Why I’ve been on hiatus, May 2012 edition May 9, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in miscellaneous.Tags: April 29, blogs, computer, Dell, desktop, files, hiatus, laptop, posts, repair, Vista, Windows Explorer, XP
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Hey people!
OK, so by now, you’ve probably noticed the lack of posts, if you’re keeping tabs on my blog. Well, the pre-written stuff from last January and February finally ran out on April 29 (hey, I wrote a LOT!), and I planned to write more, so as to make a seamless transition. Unfortunately, this was not the case, since on March 11, my Windows Vista laptop computer broke. Windows Explorer (not to be confused with Internet Explorer), the program that manages files and allows for uploading, downloading, cutting, copying, pasting, moving, and attaching files, is offline. We suspect it’s a driver issue and will need to be repaired with a Dell system disc or I may just need a new computer. Neither of those have happened yet. Right now, all my laptop is good for is going online (a vital function, I know) and playing music (also important). I have a desktop, yes, but it’s a Windows XP from 2003 and it’s feeling its age. To say it goes at a snail’s pace would require me to go out, find some snails, and apologize to them. Yes, it’s THAT slow. Hence the lack of postings. Anyway, thought you should know. I really want to try and tell everyone what I’m up to, so I may release a post once or twice in the near future, but it’ll be tough to send posts- especially posts with pictures- with my laptop damaged and my desktop being slow. Anyway, thought you’d like to know! I’ll definitely keep everyone posted when I get my laptop fixed or just get a new computer, which is really what I should do, but it’s VERY expensive. That’s my situation right now!
-Kenny
Washington Square Mall run, April 9 April 17, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in east.Tags: Aeropostale, Target, Washington Square Mall
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So I went back to Washington Square Mall today. I’d been wanting to do that since my trip on March 15 was a disaster…anyway, I noticed they got new directories at the mall, and it was the same design as Castleton Square and Greenwood Park Mall’s directories for once! (Washington Square Mall’s directories usually get a secondary design.) I noticed that in addition to losing ‘This N That’ last month, the mall also lost a Christian supply store and Vitamin World, with the latter’s space being taken over by ‘C N P Hollywood Dollar’. However, one thing the mall DOES still have (and the main reason I go there) is Aeropostale. I went in there and NOTHING was a good enough sale- shorts being $20-25 and polos being $15-20, all of which is STILL too pricey. Luckily, I found a blue XL T-Shirt on sale for $5 on the clearance rack! I bought it. Then I went to this smoothie place- Sui Feng Ju, I think it’s called. They also have Chinese food, but I was still too full from lunch for more food. Frullati raised their price from $3.48 to $4.24 for a small smoothie, and Surf City Squeeze wasn’t much better at $3.89. This new place only charged $3.15, probably ’cause they used water or ice instead of cream, but for the price it was worth it! The funny thing about Washington Square is that it is half second-tier businesses like Torc, Hairapalooza, Fun World, reTails Neighborhood Pet Place, Rainbow, FunkE Fusion, ConsignMEN, and Indy Wholesale Furniture, and half first-tier, like Sears, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Aeropostale, Victoria’s Secret, Radio Shack, Buffalo Wild Wings, and MCL. First-tier businesses are more ‘high name’ national chains that people have heard of, and second-tier businesses are more unknown name local businesses that people may or may not know of. Anyway, after starting to drink my smoothie, I went to Target to see if they had any Weber Grill barbecue sauce. They didn’t, but at least I managed to find 99 cent berry-scented Glade air freshener! (Wal-Mart was out of that during my last visit.) Then, the most peculiar thing happened. This old lady who looked to be in her early 50s, looked Russian and had a thick Slovakian accent, asked me if I could explain to her how solar-powered yard lights work since she said she couldn’t read English. Luckily, we have about a dozen of those lights in my yard, so it was very easy to show her. She said thank you when I was done and went on her way. But on the way out, as I finished backing up, the car behind me started backing up and didn’t stop. Had I not slammed my car into drive and pulled forward, the lady would’ve rear-ended me with her rear end! Oh, and then she just drove off. Annoying. At least I found $3.78 gas at the Speedway at 10th & Mitthoeffer when the north side is still $3.95.
