It's done
We're homeowners.
Damn, I'm excited. I'll link to his entry later.
Oh damn. I even just hooked up the electric on the 3rd (the girls ended theirs on the 31st)
Kick ass.
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May 29, 2003
Topsoil R Us
Just called the topsoil place. Looks like we could be in business ASAP.
I've checked pricing on the replacement gutters, etc, and that's under control.
I emailed my friend the plaster expert... waiting to hear back from him.
Read up on leaky toilets. I'm ready for that.
The fun could begin in a week!
Frustrating
Between yesterday and today, Apple seems to have removed iBook batteries, chargers, and replacement power cords from their online store. What the hell? I tried searching and nothing comes up.
Looks like I'll have a dead iBook in my future.
Thank you scriptygoddess
This sounds like a good solution to links w/o using Blogrolling.
C L O S I N G
Today at noon, we hope.
So much else going on, I don't have time to think about it, really.
Today's the Day
I slept really well, surprisingly. But, after I woke up, read some of the pages I printed out on what to expect at closing, and emailed Nala about it, I'm kind of nervous.
Yeah. Nervous.
So, anyway... he closes at noon in Westerville.
I so need this to be over.
May 28, 2003
Geeky Post
Look out Dubya
Weapons of Mass Destruction found in Maryland
"You never know what's there until you start digging," Ball said. "We've generally ruled out finding a nuclear weapon."
May 27, 2003
First Post
Well... the initial layout was done weeks ago. I've been sitting on it till today, and today I have some more links to put up. But, here it is, such as it is, the house blog.
I've also been working on my finances. Fun. I think we can sell all of our old stuff and get new. Really. I think I'm ok with that. Really. Honestly. It's ok. However, I am hanging onto the "new" recliner. It's new. I'm not selling it yet. Well, unless it means getting a new chair to take its place. Ha!
Ok, so that's it for now. More in a bit, after I fix the archive pages.
Utilities Etc
So, I spent nearly 20 minutes on the phone with TimeWarner to get our cable service switched to the new address in 10 days. There was no problem scheduling, just a problem with the computer slowing up the customer service rep. Apparently they were "experiencing an unusually high volume of calls". So, the 4 hour window is set, and then I could move on to other things.
Like AEP. Their website collects information for establishing new service. BAM. I should find out later today if everything went ok, or if I will need to speak to someone in person, etc.
Oh, and I found local retailers for the lights I found online. Woohoo.
May 26, 2003
So tired of the waiting.
I talked to my mom Friday night, and they'll be moving into their new 2-bedroom house near Daytona Beach this coming week. Paying cash ($19k) and buying a vacant home lets you do that, I guess. Manufactured homes run cheap, and it's in a gated retirement community. The only things that need done are redecorating, and the new carpets are coming the day after they close. Mom is redoing the vinyl flooring in the kitchen, and she says wallpaper too. She also said she didn't like the Harvest Gold cooktop. Furnishings are coming from the estate sales in the area, which seem to let everything go for mere pennies on the dollar. Looks like they could be back just as we are finishing the move.
And, my friend Ron is buying on Wheeling Island, back home. Again, something excessively cheap, via land contract, and only paying a total of $15k. With $20k worth of work. I told him to expect $40k... just from experience pricing roofs and concrete work.
However, 2 days of my weekend were spent looking at furniture and a fridge for the new house. We've got a good budget, I think. Now we just need to prioritize.
Yep. Prioritize. I think we've gotten way ahead of ourselves when it comes to furnishings. Get the necessities. Then move. Then get the rest as we have time and money.
Need to check the budget again.
May 23, 2003
jerked around.
No other industry has the potential to jerk you around on a sales transaction quite like real estate. Don't get me wrong, homebuying is still a great idea, but the whole process of "closing" should be something simple. Setting a date and time when everything can come together and happen. It sounds easy.
It should be easy.
Why am I hearing horror stories from everyone at work? Why do we not know now if we're closing on the 29th or 30th? Well, I'm guessing the 30th is the back up plan.
Still. Lots of craziness. My coworker's father is a title agent, and says closing is a big mess. Hopefully all will go smoothly, and we'll still be able to move some before the yard sale weekend.
May 22, 2003
house update: dining room
Well, you've been watching me post over and over about stuff we were (I was) buying for the house. I'm done. Pretty much. I have 2 more phones to bid on, but having lost so many auctions because the people wanted $220 for a vintage phone (sucks balls, I tell you), I'm glad to be done.
Yesterday I found out the contract for the house had to be rewritten, but yadda yadda, now it's changed our date of possession. It's now the 6th. 7 days after we close. Apparently the 7 days is set in stone because it's in the contract. All I know is it is frustrating as hell. All this stuff should say "no later than" and be contingent on the buyers moving out. I just put in for vacation to move, and now I have to change it. This pissed me off immensely, since now it's AFTER our yard sale. What the fuck. Bad timing. The goal was to be moved before the yard sale and then not have to move squat after it.
