Tuesday, January 12, 2010
We have just discovered the
We have just discovered the Follow Your Heart brand of vegan cheese. It melts and it tastes great.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My New Laptop -- My Baby
I ordered a new Dell Studio XPS laptop in October as soon as they started offering laptops with Windows 7. It took over six weeks to arrive. They changed the estimated delivery date twice, then actually canceled my order and put it in again so that it wouldn't seem as though they were taking 6 or more weeks to send out orders.
That was all fine once the laptop arrived, because I really love it. It's a nice compromise between size (16" screen) and portability (it's relatively light to carry around). It runs fast, the keyboard is smooth and easy to type on, and everything on it works well for the most part.
The only problem is that I want to play Sims 3 on it. When I first installed it, it ran very choppy and kept hesitating and freezing up for just a few seconds every 30 seconds or so. Tech support helped me by reinstalling video drivers and helping me with some other things to help speed up my computer, and now the game runs passably well. They also assured me that this computer exceeds the specs for the game. (My specs: Core i7 720QM processor [1.6 - 2.8] with 6 GB memory.)
But...it still runs a bit slow when playing this game. On their website right now, a lot of the features for which I paid extra are now standard and the faster processor plus 8 GB memory are now somewhat affordable.
I called Dell to see if I could return this computer and either exchange it for one with the faster processor or buy a new one. They said they'd charge me a 15% restocking fee (which they said amounted to $230 or $240, but when I computed it myself, it came to over $300). Instead he offered me $100 to keep the computer. lol I took it rather than lose the $200.
I feel like I got kind of screwed on this, though. On the packing slip for this computer, it says: "For returns, see Dell's 'Total Satisfaction Return Policy'. Contact customer service for an authorization."
If I click "return" on the order page, it says you have 21 days to return and item and it would be subject to the 15% restocking fee, but I searched the Dell website for the "Total Satisfaction Return Policy" and that says:
Way to be confusing, Dell. :-( When I bought this computer, I figured if it wouldn't play Sims 3 well, I'd return it and look for something else.
I also wish I'd waited for Christmas sales, but I didn't think of that. I was just thinking "Windows 7 & Sims in my bedroom and/or hotel room!" hehe I also wish I'd done more research on this processor. I thought I'd done enough research about the computer and the processor and all of that, but apparently not.
Ah well, live and learn. This is a $2000 mistake that I'll be living with for at least four or five years.
OTOH, I do love this computer and it is very pretty. I'll be very happy to have it on my next trip instead of the clunky, heavy, old laptop my husband and I have been sharing for the past nine or ten years. (I think we bought it in 2000, but it may have been 2001.)
That was all fine once the laptop arrived, because I really love it. It's a nice compromise between size (16" screen) and portability (it's relatively light to carry around). It runs fast, the keyboard is smooth and easy to type on, and everything on it works well for the most part.
The only problem is that I want to play Sims 3 on it. When I first installed it, it ran very choppy and kept hesitating and freezing up for just a few seconds every 30 seconds or so. Tech support helped me by reinstalling video drivers and helping me with some other things to help speed up my computer, and now the game runs passably well. They also assured me that this computer exceeds the specs for the game. (My specs: Core i7 720QM processor [1.6 - 2.8] with 6 GB memory.)
But...it still runs a bit slow when playing this game. On their website right now, a lot of the features for which I paid extra are now standard and the faster processor plus 8 GB memory are now somewhat affordable.
I called Dell to see if I could return this computer and either exchange it for one with the faster processor or buy a new one. They said they'd charge me a 15% restocking fee (which they said amounted to $230 or $240, but when I computed it myself, it came to over $300). Instead he offered me $100 to keep the computer. lol I took it rather than lose the $200.
I feel like I got kind of screwed on this, though. On the packing slip for this computer, it says: "For returns, see Dell's 'Total Satisfaction Return Policy'. Contact customer service for an authorization."
If I click "return" on the order page, it says you have 21 days to return and item and it would be subject to the 15% restocking fee, but I searched the Dell website for the "Total Satisfaction Return Policy" and that says:
"Total Satisfaction" Return Policy (U.S. and Canada Only)
If you are an end-user customer who bought new products directly from a Dell company, you may return them to Dell within 30 days of the date of invoice for a refund or credit of the product purchase price.
Way to be confusing, Dell. :-( When I bought this computer, I figured if it wouldn't play Sims 3 well, I'd return it and look for something else.
