Things are definitely moving forward with the house situation, but things keep popping up to move the finish line back a little. We get in the new house and the garbage disposal goes out. J sets up the office, and my power cord for my laptop goes out AGAIN (this is my third cord in 3 months - gonna have to take the laptop into the Apple Store and find out if it's the laptop and not the cords). We get our new closet and all the clothes in only to discover it would've been set up better with a couple of sections reversed - meaning trip #4 for the closet people to our humble new abode. One thing after another, most of which means more money out the door and a checklist that I can't seem to make headway on.
Well, I guess it's getting to me, because last night I had "The College Dream." Anyone who has been to college has had the college dream. I promise. Just ask a college graduate you know. It usually occurs when you're in a stressful period where you've got a lot going on and you're afraid something has fallen through the cracks or you've dropped the ball in some way and it's all about to catch up with you. Here's how it goes:
You're still in college. It's the end of the semester, and finals are starting this week or next. You realize that there's a class you forgot about and stopped going to at the beginning of the semster. You never dropped this class - you just forgot about it and stopped going. So, you have no idea what's happened all semester or how much the final is worth and if you have any hope of saving your ass (meaning your grade) with the final. But it's your only hope, because otherwise, you for sure will be getting an F, and that will blow your entire grade point.
In a word, you're screwed. But you *have* to TRY and save yourself. So, you show up for the last class or last couple of classes (in my dream last night, I'd been MIA for the first 2/3 of the semester, and had remembered to start going for about the last 1/3 of the class, but I wasn't sure if that would be enough to get me through the final) and see if you think you might get *something* useful out of those last couple of classes - maybe a prep sheet for the final to help you figure out what to study when you cram for the final. Also, you don't actually know when or where the final is, so you're hoping that might get mentioned. Otherwise, you're going to have to find a schedule somewhere.
This is the point where I always wake up - in a panic about what I need to study, unsure I can actually pull it off, and not even sure when or where to go, and just SICK that I'm about to ruin my GPA and it's all my own fault.
And that's The College Dream. My mom used to wake up in the middle of the night, practically yelling, "Oh my God, I have a test tomorrow, and I haven't studied!" My dad would have to tell her, "You've already graduated, honey."
Ah college. It really does stick with you forever, doesn't it?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Oh...I'M the moron!
Well, it's not the organizers of the Capitol 10k that are morons - it's me. They didn't schedule it during SXSW - they scheduled it for THIS Sunday - the 22nd! So, I take back my criticism and direct it at myself for not reading the promo more closely.
10K, people, you got it goin' on.
Me, I need to learn to read.
10K, people, you got it goin' on.
Me, I need to learn to read.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Roundup time
Boy. So much to talk about and yet I just don't feel like posting. Maybe this is a good day for a Roundup. Let's hit the highlights:
1. March Madness. I do enjoy the NCAA Tourney. I enjoy filling out a bracket and then seeing it through - seeing how my picks fare and how I finish in Clint's Bracket Racket. It's especially fun when my teams are winning. Yesterday, I had 14 of 16 picks. The only frustration with the two I lost was that one was a game I simply missed picking - I just didn't see the blank. And the team I would've picked was the team that one, so I *should* have had 15 of 16. And I could *almost* make a case for 16 of 16, since I came SO close to picking the 16th winner as an upset (as it ended up being), but I chickened out and didn't. Still, 14 of 16 is pretty darn admirable.
2. My hair. I colored my hair last night - a kick-ass, bold dye job that bleached the front blonde, while leaving the rest light brown with blonde highlights. It rocks!!
3. Moving Day. The official move-in day for me and J into the new house is Sunday! We've been moving stuff in as we could so it wouldn't be massive job on the last day. But Sunday will be the big stuff - bed, dressers, clothes, etc. That'll be our first night in the new place, and we're SO excited to officially be in there! It's a little stressful that each time I think I know where everything will go, I spot a whole new stash of stuff that has to be accounted for. But we'll figure it out. It's gonna be great!