Last night, we went to dinner with our neighbors, Dave and Mary Beth.While waiting to leave, we found out they want to get a new dining room set, and want to sell theirs. Guess what? It's deco. And it's priced right. And it has ALL pieces. 6 chairs, a table with leaf, a buffet with hutch, a sideboard and a server. Kick ass, eh? Oh, and they're willing to let us pay on installments. Woohoo!
Then we got talking about lighting... lots of stuff we like, and which fits with the room, and some of it is inexpensive. Inexpensive is always good. And, Mary Beth says she has tons of lamps in the attic to let us browse for other rooms.
This is the chandelier I found last night:
That means we're done with the dining room! Kick ass! And we've got a good start on the living room, although I still need a photo from my friend Ray of the furniture he wants to get rid of. I may have to get creative with the stuff I have already.
Ok, now I'm running later than I wanted to be for work, so I'll finish posting in a bit.
May 21, 2003
One good thing: Lamp
Oh, I picked up this today.
Fortin Iron Works is cool, even if they're only open 8:00-4:30.
And, I lost ANOTHER phone. This one:
You win some, you lose more.
i should go back to bed.
Today is just one of those days. More has happened than I want to take the time to mention, but I really am feeling shitty today.
On top of the sore throat I had this morning, and the losing eBay bids on stuff for the house, I'm really pissed.
Why? Well...
Firstly, I was just given notice that the transit system which would deliver me to and from work every day from my new home is closing down the routes I would be using for the summer.
Secondly, our closing date has changed. We now won't be closing till the 30th, but I cannot attend. No big deal, I guess. I mean, my name isn't on it, so who cares, right? But the reason I can't attend is because of a mandatory meeting in which I will be insulted. Again. And Again.
Thirdly, well, it's just been a shitty day. I'm on call this weekend from 6-9am on Saturday.
I want to go crawl into a ball under the covers in the nice dark bedroom and sulk. I just don't care anymore today. I'm angry enough to beat the crap out of someone or something, but too apathetic and depressed to be motivated enough to follow through.
Guess it's just one of those days.
lovely. sick. papers. etc.
I woke up with a sore throat. Took some echinacea (did I spell that right? I always mess it up). Gonna fight it one more day before I talk to the doctor. Hopefully it will go away.
Got another 10/10 on my second paper in my writing class. I really am loving it, despite the chick who constantly either is pissing me off or offending me. It's a class based on discussion and social diversity, so there will probably always be that. Anyway, turned in my outline yesterday for my paper on food as art and tradition in the Eastern-European-American community. I need to interview 3 people, (Paul, Nala, and Ben), and then also plan my presentation. I would like to get some samples of the foods for my presentation (goblaki, kielbasa, kapusta, czarnina, pierogie, etc.) Of course, stupid ignorant bitch will get none of it.
Yep. It's funny... I feel more a part of the Polish community than I do my own ancestry. I mean, my family has been here for 13 generations, and we don't really have traditional foods, unless you talk about desserts.
May 20, 2003
a mission a day late
It's Monday Mission 3.20 and I'm a day late because I didn't like the topics.
1. Is there a movie you would like to see Hollywood make a sequel to?
Sequels only seem appropriate when the story has already been planned out ahead of time. If it were written all at once as one long complex story, like Lord of the Rings. However, X2 was good, and that was also a comic-book flick.
2. What movie sequel do you think should never have been made?
I agree with Juice. Too many to list.
3. Are there any books (comic, novel, etc.) that you would like to see made into a movie? Who should star in it?
Jon Katz's Geeks, with Josh Hartnett and the guy with the big nose from Antitrust. Weird Like Us with Thora Birch and Anna Paquin. And, for the most part, I agree with Asa's picks as far as comics to movies... I would like to see something done with Top Ten. And maybe even Catwoman, but that one's already being done. Selina should be dark and mysterious more than trampy or cliched, more like she is in the current comic. It needs to be a "detective" script, and less of a traditional super-sappy superhero flick. Think about someone like Chris Noth as Slam Bradley and maybe a stronger, more thoughtful female as Selina. Holly should be a lesser-name too. Oh, and Dr. Thompson should be older. Think...
4. When was the last time the you got a shot at the Doctor's office? Do you prefer them in the arm or your backside? Or would you rather just take a
prescription?
Can't remember, and arm.
5. Do you make friends easier in "Real Life" or online or is it about the same? Do you have closer friendships in "Real Life" or online? Why do you think that is? Are you ok with that or would you like to make a change?
a) Online, really, but then that's logical because I'm really shy to start with. b) Real life, because emotions come through. I'm fine with both, although I would like to be able to make friends easier in real life.
6. When you first got your drivers license how did you feel ? Did you get it on the first try, second, third, more than that ? Do you have a license ? If
no, do you plan to get one ? Why or why not ?
I started driving when I was 13. Got my license at 16, on the first try. I still have it, but I am going to start taking the bus to work from the new place.
