You have GOT to be kidding me

Here's a quick synopsis of what went down this weekend:

Friday night, 3 beers (big ones) and fried dinner before the rained-out Red Sox game. Came home, read redsox dot com to see when the recheduled game was. Thought I read "5pm on Sunday".
Saturday: Hangover, good day yarn shopping.
Sunday: Driving around Boston, saw a big crowd going to the first game of the day. Taking the T to the 5pm game, got a text that the rescheduled game was at noon. Confirmed this on redsox dot com.

I have nothing else to say except that I'm sorry.

Too Many Screens

I live in about 1000 square feet. There are 2 TVs, anywhere from 2 to 4 laptops,
and always 1 desktop computer here. There are at least 6 ipods, 2 cell phones, and now a landline. There is HD, Cable, DVR, and automatic blinds.

I think it's time to go back to the 1700s for a while.

Done.

I'm feeling pretty discouraged. I've been revising the same project plan for about 6 weeks, and once I thought I had the project all staffed up and ready to go, I was hit with the news that I might have to start from scratch. I'm not interested in the project to begin with, there have been multiple challenges and roadblocks for the past 8 weeks, and now another huge one has just come up.

I'm ready to throw in the towel. Thankfully, I have what I'd consider a pretty good towel bar.

How's THAT for a metaphor?

Return from Hiatus

Today, Willow knocked over a glass of water at about 6 am. On a desk covered with too many papers. So, I've been up since then. It's snowing, it's cold, and I've been painting all morning.  Both bathrooms are in the middle of being painted, which means I can't take a shower.

My general feeling these days is irritation. Maybe I need some Abilify. According to the commercials that play constantly, irritability is something that it can treat.

Or maybe I just need some sun and fresh air.

Welcome to January in New England.

Today's Observations and Thoughts

I went to the shopping mall and saw the most ridiculous thing. A man, bundled up (it was about 25 degrees F, and windy), holding an 8 foot tall sign advertising Linens and Things and their going out of business sale. This guy is probably getting minimum wage to hold a sign. He probably doesn't have employer sponsored health insurance and has to buy the state insurance. He'll get sick because he's standing out in the freezing cold. And there's probably some ridiculous law that says the store can't tape a sign up there but actually HAS to have someone hold it. He wasn't even holding it. It was leaning against a pole.

Sandra Lee's Thanksgiving show had this juicy tidbit: "Add buttermilk to your mashed potatoes to add a nice flavor without adding a lot of fat. And then, add a half a stick of butter." OH right. Because butter doesn't add ANY fat.

flying tips

book early and try for a window seat. Not only for the view but so you can lean your head against the side to sleep. I have middle seats both to and from my destination.
double check your iPhone sync so that all of the Stuff You Should Know podcasts that you fell asleep listening to don't get erased and you're stuck with " how the mortgage bailout works" & "are there real fight clubs?"
Hilton hotels are really nice.

Goodbye my Sammy.

I gave Sam up for adoption on Friday. He's now living in a new home on 1.5 acres in Lancaster, MA. His new owners are a young couple, in their 20s. They have a 3 month old basset hound puppy named Moses. Sam will probably just avoid him, and luckily, the new owner is going to keep Sam's stuff on the 2nd floor of their 1700s Cape house, because Moses can't walk up stairs. His legs are too short.

I'll miss my guy, but he'll be happy. He'll be able to go outside, kill mice, and sleep inside at night. I'm expecting an update from the couple at the end of the week.


This is one of the photos that got Sam his new home. Isn't he regal?

















This is a photo of Sam doing one of his favorite things. I told B, his new owner, that it's one of his things. She said no problem, their dog drinks out of the tub too! This girl is definitely an animal person.



















P.S. That first photo, I opted not to put in Sam's "personal" ad. Too scary.

The Pains of Low-Cost Cable

I have some really really cheap cable service, and what's happened is Channel 4 clarity has steadily declined. I don't really watch a ton of TV, but 2 of the 3 shows I love are on CBS 4. I fiddle with the cable cord, but it doesn't get better for very long. Tonight, in about 10 minutes is a new episode of The New Adventures of Old Christine, and there's a Barack Obama ad on right now. It's coming in pretty well. Will it last? I wait with bated breath...

