the price is ... munchies

For some reason, I have had multiple conversations about The Price is Right with various people over the past few days. So, given my channel surfing at 11:00 AM this morning, it didn't surprise me that I felt inclined to watch Bob Barker.

After the initial hoopla and "come on down" display, four rather disparate contestants found themselves ready to attempt to assign a price to a foozball table in order to continue on in the land of showcase showdowns.

The first contestant, a bouncy little mom from Nebraska, bid $1200.

The second, a rather large African-American man from Texas, bid $900.

The third was a Filipino guy in his twenties named Alvin. He didn't realize it was his turn. He seemed ... out of it. Bob Barker said "Hell0 - contestant, I can't see your name. Can you turn and face me? Ah yes, Alvin ... What's your bid?"

Alvin was totally lost. "Huh?" he responded.

Bob asked again "What's your bid for this foozball table Alvin?"

Alvin looked up, grinned widely and said "420."

"Four twenty or Fourteen-twenty?" asked Bob.

The Nebraskan mom tapped Alvin on the shoulder to indicate that Bob was talking to him. Alvin looked back up and said "Four-twenty man!"

The Price is Right. It never ceases to amuse.

PS: Thoughts on the new layout? I thought I would experiment ...

potent potables

I have a strong affection for overstock.com - much as I do for Costco and kittens. I am lying about the kittens.

A recent e-mail from Overstock touted some items that were placed on clearance (Clearance from a clearance warehouse - does the fun never end??). Anyway, I couldn't make this up if I tried. For $105.35 (67% off the list price of $319.90), you too can own:

'The Ex' 5-piece SS Knife Set with Unique Cathartic Holder (bulk pack of 2)
STORE YOUR KNIVES IN AN ANONYMOUS EFFIGY DEDICATED TO WHOMEVER YOU PLEASE!

Makes a perfect gift and a guaranteed conversation piece. Take out your frustrations as you store your knives! Got an Ex? Get 'The Ex'!

There are almost no words for how sick and amusing this piece is. My question is, who is the buyer at Overstock.com who thought that this would actually be a solid sales item?

*~*~

Subzi Mandi. Subzi means vegetables, and Mandi means 'bazaar.' Or 'bajaar', if you're sticklers for the more representative pronounciation.

Anyway, Subzi Mandi is the name of an Indian grocery store. The other day, I noticed a plastic bag from Subzi Mandi in my kitchen - my mother was using it to collect some papers for recycling. I had never noticed before, but was highly amused by the slogan for the store which was emblazoned on the bag:

LADIES' FIRST CHOICE

I love that there are no qualms about political correctness in the world of Indian grocery store marketing. Ladies cook, while men sit around the house with their belts loosened eating paan. Let's not beat around the bush. Ladies Luv Subzi Mandi.

Um, that's all I've got. That, and the fact that we had six relatives from India descend upon our house like a tornado this past week. They left to go to Niagara Falls. What is it with visitors from India and Niagara Falls? Just like GERMANS LOVE DAVID HASSELHOFF, I have decided that INDIANS LOVE NIAGARA FALLS. It's quite disturbing.

catatonic

There is no good explanation for why I haven't written in a while, considering that my most pressing daily responsibilities include checking e-mail and perusing bedding options at overstock.com. The more I look at them, the more these 400,000 thread count egyptian cotton sheets seem like a necessity.

I guess sometimes I write to avoid other responsibilities. Given that I really have no responsibilities, I have no need to avoid them. Hence the writer's block. Que sera.

So what's happened in the last month? I went to South Africa. That was fun. In light of the backlog of vacation updates, I won't get to telling you about that trip for, let's say, a month. Oh, and the two-year birthday of my blog passed. Two years of pretending my life is more interesting than it is, who'dve thunk it. And finally, one of my most favorite readers got married. Congratulations SJ! I saw some pictures through the flog universe - you looked radiant. I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon and are reveling in married life.

Here, finally, are some pictures from Australia. No hard-core Discovery Channel type stuff. More pictures of funny signs I saw all around. There is comic relief everywhere.


Beginning of the Great Ocean Road - a cliff drive south of Melbourne. My guess is the sign is to remind brazen Americans that they are not the center of the universe.


A storefront sign in St. Kilda, Melbourne. As you may be beginning to notice, I really liked Melbourne. The neighborhoods had distinctively artistic and bohemian vibes.



A stationery store in St. Kilda. Heh.




A sign along our hike in the Olga Mountains, The Outback. Because I am in seventh grade and couldn't hold in my laughter.




I really like this picture. I took it of my own shadow during a hike in the Olgas. The only thing missing are the white ipod headphones.




In front of Ayer's Rock (Ularu), The Outback, Sunset. It's literally a giant red rock in the middle of nowhere, which is why it's a tourist destination. But the colors and scenery were magnificent.

~*~*~

My fifth year college reunion started today. I'm torn whether to go ... I think I may decide last minute and go for some festivities tomorrow. It's one of those things where I'm not terribly excited, but I don't want to regret not having gone.

I got a pedicure yesterday. Forget June 21st. Yesterday marked the first official day of summer.