So I decided that with the new year I would act as a responsible adult and go to the dentist. I have no problem with dentists, no phobias or panic attacks in the chair. I love the feeling of nice clean teeth. I just never took the time to get set up with one. I made an appointment for an exam and went in promptly on time. While I did not enjoy the radiograph process (the inside of my mandible was tender from the film for a few days), I was happy with the results and ready to schedule my cleaning and the couple of fillings I need because I'm an erratic flosser. However, in filling out the paperwork I remembered that my physician had heard a heart murmur years ago (I can't hear it myself), so I checked heart murmur on the medical history form. Dentists are thorough and responsible people, so he wanted to contact my physician about antibiotics before the cleaning. No problem. I love my physician. She's incredibly thorough and she takes my weird self-diagnostics concerns into consideration without patronizing me (it helps that I really enjoy seeing what my blood tests look line - as long as I've got insurance I'm game for diagnostics). I spent about 2 weeks playing phone tag with her office, though. Turns out she wanted me to have an echocardiogram. OK, no big, I'd talk to her about it at my general female well-being appointment on Monday.
Well, Monday comes and other female matters eliminate the possibility of the general female wll-being appointment. I called the office to reschedule and mentioned that I'm supposed to set up an echo and can someone call me back. Monday night I have a message saying the echo is scheduled for today (Friday) at 12:45. I work at 1:00. Not going to happen. I was able to reschedule the echo for this morning and have now gotten to see my heart from many different views as well as a bonus peek at my liver and sludgy gallbladder (the sludgy is my interpretation, not the technician's as she cannot even interpret the heart stuff and has not been trained on abdominal ultrasonography). I'll have the results on Monday. Then, at long last, I might be able to get my teeth cleaned.
Count down of about 32 hours to the PJ Party by the way!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Beyond PJs
Plans are rolling right along for the Pajama Party, but other things are happening, too.
Tony went to a practice session for Comic Jam last weekend. Comic Jam is similar to 24-Hour Comic Day except instead of one person writing, drawing and inking a 24 page book (1 page per hour) a team works on a book. I think that it's still a 24 hour process, but I'm not certain about the length of the book. He had a great time and it sounds like his team is set for the real thing. The real Jam is scheduled (appropriately enough) on April 1st.
My parents are visiting my brother in Ecuador right now. I have heard anything since they left, so I'm assuming they got there intact. All three should be in the Galapagos Islands right now. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories when they get back.
My friend Michelle is moving to Alabama on Monday. I don't get to see Michelle very often, but she's just an amazingly fun person with a huge heart. I didn't realise how sad I am about her leaving until after her goodbye party last night. The world is a better place because she's in it and I'm really lucky that I got to work with her after I finished school. Happily, she and her husband, Jerry, have to return their rental trailer to South Bend, so they might be crashing the PJ Party!
Right, PJ Party ... It looks like we could have as many as 30 people this year. We're really going to have to finish the basement or get a bigger house. Tony's busily making more floor pillows and planning on moving furniture around. I'm happy because now that winter is back I can try making ice lanterns. Also, the pajama party isn't quite as meaningful when it's 50 degrees outside. Countdown of 8 days left!
Tony went to a practice session for Comic Jam last weekend. Comic Jam is similar to 24-Hour Comic Day except instead of one person writing, drawing and inking a 24 page book (1 page per hour) a team works on a book. I think that it's still a 24 hour process, but I'm not certain about the length of the book. He had a great time and it sounds like his team is set for the real thing. The real Jam is scheduled (appropriately enough) on April 1st.
My parents are visiting my brother in Ecuador right now. I have heard anything since they left, so I'm assuming they got there intact. All three should be in the Galapagos Islands right now. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories when they get back.
My friend Michelle is moving to Alabama on Monday. I don't get to see Michelle very often, but she's just an amazingly fun person with a huge heart. I didn't realise how sad I am about her leaving until after her goodbye party last night. The world is a better place because she's in it and I'm really lucky that I got to work with her after I finished school. Happily, she and her husband, Jerry, have to return their rental trailer to South Bend, so they might be crashing the PJ Party!
Right, PJ Party ... It looks like we could have as many as 30 people this year. We're really going to have to finish the basement or get a bigger house. Tony's busily making more floor pillows and planning on moving furniture around. I'm happy because now that winter is back I can try making ice lanterns. Also, the pajama party isn't quite as meaningful when it's 50 degrees outside. Countdown of 8 days left!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Chez PJ - Party Menu forecast
With head-colds breezing through the home, work towards party prep is off to a slow start.