7. Have you ever had your tonsils removed? Did you ever come close? Tell me about that.
Nope nope and nope.
more ebaying ahead.
something is either wrong cosmically or there's some ebay trick...
i lost the wonderful phone pictured below by $1 in the last 30 seconds as my browser crashed.
this is the third one i'd lost in the last day or so due to a browser crash in the last 30 seconds.
i was very very pissed off.
thankfully, i found a couple more to bid on, (including one which matched) so my ebaying isnt finished yet.
watermelon hell
Thanks to Courtney for reminding me to go back to iusedtobelieve.com. If you check under Foods/Watermelons you will find the following addition from my friend Kelly (who occasionally pops by this site). I've met her mom, and I can totally see this happening:
when i was around four or five, my mother used to tell me that when you ate watermelon seeds, you'd turn into a watermelon. i of course pretended not to believe her, but one day as we munched on some watermelon, she ate the seeds instead of spitting them out. "you'll turn into a watermelon!!" i cried. she told me that was something she'd made up, and i went up to my room to play until dinner.around six, my mother called out for me to come to the table, but i was busy playing so i didn't go. there was a knock on my bedroom door, and my mom said, "honey, are you coming to dinner?"
i turned to tell her i'd be there in a minute, and there was a WATERMELON WHERE HER HEAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN!!!! i screamed bloodly murder as the watermelon admonished me on my tardiness and told me to wash my hands before coming to the table. and then my mom dropped the melon to reveal her real head and laughed and laughed as she headed downstairs.
i no longer believe watermelon seeds turn you into a watermelon, but i i do believe in therapy.
I laugh every time I think about it. It's so perfect.
May 19, 2003
So far...
A percolator:
A carafe:
A mixer:
A decanter:
And a lamp:
Done with Ebay
I'm done. Done eBaying. No more ebaying till we move. Well, I mean, aside from the phone. I still have to win that. But really, I'm done. No more.
May 18, 2003
mutterings
Time for another unconscious muttering...
1. Naked:: Lunch
2. Singular:: Entitiy
3. Particle:: Board
4. Unified:: Theory
5. Lion:: Lamb
6. Capitulate:: Compromise
7. Quantum:: Physics
8. Celestial:: Bodies
9. Motion:: Detector
10. Delight:: Ecstacy
home
it's not often when i make the trek home, but today i had to go pick up a couple things at my parents' house. while in town, i got to peruse the Antique Mall, and picked up a local paper for the ads.
while i was driving through town, i saw the sign for the yearly blood drive at my old high school. The Blood Bash is the NATIONS LARGEST high school blood drive. How cool is that? You know why it's so big? They put on a huge, day long music fest outside in the football practice field. It's free. You just have to give blood.
It's always been the biggest blood drive in the area. Now it's nationally ranked! How cool is that! Something for the town to be proud of other than strawberries and pumpkins!
May 16, 2003
keep the eBay away!
Oh yes... you knew about the mixer I won... which should arrive today or tomorrow.
Now granted, that is the ONLY thing I have won, and I am bidding on only a couple more things... so far. BUT my "Watched Items" list is as long as it could be. Granted, some things have expired, but I kept them there for reference, pricewise.
What am I looking at? Well, I'm looking at a lot of things... (So help me if you bid against me, I will kill you.)
Vintage Cafe Curtains for Breakfast Area: If they don't look that great, I won't be out much cash.
Vintage Rotary Wall Phone: This is also for that same room.
Chrome Shaving Mirror for Bathroom
Now for the things I'm watching...
Oak Dining Table: Not great, but not bad.
Neat Little Cabinet: Same deal.
Sort-of Deco Hoosier Cabinet: for some reason, I really like this.
Vintage Deco Cocktail Server: Nice!
Deco Airplane Prop Clock: Too expensive but BEAUTIFUL.
Deco Hall Tree/Coat Rack: Too expensive(?) but really nice.
Vintage Deco Brass and Chrome Chandelier: This kicks ass, in my opinion.
Deco Nude Lady with Moon Lamp: Probably buying this. It's local, too.
Deco/Moderne Coat Rack and Umbrella Stand: Intriguing.
Philco Deco Wood Radio: If it goes cheap enough, it will be mine. Works, too.
Saved the best for last: Oak Deco Sideboard. This one is titz.
friday five
Here's my Friday Five, about food.
1. What drinking water do you prefer -- tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?
Prefer? filtered tap, I suppose. But, I'll drink anything.
2. What are your favourite flavor of chips?
I know I'm boring, but plain. Preferably light salt. Peanut oil for crunchier chips. My all time favorites, although expensive, are the Salt Bay brand chips.
3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?
Like to cook? Me? Umm. Well, I sort of forgot how, but there are some dishes I'm good at. Green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce. I'm pretty good at chili, too, in my opinion. I used to make a great chicken and broccoli rice casserole thing, too, but like I said, I sort of forgot how. I'd really like to learn to make lemon cake pudding, and these kick-ass baked breaded chicken fingers my mom made.
4. How do you have your eggs?
Usually scrambled, sometimes fried, rarely poached or hard-boiled.
5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?
Nala. Unless you count potlucks, in which case today, the folks at work have put together quite a spread for a coworker's 30-something-year retirement party...