4. SXSW. It's madness around here, and not the March kind. The film portion of SXSW started last week, and there were lots of stars around and coverage on the news, etc., but as a local just going to work and living your life, you don't REALLY notice it until the music week begins. Then the joint is just overrun with uber-hip young-uns with calculated looks of unconcern. They're everywhere! I'd complain about the increased traffic and people everywhere, except that I'm in a band now and we have a showcase tomorrow, so I want some of those people to come to our show. So...WELCOME TO OUR FAIR CITY! (And after tomorrow, go home.)
5. Morons. Who is the idiot who scheduled the Austin American-Statesman Capitol 10,000 run, which happens to go through downtown, where the vast majority of Austin's SXSW venues are, on the Sunday during South-by? I'm just curious.
6. Natasha Richardson. Man, that's sad. I can't even begin to imagine what Liam Neeson and their two boys are going through right now. Just tragic.
7. AIG bonuses. I really don't want to hear about AIG's "contracts." I'm a free-market kinda gal. I don't like the government all up in all of this. So, I'm sure I've got some strange bedfellows on this one. But seriously. If the company had failed, as it should have from making atrociously bad, greedy business decisions, those "contracts" wouldn't have been worth the paper they were printed on. There wouldn't have been any money to give, and the recipients wouldn't have gotten a dime. There was nothing in their contracts that said if the company went under, the taxpayers would pay them their bonuses.
Well, the company essentially DID go under - it's been bought out - by the government. Those contractors have a new boss - YOU AND ME. And I don't know about you, but I don't give bonuses to people who run a company into the ground. That money WE used to buy the company shouldn't be used to honor contracts with a company that no longer exists - and AIG no longer exists. It's now a quasi-governmental agency. So, while I hate that the government is in the buyout business and is bailing out assholes who make bad business decisions, whether giving or taking bad mortgages, if we ARE going to give MY money to companies to keep them afloat, the trade-off for that is that a new sheriff comes to town to run those companies, and all bets are off concerning existing contracts, business practices, etc. Essentially, it's as if the company went bankrupt and got bought out, and just like when that happens in the private sector, the new owner cleans house and does things HIS way. Not that the friggin' government has any idea how to run a business (or haven't you noticed the out of control budget deficit?)...
8. Last thing - American Idol. How much do I love Danny Gokey? I literally got chills TWICE during his performance this week. And Simon just can't insult him - every time he tries, Danny just turns it to his advantage, without ever coming off as a jerk. I think they should just give him the title now and let the rest of the contestants duke it out for second place. He is the bomb.
1. March Madness. I do enjoy the NCAA Tourney. I enjoy filling out a bracket and then seeing it through - seeing how my picks fare and how I finish in Clint's Bracket Racket. It's especially fun when my teams are winning. Yesterday, I had 14 of 16 picks. The only frustration with the two I lost was that one was a game I simply missed picking - I just didn't see the blank. And the team I would've picked was the team that one, so I *should* have had 15 of 16. And I could *almost* make a case for 16 of 16, since I came SO close to picking the 16th winner as an upset (as it ended up being), but I chickened out and didn't. Still, 14 of 16 is pretty darn admirable.
2. My hair. I colored my hair last night - a kick-ass, bold dye job that bleached the front blonde, while leaving the rest light brown with blonde highlights. It rocks!!
3. Moving Day. The official move-in day for me and J into the new house is Sunday! We've been moving stuff in as we could so it wouldn't be massive job on the last day. But Sunday will be the big stuff - bed, dressers, clothes, etc. That'll be our first night in the new place, and we're SO excited to officially be in there! It's a little stressful that each time I think I know where everything will go, I spot a whole new stash of stuff that has to be accounted for. But we'll figure it out. It's gonna be great!
