Personal

Colposinquanonia (KAHL-puh-SIN-kwah-NOH-nee-uh):  Estimating a woman’s beauty based on her chest.

(via Your Local Goddess)

iTunes: “Work Me, Lord” by Joplin, Janis and the Kozmic Blues Band from the album Janis (1969, 6:38).

Only in Seattle would buying clothing involve standing in the middle of the store lobby, having a large bald man stand behind you and wrap his arms around your waist, and then assist you in dropping your trousers to your ankles.

Rick came by my apartment this morning to drop of some checks for a few DVDs that had been bought, and we figured we’d have time to hit breakfast before I had to be at work. Since I’d just gotten a birthday check from Prairie, I suggested a stop on the way to food — and off to Utilikilts we went.

I wasn’t sure if I’d actually be purchasing anything today, as all the kilts are hand-made, and if they don’t have the style/size/color you want on the sales floor, it’s a six to eight week before your custom-ordered kilt will be ready. The guy on the sales floor was quite helpful, though, and luckily enough, they had one of the two styles I had my eye on available in black and in my size.

Not sure if there were dressing rooms or not I started to look around, when he told me to just stand with my back to the front door and undo my belt. He stood behind me with the kilt opened up, then as I undid my fly and let my pants drop, he wrapped the kilt around me. As I worked on the buttons, he noticed that my pants had only dropped about as far as my knees, and proceeded to grab them and give them a quick tug to get them all the way down around my ankles — at which point Rick nearly burst out laughing.

The first kilt was just slightly too short for my legs, so after spending a couple moments waddling around the showroom floor (as I’d not removed my shoes, so my pants were still bunched up around my feet) he brought another kilt out, and with a quick reprise of the switcheroo, we had the second kilt on, which fit perfectly. Quite satisfied at this point, I kicked off my shoes and took my pants off the rest of the way, tossed them in my bag, paid, and we were off to breakfast.

Not fifteen minutes later, as we were walking into the IHOP just off of Broadway, two gentlemen were heading in just before us. “Nice kilt,” said the one holding the door. I grinned, and thanked him. I think I’m going to like this…

After breakfast, Rick ran me down to work. I walked in, and as I walked behind the front counter, I paused for a moment as Valerie and Darcy looked at me. “Okay,” I said. “I think this ought to be acceptable dress code!” They both laughed, and I continued on into the breakroom to find Rob, my manager. Unfortunately, he was on the phone, so I spent a few minutes paging through the employee manual. According to the dress code, “pants, skirt, or dress” are considered acceptable — and as a kilt is in some sense a form of masculine skirt, I’m firmly of the opinion that not allowing me to wear it would be sexual discrimination!

Unfortunately, Rob wasn’t entirely sure of that, and as our regional manager is fairly strict on dress code, it was decreed that I had to put my pants back on for work. Ah, well — it was worth a shot! ;)

I did change back into the kilt before I left, though, and did get an appreciative honk and wave from a cute blonde in a convertible on my way to the bus stop. Rock on! I definitely think I’m going to like this!

iTunes: “Dead Stars” by Covenant from the album United States of Mind (2001, 5:12).

Okay, so here’s what’s up for grabs. I’ll keep this current for, oh, two weeks or so to see what I can get rid of this way, then hit the pawn shops with whatever’s left over.

Only a few conditions: buyers need to be in the Seattle area and able to come by my apartment in downtown Seattle to pick up the goods. This is only because I don’t have my own transportation to deliver anything, nor do I have the original packaging to ship equipment anywhere.

I’d ask that any interested parties respond by leaving a comment on this post, so that I can keep everything on a “first-come, first-serve” basis, rather than e-mailing me directly. Just making things as easy and as fair as possible for everyone. :)

NOTE: This post isn’t finished yet, I’m still adding things on as I get them finalized. :) Okay, everything’s up.

Update: Wow, that was fast. Assuming that none of the people that contacted me fell through, everything listed here has been spoken for. Should that change, I’ll update, of course…but at the moment, it looks like this much is wrapped up. Now to get started listing the DVDs…