May 15, 2003
death pool
I told you I entered the Death Pool this year, but I didnt tell you I got chastised by Nala for not picking a long-shot.
All my people have one foot in the grave.
Katharine Hepburn
Ronald Reagan
Bob Hope
Karol Wojtyla, aka Pope John Paul II
Dom Deluise
Well, maybe Dom is my long shot. Certainly Corey Feldman or Macaulay Culkin would be a longer shot, but hey... Dom's got quite a few years and pounds on them.
Thursday morning drag
I found some new reading material thanks to Courtney.
So many little things to do today. I've already been here at work over an hour, but it already seems like a full day. Can I go home and sleep now? Please?
Yeah. So much to do. And a paper's outline to write.
May 14, 2003
One more... that makes 4
Yesterday, I entered Olsen Ebright's Death Pool 2003! We've discussed having our own Celebrity Deathwatch over here, but they seem to have a good one over there, and it's pretty simple.
You join the list, throw out 5 celebs you think have a good chance to die, submit $5, and wait to see who kicks off.
Now, if I were doing it, I'd work some kind of points system, and also change the number of celebrities to 10. But, that's complicated, and Olsen is keeping it simple.
Yes, it's morbid, but why not.
3 in one morning?
Ok, I finally got around to checking my email, and OhioJay had this to say about the girl we all love to hate in my Ethnic Arts class: "CUT HER."
Well, Jay, some days you'd really like to teach someone a lesson, but you have to hope that their own stupidity will do it for you. Or at the very least, cause them to win a Darwin award.
cleaning to move
one of the things on my to-do list before the move is to gather, clean and organize things. My first goal was linens.
Now, 6 years ago, when I lived in that neighborhood before, I had a couple really great sets of formal drapes for my dining room. They looked great on the long, high windows we had, and made the space look classy. Well, that is, before my dumbass roommate tried to dye them all (at the same time) in my little washer.
So, when I moved from there, I packed everything up and basically forgot about them, other than the occasional "damn him for making my formal curtains tie-dyed!"
A couple days ago, I bought some Rit dye remover to see if I could salvage them. I stuck one pair in, and at the end of the wash cycle, they were back to their original color. Tomorrow, I'm going to do the same on pairs 2 and 3, and then also buying some Oxy-Clean to try and get some stains out (yep, also from him. I think maybe when they are finally clean, I should Scotch-Gard them!)
So, it looks like I may have my formal drapes back after all. Who knows if the color will even work, or if Nala will like them, but at least they'll be clean.
wardriving
so, yesterday, I was blogging and corresponding from Cup-O-Joe in Clintonville... and later Cafe Corner on 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenues. All of Cup-O-Joe's and Stauf's locations have free Internet Oasis wireless access (except maybe the airport?), and Pete at Cafe Corner just installed his.
Getting "away" from things just for a short time, and still being able to connect to the 'net is a great thing. I haven't really looked for any other wireless points, since they're so prevalent in the coffee shops. The Vee already has claimed a spot on our new back deck when we move in. I suppose I should upgrade to Airport Extreme at some point... she might be able to access that from her apartment, 150 feet away.
I pay $2/month for unlimited wireless at OSU, but not all buildings are up-to-date. However, the Oval is, and a lot of the classrooms in the buildings in which I have classes or meetings.
Has anyone you know gone "wardriving" here in town, or found other open wireless spots?
May 13, 2003
i'm not a violent man
I'm really not a violent man, I swear. I don't condone violence against women. In fact, I was always taught NOT to hit a girl unless she's really kicking my ass.
But, there are times when a good smack across the face ala Cher -- "Snap out of it!" -- could go a long way.
For instance, again with the 18 year old freshman girl in my Ethnic Arts class. Let me set the scene for you. It's another Tuesday night, and we're watching a fairly boring early-80s documentary on Native American life. Not the Americanized commercialized kind, but the live-off-of and respect the land kind.
If you think you can picture it in your mind, let me help. Culture that farms, traps, hunts, fishes, snares, sews, furs, tans (leather), beads, weaves, taps trees for sap, cuts timber for firewood and building materials, cooks, etc. That's the kind of place I'm talking about. Self sufficiency, for the most part.
Those of you who know me, know I grew up in that kind of environment. I know I was rare, even then, but I do know that there were quite a few other farmers in the area that believed the same way, and that my grandparents on both sides believed the same way. I've talked about it before, how my maternal grandparents moved into the highlands upon retirement to live off the land and the animals they raised.
So, I was offended when she said "Nobody could possibly live like that today. Not when we have Target."
SMACK!
I was so fucking offended. And then when she said "Everyone hunts for food. Nobody hunts for sport."
What world do you come from anyway? Certainly not mine.
I came from a town where the first Monday of deer hunting week, every male took off from school, and we had an excused absence. Several other people had the same experience. And almost none of the folks ever used the deer for anything but a trophy.
