Sweet Catastrophe

I finally decided to start looking at new keyboards. I’m still using the one that came with my old eMachine and that computer got tossed long ago. My system is totally custom, I have my own monitors, my freaking amazing MX Revolution mouse (which, a year later, I still love) and I’m still using the factory keyboard and speakers from an eMachine??

As you can see, I apparently do a lot of copy/pasting and my C & V keys are disappearing. I have no idea why M is fading so much. My spacebar key only works when it wants to, you have to be firm with it.

But of course I couldn’t just find a cheap replacement. No, I’m ready to go wireless again. If I could find the MX Revolution Keyboard on its own, I’d probably just snap it up and call it a day, but so far I’m only seeing it sold as a pair with my mouse. I don’t need another one of those, mine is still functioning splendidly. I really love the backlight and the dynamic display.

And then there’s a basic Logitech Wireless Keyboard. Right now, it’s the most logical choice. If I’m sensible, it’s what I’ll go with. And it has the tiniest dongle I’ve ever seen! (That’s what she said!) I really love Logitech and all their accessories.

But I didn’t stop shopping there! Nope! ‘Cause then I saw the thumbnail for this Wireless Keyboard with built-in mouse. Built-in mouse?? Say what?? It’s got an appealing design and this built-in trackball deal. I almost tossed it on my Wishlist, but then I realized it doesn’t have a number pad and I’m not so sure I’m ready to give that up. I’m intrigued, but not enough to replace my current keyboard just yet.

But then I found it. The Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard. Logitech has me drooling again– rechargeable keyboard? Yes, please! Again, built-in mouse, only this one is a touch pad. This one is also lacking a number pad, but the Delete, Page Up/Down, Home and End keys are still placed where I’m comfortable with them so I think I’d be a little more forgiving.

There’s a great review up answering questions about use, range, and battery life. They claim a 5-minute charge will sustain you for a day’s use and a 2-hour charge will supply power for 2 months– and according to this reviewer, and some of the other product reviews, they’re not joking.

I was not at all expecting to find a keyboard that would get me this excited. I’d hoped I might chance upon a good rechargeable one since battery life was the only thing that bugged me about my old wireless setup, but I wasn’t holding my breath. I’m so excited to see this.

I want it. I can’t buy it right this second, I just can’t justify the cash, but you better believe I’m keeping an eye out. If I can catch it on sale like I did with my MX Revolution mouse, this keyboard is mine. I shall call it Squishy and it shall be mine and it shall be my Squishy.

*pushes glasses up* Sorry, my geek is showing.

I mentioned last month we were looking for a new device to stream Netflix to the television in our bedroom. I finally decided that I absolutely wanted something capable of streaming files from my computer as well– I’ve just got way too much media to not be able to use it. After looking around and checking out what few option I have, I think I’ve settled on getting an Xbox 360 with 256MB memory.

Most of the devices I’ve looked at are in the $100+ range, which is okay since we’ll save that much pretty quickly when the cable is shut off, so I’m okay with spending a little more for another 360. We’ve got an extra hard drive here that we can use, and plenty of controllers, so I can look around and get a bare bones system on sale and be ready to go. I’d probably end up getting a Universal Remote for the Xbox as well just so I wouldn’t have to worry about keeping a controller up here and charged.

At this point, I’ve talked myself into wanting it, so now I just have to get it. I’m just so sick of not knowing whether or not the cable is going to work, or having no choice but to hang around my computer if I want to watch something. And I think I might play my games a little more often if I could do it without taking over the television downstairs. I just always feel a little guilty when playing some of my silly games gets in the way of the boys using all the other systems downstairs. And I could be evil and rock out on Guitar Hero from the bed to wake Ryan up ;)

I spend a lot of time in my computer chair. A lot. I watch television and movies on my computer. I read on my computer. I listen to music on my computer. I play games on my computer. I chat with friends on my computer. And that’s all in addition to general internet things like social networking and blog reading. A lot of the hobbies other people enjoy on their couches or elsewhere, I do at my computer.

This means my current computer chair, while ridiculously fabulous and amazing, has seen better days. It really is a great chair– pretty much perfect for me, but it came to me second-hand. It had been lightly used, but still used, and I’ve put a considerable amount of mileage on it in the last 4 years, so it’s time. Minor tears in the leather have torn open into noticeable holes, and if you sit just right you can feel the bolts in the seat. Poor chair. It’s been good to me.

I was so lucky to find that one on sale so now I’m looking for something similar in a lower price range. This Madison Leather Executive Office Chair would probably do the trick. I need something wide enough that I can curl up in or sit with my legs in the chair and just be comfy. And I have to have something with a high back, and enough padding to keep my rear cozy for extended periods of time.