Article Update 4-11 April 11, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in news.Tags: April, articles, newspaper, Southside Times
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Hey people! OK so I haven’t updated anyone on my articles since January 15, so here’s everything from then to April 11 (today)! (I am well aware it’s a lot, but maybe skip through and pick a few at random?)
These are the ones I’m most proud of because they took a LOT of work and had to be handled VERY delicately!
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/08/buckley-calls-for-resignation-councilman-accused-of-solicitation/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/15/mobley-set-for-court-in-april/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/29/bibles-hymnals-spread-love-worldwide/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/01/26/uindy-hosts-ny-giants-for-practice/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/04/05/bg-apartment-owners-soon-hit-with-rate-hike/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/23/hospital%E2%80%99s-farewell-emotional/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/22/bg-courts-rock-pile-buyer/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/01/19/pet-shelter-receives-61200-to-fund-staffing/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/15/st-francis-exits-few-services-remain-in-beech-grove/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/09/geeky-gadgets-fun-for-humdrum/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/01/19/buyer-saves-eckstein-shoes/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/29/entrepreneur-hopes-for-takedown/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/16/bg-library-director-caters-to-patrons/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/02/thrill-of-game-energizes-super-bowl-village/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/29/bg-pushing-for-audit-mayor-clerk-seeking-records-of-6-million/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/02/winner-of-super-bowl-package-auction-announced/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/09/beech-grove-thankful-for-super-bowl-no-cleanup-plans-underway/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/09/college-goal-sunday-to-help-indiana-students-2/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/01/26/10284/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/15/bg-marathon-to-aid-riley/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/01/land-reuse-path-to-growing-peace/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/16/burmese-grow-to-8000-on-south-side-chin-refugees-to-share-culture-on-saturday/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/01/19/public-or-secret-bg-mayor-councilman-differ-on-vote/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/08/relief-efforts-seek-to-aid-tornado-victims/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/02/rooms-sparse-for-big-game-super-size-the-bill-to-get-some-sleep/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/09/10497/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/09/greenwood-book-author-strikes-success-with-latest-children%E2%80%99s-book/
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/02/02/agency-readies-for-supersized-leftovers-food-pantries-strive-to-minimize-hunger/
I’m also a featured writer in this article:
http://www.ss-times.com/2012/03/15/should-center-grove-become-its-own-town/
Thanks for reading!
-Kenny
Ryan’s vs. Ryan’s April 9, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in east, south.Tags: 10th Street, buffets, dinner, east, food, ice cream, Ryan's Steakhouse, Shadeland Avenue, south, Stop 11 Road, teriyaki chicken, US-31
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OK so within the past two weeks, I went to both Ryan’s Steakhouses in Indy: the one on the east side off 10th & Shadeland and the one on the south side off US-31 & Stop 11.
Southside location- good for ice cream!
East side location- good for teriyaki chicken!
House for sale April 2, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in east, news.Tags: Emerson, house, sale
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Here’s pics of a house for sale off 16th & Emerson in Indianapolis at 5621 East 16th Street, just a few minutes from Community East Hospital. You get 3 lots (one with house) for $79,000. Call (317) 409-6932 if interested. The number isn’t mine, but tell them the reference came from here!
Incredible Pizza Company at Lafayette Square Mall: now closed March 25, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in news, west.Tags: 2012, closed, Incredible Pizza Company, Lafayette Square Mall, March
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THIS is disappointing. The Incredible Pizza Company at Lafayette Square closed last Monday. Now I have no reason to go back to that area! http://www.incrediblepizza.com/home/locations/indiana/lafayette-square-mall
I miss Borders March 17, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in downtown, north, south.Tags: Barnes & Noble, books, Books-a-Million, bookstores, Borders
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I still can’t believe it’s been since September that Borders is gone. I really enjoyed going in there and browsing graphic novels, CDs, DVDs, and sometimes even books. My favorite one was the one at Keystone at the Crossing, though my most visited one was the one at Castleton Square. The employees were so laid back the layout was good, and everything was neatly organized. The selection was pretty good too. I loved the music playing in the background, the employees being helpful and willing to find something, the vibrant color scheme, and the overall casual atmosphere. Plus, whenever my friends and I would hang out at Castleton Square, we always met at Borders. And now it’s all gone forever. And I’m sorry, but Barnes & Noble just doesn’t do it for me. The employees walk up to you and stare at you if you’re there past closing, the layout’s weird, everything’s a mess, and the selection (especially at the location by my house) is awful, which reminds me why I switched to Borders by the time I got to high school. I miss Borders so much…I had so many good times there, with my friends or just by myself. The closest thing I’ve found to it is the Books-a-Million at Traders Point, which is like Borders, minus the vibrant colors and helpful employees. I wish Borders had gotten their online presence and marketing strategies sooner. Maybe they’d still be here.
