Websites I Recommend For Getting Cool Stuff

www.swaptree.com

Have an old book, video game, CD, or DVD that you rarely use? This website allows you to trade those unwanted items for things you do want or need. All you have to do is create an account and enter the ISBN number or UPC code of your unwanted goods. The site will then tell you what you can trade for those items. For example, I have a book I accidently ordered from a book club that I have no interest in reading. Someone, somewhere apparently does want to read that book and he or she is going to send me a Tony Hawk Xbox game for the novel collecting dust on my bookshelf. Good deal! Users can even create or import wish lists to swaptree.com, and the website can figure out if the user has an item he or she can trade for one on their wish list. Traders can even print correct postage directly from the website to ship trades. Going to the post office isn't even necessary!

www.swap-bot.com

This website also involves trading, but is a little different. At swap-bot.com, users find common interests and swap items based on those interests. For example, I like books about ghosts and all things paranormal. I am currently in a swap where I will select a paranormal book based on my assigned partner's interests, and he or she will send me a book based on my likes and dislikes. Users can participate in swaps in a variety of categories. My favorite categories are books, seasonal, bath and body, food and beverage, and postcards/letters. I have been a member of this site for over a year and have sent and received ghost stories, weird Japanese things, chocolate, lotion, Valentines cards, books, candy, etc. It's fun!

http://www.mysavings.com/free-product-samples-section/

This is a good, reliable free samples site. I request free samples every week and I also get free samples every week, often two to three times a week. I have received free toothpaste, tampons, various kinds of food, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, pet foods, and more. It's very simple to request the samples and at times you won't have to buy shampoo or toothpaste because you'll keep getting samples in the mail.

http://www.online-sweepstakes.com/

Every so often I go through a sweepstakes entering phase. This is one of those times. Online-sweepstakes.com lists hundreds of sweepstakes that anyone can enter, all organized into neat, convenient categories. The categories include international and domestic vacations, electronics, books, clothing, sports, kid stuff, pet stuff, and a lot more. The fact of the matter is, if you enter several sweepstakes regularly you WILL win something sooner or later. My entering frenzies never last longer than a month, but during those times I have won tickets to a Nascar race, Rachel Ray dishware, an Itunes giftcard, movie tickets, a CD, a DVD, and more stuff I'm sure I've forgotten. The biggest prize I won was an ugly Pandora charm bracelet from Glamour magazine. It was valued at $1,200 and I sold it on Ebay for something like $600. I am dying to win an international trip, but that has yet to happen. If you win a trip from the site you'll have to take me!!

Wild Imaginations

Lately my imagination has run a bit wild, and I frequently find myself imagining bizarre situations with crazy results. For example, right now I'm sitting at my desk at work and the engineering manager is having a phone conference in the main boardroom. What would he do if I barged into the room and tried to kick out the 14th story window? I'd surely be fired, probably arrested, possibly put in a psychiatric ward. I have no desire to kick in the window of course, but it's interesting to imagine my coworkers' reactions. My husband and I went to Sea World a few weeks ago and I wondered what would happen if I jumped in the polar bear tank. Would someone come in after me or would they just let the bear eat me if it wanted? Not all of my imaginings are potentially fatal, however. Sometimes I wonder what people would do if I went to the grocery store and started throwing boxes of cereal at other customers. Good times. Does anyone else imagine bizarre scenarios or am I just strange?

Speaking of strange, I am currently reading a book called Pretty Little Mistakes, a kind of Choose Your Own Adventure for adults. Basically, the story starts off with the reader graduating from high school with two choices of future action, college or travel. Each choice leads to a different storyline, with more choices (and storylines) along the way. I've read my way through a few stories and so far I've committed murder and suicide, gone to jail, survived cancer, been murdered, become a lesbian, etc. etc. Last night, I was raped by a gorilla named Shenanigans. Didn't see that coming. Never the less, the book is entertaining and good for people who don't like or don't have the time/patience for reading an entire novel. I do recommend it.

Maybe I should write a book where people can choose to jump in polar bear tanks and kick in windows.

Temp Job-New Kids-October

Oh, the humbling continues. I'm now working a temp job where I spend my days delivering lunches to VPs and restocking break rooms. However, I only do two hours of actual work (the rest of the time I'm on the Internet like now) and I get paid $15 an hour so I can't really complain. My friend had someone quit on her last minute and I wasn't doing anything anyway, so here I am. I'm still looking for a real job and one of these days I will get my act together. I have until the end of October.

I occasionally change up the stocking techniques, renegade that I am, much to the chagrin of the office administrator. A week or so ago we engaged in the great paper towel shuffle. I'd move the paper towels next to the cutlery bin and she'd move the paper towels back to the middle of the counter. This happened a dozen or so times before I lost interest and admitted defeat. Today began the soda power struggle. Since 1812, the administrative assistant has apparently stacked soda in double layers. I decided to utilize just one row so that people aren't constantly knocking things over. I was questioned about my technique and told that double stacking is the best defense against warm soda. She's right I suppose. Eight people could descend upon the refrigerator at once and take a Dr. Pepper, leaving no cold Dr. Pepper for the next person. Imagine if someone were forced to put ice in a cup or select another flavor or walk to the other kitchen. The horror!

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since we left Japan! Almost all of the teachers we knew have gone back to their countries, even those who were in Japan for several years. I hate how time passes so quickly. My husband and I went to Charleston for Labor Day weekend and even though it seems like we lived there only a few months ago (it's been more like a year and a half), I realized that I have no ties there anymore and that that part of my life is history. It's the same with my hometown of Oklahoma City. Of all the friends and family I had in the area when I moved away six! years ago, only one or two remain. Everyone else seems to have migrated to Texas for some reason. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong anywhere anymore.

Okay, I hadn't intended to be melancholy. On a totally random note, New Kids on the Block is going to perform here in November and I am very excited! I was obsessed with them as a kid, but my parents never took me to any of their concerts. The outrage! I plan to wear my New Kids shirt, get drunk, and scream like a maniac. I only hope that they play their old stuff and not try to woo us with the new songs. I can't think of anyone who would be interested in that. You're my Popsicle!

I'm also excited about it almost being October. I have decided that October is my favorite month and Halloween my favorite holiday. I'm not even going to pretend that it's Christmas anymore. I love how the weather gets cooler (although not much in Tampa) and how there are a bunch of new pumpkinish beers. I love the dorky Halloween decorations, the ghost features on TV and in newspapers, costume parties, horror movies, and haunted houses! So much more fun than carols and Christmas shopping. I haven't decided what I want to be for Halloween. Right now I'm debating between gory Anne Boleyn, Jem (truly, truly, truly outrageous), or gory '80s zombie.

Until next time...