A hundred bucks is definitely in my price range for something I plan to use that long and free shipping is always a plus, especially with furniture.

I’ll add this to my ever-growing list of ‘must-haves’ that need to be saved for. Gotta make it through Kristi’s wedding first!

Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? Kristi got me started watching it, of course. It’s about two extreme dorks/geniuses who live across the hall from a pretty aspiring actress, and the dorks’ two best friends. They all have their quirks, hilarity ensues.

The first 20 seconds of this Barenaked Ladies tune is their theme song and I’ve never made it without singing along by the end.

I think I started watching right before season 2 aired. (Is that right, Krizzle?) For season 1 and season 2 I’d have said, “Yeah it’s good. Worth watching.” But season 3 has just been hilarious! Every single episode has had me laughing out loud! I guess originally the show was meant to focus mostly on one of the dorks getting together with their neighbor, but the writers have finally settled on focusing on Sheldon and it’s a formula that works, and isn’t getting old!

Based on this season alone I’m keeping my eyes open for a good sale to pick up the first two seasons of The Big Bang Theory because I will own season 3 and I don’t think I’m capable of owning an incomplete set…that would drive me mad. In fact, I have one DVD from an anime series that I could never get ahold of the rest for a decent price and I can’t leave that case sitting on my shelf. It’s stashed behind my VHS collection!

If you’re not already watching I’d say season 3 is absolutely worth catching up with season 1 & 2 to watch. The laughs are continuous!

I haven’t had a headboard for quite some time, but I recently stumbled across a design that really appealed to me, and now I kind of have to have it. If you think about it, I’m sure you could guess what that might be– storage bed =)

Currently I’m eying this Manhattan 6-Drawer King Size Platform Storage Bed and Storage Headboard. The image isn’t very detailed, but the drawers run on either side with a 20″ depth with finger pulls on the bottom edge of the drawers to eliminate the need for knobs that I’d inevitably stub my toes on! The shelves on the headboard are 11″ deep– I’d just have to keep Ryan from even beginning a habit of leaving drinks there or we’d end up with soaked heads!

I think I want to replace my desk first, though. I just bought something on sale when I moved out on my own and while it’s held up great, I hate the thing. It’s wobbly and nothing but particle board and metal rods.

I want this Corner Work Station! I love corner units, but so many of them have shelving up top and only open room for a single monitor– I need an open area to fit both monitors. And I love that this one has a little mobile CPU stand. My case has fans on the top and both sides so I can’t shove it on a shelf and I really hate to just have it sitting on the floor. I’m gonna keep looking around to see if I can find it in a darker wood, though.

Despite recent financial pains, I’m not writing off all the things I want to do. We’ll figure out a way to make everything work, and I’m just gonna keep saving every penny I can, and working towards our goals bit by bit, and just going for them when the opportunity presents itself.

The last thing we’ll be working on when we upgrade all of our living room furniture will be the coffee tables and end tables. Believe it or not, we actually have a matching set already *shock* and they’re in great shape, I just don’t like them. They’re made to look like green marble and yeah….they’re just not pretty at all. But for now they’re functional and look nice enough since they aren’t falling apart or anything.

I finally went through all the sale items today to see if I could even find pieces I like, I’m still a little on the picky side, but I was actually surprised to find something I loved on the first page of results!

This Jamison Rectangular Storage Cocktail Table by Ashley Furniture is perfection! It’s got almost the exact coloring I want, offers 4 working drawers for storage, and this thing weighs 100 lbs! It’s not particle board that’s going to fall apart after a year or two of abuse, this is hardwood. Ryan can be pretty hard on furniture, so something sturdy is a must.

And they have the perfect matching Jamison Rectangular Storage End Table as well! Again, this one is 80 lbs so it’s a good, solid piece of furniture. And I love the big storage space. The cabinet would be a great space for tossing random clutter into when you have unexpected guests ;)

And believe it or not, both pieces offer free shipping! I hope I can still find these, or something similar when we can afford to get them.

After we secure new couches for the living room, I’ve got my eyes on a new entertainment center. The one we have now is probably at least 12 years old and was never really meant to last this long, but it has! I’d like to retire it to the bedroom, for now, and get something nicer for all our pretty things in the living room.

Compartments are key– we’re looking at something to hold the television, Xbox, Wii, PS2, controllers and other gaming accessories, video games, my DVD box sets, and ideally all the rest of my DVDs. That’s not a must-have, but it would definitely be nice.

Drawers and cabinets are fine, but I’d actually like my DVDs in an open display. *shrug* I dunno if I just like seeing all my DVDs out there, or if it’s just how pretty and organized they always are even if the rest of the house is a disaster– lol!