My mom made all of our family's clothes. Jeans, shirts, sweaters, dresses. All of our linens. She took care of the cattle. She took care of the house. She managed the finances. She made all the quilts. She baked. She cooked. She canned. She gardened. She did everything. My dad baled hay, took care of the fences and the barns and the major house renovation. My mom did all the smaller woodwork. The wood came from trees on our property. The firewood, too, which we heated with.
For most of my younger years, this is how it worked. We were dirt poor, so we lived off the land. Consumerism was not a part of my life.
It does happen. Ideally, it would happen more.
Unfortunately, most of the young people have no idea about any of this "live off the land" type stuff. After a disaster, people like me will be the only people left who have any clue how to survive.
Unfortunately, people like her are going to be the people who are going to drag the rest of us down. They'll probably kill us for being different.
every time
Every time I think about our new kitchen, I think of the Disgusting Rebecca D, and how I could see her smiling at all the retro goodness. She would be the perfect model for photos of that room and the breakfast area...
And of course, you can't have her without her sister, the Double D, and their partner in everything skank, the ever so popular Christine, lounging in the living room and/or dining room with a cocktail.
Dare I say it, our new place is (going to be) fabulous.
children of the 70s
A friend of mine sent me this, and for the most part, it applies to me as well, even though I was 7 in 1980.
Note: This monologue, by an author unknown, appears in various forms on the Internet.
You lived as a child in the '60s or the '70s. Looking back, it's hard to believe that we have managed to live as long as we have. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention hitchhiking to town as a young kid!) We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable. We played dodgeball and sometimes the ball would really hurt. We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us.
Remember accidents? We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it. We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank sugar soda but we were seldom overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one grape soda with four friends, from one bottle and no one died from this. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X Boxes, video games at all, 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cellular phones, personal computers, Internet chat rooms - we had friends next door.
We went outside and found them. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rung the bell or just walked in and talked to them. Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves! Out there in the cold cruel world! Without a guardian. How did we do it? How did we survive? We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Some students weren't as smart as others so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade - Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was practically unheard of.
They actually sided with the law, imagine that! The generation of people who were kids during the '60s and '70s has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to. And you're one of them, so congratulations!
This HAS to be an indicator as to the downward spiral of American society, don't you think? [Addendum:] I mean, in fact, the progression of absentee parents, the lack of personal responsibility, and the need for coddling children for every damn thing.
May 12, 2003
what an age we are...
Wow. So, conversing with my friend Kris Kelly, dj from the Twin Cities with the big ..., I found out that even more old friends are buying houses. Getting married, too. Scary stuff, which ties into the Monday Mission question about generations.
Appliances R Us
So, at lunch today, I took a drive to one of the 3 area ApplianceSmart locations. Wow. I thought I would run in, look at fridges, and run out, but DAMN they had a lot of stuff. I know we still need to hit HHGregg, but still, I'm betting this place beats them hands down. Yes, you need to look at the items carefully as some are scratch and dent, but all are warranteed from mechanical defects, etc.
ApplianceSmart carry overstocks, refurbs, scratch and dents, and last model year stuff... but, for example, I could get a stainless fridge for the same price as a lower model white fridge. I could get a black bottom-freezer for the same price as a white top-freezer anywhere else, easily. And, of course, there's always the side-by-sides.
Then, I got distracted by the ranges. Yes, we have a nice range in our new kitchen, but this place made it possible to think of the "what if's" -- what if, down the road, we wanted a better/bigger range. Maybe a black or stainless one. We could get it there, easily.
Yeah yeah yeah. I know. It's silly. That's why I moved to dehumidifiers. Whirlpool, 50pt, $100. That means 2 of those for the price of a Kenmore 80pt. Yeah.
The washer prices didnt seem that great. Nor the dryers. Unless they're all higher end. Same with the freezers. They all seemed to be normal prices. I didnt look at range hoods or wall ovens or microwaves, dishwashers, or a/c units.
And that's how I spent my lunch break.
Monday Monday Mission...
1. Who are your favorite cartoon characters?
Nowadays or when I watched cartoons daily? I always liked Captain Caveman, Battle of the Planets, and now I hate to go without watching the Simpsons, Futurama, or Family Guy. Oh, and if I left out the DC superheroes of JL or Superfriends, I'd never forgive myself.
2. Have you yet reached the point where you feel like you are from a different generation than today's youth?
Just read my entries about the current course I'm taking. I am now the oldest person in any of my classes by almost 10 years, and it's horrifying to hear the things coming out of these kids' mouths.
3. What was the first Music Video that really impressed you? What made it so amazing?
Take on Me, AHa, 1985, the lead singer and the animation.
4. Name a song and an era that comes to mind when you hear the word "Retro."
A song AND an era? I think 1950s first, then 60s and 70s, but a song? How about an album? Hang Ten by the Wedges from 1963.
5. How has your life been affected by HIV or AIDS?
Well, I had sex wearing a condom, does that count? Oh, and an ex got coked up and did some stupid things and disappeared, does that count, too?
6. If you were on a "special day" nominating committee, who or what would you recommend that we create a day in honor of?
Honor? How about Sh*theaded Politician Day, where for one day, the dumbasses can't speak, and actually have to listen to constituents.
