If It Ain't Broke . . . . .

A year or so ago (I can’t remember exactly when) my condo complex was having its annual open house party.  We haven’t had one in a while, but we used to open our units up to everyone in the building (if they chose to participate) and their guests.  We would make up cute little hall passes with all the participating units (hall pass – get it – we live in a school house) and in each unit we would offer drinks and food and we would let folks take a look around our unit.  Afterwards, we would all meet outside if the weather was good or in the main hallway for music and chatting.  It was pretty fun.  Anyway, I was setting my alarm clock last night and it made me think of the last open house party we had and how this dude, after he looked around my unit, came over to me and said “I like your ancient alarm clock. Where’d you get it?”  I never really gave my alarm clock a second thought.  It has been my alarm clock pretty much since I’ve needed an alarm clock.  I had it at home. I had it at college.  I had it in all my apartments/houses.  When I went to law school it came with me.  It’s just my alarm clock.  It wakes me up in the morning.  I don’t bother it and it doesn’t bother me.  We're cool like that. We both just do our jobs – it screeches its annoying morning alert and I get my arse out of bed.  What more could you want for.  But this dude was all “tongue in cheek” about how ancient it was.  I couldn’t really tell if he was making fun of me or if he really thought it was cool.  He also asked me how I kept Earl the Cat so trim.  My parents think that was obviously sarcasm, but it didn’t seem like sarcasm at the time.  I can’t imagine a stranger disparaging a cat in his own home – an alarm clock maybe (alarm clocks have a much thicker skin – especially the Spartus clocks (which is what I have) – they are practically warriors with a name like that). But he seemed to really want to know how I kept Earl the Cat so trim.  I didn't feel at the time that he was really saying "damn, what a fat cat you have," but I'm trusting like that.

Anyway, not sure what made me think about it today, but when I got to work I googled my “Spartus alarm clock” (on the bottom it says Comet III).  My Google search produced only two pages of images/websites associated with “Spartus alarm clock” – and that seemed odd to me since Google always produces all manner of crap when you google something.  Two pages seemed kinda light to me.

As I began to scroll through the two pages of info, words such as “vintage” and “rare” and “1970 Spartus clock, good condition” and “1980s Spartus clock” popped out of the pages.  It sent me to Ebay mostly.  Nowhere on the two pages did I find a site where I could purchase a new Spartus alarm clock, because apparently they don’t make them anymore!!! I got excited thinking “Oh boy, my Spartus is an antique!!  Maybe I am sitting on a goldmine!”  Not so much.  I did see a groovy robot looking Spartus alarm clock for like $23 – it was a combined alarm clock and lamp.  Cool!!!  I also found one for $50 bucks, but it was all silvery metal looking – very spaceshipy.  Mine is just a simple rectangular faux wood grain alarm cloak and it is only going for like $17 at most (some for like $2 – disgraceful!).  I guess the Comet III is like the Archie Bunker of Spartus clocks.  I think the most expensive item on the two pages was this totally bizarre hand-made “Match Sticks Folk Prison Tramp Art Music Box Castle w/ Clock” with the words “MUST SEE!” written beside it. Huh??  It was apparently a steal at $99.  I feel certain that “must see” is a bit exaggerated; however, I pasted a picture of it below so you can judge for yourselves.

So I guess the point of this blog is that my Spartus, Comet III alarm clock is apparently a bit outdated, but I have been known to hang onto my technology longer than most before switching to the new and improved.  I thought I was the last holdout of the Razr cellphone until I found out that Stacey’s dad still has one!!  My Razr got so old (the salesman referred to it as "toxic") that it started randomly dropping calls and Mel refused to accept another call from me until I upgraded to the iPhone.  I still can't seem to part with my old heavy as shit silver Daewoo TV (no, Daewoo doesn't just make cars), which I keep in the guest bedroom (you're welcome friends and family).  Stacey's cousin once offered to take up a collection to buy me a new TV.  I don't get what the big deal is.  I finally purchased my Vizio flat screen a couple of years ago.  I can't really see how it has improved my quality of life all that much.  I should probably just be Amish.  Hey, folk can laugh all they want, my motto is if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!!  Old Sparty is still waking me up with aggravated precision each and every morning.  As long as he does that – he’s staying right where he is!!!

So, this was a totally random blog.  I thing that Bloggess chick’s silliness is rubbing off on me.  On a not so random note, I finally signed up for a Spoga (cycling and yoga) class.  I will attend this Saturday at 9:00am.  I will let you know how that goes.

DOWNED TREE UPDATE:  The tree stayed right where it was for two days.  Finally today they started chopping the tree up.  It looks like it’s going to take a while!

EATING TO LIVE UPDATE:  The birthday celebrations have put a bit of a kink in my dieting mojo, but I have been sticking to the vegan lifestyle otherwise.  I found out that pita chips and gingersnaps are vegan though and made the big mistake of buying some for the house.  I am not yet at the stage where I can eat “just a few” – So at the advice of my fellow dieters I finished off the bags I bought and vow not to buy any more bags for the house!!!!

CONFERENCE ROOM C UPDATE:  Not much to update here.  We are still waiting on word of more files to review.  I have found that Clare, Tanya and Juniata all email me when they are going to be absent or late.  I have never been a “call in sick” kind of person so I guess they figure I am the best one to get word to.  Not sure what that says about me.  But now when someone leaves and they don’t know if they will be at work the next day they say ‘I’ll email Amy.”  Oy vey.  I don’t want to be the responsible one.  Too much pressure!!!!

Meet my Spartus / Comet III - still going strong!!

 What my Google Search Produced:

Totally spaceshipy Spartus



Look-alike Spartus / Comet III



Cool Robot Spartus alarm & lamp in one!!



Totally random
Match Sticks Folk Prison Tramp Art Music Box Castle w/ Clock
Not really a "MUST SEE" is it??
I don't even understand what that name means???? 

And finally . . . .

Meet my Daewoo - still so full of life!