I really like the look of this entertainment center, but I don’t like that it’s three separate pieces. I guess that gives more options for how to arrange it all, but I really like it all as one unit.

I could get behind this corner stand, for sure. It wouldn’t hold all my movies, but the consoles would all fit nicely and shoving it back into the corner would open up space for other shelving. It looks a lot brighter here in the picture, but I usually like a good cherry stain.

I like all the space this modular unit offers. I think I could get my whole collection there. I’m not sold on the composite, but I do like the design. I like the open feel– it would be suitable for the small living room we have now.

Again, I just wish money would fall from the sky and land in my Jeep or something. I hate knowing what I want and not being able to just go out and get it. For now I’ll have to stick to putting money aside and keeping my eyes peeled for an awesome sale and just hope I have the money for it when I see it! I think that’s the worst– finding an incredible deal and having to pass it up *cringe*

It wasn’t terribly long ago that I had an epiphany and realized it was time to start working on some more adult furniture for my home. Time to slowly phase out all the hand-me-down pieces and things left over from my childhood– I’ve had my entertainment center since I was like 12. I don’t think that thing was ever meant to last so long.

Unless we just run into items on sale, I’m going couches first, then entertainment center, then coffee table/end tables.

Our poor couches– we haven’t actually had them for too long, and they were nice couches at some point, but they’re just old and worn. They’re a cream leather and ugh, the cushions won’t stay in place for anything. But I paid $20 for both of them so *shrug* Can’t exactly complain.

So now that we’re talking about it I’m having to actually think about what colors I want in my living room. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d have every room done in red and black, I swear, but I think I finally talked myself into limiting that to the master bathroom and kitchen…ya know, when a few million dollars falls from the sky into my arms and I get to design or redo my own home.

I think I want to go with a warm brown and maybe blue. This leather couch would be perfect, or even the whole set. I thought I’d get tired of leather and the way it holds the cold, but really that’s minor compared to the benefits– the easy cleaning and great look. I always use a blanket on the couch anyway. I really want to go with a solid, dark wood on the entertainment and shelving in the room so the deeper brown in this couch would really fit great with that.

Just one detail at a time!

Meet my new laptop. Okay, well, it’s not my laptop yet, but this is it, it’s the one! Ryan really came through on this one. We talked, at length, about what I wanted– must-haves, extras I’d like, things I absolutely didn’t want, and price range. We talked about brands and I decided I’d like an HP or an Asus. Asus won! Wow did Asus ever win…

16″ display. 4GB RAM. DVD±RW/CD-RW drive. 500GB hard drive (yum!). Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M. Windows 7 64-bit. The reviews are glowing– apparently the battery life is fantastic and there’s a lot of talk about how long it takes for it to even feel like it’s heating up.

And how much? $529! And that’s not even a sale price.

I’ve even taken it for a test-drive and I love it. The color is great, not a lot of worry about fingerprints. It’s a great weight and it’s the perfect size for me. 4 usb ports so I don’t have to worry about that. I’m definitely excited. We’ve been fans of Asus and their motherboards for quite a while, it’s great to see they seem to have the same quality and price in their laptops.

I’ve got to wait a little while to actually get it, but hey, it can only really go down in price, right?

I love new music! All day yesterday I was running across people talking about The Script and I filed it away to check out later until I asked Ben for suggestions on something to listen to and he brought them up as well so I dove right in. Breakeven was the first suggestion I got so I hit up YouTube and opened a window with the lyrics and by the first chorus I said, “holy shit, I love this song.” With lyrics like– when a heart breaks, no, it don’t break even, and my favorite– what am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you, it was a guaranteed Jade hit, but it really is just a fantastic song. It’s got a great beat that makes you just want to belt it out at the top of your lungs, catchy lyrics that make sure it’ll be cemented to your brain, and *gasp* some damn good lyrical content to round it out! I was certainly impressed. I’m picking up their self-titled album this week. Check it out and see for yourself:

(Let me know if that will actually play in your window– my old plugin isn’t working anymore.)

That’s how I am with music– because I listen to so much, yes, I download, but I do it to sample. If I only like a song or two then I’m done, but if you’ve got a solid album that I can really enjoy, I have absolutely no problem picking up your album on sale and giving you my support. But if I bought entire albums for all the one-hit-wonders in my collection, I wouldn’t be able to feed myself!

The Script are an Irish Pop Rock band from Dublin–currently located in London. They’ve been around since ‘08 but I don’t think they really hit US airwaves until early ‘09. I’m not necessarily comparing them to Jason Mraz, but I’d easily say if you enjoy him, you’ll enjoy The Script.

Let me know what you guys think! I’m off to check out some other suggestions from Brian.