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some people only buy new computers. i have purchased new and used ones. it’s a roll of the dice either way to be honest. i felt like like i was looking at a scrap heap when i bought a $99 laptop at direct computer outlet today. it’s an HP 630 model that is probably 5 or 6 years old. there was actually a cheaper one behind it ($79) but it was running on windows vista, and i have heard bad stories about that operating system. i’m gonna use the HP 630 to play veggies, show educational film shorts, and burn CD’s.

jenny & i drove to swope park sunday to check out the annual ethnic enrichment festival. it’s been attracting more people with each passing year, which means the little patch of land hasn’t expanded since the late 1990′s, but a LOT more people are showing up. it’s cool that so many people come to this thing to experience other cultures. it’s not cool that i’ve started feeling agoraphobic at these type of gatherings. we stood in line for plantains from ecuador, and a blended pineapple coconut drink from kenya.

i got a call from brianna. she’s the activites director for the gardens at jackson creek. she caught beep goes the weasel one time in front of salon kitch, and asked if we could play at the gardens for family fun time! it was short notice, but we made it work last saturday. we were joined by cookie the clown, who played a instrument with his nose, but it sounded like it was being played by another part of his body.

last week jenny as jenny and i were headed west on 75th street she said, “hey there’s a guy playing the tuba!” i heard the instrument’s familiar low brassy sound as we drove past. we were on our way to shawnee mission park to take advantage of the nice weather. two hours later we were going back home the same way, and he was still playing his tuba. his name is george. he plays in the parking lot between sang sang express and ryan’s steakhouse for tips. we gave him $5.

i don’t know how much people pay for papayas at a grocery store, but when i saw them priced at “two pounds for one dollar,” that seemed like a good deal to me. i could almost hear an announcer saying “c’mon down! the price is right!” i picked them up for two beep goes the weasel gigs coming up this weekend. this is kind of exciting. i’ve never played papayas. the biggest piece of synthesized produce so far has been an eggplant. and that cost me more than two papayas!

the west wing was a show came out in the late 1990′s starring martin sheen, rob lowe, stockard channing, and a bunch of other cool actors. it’s a political drama that i enjoyed on network tv, and then again on netflix. NOW there’s a podcast about it called the west wing weekly! i listened to the first episode while doing dishes this afternoon. in addition to commenting on the episodes, they also compare the subject matter on the show to what’s going on politically today.

the day that angie came over to pick up some records, she also emailed me an mp3 track that we recorded last year. it’s a song about my shower curtain fear in other people’s homes. i know there really isn’t a dead body inside anyone’s bathroom, but i’ve seen too many movies to NOT be suspicious.

last week my jeep left oil stains behind wherever it went. it was easier to see than a trail of bread crumbs. i could have gotten lost, and then found my way back home if the engine didn’t blow up first. luckily i found the leak with the help of my neighbor, and replaced a bad oil pressure switch yesterday. dad, i hope this makes you proud.

angie (my rocket grant partner and surrogate daughter) came over a few days ago, and took a few stacks of records from our house. i probably accumulated five or six hundred LP’s over the last 15 years, and that’s not counting 45′s! when i realized that i would like some extra space in our little house, i asked her if she wanted any vinyl. while she was here i showed her my latest electronic purchases: the office and arcade pocket operators. after a little instruction, angie was able to play this familiar tune by pushing one button, and twisting one knob to alter the pitch. my only contribution to this track is the camera shutter clicks.

yesterday was my sister-in-law’s birthday. a couple of weeks ago i promised her that i would upload a certain video soon. i’m usually pretty lazy, so i kicked myself into gear to get it online yesterday. the video is andi (and me) singing our altered verses of the little playmate song.