• Sony Wega KV-27FS17 27″ Television — $300 (originally purchased for $650, currently priced on the ‘net at around $450) SOLD.
  • 27″ FD Trinitron Picture Tube
  • 3-Line Digital Comb Filter
  • 16:9 Enhanced Mode (V-Compression)
  • Velocity Modulation™ Scanning (Off/Low/High) Control
  • 2 Tuner Picture in Picture
  • Dynamic Focus™ Circuitry
  • Dynamic Picture™ Processor
  • Magnetic Quadra Pole
  • Vertical Aperture Compensation
  • Auto White Balance
  • Auto Pedestal Clamp
  • Color Temperature Adjustment (Cool/Neutral/Warm)
  • MTS Decoder with DBX Noise Reduction
  • Enhanced Stereo Sound (7.5 Watts x 2 = 15 Watts)*
  • Matrix Surround? Sound
  • Small Footprint Design with Bottom Cabinet Speakers
  • Express Tuning? System (181 Channel Auto Preset Tuner)
  • Auto Mute (TV Tuner)
  • Auto SAP (Secondary Audio Program)
  • S-Video Detection
  • Auto Channel Programming
  • Easy Set Up Guide
  • Advanced On-Screen Menu with Program Palette™ Presets
  • Freeze Memo
  • Favorite Preview (7 Channels)
  • Speed Surf™ Channel Selection
  • Channel Fix
  • Basic Menu
  • Multi Language Display (English/Spanish/French)
  • V-Chip Parental Control
  • Channel Label (40 Channels)
  • Clock/Timer (2 Event)
  • Extended Data Service (XDS)
  • Sleep Timer (15/30/45/60/90 min.)
  • Control Deck Top Control Panel
  • CaptionVision (CC)
  • Jump Channel
  • Video Label
  • Energy Star Compliant
  • 2-Rear Audio/Inputs; S-Video (1)
  • Front Audio/Video Input
  • Variable/FixedAudio Output
  • 2-RF Inputs
  • Component Video Input (Y/PB /PR)
  • Remote: RM-Y181 New Silver Universal Remote Commander Luminous Remote Control (TV/VCR/Cable Box/Digital Satellite System/DVD)
  • Audio/Video Cabinet SU-27FD4 42 lbs (19kg) 27 3/4″ x 19″ x 21″ (704 x 482 x 535mm)
  • 99 lbs (45kg)
  • W/H/D 27 5/8″ x 25″ x 20 1/8″ (700 x 635 x 512mm)
• Technics SA-AX6 receiver and SH-AC500D surround processor — $200 (originally purchased for around $500) CLAIMED.
  • The receiver handles all the standard stereo receiver bits, including AM/FM radio, lots of inputs (CD, Tape, VCR 1 2 and 3, TV/DSS, Phono, DVD), S-Video in- and outputs. Has six 100W outputs, can be set up to run two sets of main speakers (A and B) or run a single set bi-wired.
  • The surround processor adds the ability to handle both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround sound processing.
  • As the processor is essentially useless without the receiver, I’d prefer to sell these as a set rather than individually.
• JVC XV-S65 DVD player — $50 (bought for around $150, currently sells for around $100) CLAIMED.
  • Compatible with DVD Video, CD CD-R/RW and Video CD
  • High-bit/high-sampling (10-bit/27MHz video D/A converter)
  • Component Video, Composite Video, and S-Video terminals
  • 1-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter with 96kHz/24-bit audio resolution
  • Progressive Scan Output, “Digital Direct” that can produce the video output at twice the conventional speed to allow the direct conversion of DVD”s 24fps into progressive 60fps for display on your TV, thereby avoiding the quality disadvantages of I/P conversion.
  • Glow Multi-brand remote control
  • Coaxial digital outputs for PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS
  • Optical digital outputs for PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS
  • Separate construction throughout: Power supply, Digital circuitry, Analog Video and Analog Audio circuits are physically separated
  • Resume (bookmark) function
  • “Digest” function for visual access to desired title/chapter
  • 3D-Phonic for virtual surround sound
  • Dynamic range (2 channel) 106 dB
  • VCR-matching slim design.
  • Video output
  • DVD Component Video output
  • S-Video Output
  • Weight: 5lbs 13oz (2.6kg)
  • Width: 17-1/4″ (435mm)
  • Height: 2-3/4″ (68mm)
  • Depth:10-5/8″ (267.5mm)
• JVC XL-FZ258BK 5-disc CD changer — $50 (originally bought for around $150, currently sells for around $100) SOLD.
  • 5-Disc Carousel CD Changer: Change any 4 discs while one more is being played
  • 1-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter
  • 8-times oversampling digital filter
  • Program play of up to 32 ‘steps’ (tracks and discs) from 5 discs
  • 20 – track program chart
  • 5 DISC keys on the front panel
  • 10 – key pad for direct track access
  • Play Modes: Continous, Program, Smart Random
  • 4-way repeat:: all tracks, single track, programmed tracks, and random play
  • Auto and Manual Search
  • Remote with DISC keys and numeric keys
  • Resume function
  • Power consumption: 10 watts
  • Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz
  • Power requirements: AC 120 V , 60 Hz
  • Frequency response: 2 Hz to 20,000 Hz (±1 dB)
  • Dynamic range: More than 98.0 dB (at 1 kHz)
  • Signal to noise ratio: More than 107.0 dB
  • Total harmonic distortion: Less than 0.0022% (at 1 kHz)
  • Channel separation: More than 94.0 dB (at 1 kHz)
  • Wow and flutter: Less than measurable limit
  • Output level: 2.0 Vrms (at full scale)
  • Connections
    • 2 Enhanced COMPU LINK Control System jacks
    • Optical Digital Output
    • Headphone Output with volume control
  • Dimensions: 17.2″ W x 5.1″ H x 15.3″ D
  • Weight: 11 lbs.
• Klipsch KG 4 home stereo speakers — $400 (originally sold for upwards of $1500) CLAIMED.
  • These aren’t new speakers, but they are really, really good. I got very lucky when I got ahold of them (from a military gent being shipped out of Anchorage who couldn’t ship them with him), and have gotten a lot of good use out of them over the years.
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 38Hz-20kHz±3dB
  • SENSITIVITY: 94dB @ 1watt/1meter
  • POWER HANDLING: 100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak)
  • NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 6 ohms
  • ENCLOSURE TYPE: Bass reflex via passive radiator
  • DRIVE COMPONENTS: Two-way system using one 1″ (2.54cm) phenolic dome compression driver tweeter with a 90°x40° Exponential horn, two 8″ (20.32cm) front-firing, poly ICG cone woofers and one 12″ (30.48cm) rear-firing, fiber-composite cone passive radiator
  • TWEETER: K-74-K 1″ (2.54cm) Phenolic dome compression driver
  • HIGH FREQUENCY HORN: 90°x40° Exponential Horn
  • HF CROSSOVER: 1800Hz
  • WOOFER: Two K-8-K 8″ (20.32cm) Poly ICG cone active / KD-12 12″ (30.48cm) Fiber-composite cone passive
  • DIMENSIONS: 24.25″ (61.6cm) x 15.75″ (40cm) x 10.75″ (27.3cm)
  • WEIGHT: 40 lbs. (18.2kg)
  • ENCLOSURE MATERIAL: Medium density fiberboard construction (MDF)
• Pioneer CMX-5000 Dual CD DJ-style player — $300 (originally purchased for around $1200) SOLD.
  • I’ve had this up for sale for a while, but for some reason I’ve gotten more requests from people in Europe than anywhere else. Odd, but whatever. :) For full details on this piece of equipment, please jump over to my original “For Sale” post….