4. SXSW. It's madness around here, and not the March kind. The film portion of SXSW started last week, and there were lots of stars around and coverage on the news, etc., but as a local just going to work and living your life, you don't REALLY notice it until the music week begins. Then the joint is just overrun with uber-hip young-uns with calculated looks of unconcern. They're everywhere! I'd complain about the increased traffic and people everywhere, except that I'm in a band now and we have a showcase tomorrow, so I want some of those people to come to our show. So...WELCOME TO OUR FAIR CITY! (And after tomorrow, go home.)
5. Morons. Who is the idiot who scheduled the Austin American-Statesman Capitol 10,000 run, which happens to go through downtown, where the vast majority of Austin's SXSW venues are, on the Sunday during South-by? I'm just curious.
6. Natasha Richardson. Man, that's sad. I can't even begin to imagine what Liam Neeson and their two boys are going through right now. Just tragic.
7. AIG bonuses. I really don't want to hear about AIG's "contracts." I'm a free-market kinda gal. I don't like the government all up in all of this. So, I'm sure I've got some strange bedfellows on this one. But seriously. If the company had failed, as it should have from making atrociously bad, greedy business decisions, those "contracts" wouldn't have been worth the paper they were printed on. There wouldn't have been any money to give, and the recipients wouldn't have gotten a dime. There was nothing in their contracts that said if the company went under, the taxpayers would pay them their bonuses.
Well, the company essentially DID go under - it's been bought out - by the government. Those contractors have a new boss - YOU AND ME. And I don't know about you, but I don't give bonuses to people who run a company into the ground. That money WE used to buy the company shouldn't be used to honor contracts with a company that no longer exists - and AIG no longer exists. It's now a quasi-governmental agency. So, while I hate that the government is in the buyout business and is bailing out assholes who make bad business decisions, whether giving or taking bad mortgages, if we ARE going to give MY money to companies to keep them afloat, the trade-off for that is that a new sheriff comes to town to run those companies, and all bets are off concerning existing contracts, business practices, etc. Essentially, it's as if the company went bankrupt and got bought out, and just like when that happens in the private sector, the new owner cleans house and does things HIS way. Not that the friggin' government has any idea how to run a business (or haven't you noticed the out of control budget deficit?)...
8. Last thing - American Idol. How much do I love Danny Gokey? I literally got chills TWICE during his performance this week. And Simon just can't insult him - every time he tries, Danny just turns it to his advantage, without ever coming off as a jerk. I think they should just give him the title now and let the rest of the contestants duke it out for second place. He is the bomb.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Amazingly behind
I'm so dropping the ball this season with The Amazing Race. I commented on the first two episodes, then I think I missed the third one, and now I've watched the fourth and fifth episodes, but haven't commented. How about we decide I'm just hopelessly behind and much to busy with house stuff to stay on top of it this time?
J noticed last week that they're holding tryouts for the next season in Austin this Thursday. I got all excited and asked him if he thought we should try out. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said calmly that he didn't think this was quite the right time for me to be trying to drop out of my life and take on a stressful, globe-trotting competition. I suppose that he might be on to something - what with two band gigs in the next week, and a new house we haven't even finished yet or moved into, and my old house needing to be rented out, and my bank account needing to be refreshed from closing costs, etc., and my employer not being the type that would approve me for a month of vacation time, even if I had that much accrued, or hold my job for me if I tried to take a leave of absence, just in case we didn't win. I suppose things could be a BIT more settled before we just took off for a month on a race around the world.
So, I'll relent - we won't try out on Thursday. But there's always next year. :)
J noticed last week that they're holding tryouts for the next season in Austin this Thursday. I got all excited and asked him if he thought we should try out. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said calmly that he didn't think this was quite the right time for me to be trying to drop out of my life and take on a stressful, globe-trotting competition. I suppose that he might be on to something - what with two band gigs in the next week, and a new house we haven't even finished yet or moved into, and my old house needing to be rented out, and my bank account needing to be refreshed from closing costs, etc., and my employer not being the type that would approve me for a month of vacation time, even if I had that much accrued, or hold my job for me if I tried to take a leave of absence, just in case we didn't win. I suppose things could be a BIT more settled before we just took off for a month on a race around the world.