*** Update!! I watched the show, the channel came in! And boy was it funny!

What's Grosser Than Gross?

Getting up, not showering, going running (it's 85 F today), not showering, then going to the car dealer.

Even grosser will be when I meet with my realtor tonight and still haven't showered.

The Kite Runner? Really?

I've been on eHarmony for about 2 months and so far, I've received over 150 matches. I've been on dates with 2 guys - one was not so hot, one's progressing nicely. This post, however, is about the answer to the question "What's the last book you read?" Why is it that almost every guy says "The Kite Runner"? and then has some copied-from-Cliff Notes (or maybe Details/FHM magazine) description of the book that they think makes them sound really smart and emotionally mature? Do they think it will make them more enticing or attractive?

Otherwise, it's either "I don't read books, unless it's for work or Grad school" or "I just read Moby Dick" or some other book that everybody, everybody had to read in high school and it's really hard to believe this person is waiting until their mid-to-late 30s to read it.

I haven't read The Kite Runner and I have no interest.

Car Update

The door squeak is gone.
The new scratch will be fixed; they're ordering a new side door bumper thingy.
The dealer detailed the car after I talked to the Customer Service girl and told her all my probs, and also shared the dog pee story.

So... maybe it's not a lemon.

This is how the debit record for my purchase of my very first Red Sox baseball hat looks on my bank transaction record. Gross. The hat looks pretty good, though.

04/25/2008		POS DEB 1809 04/24/08		-18.00
		SY8 DICK'S CLOT
		WORCESTER MA

80s Flashback

Would you have EVER thought, when you were riding the school bus to Forest Grove Middle School, that 20-something years later, Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" would be sung by women and used to sell birth control? Neither did I. Watch the commercial here and cringe when you realize you're old. I did.

Me and my Lemon

What do Natalie Portman and I have in common? Dog pee.



Last week, a neighborhood chihuahua ran up to my car, jumped on me as I got out of the car, and then jumped into the driver's seat. As I was panicking, yelling at the dog to get out of the car, he lifted is leg and peed on the seat!! Then, he ran away like a flash. My brand new car that's already been in the shop 3 times since purchase: once for a chip of paint off the driver's side door handle, once to tighten the door frame that was squeaking against the window (they didn't fix it; it's going back on Friday), and once to replace a tire because I drove over a screw. It brings new meaning to the word screwed, because the screw was too close to the edge and I had to spend $150 for a new tire, only 2 weeks after I bought the car.



Today on the Superficial is a photo of Natalie getting peed on by a dog.



The car's going back on Friday because when I brought it in for the door tightening, I also asked them to maybe fix a scratch on the door handle that I think I made. They said they can't, they'd order a new part. I went back last Saturday to have the new part put in and they'd ordered the wrong part. Annoying. My new appointment is on Friday. Fortunately, I already had that appointment because I have yet another problem w/the car. As I opened the passenger door after work yesterday, I heard a clunk. The edge of the door hit the frame of the car and the paint was squished off the edge. Photo to come later. I called said I needed to add this on to my appointment and also said I was about ready to give the car back. The service lady said I should email the Service and Sales managers and also talk to them when I go in on Friday.



I think the car is cursed.

Great Piano

I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano and I think this is just what I need to get me to sign up for lessons.
The Amateur Gourmet

Read his book. It's great!

Hello Kitty

In the funny pages.

Age Groups for Comic

Has anyone ever seen this? Age groups for comics. I wonder why 30 is the cutoff for ranges.

Happy Feet

I'm having the hardwood floors on the second floor, and the stairs up to the second floor, refinished by Happy Feet Hardwood Flooring. Today they sanded and put one coat of polyurethane down. The house REEKS. I'm sleeping either in the back room, or in the sunroom, whichever feels more comfortable. It's not really that smelly in those rooms, now that I've opened the windows and put the fan on.

I can't wait until they're done! In the meantime, my bedroom's in the dining room, my clothes are in the office, and my shoes are in trash bags. The cats are freaking out, being stuck in the sunroom all day, I can't take a shower. Small sacrifices for beautiful floors.

Pictures to come next week.

Crazy Cat Lady

If Chris Leavins was local, I'd totally try to go out with him. Check out his recent tribute to Crazy Cat Ladies.

TomKat

Hilarious!