7. How would you feel if you lost every possession you owned? Or would it matter? How would you go on with your life?
I would be very sad. Very very sad. But, then, I'd just keep chugging along. I mean, you can't change it so you might as well move on.
A Bonus Question: What part of your body would you like to have permanent hair removal performed on?
Erm. Umm. I'm not saying where the first place would be, but my chin might be second, and my chest and back third. Not that I have much in either place. Oh, and if you come up with a way to make it permanently grow, I'll take some back on my head, please.
the hardest part
Oh i hate moving... it makes me think of all the new cool things I could be getting if I had the money.
We did take a look at some new fridges, lawnmowers, trimmers, and dehumidifiers... stuff that we really really need. But then I ventured into the "will need in a couple months," and "projects I would like to finish" categories. And then into the just plain Wants.
The next two weeks will have to be great selling and throwing out and goodwill weeks, for sure.
May 11, 2003
unconscious mutterings again
More mutterings
1. Want:: Need
2. Pleasure:: Center
3. Sugar:: Spice
4. Special:: Ed
5. Pure:: Ivory
6. Right:: Left
7. Something:: More
8. Cherish:: Love
9. Pub:: Crawl
10. Snap:: Crackle Pop
Happy Mothers' Day
Although I know that none of them will ever read this, I wanted to say Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms in my family. Grammie Frances in Maine, Grandma Edna here in Ohio, and of course, my mom, who is now enjoying her oceanfront condo in Florida while they look for a home.
That's all.
May 10, 2003
shopping for appliances
today, after breakfast and a movie (a mighty wind) with Juice and the Vee, we went shopping for fridges, dehumidifiers, lawnmowers, garage door openers, ladders, and mortar.
What we found was, Sears Kenmore appliances prices beat anybody, and they're made by Whirlpool and Fridgidaire. How sad that none of the other stores seemed to have even close to matching prices, even on sale.
Well, perhaps next week I will check Appliance Smart.
In the meantime, I found the following retro chrome mixer. Hooray!
So anyway... time to do my budgets and start packing.
May 9, 2003
closing
I was going to say "congrats to the crankmeister", but it just sounded wrong. Actually, so does crankmistress. So, congrats to CrankyChick, who closes on her house this evening.
Also, in other news, we'll be closing on our place on the 27th. THANK GOD. I can't wait.
organizational friday five
It's 5 about organization!
1. Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not?
I believe in 'a place for everything and everything in its place', although sometimes that's hard to do, when everything doesn't have a place, or other people don't put it back, or you're too busy. However, I can be quite organized when I try. My first job in Columbus was as an inventory manager and buyer for a chocolatier. When your candy is $35/lb, you better know how much you have of any one kind, and where it all is, at any given time. It was the best job I ever had, in that sense.
2. Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly?
I don't, but at some point, I should be getting a palm pilot. I generally don't need it though since I use Outlook at work.Once I get the palm, I'll probably be using it with both iCal and Outlook.
3. Would you say that your desk is organized right now?
Home or work? Home definitely isnt, right now.
4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter?
CDs are alphabetized and sometimes categorized. DVDs are categorized by genre and alphabetized by title. Books are organized by subject.
5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize?
My work office, I suppose.
furriers
I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, at first read, it sounds all Cruella De Vil. But then I think "people have been using cattle for their pelts for thousands of years." What makes a farm animal a farm animal and not a pet? What makes an animal exempt from farming?
That's not to say I like the idea of farming cats for their fur. I don't. In fact, it makes me want to go hold both our cats and tell them how much they're loved, and lucky not to be in Europe. But, perhaps using the furs of feral cats and unadopted cats who would otherwise be euthenized... If someone gets good use from something that otherwise would be "disposed of", then maybe that wouldn't be so bad. I mean, if it wasn't such a "for profit" evil thing to do.
Before all you animal rights people get all up in my business about this, I realize humans are the all-consumer in today's society. We use animals daily for food, clothing, shoes, and other things. I realize there are farms with "tortured baby cows" aka veal. I have a deep rooted belief that animals should only be killed if it's euthenasia, if they somehow are invasive or destructive, or serve some use. Hunting is wrong for the sport, but ok for the meat it provides. I could go on and on, but I won't.
Hate me if you like, but I still love all the kitties and puppies. I even grew to like cows, even though I ate quite a few which I raised.
Here I go, opening the floodgates...
what a strange day
yesterday, we got our estimates, made our counteroffer, and got our counteroffer denied... all before mid-afternoon.
then, i went to class and had to evaluate aforementioned teenage dimwit's artist interview paper. oh, was it bad. how bad? i'm still thinking of how to describe it. keep in mind this is a junior level writing class, and now think back to a paper you might have written in 4th grade. yeah, that bad. Lots of "I"s and "me"s and repeated use of the name of the artist as "Mr. Jones". The worst was the conversational tone of the paper. I kept expecting the word "like" to appear, like everywhere, y'know? Needless to say, I gave her a 2/4 on just about everything. She was even missing over half the paper's criteria. It was oh so bad, and at first, it felt really good to be mean, and then I realized she's a freshman, and she really, apparently, had no idea how to write an age-appropriate paper.