Consider this advance notice for anyone in the Seattle area that reads this site: within the next week, I’m probably going to be putting up a lot of goodies for sale. I just need to do a little bit of research to figure out good asking prices before I put up a firm list.

Basically, I’ve finally reached a point where I’m sick to death of my continuing financial struggles, and getting myself away from constantly stressing over money has finally taken precedence over my collection of “boy toys”.

Items likely to be up for grabs include:

• 27\” Sony Wega television
• JVC 5-disc CD changer
• Technics stereo receiver
• Technics digital surround processor (best if sold with the receiver, adds Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround processing)
• JVC progressive-scan DVD player
• Two Klipsch speakers (very high-end home stereo speakers)
• Somewhere in the general vicinity of 200 DVDs, including complete collections of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• Pioneer CMX-5000 dual-CD player (yes, it’s still here…)

Prices, pictures, and more detailed listings will go up as soon as possible as the week progresses and I get everything figured out.

Right now, though, I’m off with Prairie to see The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Seattle Center‘s Shakespeare in the Park.

Rock on — according to Dad, Kevin and Emily will be moving to Oregon in a bit, so that Emily can attend Oregon State University in Corvalis. My bro will be in fairly easy visiting distance again!

iTunes: “And It Stoned Me” by Morrison, Van from the album Moondance (1969, 4:34).

I really, really really hate the fact that electronic banking transactions can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to post to a bank account.

A few days ago, I withdrew a little money from my bank account, and saw that I had just a bit over \$130 left. A little low, but nothing I couldn’t get by on, and I get paid on Friday.

I just checked my account — and I’m quite thoroughly fuckered. A few transactions from early last week that I thought had gone through already just got posted, along with the direct withdrawl I’d set up to pay my taxes. Unfortunately, the bigger charges went through first (of course), so in addition to dipping under my balance, I also just got hit with a ton of overdraft fees — and my account now has a balance of negative \$363.83.

On the bright side, I get paid Friday. It should be a good paycheck, too — I’ll have my full 40 hours for both weeks, plus eleven hours of overtime, plus I just got a 21 cent raise that will kick in on this check. So, come Friday morning when the direct deposit kicks in, I should be back in the black (though it may only be by a few hundred dollars by that point).

On the down side…well, most obviously, I hate that I goofed up my finances (especially this badly) again. I also have to make it through ’til Friday morning with no cash (tight, but doable, as I’ve got a credit card that isn’t quite maxed out). The biggest bummer, though, is that I’ve been planning on getting my new camera with this paycheck — and that’s obviously not going to happen now.

Important note to Dad, Kirsten, and Phil: My ‘net bill is due this week. Obviously, I’m not going to be able to pay it before Friday morning, so at this point, there is a strong possibility that my ‘net connection may go down temporarily sometime in the next couple days. Should that happen, djwudi.com, [geek*muffin], Among Other Things and The Hanscom Family Weblog will go down. The service interruption shouldn’t be for more than a day, two at the very most, depending on how soon Speakeasy decides to give me the smackdown for running late on their bill. You have my sincere apologies — every time I think I’m getting back on top of things, something else comes along and proves me wrong.

Overall, things are getting better, and I’m not nearly as stressed about money matters as I have been in the past. Even with this, I know it’s just for a couple days, and the upcoming paycheck will resolve the situation. I’ll just have another couple weeks of tightening my belt to get through. Damn if it isn’t frustrating, though.

iTunes: “Feels Like Heaven” by Fiction Factory from the album Pop and Wave Vol. 2 (1983, 3:29).