shipped from BFE, so are picked more at their peak. This one smells wonderful, and I'll be slicing it up this afternoon. It's a monster, too. [going off to measure] Eight inches in diameter, nine inches in length. [going out to weigh it] Seven pounds. I think next year, I'll try to grow some cantaloupe, although our soil back in the garden is more dark and rich rather than sandy (which cantaloupe like). I bet it will work just fine, though. (Yes, I know that the correct term for what is grown here is muskmelon. In these parts, we call ‘em cantaloupes.)

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Craigslist We had a few large things left from the garage sale, including Ken's Mom's like-new stove, and yesterday I put them up on Craigslist. Holy mackerel! Within an hour of putting up the ads, I started getting phone calls. We sold three of the things yesterday, and I've gotten phone calls on the other items. Someone is coming to look at the stove this evening, and I'm fairly certain they'll buy it. (Ken's Mom will be so pleased!) I'll be glad when it's all gone, because this is way too many phone calls for me. I am not a phone person. I'm grateful, though, that there are people willing to buy these things and can get some use out of them, rather then sending them off to a landfill. It's a win-win situation, and I have to say that Craigslist is a fantastic service. We still have some electronic things to sell, and were planning on putting them on eBay, but I think we'll try Craigslist with those, too, and not worry about shipping them.

I got an email about the stove, and you guys tell me your opinion. This person is hearing-impaired so can only email with me. He lives in Houston, but has things arranged with a mover as soon as the money is in our hands. He wants to send a money order, and needs our name, address, and cell phone number. When he inquired via email this morning whether or not we still had the stove, I said yes, and someone is coming to look at it tonight and has made an offer. The Houston guy then sent me an email stating that he would be paying by money order, and listed the above as what he would need. I wrote back and said hold up there, Tex (okay, I didn't really write that), don't send anything, because someone is coming to look at it and they will get first right of refusal.

I don't know for certain, but something just seems fishy about it. Obviously, you know I would have no problem dealing with someone who is hearing-impaired, but that takes away the phone call option. I also don't care much for this out-of-state sale, and would much prefer that someone in the area were to pick any item up. And why on earth would they need our cell phone number? Something about it just sent up red flags, and I think there's some sort of scam there.

Just like the email I got about the TV we had for sale, saying that they know it sounds weird, but they want to give me a TV. Um...no thanks. We're selling one, remember? If something about it seems fishy, it's probably fishy.

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Hope you're all having a lovely day! The humidity here has let up somewhat, and it's a gorgeous Nutwood day!

17 comments:

  1. tell tex (via email) it's first come, first serve in person. he needs to be there to pick it up. i would be a little suspicious of that one too.

    you could also tell him you cant store it after x days which is why it's walking off with the cash asap, no time to wait.

    plus, unless it's some super duper collectible version of a *stove* you can't tell me he can't get one in his STATE???? that in itself is Fishy with a capital F.

    things that make no sense usually never do.

    xxalainaxx

    ps the reaper song was in the stand but i googled it so someone else should get it.

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  2. Well, Number Two is the famous Van Halen contract rider for their tours.

    And Number One is... well... I can't win them both.

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  3. By the way, I know if I tell you Number One, I will soooo have to turn in my Man Card.

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  4. I have an 4 track tape deck with an Tennessee Ernie Ford tape included..(package deal...turnkey operation) I want to give you....please advise.

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  5. I'd be suspicious of that character too. Congrats on the international publicity... You go girl!

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  6. That deaf dude would be freaking me out. I'd have to give a big no. I don't give out my cell number to random emailers.

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  7. That's one of the things I really miss about Indiana...Posey County melons. MMMM.

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  8. Stove sold, doing the Nutwood Happy Dance :o)

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  9. I'm thinking maybe Six Feet Under for #1. Just a hunch.

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  10. Sounds like you are doing well as far as Craigslist. My son does body shop WORK AND SO FORTH AND USES CRAIGS LIST FAIRLY OFTEN. Darn the caps.

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  11. how does it feel to be famous online? How cool for you.
    my DMV office a block from my house gives out free coffee and donuts and they are so fast you don't even have to sit down.
    i bought one of my dogs off of Craigslist. I think it is great you have been able to sell things so fast. I would say first come, first serve to the man from TX.

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  12. #1 Jericho

    #2 Van Halen tour contract rider

    do I actually get an adorable silver squirrel if I am right?

    be well...

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  13. Hi Beth,
    I think you're right to be suspicious of someone asking for your address and etc. It just doesn't sound right.
    Best,
    Marty

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  14. The condition of the contract I believe they had to have M&M's in the dressing room and no brown ones were to be in the bowl.

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  15. Follow your initial instint on the stove deal. Doug sells alot of CL and Ebay and I can't tell you how many suspicious things have come up over the years. We follow our first reaction. Be careful with people coming to your house. Our local news said Philly is having problems with people on CL posing as buyers and then holding people at gun point & robbing them. And congrats on all the publicity on your Alice review, that IS very cool :)

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  16. Hmmm, my experience at the DMV this year was NOTHING like you experience. No justice other then you got a crappy pic. I got one of those along with the other tortures, so thats at least fair.

    With old Craig, I saw, follow your instincts, there's a lot of fraud that goes down the 'email only lines'...........

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  17. During our time in Germany, my license expired. I renewed it in Arizona while visiting in 2005. They have changed a lot there and my license does not expire until I turn 65!! Cool, huh? :) I will probably replace it when Paul retires and we aren't moving every two years. But until then.... the only time I visit a DMV is when another kid is ready to test for a license.

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I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?