Just a reminder for those who have missed it, tomorrow’s Poetry Wednesday topic is MOVIES.
Entries from September 2008
it’s just a joke, mr. allstate agent
September 30, 2008 · 2 Comments
With our project upstairs coming to an end soon(ishly), Max the super builder and I the painter, plumber and general support lender (I build the snacks) are moving on with planning the next project.
Originally the idea was to tack on an addition to the back of the house which would contain our new kitchen/dining area. Over the weekend somehow that idea changed, and now the plan is to strip the entire first floor to studs so we can then create a floor plan that works without requiring an addition. GASP.
New floor sheathing, new finish floor, entirely new bathroom and kitchen, all new sheetrock, all new windows, new insulation in the walls (which isn’t there now), new duct work, new electrical, new beam to replace a portion of bearing wall we’ll be removing, probably a couple new footings in the basement, and a new deck. The roof and the stair get to stay.
At the pace we work, I’m guessing this will take about 4 years. Not to mention big bundles of cash. Finally, the wedding money that people very kindly contributed to our future kitchen can unfold its arms and stop tapping its foot at us. We’ll also get to find out first hand what effect the financial meltdown is having on “main street” when we ask for a line of credit.
Should the lenders laugh and say NO WAY LOSERS, we better hope that wupsies Claude’s tail doesn’t accidentally get too close to an open flame and then oh dear no go running around the house oops the curtains then shoot oh no the whole house.
Colin, what I want to know is, are there methods of setting one’s house on fire that could potentially go undetected by a fire fighter such as yourself? And how many hours of baby sitting might that kind of information cost me?
Here is our existing first floor plan:
And the floor plan created over the weekend:
Categories: daily · house projects
Tagged: house renovation
the exciting pet-powered exercise car for critters
September 27, 2008 · 6 Comments
My head almost popped off from the double take I threw at this item while shopping for some critical things at Fred Meyer today.
Yes, it is a hamster powered car. And that there is a hamster race car driver wearing a tiny hamster-sized helmet. I have to say, this really appeals to the Stuart Little in me, while the rest of me is shaking my head in dismay, specifically the neck part of me.
How are we supposed to afford wonderful gifts like these for our furry friends if contact lens cleaner is costing us $9.59/oz? BTW, Boston Advanced Contact Lens Cleaner people, don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve kept the price per bottle the same while reducing the contents by 12.5%. No, you’re right, I haven’t stopped buying your product. No one else sells a cleaner for gas permeable lenses. What am I supposed to do. You’ve got me by the eyeballs.
All I’m saying is, this economic downturn better turn itself right around into an upswing, soon, because our American hamsters need access to alternate forms of transportation.
Categories: daily
Tagged: critter cruiser, expensive groceries, fred meyer
silly bully boys will lose more than their toys
September 26, 2008 · 2 Comments
My nephew likes this song by The Tiger Lillies… so, happy belated birthday Ryan! Don’t worry, your real gift is on its way.
p.s. Jenni, parental discretion is advised.
Categories: daily · music
Tagged: bully boys, tiger lillies
poem fatigue…
September 24, 2008 · Leave a Comment
…I’ve got it.
My Uncle Ted made a terrific suggestion about Poetry Wednesday that I’d like to implement. Starting next week, we’ll do a some poetry every other Wednesday.
Let’s make MOVIES the topic for next week.
Categories: daily
my golden parachute wouldn’t open and then it spit on me
September 24, 2008 · 6 Comments
Beware: Everything I know about economics I learned on the youtubes last night. Here’s what I’ve gathered about this big bailout. Please feel free to add your 2 cents (if you can still afford it).
1. The Federal Reserve will simply be printing out this $700 billion in their basement. Making new money creates massive inflation which further devalues the dollar and creates more debt. A devalued dollar and inflation is what makes a gallon of milk cost more than I can get for my kidney.
2. Massive fraud and irresponsible lending/borrowing practices on behalf of the people running these companies is mainly what has produced these crises within their own companies. And now they want help.
3. There is no guarantee that the bailouts will actually prevent the economic collapse that we’re told it will.
4. Due to the ownership of Freddie/Fannie and AIG, only Cuba and North Korea are more socialist than the US, now. Exaggeration?
5. Many elected officials of both parties agree with socialism, when it benefits the wealthy.
6. This appears to be an issue that crosses party lines among citizens, and is more split along really wealthy/the rest of us lines.