So, I'll relent - we won't try out on Thursday. But there's always next year. :)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Moving Day - coming soon!
I swear I hardly have time to post these days. I knew this would happen as soon as we signed the papers on the new house. I must be clairvoyant!
We have been working hard to get everything done that we wanted to before moving in. The house was remodeled, but there were a few things we wanted to change - like repainting the entire interior, changing the carpet in the bedroom, tearing out the closet in the bedroom and having California Closets design us a new, more efficient, closet system - little stuff! ;) But we're almost there. We're both so ready to move in!
The thing that has been hardest about it all hasn't been the actual labor. It's been all the little roadblocks that get thrown up. For instance, we have a gas valve that's inside the house that needs to be capped before we have the gas turned on. No problem. I call the gas company last week, tell the lady I need to have the valve capped and get our service turned on. After going through the whole rigamarole to set up my account and set an appointment to have our service turned on, I ask her to verify that this appt will be for both the capping and turning on service.
"We don't do that - you'll have to get a licensed plumber to do that."
"A plumber? I think you're misunderstanding me. I have a valve to a GAS line. The GAS line won't be used anymore, so we need you to cap it before you turn the gas on."
"We don't do that - you'll have to get a licensed plumber to do that."
"The GAS company doesn't cap GAS lines?? I have to have a PLUMBER do that?? That doesn't sound right. A plumber wouldn't lay my gas lines. Why would he be reponsible for capping it? If he screws up a water line, my floor gets wet. But if he screws up a gas line, my house explodes. You really don't cap gas lines? You - the GAS company??"
They don't. You have to hire a plumber. At the rates that plumbers charge. Who the hell knew that? So, I had to cancel the appointment to turn on the gas, and I've been asking around ever since for names of plumbers that someone could recommend so we can get the line capped and THEN turn on our gas. Shockingly (that would be sarcasm), no one has provided me with the name of a plumber they trust - just lots of horror stories about plumbers who didn't show up, only did half the job, tried to screw people into replacing the entire plumbing system when all they needed was a small leak repair. I think that's why plumbers charge so much. They know that people will never use them twice, so they get all they can on their one shot.
And that's just one example of a task that seemed simple but involved more than we thought it did, or should have, and ended up being more work and taking longer than we ever imagined. Thank God we didn't get the first house we tried to buy, which would have required an entire remodel. I think it would've killed us.
We have been working hard to get everything done that we wanted to before moving in. The house was remodeled, but there were a few things we wanted to change - like repainting the entire interior, changing the carpet in the bedroom, tearing out the closet in the bedroom and having California Closets design us a new, more efficient, closet system - little stuff! ;) But we're almost there. We're both so ready to move in!
The thing that has been hardest about it all hasn't been the actual labor. It's been all the little roadblocks that get thrown up. For instance, we have a gas valve that's inside the house that needs to be capped before we have the gas turned on. No problem. I call the gas company last week, tell the lady I need to have the valve capped and get our service turned on. After going through the whole rigamarole to set up my account and set an appointment to have our service turned on, I ask her to verify that this appt will be for both the capping and turning on service.
"We don't do that - you'll have to get a licensed plumber to do that."
"A plumber? I think you're misunderstanding me. I have a valve to a GAS line. The GAS line won't be used anymore, so we need you to cap it before you turn the gas on."
"We don't do that - you'll have to get a licensed plumber to do that."
"The GAS company doesn't cap GAS lines?? I have to have a PLUMBER do that?? That doesn't sound right. A plumber wouldn't lay my gas lines. Why would he be reponsible for capping it? If he screws up a water line, my floor gets wet. But if he screws up a gas line, my house explodes. You really don't cap gas lines? You - the GAS company??"
