Tuesdays with Muerte

Just today, 130 people have found my blog via an internet search.  This is list of the keywords that connected them with my blog: Additionally, I think the next top referring website is a foot fetish website.  A whopping 22 additional views came directly from them, just today!  I should really start picking topics to blog about that don't draw out the crazies!

Approaching the second year with my current phone plan, it's almost time to "upgrade" service plans.  I have been rocking the SPRINT Optimus with a decent history of success.  Sprint's reception at my home and work is outstanding (expect for on the south side of my apartment complex—but no network is perfect).  Honestly, that's the biggest thing that matters to me about a phone. However, Sprint's data plan was as slow as molasses.  For me, the user interface was garbage; I barely used any of the apps that weren't on the initial page because the navigation was to clunky for me.  The operating system was messed up.  I couldn't download more than 250 mb of stuff on my phone because everything had to be stored locally; I didn't use my data card at all.  Also, I had to reset my phone three times. So now, I'm in the market for an iPhone.  The Mac iOS is tried and true.  I already love the UI.  The only thing that remains is finding wh...

I almost got scammed this week. Apparently, the  Phillipean Vacationer  is the new Nigerian Prince .  I was just contacted by a Todd  Burrton who told a sad tale (see below).  I just wanted to share  this in case he somehow obtains your email addresses.  I was initially taken in by three things: The scammer picked a REALLY nice guy.  The fact that he picked Todd was an emotional accelerant The scammer managed to mask his real address with Todd's I was reading it on my phone so I thought it was a text message, which resolved my concern about his questionable English.  EMAIL THREAD: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com> wrote: I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,My family and I came down here  to Manila,Philippines for a short vacation and got mugged at the park  of the Hotel where we lodged all our cash,cell phones,credit cards,  was stolen But luckily for us we still have our lives and passports...

Still frightened from my last Walmart experience, I convinced my roommate, Rob, to be my Wally World wingman today.  We chatted about technology, distracting ourselves from the potential horrors that surrounded us. It worked almost the entire time!  Only two minor distractors: A 200 lb. 9-year-old threw a tandrum in the frozen isle when his mother wouldn't let him by the pizza in addition to the soda and candy he had clutched under his wings.  (He was forced to pick only one for his dinner.) The checkout was awkward.  Rob and I waited in separate lines with only one person in front of each of us.  Just as I was about to place my 3 items on the belt, the cashier turned her light off and ushered me to another line.  Rob ended up waiting an extra 5 minutes for me. All in all, not a bad experience.  I might venture alone next time.  On second thought...

Oh, btw, I've been posting all my crazy creative stuff on  Tumblr  for the last year or two. I've also been keeping up an " AmericansinBrazil " blog on Tumblr.  Check 'em out if you want. I didn't realize it until now, but this division of places to post kind of reserves this blogspot space for personal stuff.  We'll see if I lose page visits after a while... (I doubt it, as long as my " Muscle-Bound Bodies " and " Totoro Halloween Costume "posts continue to rake in 100 views/day.)

My new favorite book I wholeheartedly recommend this to all of my sisters and nieces.  I was enthralled for at least 30 minutes, and I was in a hurry!  Philippe (copy) and Rébecca (illustrations) are geniuses! Website $10 on Amazon

A photo I took of an Israeli cobbler in Old Jerusalem Fellow Men, Shoe shopping is not as horrifically boring as I first thought! Now that my current pair of $50 black work shoes is coming undone, I intend to seek out and purchase a ridiculously comfortable shoe—one step down from flying to Italy and having shoes made by a *cordwainer of impeccable ancestry. THE most comfortable shoe I have ever worn was crafted by Allen Edwards. I found it at a Nordstrom rack for a terrific price, but the size was just too small. So I went to get my foot sized at the new Allen Edwards men's shoe store at the City Creek Mall, SLC, UT, USA. As the two ladies catered to my every pedal need, they informed me that I have a very abnormal foot.  The arch is exceptionally high for a man's foot and set back toward the heel.  This means that while planted, my foot measures a size 7.5D US. It's actually thinner than that at rest (7.5E).  I never knew!  I assumed I would be at lea...