7. Taxpayers will be paying for the additional debt created by these bailouts, for the rest of our lives (in addition to the other costs created by #1 above), because the government is the taxpayer.
8. Dr. Ron Paul, hero to librarians Libertarians everywhere, is making some sense to me through all of this. The clip below is kind of long (7 minutes), but worth it if you have some time to spare:
Did no one see this coming? I did not, but then, everything I know about economics I learned in a couple hours on the internet. I was also told continuously by my president and the fed that the economy was strong, and that any potential problems were contained. Did they not see it coming *stupid*, or were they lying to me *evil*?
we’ve got grout
September 23, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Looking through some old photos last night, I was horrified to learn that we have been working on the attic renovation for 2 years and 2 months. While we’ve saved a ton of $$ by doing the work ourselves, we’ve also added more than a year and a half to the schedule.
The end is finally in site though, praise tiny baby jesus. I took the above photo this morning in our new shower. The deadline has been set for October 31. Either we’re moved in up there by then, or we’re donating our house to charity.
Sometimes a really major threat is all you need to get things moving.
Categories: house projects
Tagged: tiling
slightly bitter end to summer
September 22, 2008 · 2 Comments
Happy fricking Autumnal Equinox, everybody. Time to start taking your Vitamin D supplements.
Portland’s weather system looked at its calendar today and let out a “whoop whoop.” Then it took the sun and stuck it under its armpit of big fat rain clouds where it will be hoarding it for the next 9 months. You should see the squirrels out my window right now. They are freaking out. Running around like lunatics doing their last minute shopping before the rain really starts in and doesn’t stop. I’m sure it’s much easier to be a 32 ounce squirrel collecting acorns for the winter than to get the job done as a sopping wet 12 pounder.
I really do love the fall. And even the winter actually. It’s just hard to say goodbye to the summer when you know it might not ever come back. That’s how it feels anyway, right about mid-February. Then March. April. May. June.
We had a really nice brunch this weekend with my cousin Jon, his wife Michelle and their cute kids, who just moved to Camas, Washington (just a quick 15-20 minute jaunt across the border) in mid-July from California. My Uncle Ted and Auntie Bonnie were in town visiting as well. Michelle made bagels from scratch! They were delicious. It’s so great to have more family nearby. They’re really happy with the move, and JON IS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RAIN.
I have been there. I know how it feels to have moved here in the lovely, dry, sunny summer and to look forward to a year of changing seasons after living in stagnantly perfect climate all your life. It’s fascinating to watch the trees and plants go through their life cycle of growth, death, and then re-emergence. How fun to have a rotating wardrobe…I do love me some layering. Nothing better than drinking a cappuccino on a dreary day in a little coffee shop with steamed up windows and nice warm heater – except maybe sitting outside on a patio with a cold drink in the hot sun. True, BUT, how great that we get to do both. Ooooh! Then there’s snowboarding and cross-country skiing and ice storms and snow days! Beautiful changing tree leaves, pumpkin picking at Sauvie Island, scarves and big fat jackets! Yay! It’s fall!
See, I just have to talk myself through it (and schedule a trip to Mexico sometime in March). Happy Equinox!
Categories: daily
Tagged: autumn equinox, portland
happiness is a warm wusthof
September 18, 2008 · 2 Comments
My sister Jenni sent me this amazingly sharp and shiny knife, as well as the bamboo cutting board, as a thank you for designing a birthday party invitation for my nephew Ryan. I think Jenni reads this blog on occasion but I have to say this anyway…I think I’ve made out like a bandit on this exchange.
This is the sharpest, most wonderful object I have ever known, much less owned. Besides the new addition, Max and I have one solitary IKEA knife for all our chopping, slicing, dicing and occasional mincing needs. Not to put down IKEA because that knife cost about 5 bucks, but the difference between the two knives is like the difference between using sandpaper all your life to blow your nose and then one day discovering a legion of spiders that loves to personally spin you silky hankies every time you sneeze.
In the interest of preserving its delightfully sharp edge, so far I haven’t cut up anything but tomatoes. I know it is capable of soooo much more, but I don’t want to risk a dull knife. Things on my “must-resist-the-urge-to-do-with-the-new-Wüsthof” list: slice the soapy yellow dishwashing sponge into wafer thin pieces, open a can of black beans, whittle a little boston terrier out of the cutting board, find out how easy it is to cut my entire thumb off.
Please, for my safety and the safety of those around me, do not share with me how I might go about sharpening my Wüsthof. It might just be safer if I consider it my very special tomato knife.