But we have figured out the vittles.
The list includes some old faves, some news one, and one of probably many dishes coming with one of our guests:
"Gutless" Rumaki (Rumaki minus the liver)
Mushroom-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon wrapped, Parmesean Stuffed Dates
Sweet Satan's Seed (sweet/spicey nut mix)
Igor Bars (geek-treat supreme. sweet-tooth indulgence heaven)
Jalepeno ice cream frosted chocolate cupcakes (yes, you read that right)
Pink Squirrel (ice cream + liquors + frilly name = one sweet buzz)
More alcohol than can safely be consumed
Misc. chips, dips, veggi-trays and the like.
AND...
Cast your vote now! Which would be the better use of our crockpot:
A) Hot Buttered Rum
or
B) Spiced Plum Soup (also suitable for drinking)
If you don't add a comment wiht your opinion, we just might not let you have any.
But we have figured out the vittles.
The list includes some old faves, some news one, and one of probably many dishes coming with one of our guests:
"Gutless" Rumaki (Rumaki minus the liver)
Mushroom-Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon wrapped, Parmesean Stuffed Dates
Sweet Satan's Seed (sweet/spicey nut mix)
Igor Bars (geek-treat supreme. sweet-tooth indulgence heaven)
Jalepeno ice cream frosted chocolate cupcakes (yes, you read that right)
Pink Squirrel (ice cream + liquors + frilly name = one sweet buzz)
More alcohol than can safely be consumed
Misc. chips, dips, veggi-trays and the like.
AND...
Cast your vote now! Which would be the better use of our crockpot:
A) Hot Buttered Rum
or
B) Spiced Plum Soup (also suitable for drinking)
If you don't add a comment wiht your opinion, we just might not let you have any.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Music reviews
You really need to check out this groups reviews sections. Really. Now.
They may not all be winners, but I don't think there's a loser in the bunch.
They may not all be winners, but I don't think there's a loser in the bunch.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Watching my language
Probably the final installment of the" male half of the blog" mini-series:
I have lately at work taken on some copy-writing. Despite my lackluster presence on this blog, I like writing, and feel that, when I'm not just rambling on the keyboard (like, say, now) I can be a fairly effective writer. If not polished or experienced. Anyway, our writer was backed up, I had nothing to do, and one of the account reps said he had a radio spot that needed writing. The boss man said go for it. And I don't think I did a half bad job. Nor did the account rep, nor Mr. Boss-man. Unfortunately, The client is not so easily impressed. So I had to write a second, not-nearly-as-good-but-pleased-the-client script. Apparently reminded of my knack for creative writing, I shortly thereafter wrote a second radio spot, a couple ads and punched up some headlines. It's nice to be able to grow ones experience in different directions.
More recently, I bought myself a lecture series on tape about language. It's history and structure and the like. Interesting stuff. Very engaging lecturer. Keeps me intellectually entertained on my drive to and from work. For those interested in learning about a variety of fascinating subjects on their way to and from work, check out www.teach12.com. The language tape series that has me currently enthralled is "The Story of Human Language".
I have lately at work taken on some copy-writing. Despite my lackluster presence on this blog, I like writing, and feel that, when I'm not just rambling on the keyboard (like, say, now) I can be a fairly effective writer. If not polished or experienced. Anyway, our writer was backed up, I had nothing to do, and one of the account reps said he had a radio spot that needed writing. The boss man said go for it. And I don't think I did a half bad job. Nor did the account rep, nor Mr. Boss-man. Unfortunately, The client is not so easily impressed. So I had to write a second, not-nearly-as-good-but-pleased-the-client script. Apparently reminded of my knack for creative writing, I shortly thereafter wrote a second radio spot, a couple ads and punched up some headlines. It's nice to be able to grow ones experience in different directions.
More recently, I bought myself a lecture series on tape about language. It's history and structure and the like. Interesting stuff. Very engaging lecturer. Keeps me intellectually entertained on my drive to and from work. For those interested in learning about a variety of fascinating subjects on their way to and from work, check out www.teach12.com. The language tape series that has me currently enthralled is "The Story of Human Language".
Stone-walling
Next in our mini-series of mundananity from the life of Tony...
Over a year ago, I bought some very attractive stone tiles for Amy's bathroom. (Amy's bathroom because she gets creative control over decorating it. Likewise, we have Tony's kitchen, which I expect to be thoroughly updating soon). These stone tiles, made of dozens of roughly 1 inch round stones mosaiced onto mesh tile, were promptly "installed" in the storage area of the basement (which is a bit of a redundancy, as that is what the entirety of the basement is). For almost a year, they waited for me to find (a) the time, (b) the knowledge and (c) the motivation to put them up above the shower in the bathroom. Sometime around about Christmas, I found all three.