Meanwhile, our professor, Lyn, praised me on actually interviewing a known artist. Seems that most everyone just interviewed their friends who were in art class, or their high school art teacher, or a professor they had at OSU. (No offense to art teachers! This means you, Mr. Henderly.)
The good thing is, I get to do a presentation about Leni, whose work I love, and appreciate even more now, after interviewing him. (Hooray for Leni!)
Oh, and back to the house news. When I got home from class, around 8:15, we still were moping about our counteroffer being declined. But then, out of the blue, around 8:30 Bonnie called to say they changed their minds, they agreed to all our terms, as long as they could take their water softener. And there was much rejoicing, with a white Russian at Mac's, some Italian wine at Pam and Paul's, and a hangover this morning.
Today, however, is the day that we arrange financing... and find out our move date. Woohoo!
May 8, 2003
food for thought
Courtney's latest entry got me thinking about my Tuesday night class this week.
The class is Ethnic Arts/Intercultural Communication, and we were talking about food. Most of the students, despite our varied age, enjoy eating different ethnic foods. I like Japanese, Thai, Korean, and Chinese, Indian, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Polish... you name it, I'll probably give it a try, and like it.
One girl, an admitted freshman, grates on my nerves. She's always professing to know exactly the way things are, and every day I try to see her beliefs shot down. Her generalizations about gays or Blacks or Jews alone make me want to puke. It's not prejudice or bigotry, but professing to know anything about any one group of people is just idiocy.
Well, Tuesday, she declared that some people are genetically predisposed to eating ONLY foods from their own culture. Despite EVERYone else in the class telling her otherwise ("food bigot") she claimed that she could only "stomach" American food. Everything else, either by look, smell, or taste made her want to vomit.
She described, in detail, her ignorance when it came to food. She had gone with friends to Bento GoGo (nobody gets the name right because the signage also includes the tagline "Asian Yum Yum" -- that's what she called it). It's a nouveau Asian place run by the same people who run Haiku, which is one of our favorite places to go when we have cash.
At "Asian Yum Yum", she had ordered one of the bento lunches. I believe, from her description, she had the veggie bento. She didnt like the "weed wrapper" around all the sushi. She didnt like the rice dessert ("like little testicles"). Etc etc etc... It wasn't that she didnt LIKE it, but the fact that she kept saying over and over that she, as an American, wasn't "meant to eat food from other cultures" because she was "genetically different."
Whatever, bitch. The whole class thought you were very closed-minded and we even told you so. I should bring in some tako su and force it down your throat. Or maybe kielbasa (not your Ekrich crap) or golobki. Or god forbid she taste pierogies.
is it over yet?
so, we talked to one contractor yesterday, and we've got 2 more to go: one this morning and another one soon. Basically we want them to do what we can't easily: redo the grade, and the sidewalk. Get the water away from the house.
today the estimates start rolling in.
i'm ready to close and get this over with. i'm glad we're nearing an end. I want this house. I want to know that it's mine and quit worrying that I'm going to lose it.
Yeah. That's all, really. I wonder how CrankyChick is doing.
May 7, 2003
OSX and Stupid People
Completely friggin unrelated...
OSX 10.2.6 is out today... currently installing on the iBook.
People are stupid. They email the webmaster of a completely unrelated department when they have all sorts of problems not related to that office.
Let's see... Problems I can't solve:
- I can't get you your kid's grades
- I can't get you your kid's W2
- I can't get you your W2
- I can't take your credit card number and pay your fees.
- I can't take care of labor disputes.
- I can't tell you why your kid got fired
Also, get a clue people. The webmaster almost never can answer your questions regarding anything but the web site itself.
May 6, 2003
feeling pretty good
Ok, so we talked with the mortgage guy, and talked about our options there. Still good, still where we want to be, still a lot of time to spare.
I called Bonnie and we have a few places coming out to look at our basement situation tomorrow and Thursday, and by Thursday night we should know how we're going to proceed, and counteroffer... and schedule the appraisal.
It's still a great place. It's still the right price.
Let's keep our fingers crossed the estimates come out low.
waiting and wondering...
Well, I faxed Bonnie (our realtor) the inspection report, emailed my cousin Jeff about old-house problems and repair, and started looking up contractor information. Many places seem to have full "solutions" to basement problems including repair, waterproofing and grade adjustments. Some are featured on Angie's list, and some have lifetime transferrable warranties.
My cousin, who resides in Chicago, bought a home of the same vintage as ours, but did not have much in the way of basement problems. Changing the grade, he estimated, was between $500 and $1000.
I'm not sure what my next steps are. Bonnie should have our info, and I've left a couple questions with her. I have more to ask, but I'm really not sure when I'll hear from her.
Everyone who has seen it thinks it's great, even with the damp, leaky basement.
