the problem of shopping online

I was one of many people who sat by their computers on Christmas eve - 8pm - hoping to get in on Future Shop's Boxing Day sale. Among the items up for grabs and one that EVERYONE was talking about was the HD DVD player for $99. I was looking for a HTIB to go with the new LCD tv I purchased - so I had my eyes on either the Pioneer or Sony system. I didn't want to spend too much either.

Anyhow... 8pm arrives, and after searching the site (using previously bookmarked items that were on sale) - got to check out - and.... waiting, waiting, ...tick tock tick tock... and then from out of the blue - I was booted off the site. Too busy to access. I was p/o'ed. I wasn't the only one (judging by the comments in both Future Shops boards and RedFlagDeals forums). It was a complete f/up on Future Shop's side.

Needless to say, I did manage to get the system - and it would be sent to me via Purolator. I expected to wait a week for the deliver, but surprisingly, it arrived yesterday - in a HUGE box! Holy, it was taller than me! Hey, if I ever loose the roof over my head, I could use this box as a makeshift home :-)

I started to unpack the thing - and after wiring everything up, looked at all the connections and wires, I thought, holy shit, I can't figure this out. I get no sound - I have all kinds of connections and wires but haven't a clue how to hook the thing up. Why the hell do they make these things so hard? I have the television, the HD digital box, the HD DVD player and the receiver thingy. Making them all work properly was something else. Even the tv - trying to figure out the settings is too confusing, the picture size is never the same - prompting me to change from stretch, zoom, normal and different inputs and holy crap, I am getting fed up with it all.

As I sat last evening thinking about it all, when it comes down to the bottom line, I really don't care about resolution, size, sound - so I packed that stupid thing up and am sending it back. The HD box is going back as well - even though they shipped it out to me - and I made a big deal about having to spend a day dragging the old box to Rogers Video - and their bloody system were down by the time I arrived there. Anyhow, this whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth. I am beginning to think I should have just been content with my old tv and regular cable.

Christmas is coming...

Another month and we will be full swing into the madness of christmas shopping. I normally wait until the very last minute to consider any gifts and by then, I usually buy a couple of inexpensive gifts with a card and some cash. I know, I should be more familiar with what ma famille likes, but I just can't put up with the stress of looking for gifts for people who are related to me by blood - I know nothing about what they really like. Really sad, I am trying to reach out and get to know at least my neice and nephew.

Berlin in December

Its been awhile since I've returned from my travels before xmas. the weather certainly wasn't what I had expected, but then when is it? Here's a pix of the windmill outside Berlin's Museum of Technology - home to rows of old trains from way back. Another museum been there, done that. Berlin will be on my list of to be lists for this year as the Love Parade finally found a sponsor. So off to Berlin in July I shall go.

Christmas in Berlin 2001

In 2001, New Years Eve, Berlin, I remember having to stand in front of the Brandenburger Tor, waiting for the fireworks and drinking this stuff to keep warm. I had to keep moving or push someone away from those heated stalls/tables (you know the kind - standing room only type of setting). Well, I was frozen, I literally felt those cold Siberian winds blowing down on me. My feet had lost feeling, and this was gradually moving up to my legs. I sorry, I said to Andreas, I have to go, I can't stand this cold anymore. Walked towards Potsdamer Platz, to catch the S-Bahn / U-bahn home (or his flat). Had to duck the firecrakers being thrown by the young 'crackers' who insisted on letting this fly, while people walked down stairs to get to their trains. Amazingly, I survived, however, crossing traffic in Rome may have proven to be a safer bet. They had absolutely no concern! They walk around with their big bottles of beer, drinking, laughing, and what's most distrubing, mein german sucks at that time, so I wouldn't know if they were saying anything rude to me. Get back to his quiet nicer area of Berlin, Zehlendorf, the former American zone of a divided berlin, to his flat. Once again, encountered more firecrakers. Another trip to avoid being hit.

One thing I noticed in Berlin, they have these neat blinds that come down 'outside the home'! That's a switch, and seems more logical to me. Their hotwater heater in the bathroom area, doubles as a tower drier (looks rather nicer compared to those ugly ancient ones here in my place.) I haven't seen them anywhere, and i am sure if I ever had a place that had those, I would inquire about upgrading. I wonder if they are more energy efficient? The germans are so good and conscientious towards the environment, its surprising that other nations (esp us nord americans) haven't adopted this? We've been recycling here since the late eighties, and I am surprised to come to the USA and not see it widely accepted. Ignorance, no regard to anyone else.

I read a post today, this woman, unfortunately lives on the west coast where are the fires are burning, and comments on 'what the world is coming to: 'mentioning, flooding, hurricanes and fires' - the fact that in her eyes, 'the world being referred to is her country, the US of Amerika. Interesting how differing the views are between Kanada and the US are. I would have said something, what is this country coming to, or in addition to the fires etc, I would have thrown some actually atrocities occuring outside the usa.

Okay, so I go a bit off topic, originally, I had intended to put this recipe but memories of my first christmas in berlin, I had to share... so, here's the recipe: From: www.dw-world.de - Culture & Lifestyle Deutsche Welle

As I prepare for my trip in December, I am trying to gather as much information as possible. und natürlich, ich habe keine zeit! Zu viel places to see, an so little time..So this recipe would be appropriate starting in the first day after of advent through to the 24th December. 'When the chill sets in, it's time for a hot drink. In Germany and Austria, one of the most popular beverages at this time of the year is Glühwein.

You will need: 1 bottle of red wine, 100 ml water (about 0.1 quart); 5 g of sugar (less than 2 ozs), 2 -3 cloves, 1/2 peeled lemon, 1 stick cinnamon.
Directions: Boil cinnamon, sugar, and cloves in water. Turn of heat. Strain the water after 25 -30 mins. Add wine to water. Heat wine - but don't boil (boiling removes the alcohol). Add lemon. And serve in a BIG mug!