They don't. You have to hire a plumber. At the rates that plumbers charge. Who the hell knew that? So, I had to cancel the appointment to turn on the gas, and I've been asking around ever since for names of plumbers that someone could recommend so we can get the line capped and THEN turn on our gas. Shockingly (that would be sarcasm), no one has provided me with the name of a plumber they trust - just lots of horror stories about plumbers who didn't show up, only did half the job, tried to screw people into replacing the entire plumbing system when all they needed was a small leak repair. I think that's why plumbers charge so much. They know that people will never use them twice, so they get all they can on their one shot.
And that's just one example of a task that seemed simple but involved more than we thought it did, or should have, and ended up being more work and taking longer than we ever imagined. Thank God we didn't get the first house we tried to buy, which would have required an entire remodel. I think it would've killed us.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Tips for Living Comfortably
From the folks who brought you How to Pretend You're Listening and Things That Are More Fun Than Getting a Pelvic Exam (in three volumes), a new and exciting tome will soon be on the shelves to help you live a better life!
This brilliant new work of non-fiction is currently in the early stages of production. In fact, this is the first entry. It occurred to me this weekend. But I'm confident that I will soon have a great many Tips for Living Comfortably. So stayed tuned to this blog for the advance publication of these fantastic, hidden suggestions and for the announcement when this must-have book goes on sale at a bookstore near you!
Tip #1: Make sure the water in the Neti Pot is WARM - not HOT.
I would even go so far as to use the adjective LUKEWARM. Should you forget this tip, you will learn a new definition for "sinus pain." The melodramatic use of the phrase in commercials for the purpose of selling you decongestant is a joke of fantastical dimension compared to what you feel when you sear the entire length of your sinus passage from within with water that "seemed okay" when you stuck your finger under the tap.
Boiling your face from behind will make you want to smash your Neti Pot into a thousand tiny plastic pieces. But that won't help. So just trust your humble author and be very careful with the temperature of the water in your Neti Pot. I promise that doing so will lead to living more comfortably.
This brilliant new work of non-fiction is currently in the early stages of production. In fact, this is the first entry. It occurred to me this weekend. But I'm confident that I will soon have a great many Tips for Living Comfortably. So stayed tuned to this blog for the advance publication of these fantastic, hidden suggestions and for the announcement when this must-have book goes on sale at a bookstore near you!
Tip #1: Make sure the water in the Neti Pot is WARM - not HOT.
I would even go so far as to use the adjective LUKEWARM. Should you forget this tip, you will learn a new definition for "sinus pain." The melodramatic use of the phrase in commercials for the purpose of selling you decongestant is a joke of fantastical dimension compared to what you feel when you sear the entire length of your sinus passage from within with water that "seemed okay" when you stuck your finger under the tap.
Boiling your face from behind will make you want to smash your Neti Pot into a thousand tiny plastic pieces. But that won't help. So just trust your humble author and be very careful with the temperature of the water in your Neti Pot. I promise that doing so will lead to living more comfortably.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Catchin up
I managed to get caught up on the first two legs of Amazing Race! I took only sparse notes since I'm behind and covering two episodes in one post, but here are my thoughts on the first two legs.
Leg 1
1. Two words: midget stuntmen
2. Preston is an ass. I was happy when his team was the first to be ousted. See ya, jerk face!
3. The highest bungee jump in the world. Undoubtedly J would've been doing this for our team. And he would've loved every second of it, whereas I would be on the verge of throwing up just standing on the observation deck and seeing that it existed.
4. Cheese hauling. I like to think, as I watch that, "I could do that." But who am I kidding? Pretty much every team fell, had their equipment break, chased a giant cheese wheel down the hill or looked like they were climbing Everest as they climbed back up the hill. I'm suprisingly strong for my size, but I'm guessing the editors would have had their work cut out for them bleeping out all my expletives on this one.
5. Deaf Luke and Mom Margie. Boy, do I like these two! I love that they won the first leg, and as of right now, they're the team I want to win the whole thing. Love 'em!
6. Country Steve and Linda. The most significant thing about this couple for me is that Linda looks just like J's mom! Seriously! J's mom doesn't have an accent and Steve is nothing like J's dad, but everytime I see them, I think, "Why is J's mom talking like that?"
