It was a rainy Sunday morning, and we wanted out of the house, so we did what any couple would do. We went to Big Lots. We have always had an affinity for this low-rent store; you never know what you’ll find. Sometimes it’s garden tools, sometimes it’s a free hot dog. But today, I found the most amazing thing yet.

While tracking down my honey (I knew he’d be in the chip aisle) I wandered through Big Lots’ “spice” section. They had normal things, like salt, weirder things, like French Fry Seasoning, and the weirdest of all…May I present “Flavor Enhancer.” What does it enhance, you ask? Everything! Fish! Chips! Macaroni! Cookies! What does it taste like? Well…apparently, MSG. Yes, the lone ingredient in the Flavor Enhancer is monosodium glutamate. I bet the 1974 Weight Watchers Folks are drooling over this stuff. Yuck.

While I was reading the July issue of Shape magazine, I ran across a little blip about geocaching (pg. 42), which is somewhat like an athletic treasure hunt. The article describes geacaching as follows:

“Participants use GPS devices and often traverse rocks, mountains, and creeks to locate caches–usually a stash of trinkets and clues to the next location–that have been hidden by other geocachers.”

Shape also directed me to geocaching.com which explains the sport in greater detail, and allows you to seach by zipcode for caches in your area.

Sounds like fun.

Isn’t this eco-friendly garden shed just neato (check out the mossy roof!)? Read the full story here.

Al Gore is awesome. My husband has always said so, and for any of you who doubt it, go watch his guest appearances on Futurama.

Fry: “Who are you people?”
Al Gore: “I’m Al Gore. And these are my vice presidential action rangers. A group of top-nerds whose sole duty is to prevent disruptions in the space-time continuum.”
Fry: “I thought your sole duty was to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.”
Al Gore:“That, and protect the space-time continuum. Read the Constitution.”

Like I said. Awesome.

Anyway, the husband has been pushing me to go see Gore’s enviro-documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. I really want to see it, but I’m afraid that it will just leave me hopelessly depressed. However, I’ve heard from friends that, while sad, it’s also really uplifting, because you learn what you can do to help the environment. And as someone who drives everywhere, rarely recycles, and throws away too much paper, I need to sit up and pay attention. Sometimes I have a little fantasy of moving somewhere like Portland, where I become a hardcore recycler and bike everywhere. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually do it. But until then, I need to see this movie and start fighting for (but not on!) this planet we all share (hear me, George W.? Share. Look it up, and stop fighting, already). So here’s my demand: Go. See. It.

When “I’m Like a Bird” came out in 2000, I kinda liked it. It was different from what was being played on the radio (always a relief) and since I was a B&N music manager at the time, I was constantly on the lookout for new and cool stuff. Then a couple of tracks from Whoa Nelly popped up on in-store play, and I started feeling the burnout. By the time her second single was released, I was totally over the whole thing, and I consequently ignored Folklore, her 2003 release.

All this brings me to her new album Loose, which I just got the other day. I was first turned on to it when I heard the track “Promiscuous,” which didn’t sound anything like the Nelly Furtado I remembered. Featuring Timbaland and a groovy club beat, it got stuck in me head. In a good way. Now that I’ve heard the whole album, I can see why she’s getting compared to Gwen Stefani, but I think Nelly really brings her own flavor to the disc. I dig the frenetic Spanish “No Hay Igual,” and “All Good Things” is a solid track despite the Coldplay association. It’s fun, varied, and good for working out, cleaning house, or chilling after a long night. Check it.