I also wish I'd waited for Christmas sales, but I didn't think of that. I was just thinking "Windows 7 & Sims in my bedroom and/or hotel room!" hehe I also wish I'd done more research on this processor. I thought I'd done enough research about the computer and the processor and all of that, but apparently not.
Ah well, live and learn. This is a $2000 mistake that I'll be living with for at least four or five years.
OTOH, I do love this computer and it is very pretty. I'll be very happy to have it on my next trip instead of the clunky, heavy, old laptop my husband and I have been sharing for the past nine or ten years. (I think we bought it in 2000, but it may have been 2001.)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Vegan Cupcakes!
I made some vegan cupcakes yesterday for my husband's birthday. I used two recipes from the book Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero:
Your Basic Chocolate Cupcake, page 37
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, page 44
Mmmm.... I love this book.
I took a few pics:
Your Basic Chocolate Cupcake, page 37
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, page 44
Mmmm.... I love this book.
I took a few pics:
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
30 Seconds to Mars, Christmas Shopping, and Birthdays
We got started late with Christmas shopping, but shopping online makes it easy. We decided to go with the "one big gift" philosophy this year.
I just bought the new 30 Seconds to Mars album, and I love it so far, though I'm still listening to it now, so I haven't heard it all. Some music has to sink in; some music I like right away, but it doesn't last; some music I like right away, but there is still something there to sink in over time, so that I'm always discovering something new. 30 Seconds to Mars music is like that, I think.
Edited to add: I bought the new 30 Seconds to Mars album on iTunes, but I just noticed that Amazon has it as one of their $3.99 specials. These specials usually only last a day or two, so if you're interested, get right over there. You don't get the bonus tracks, but they are sort of novelties anyway--alternate versions of songs already on the album. I sort of wish I'd seen this before I paid full price at iTunes. *sigh*
Amazon also has the new Switchfoot album, Hello Hurricane, for $5.00, Night Castle by Trans-Siberian Orchestra for $7.99, and The 99 Most Essential Christmas Masterpieces or $5.00.
Today is my husband's 50th birthday. His birthday is today, my daughter's is Friday, and mine is next week. Now that we are old, we usually celebrate all the birthdays together. We started this when my daughter was at college, because she was usually not home for her birthday, but was home sometime within the next week for Christmas vacation. This year she's at home, but my son is away at college, so we'll wait to celebrate until he gets here.
Even so, I want to do something for my husband today, because it's his 50th and that's a huge milestone. Perhaps I'll bake some cupcakes or make/get him something for dinner. I have a bunch of errands to do tomorrow, though. Perhaps I should bake cupcakes before I go to bed, but if I do that, he'll see them before he goes to work.
David Cook performed Lie on a Carrie Underwood Christmas Special tonight and...wow!
I just bought the new 30 Seconds to Mars album, and I love it so far, though I'm still listening to it now, so I haven't heard it all. Some music has to sink in; some music I like right away, but it doesn't last; some music I like right away, but there is still something there to sink in over time, so that I'm always discovering something new. 30 Seconds to Mars music is like that, I think.
Edited to add: I bought the new 30 Seconds to Mars album on iTunes, but I just noticed that Amazon has it as one of their $3.99 specials. These specials usually only last a day or two, so if you're interested, get right over there. You don't get the bonus tracks, but they are sort of novelties anyway--alternate versions of songs already on the album. I sort of wish I'd seen this before I paid full price at iTunes. *sigh*
Amazon also has the new Switchfoot album, Hello Hurricane, for $5.00, Night Castle by Trans-Siberian Orchestra for $7.99, and The 99 Most Essential Christmas Masterpieces or $5.00.
Today is my husband's 50th birthday. His birthday is today, my daughter's is Friday, and mine is next week. Now that we are old, we usually celebrate all the birthdays together. We started this when my daughter was at college, because she was usually not home for her birthday, but was home sometime within the next week for Christmas vacation. This year she's at home, but my son is away at college, so we'll wait to celebrate until he gets here.
Even so, I want to do something for my husband today, because it's his 50th and that's a huge milestone. Perhaps I'll bake some cupcakes or make/get him something for dinner. I have a bunch of errands to do tomorrow, though. Perhaps I should bake cupcakes before I go to bed, but if I do that, he'll see them before he goes to work.
David Cook performed Lie on a Carrie Underwood Christmas Special tonight and...wow!
Monday, December 07, 2009
Computer Stuff & Another Blog
I think I'm ready to start another blog I've been thinking about for a long time: technology for technologically clueless. I think I know just enough to be dangerous. I love gadgets and mildly techy things, so I thought it would be cool to write reviews of some of the things I have (not every cool thing, certainly) and maybe sift through info about other things I'm interested in. I don't know if it will work, but I'm going to give it a shot.
