May 27, 2008 by kim.

We’ve started seeing a few of these itty bitty cars parked around Chicago, and while on one of our walks, we noticed one parked nearby:

Isn’t it CUTE?

It’s called the Smart car (www.smartusa.com) and is a mere 8.8 feet long! It is so small that I could park it in my office if I wanted to. I don’t want to, but I could. I’m just saying.

This adorable little car also received high safety ratings for front and side impact crashworthiness from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). That’s great!

I wouldn’t want to put it up against a semi, though.

Posted in Observation | 1 Comment »

May 24, 2008 by kim.

Chris and I went for a walk yesterday, and as we passed by this church, the bells began to chime:

As I remarked how lovely the bells sounded, Chris pointed out that there were no bells to be seen anywhere in the tower. Instead, this is what we saw:

Speakers. How sad. No more church bells. The beautiful sounds you hear pouring forth are nothing more than canned music.

I guess that means Quasimodo is out of a job.

Posted in Observation | 1 Comment »

May 19, 2008 by kim.

Gone are the days when a hamburger cost only 15 cents:

We were driving through Des Plaines, IL the other day and came upon the McDonald’s museum. It wasn’t open yet (Memorial Day through Labor Day) but we’d like to go back and check it out when it is. Thanks to Chris for risking life and limb running across the highway for these great pics!

Too bad they don’t still make the food like they did back then.

You know. Fresh…

Posted in Food | No Comments »

May 13, 2008 by kim.

The price of the postage stamp went up yesterday to 42 cents. Why? Does it have to do with the price of gas or something? It would have to, because the postal service sure isn’t getting any better.

For instance - a number of years ago, I seem to recall Priority Mail being FASTER than regular mail. That’s why you paid extra. So it would be a priority.

Now, as indicated by these rates on www.usps.com, you will pay over 10 times as much for Priority Mail, and MAYBE it will get there in the same amount of time it would have taken had you slapped a regular stamp on it. What kind of service is THAT?

Why should it take longer to deliver mail in this day and age ? People aren’t sending as many letters nowadays, what with that newfangled computer machine everyone seems to have. They’re corresponding through email, paying bills online, and uploading family pictures to websites. That should ease the burden at the Post Office, shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t it??

Well it should.

Posted in Annoyance | No Comments »

May 6, 2008 by kim.

You know those credit card offers you get in the mail and immediately throw away (I hope)? Did you ever look at one of them out of curiosity, just to see what it had to offer?

I did the other day, and while looking at the outrageous fees, I happened upon this paragraph:

Did you catch the part where it mentions that your credit limit may only end up being $71, if they decide to only give you the minimum credit limit?

$71. So, if I were fool enough to fall for this legal scam, I would have to start by paying off debt on fees accrued just for setting up the card in the first place. No shopping spree, nothing to show for it…just fees.

Credit cards make me sick.

Posted in Annoyance | 1 Comment »