Deep Thoughts With Amanda - The iPhone 4s

During her commute time, Amanda has decided to record her observations on life. This is her first entry.

Pour Wine Review, Episode 41 - Porteus 2009 Bistro Red

As many of you know, Amanda and I have been recording and drinking our way through Pour Wine Reviews as a pet project to document our exploration of wine and video production. We posted the first 40 (yes, 40!) to pourwinereview.com. One of the key learnings for me in the process was that keeping up multiple websites is a royal pain in the arse. Hence, I'm going to start publishing them here. You're welcome to see our past videos on our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/pourwinereview.

Here's a toast to Episode 41, my learning Final Cut Pro X and more Pour Wine Reviews! (Don't forget to switch the resolution to 720p to see us in HD.)

Losing My Hair Over Hair, Everywhere

I wrote before about issues with excess hair – creating drain rats, breaking my vacuum. Although I’ve traded in The Wives (nickname for my old roommates) for a genuine wife, the recent acquisition of pets has led to an escalated state of loose hair in the house.

Amanda alone sheds a lot of hair. I encounter the occasional drain hat and hair in the sink. She grows it back, so it’s all good.

When we adopted the cat, Fabrizio, I didn’t notice much of a hair accumulation because his hair is so light and short. I’ll see it stack up like snow drifts at his favorite sleeping spots, but otherwise it’s not a problem.

Gianna is one hairy puppy and inspired this post. I grew up with a Sheltie, Maxamillion, so I knew our new Collie would leave a trace of hair in her wake. I didn’t anticipate the daily carpet she could produce on our hardwood floors.

Sometimes I wish this blog would get a sponsor like GoPro or Canon that would give me cameras and goodies to use and giveaway. No longer the case. Now I want a sponsorship from Swiffer. I use those little Swiffer sheets every damn day to lift the hair – Amanda’s, Fabrizio’s and Gianna’s. I’m sure Sergio and I contribute to the mix, but only minority shares. I love Swiffer. I need Swiffer. Sponsor me, Swiffer!

I won’t even talk about our bedroom, the only room in the house with carpet. I wish I could leave the vacuum on 24/7. The first item on my Christmas list this year is the Roomba, so that I can just leave that on when I’m away at work. Forty hours a week of vacuuming might take care of all the hair the dog deposits in our room during the same time period. Hell, while I’m asking, sponsor me, Roomba!

The hair problem led me to decide to install hardwood floors upstairs instead of replacing the carpets. I know I did myself a favor going with hardwoods for a number of reasons, but the only immediate benefit I saw was the ability to Swiffer upstairs and have brief confidence that there is no hair on the floor until animals or wife reenter the room.

Now that I have a beard, I always find hair in it – not my hair, but the animals’ or the wife’s. It’s an intrusion of my own hair space. It’s hair on hair violence.

We’ve all adapted, and the hair is fairly under control, but say Sergio or I – the resident Italians – start shedding body hair, we’re screwed.

Amanda Takes the Media by Storm

Amanda was a BIG hit yesterday and today, appearing on our local FOX, CBS, ABC news stations as well as The Seattle Times! The media flurry was all because of our #snOMG winter storm debacle, and Amanda was helping Take Winter By Storm spread the message about winter preparedness.

Here's her KOMO (ABC affiliate) appearance:

Here's our not-so-brief discussion about the big day. If you need to reach Amanda, please contact "her people."

Pumpkin Hunting and Slingshots

Scott got a big group together to head out to Spooner Farms in Puyallup to go pumpkin hunting on Saturday. The place was huge, but it was packed! I felt like I was in a Halloween-themed Disneyland with all of the activities and kids around. I suppose we were the odd ducks -- 14 or so adults running around the farm.

The highlight of the trip was the pumpkin slingshot! You got two shots for a dollar, and I'm sure the group spent $75 combined to have a go at aiming a softball-size pumpkin 50 yards away at a target to try and win a gigantic pumpkin. Unfortunately, no one won, but it was a heck of a lot of fun!

Typical scene at the patch.

Malia and Kyle.

That's a lot of pumpkin.

Sean crammed some quick corn calories before hitting the slingshot.

Caitlin picking pumpkins for the slingshot.

Kyle and Malia have their picks.

and mortgage loan companies

Amanda sets up.

And fires!

My reaction.

My turn (I got close).

Scott has his pumpkin stash ready.

Kyle has a go.

Scott reviews the best pumpkins for the slingshot.

Scott has a go.

The peanut gallery.

Sean takes his turn.

Look at that focus!

Jesse shows his form.

first advertised interest

No one hit the bullseye. On to the main event!

But first, bacon, anyone?

Courtney makes a choice while Walker learns why not to pick up a pumpkin by its stem.

Amanda considers her options.

Amanda picks a winner.

Kyle defends his choice.

Tough to get a good picture of Caitlin sometimes.

Not even the camera can warm up the Ice Princess.

Our spoils.

Amanda is in her element.

$18 later, and we're a step closer to Halloween!