I'm currently having some tech problems of my own. I believe the data drive on my desktop is failing. This computer is only about 8 months old, so I need to contact Dell and find out what I need to do. I backed up my data to my husband's external drive, because I was having problems with mine.
Also, my new laptop is having issues. It has an iCore7 processor and 6GB ram, but it often runs choppy and acts like it's running out of memory, especially when I try to play Sims 3. Grrrr...
I'm currently having some tech problems of my own. I believe the data drive on my desktop is failing. This computer is only about 8 months old, so I need to contact Dell and find out what I need to do. I backed up my data to my husband's external drive, because I was having problems with mine.
Also, my new laptop is having issues. It has an iCore7 processor and 6GB ram, but it often runs choppy and acts like it's running out of memory, especially when I try to play Sims 3. Grrrr...
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Cirque du Soleil & OliveGarden
Tonight we went to Cirque du Soleil. It was very strange. I loved some parts of it, but didn't like other parts. It was the show in which a lot of the performers were dressed as clowns or were wearing quite garish facial makeup or masks. I know it's a style, but I just find it creepy. OTOH, I loved the main singer and the music, and I also loved all the acrobatics and all of that. It was a lot of fun to watch. They also do not abuse animals as part of their show (in the show or behind the scenes), so they get a lot of imaginary points for that.
We went to dinner first at Olive Garden. Our companions suggested it, and we tried to find someplace else, but we didn't know the area well, and couldn't find anyplace on short notice. On their website, Olive Garden is not vegan friendly at all, which was why we tried to find someplace else to go. My husband called them early in the morning before we went, and the manager was very nice and tried to be accommodating, but basically what they have that is vegan is salad, bruschetta, or bread sticks (which you must request be served without butter, because they brush the tops with butter).
I ordered the bruschetta and some bread sticks without butter. What they call bruschetta is esentially toasted bread with a side dish of chopped fresh tomates, olive oil, and fresh basil. When I was growing up, the Italians that I knew that made bruschetta actually cooked the tomato stuff on a fresh dough--essentially a thick pizza with tomato stuff on top, or they'd put it on thick slices of Italian bread. In the grocery store here, you can buy a jar of bruschetta topping to put on bread and you end up with something similar. What Olive Garden called bruschetta is exactly the same thing as what California Pizza Kitchen called "checca."
It wasn't bad, but if I'd known they'd toast the bread, I'd have asked for it untoasted, only because it was toasted hard, and I don't really like dry, hard toast like that. I brought the bread sticks and most of the bread home with me. I would have taken the checca/not!bruschetta home with me, too, but we were going to the show after, so I didn't want to leave it in the car all evening.
Oh wow. This blog is boring. heh I think I can boil it down to:
Olive Garden is not vegan friendly even if they try to be nice about it. Cirque du Soleil was interesting and fun; I'd consider going again to a different show that didn't have clowns.
We went to dinner first at Olive Garden. Our companions suggested it, and we tried to find someplace else, but we didn't know the area well, and couldn't find anyplace on short notice. On their website, Olive Garden is not vegan friendly at all, which was why we tried to find someplace else to go. My husband called them early in the morning before we went, and the manager was very nice and tried to be accommodating, but basically what they have that is vegan is salad, bruschetta, or bread sticks (which you must request be served without butter, because they brush the tops with butter).
I ordered the bruschetta and some bread sticks without butter. What they call bruschetta is esentially toasted bread with a side dish of chopped fresh tomates, olive oil, and fresh basil. When I was growing up, the Italians that I knew that made bruschetta actually cooked the tomato stuff on a fresh dough--essentially a thick pizza with tomato stuff on top, or they'd put it on thick slices of Italian bread. In the grocery store here, you can buy a jar of bruschetta topping to put on bread and you end up with something similar. What Olive Garden called bruschetta is exactly the same thing as what California Pizza Kitchen called "checca."
It wasn't bad, but if I'd known they'd toast the bread, I'd have asked for it untoasted, only because it was toasted hard, and I don't really like dry, hard toast like that. I brought the bread sticks and most of the bread home with me. I would have taken the checca/not!bruschetta home with me, too, but we were going to the show after, so I didn't want to leave it in the car all evening.
Oh wow. This blog is boring. heh I think I can boil it down to:
Olive Garden is not vegan friendly even if they try to be nice about it. Cirque du Soleil was interesting and fun; I'd consider going again to a different show that didn't have clowns.
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