Oh, and I was supposed to get ahold of my parent's neighbor who mows their yard, to make sure they had a key to Dad's lawn tractor. However, their phone has been disconnected.
sleep n house stuff
I had trouble getting to sleep last night, too, but it was mainly the awkward temperature combined with the thoughts about the house, which I might add, we now have a few photos of.
Am I worried about the financing? No, not really. If necessary, we work out an agreement, which has already been in my head... in which I aggressively pay Nala back my half of the down payment, and my rent money is turned into a percentage of the house. This was going to happen anyway.
We shall see, when it comes to the basement. We won't be able to know what our strategy will be till after the contractors come in and see the basement and we have estimates.
The girls are already in contract on their new house. They have a closing date in mind. They have to know the basement is an issue. We'll play this out with a little help from our realtor... once we know the cost to fix.
No worries, I say. If it doesn't go our way, we still have a roof over our heads, and we're only out the home inspection fees.
May 5, 2003
proud
one thing I forgot to mention... Nala started at the gym yesterday and says he did an hour on the treadmill. yow. i dont know if I could do that.
so I'm pretty proud of him.
silence
sorry i've been kinda silent... lots on my mind. my brain is trying to un-puzzle the placement of furniture in the new house, and also plan for the migration of STUFF.
talked to anthony a bit yesterday -- we both agree, moving sucks. he's moving to Sunbury, which is further, and quite a long way from where he wants to be, but for him, it's much closer to work.
spoke briefly with Ray, but his phone cut out or something.
today's the big day -- inspection. also time to measure rooms and maybe even get preliminary photos. but, all I can do is think about stuff I need to pack before we go. pack pack pack... sort sort sort... toss toss toss...
and, I have a paper due tomorrow. yes, I started, but I'm not sure I can beef it up to a full three pages. we'll see. I also need to get a thesis statement done for my final, which I still havent picked a topic for.
May 2, 2003
car and homeowners insurance
well, i went to state farm today and moved my auto policy here to a local agent instead of all the way back in my hometown. this dropped it a whopping $1 per month.
but, i found out that it's really not too expensive for homeowner's insurance, and it will drop my car payment ABOUT $150 every 6 months. this was good news.
so nala needs to check out what it would be thru his insurance company. i mean, i'm getting the 11-year discount and the multi-line, so i'm not sure what it would be like with his.
ok, so i'm about ready to get the hell outta here. maybe take a nap, maybe get something to eat.
closing...
Well... here's the possible timetable...
Monday, 5/5, Inspection & Termite Inspection
Tuesday, 5/6, Meet with Mortgage Guy to Settle Paperwork and order appraisal.
If we order the appraisal on Tuesday, it would be back on the 13th.
Then, that would make us done with underwriting on the 16th or 19th.
If no conditions after underwriting, then we could be ok to close on the 23rd.
But, it would cost us $185 for 9 days interest.
Hm. $185 is pretty small potatoes for 9 days more of moving time.
May 1, 2003
drugs ar bayd... mmm kay
i'm back on the sinus meds again, after 2 days off, and as expected, it made me jittery and anxious all day today.
jittery and anxious are not what i needed.
i want to talk about it, but i don't because i know everything will be ok in the long run. it always is.
suffice it to say that all of the work that i've done "fixing" my credit won't show on my credit report for months, despite any "help" from my mortgage guy.
but, hooray, i'm nearly debt free.
sister, sister
One of the first people I called when Nala and I went into contract on this house was my sister, Zan. We don't talk all that often, but when we do, it's usually something big, and we end up catching each other up on months and months of news.
So, after I got done telling her about the house, and the new cat, and Nala, and Zig and Hens, the conversation drifted back to her, and her hubby and her stepkids and their mom.
Holy crap. I am so glad I don't have to deal with her hubby's ex wife.
Well, the biggest news is she finally remarried. Apparently she was seeing (and cohabitating with) this guy since before Zan and hubby got married, but was milking hubby for alimony anyway. Even though she makes more than enough to provide for her 2 kids at home. She used the extra money to build a gi-normous deck with a 4-6 person hot tub. She also used some of the kids' child support for it. She also is forcing the older of the two at home to pay for her own private schooling which she insisted on (despite hubby's disagreement). So now, the girl is trapped for her last 2 years of high school, using all of her child support and having to work a job to pay for tuition for a school she never was supposed to go to to begin with. And the poor girl is severely dyslexic, so she needs the extra time to concentrate on her studies, not to work.
Well, aside from all that, there is some good news. My sister's eldest step-daughter is getting married in July, which means sis and her youngest step-son will be coming through Columbus to get there. Which means, Uncle Matt can unload toys on young nephew!!! Hurrah! And give Zan her belated Christmas gift! Woohoo!
I'm proud of my sis and the life she is building for herself. She is a respected veterinarian, and she has gotten her finances in order, and is also able to be a good motherly figure to a teen and a 10-year old. Sure, she puts up with a lot of crap to be who and where she is, but that's my sis.
Note: I just realized you pop-culture fanatics would make the Zan connection to Zan and Jayna of the SuperFriends. Her real name is Alexandra, and I often refer to her as Zandy as well.