Jet Lag- to the EIGHTH power!!! March 15, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in miscellaneous.Tags: Fefe Dobson, Jenna McDougall, Jet Lag, Kelly Cha, Marie-Mai, music recommendation, Natasha Bedingfield, Saidah Baba Talibah, Simple Plan, Tantri Kotak, Vanessa Amorosi
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I have been listening to this song since I discovered it October 21, 2011 at 11:52. Pretty much nonstop, in case you were wondering. For whatever reason, I am STILL not sick of it…8 versions and 3 languages later. The only song that trumps this is my favorite song, “Breathe” by Michelle Branch. Breathe was almost demoted by this song, which managed to dethrone Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” as my 2nd favorite song! But anyway, I thought I’d treat you to all 8 versions of…JET LAG!!!!!
Natasha Bedingfield:
Marie-Mai (French Version):
Kelly Cha (Chinese Version):
Tantri Kotak:
Fefe Dobson:
Vanessa Amorosi:
Jenna McDougall:
Saidah Baba Talibah:
Goodbye, Old Country Buffet March 14, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in south.Tags: bankruptcy, closing, food, Old Country Buffet, Ponderosa, restaurants, Ryan's Steakhouse
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I got a nasty surprise on January 27, 2012. I went to go get takeout at Old Country Buffet on the south side on Hanna & East streets, when I saw that they were CLOSED! I mean the “out of business” type of CLOSED! 
I was shocked…I hadn’t been there in a few months, it was the last one left in the city, and I REALLY enjoyed eating there! That was one of my favorite restaurants, and they don’t have buffets like that on my side of town. Yeah, there’s Golden Corral, but it never held a candle to Old Country Buffet, Ponderosa, and Ryan’s Steakhouse, all 3 of which are southside exclusives…well, except there IS a Ryan’s at 6th & Shadeland on the east side. Anyway, my point is, you can’t find good country cooking that good on the north side. And I looked it up online that the owner was going into bankruptcy and closed 81 stores. And I hate to admit it, but there weren’t too many people in Old Country Buffet the last few times I went there, though I hadn’t been there since September 3. Ryan’s Steakhouse is owned by the same company though. Both locations, US-31 & Stop 11 on the South side and 6th & Shadeland on the east side, are ALWAYS full, so at least they’re still there. But Old Country Buffet was 6th on my top 10 favorite restaurants, and they had the BEST mashed potatoes, fish, ham, and chocolate milk. Had I known they were closing, I would’ve gone there one last time. I’m gonna miss it as much as I miss Borders.
A good time at the bad Old Navy. March 10, 2012
Posted by kennynorman in north.Tags: employees, Keystone at the Crossing, layout, Old Navy, selection, size, stock
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So on Jan. 11, after hanging with my best friend Gabriel and going to the comic store, I decided, purely on a whim, to check out the Old Navy at Keystone at the Crossing, since I was so close to the area. Just some background on that one: it’s my least favorite Old Navy store of the three in town. It’s small, mostly women’s clothing, the items are disorganized, the selection is low, my size is rarely in stock, the employees are rude, they count the items you take into the changing room, clothing is smashed together and up a wall, and it’s hard to tell where one section ends and another begins. But to my surprise, I actually had a good experience there for the first time ever. I walked in and I found two pairs of pants (one insulated) and a jacket in my size. The men’s section was paired with the girls’ and the women’s with the boys’, so you could tell what section ended where. The layout itself was neater and not up a wall as much, and the employees were very, VERY nice, attentive, and helpful. It was almost like I was at Greenwood Park Mall or Traders Point, which is saying a LOT! I actually have been back to this location a few times since that day. It still doesn’t offer me as much as the other two locations do, but hey, if I’m in the area, I’ll be inclined to check this store out. It’s been getting better lately and worth a second look, and it didn’t used to be that way!