7. Wow, is Switzerland beautful!
8. I like that the winners and losers aren't so decided by cabs this season. It's more about the choices you make (like which train you take) than the dumb luck of which cabbie you get. I hope that continues throughout the season.
Leg 2
1. I wanna drive the autobahn in a Mercedes!
2. The gondola was beautiful, but I'm pretty sure I'd be freaked out that the car was going to be blown off the track by the wind or the cables were going to snap. I used to ride the Gondola at Astroworld with no fear. What happened to me?
3. Paragliding. Again, this would probably be a J thing. I might be a little better with this than the bungee jump, since the glider would slow your slamming descent to the ground to the point that you might just break an ankle rather than dying on impact. But J would actually enjoy it, so I'd let him do it...and by "let" I mean "beg."
4. Pie vs. Segway. I'd be all about the pie. It's messy, but it's easy, you're less likely to fall down, and you can get a little snack in.
That's it for now! I'll do my more traditional recaps from here on out. Who are you rooting for or against??
Leg 1
1. Two words: midget stuntmen
2. Preston is an ass. I was happy when his team was the first to be ousted. See ya, jerk face!
3. The highest bungee jump in the world. Undoubtedly J would've been doing this for our team. And he would've loved every second of it, whereas I would be on the verge of throwing up just standing on the observation deck and seeing that it existed.
4. Cheese hauling. I like to think, as I watch that, "I could do that." But who am I kidding? Pretty much every team fell, had their equipment break, chased a giant cheese wheel down the hill or looked like they were climbing Everest as they climbed back up the hill. I'm suprisingly strong for my size, but I'm guessing the editors would have had their work cut out for them bleeping out all my expletives on this one.
5. Deaf Luke and Mom Margie. Boy, do I like these two! I love that they won the first leg, and as of right now, they're the team I want to win the whole thing. Love 'em!
6. Country Steve and Linda. The most significant thing about this couple for me is that Linda looks just like J's mom! Seriously! J's mom doesn't have an accent and Steve is nothing like J's dad, but everytime I see them, I think, "Why is J's mom talking like that?"
7. Wow, is Switzerland beautful!
8. I like that the winners and losers aren't so decided by cabs this season. It's more about the choices you make (like which train you take) than the dumb luck of which cabbie you get. I hope that continues throughout the season.
Leg 2
1. I wanna drive the autobahn in a Mercedes!
2. The gondola was beautiful, but I'm pretty sure I'd be freaked out that the car was going to be blown off the track by the wind or the cables were going to snap. I used to ride the Gondola at Astroworld with no fear. What happened to me?
3. Paragliding. Again, this would probably be a J thing. I might be a little better with this than the bungee jump, since the glider would slow your slamming descent to the ground to the point that you might just break an ankle rather than dying on impact. But J would actually enjoy it, so I'd let him do it...and by "let" I mean "beg."
4. Pie vs. Segway. I'd be all about the pie. It's messy, but it's easy, you're less likely to fall down, and you can get a little snack in.
That's it for now! I'll do my more traditional recaps from here on out. Who are you rooting for or against??
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Amazing...What?...Wait a minute - when did that happen?
So, I got home on Sunday evening after working on the new house and going to book club, and I plop down on the couch and turn on the TV, and there, with no advance warning whatoever, was The Amazing Race - clearly several episodes into a new season!! WHAT??? When did that happen, and why didn't I know about it???
I have no idea how I could have missed the start of the current season, but my friend Ann says it's about 3 weeks in, so now I have to go to CBS.com and catch up online.
I apologize unreservedly to all my faithful readers who expect recaps and snarky comments on the contestants each season! I swear I'll get caught up and comment anon!!
I have no idea how I could have missed the start of the current season, but my friend Ann says it's about 3 weeks in, so now I have to go to CBS.com and catch up online.
I apologize unreservedly to all my faithful readers who expect recaps and snarky comments on the contestants each season! I swear I'll get caught up and comment anon!!
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