Well, at least two of the three. Knowledge would come with experience.
It was knowledge that had kept me from the task for a year. I'd find a good, sturdy book on tiling. Filled with helpful illustrations and blue boxes with important notes and clarifications off to the sides. And without fail, it would omit explanation of how to do a step, make assumptions that one knows things that one resorting to this type of book wouldn't know, or offer instruction that went contrary to the previous books instruction.
Finally, I sat down with 4 different references, cross-examined and compared the information, and was confident I had constructed a workable plan for my project. So off to Lowe's I went for supplies. I've found Lowe's to generally be filled with people who are neither helpful nor knowledgeable, and have had many frustrated experiences there. This was not one of them. I found a salesperson who, before I knew it, had corrected half of my misguided 'plan', picked out my supplies, and given me a clear, straightforward to-do instruction list. Which worked very well.
Until the end.
For those who don't know, once you've got the tiles stuck to the wall, you have to mix the grout and smear it over the surface, getting it all between the cracks. The grout sets quickly (20 minutes, I was told) so once you start, there isn't time to waste. So, I mixed double the amount of grout I expected to need, just to be safe, checked that I had everything I might need on hand, stepped up onto the ledge of the tub, and set to work. Scooped a good pile of grout on my trowel, lifted it over my head to the wall above, and watched as gravity took hold of the grout and plopped it toward the tub's floor.
And it sets quickly remember. So I couldn't just say 'bah, I'll clean it up later'. I might risk having a permanent concrete-like lump in the middle of our bathtub. So I set to cleaning it up. Returned to, more carefully) spread the grout on the wall, occasionally dropping bits and slightly larger bits along the way. And, having lost so much grout to gravities seductive call, I got halfway done and had run out of mixed grout. Now panic was setting in. I'm mixing, I'm cleaning, I'm trying in vain to smear this cake batter-mixture from hell on the wall above me rather than below me, and cursing like a pirate with turret's all the while.
Amy choose this moment to treat herself to some coffee. Someplace far away from home. Smart girl.
In the end it looks very nice, with some incidental grout splatter on the joining walls and ceiling. I may get around to sanding them off before next year.
Over a year ago, I bought some very attractive stone tiles for Amy's bathroom. (Amy's bathroom because she gets creative control over decorating it. Likewise, we have Tony's kitchen, which I expect to be thoroughly updating soon). These stone tiles, made of dozens of roughly 1 inch round stones mosaiced onto mesh tile, were promptly "installed" in the storage area of the basement (which is a bit of a redundancy, as that is what the entirety of the basement is). For almost a year, they waited for me to find (a) the time, (b) the knowledge and (c) the motivation to put them up above the shower in the bathroom. Sometime around about Christmas, I found all three.
Well, at least two of the three. Knowledge would come with experience.
It was knowledge that had kept me from the task for a year. I'd find a good, sturdy book on tiling. Filled with helpful illustrations and blue boxes with important notes and clarifications off to the sides. And without fail, it would omit explanation of how to do a step, make assumptions that one knows things that one resorting to this type of book wouldn't know, or offer instruction that went contrary to the previous books instruction.
Finally, I sat down with 4 different references, cross-examined and compared the information, and was confident I had constructed a workable plan for my project. So off to Lowe's I went for supplies. I've found Lowe's to generally be filled with people who are neither helpful nor knowledgeable, and have had many frustrated experiences there. This was not one of them. I found a salesperson who, before I knew it, had corrected half of my misguided 'plan', picked out my supplies, and given me a clear, straightforward to-do instruction list. Which worked very well.
Until the end.
For those who don't know, once you've got the tiles stuck to the wall, you have to mix the grout and smear it over the surface, getting it all between the cracks. The grout sets quickly (20 minutes, I was told) so once you start, there isn't time to waste. So, I mixed double the amount of grout I expected to need, just to be safe, checked that I had everything I might need on hand, stepped up onto the ledge of the tub, and set to work. Scooped a good pile of grout on my trowel, lifted it over my head to the wall above, and watched as gravity took hold of the grout and plopped it toward the tub's floor.
And it sets quickly remember. So I couldn't just say 'bah, I'll clean it up later'. I might risk having a permanent concrete-like lump in the middle of our bathtub. So I set to cleaning it up. Returned to, more carefully) spread the grout on the wall, occasionally dropping bits and slightly larger bits along the way. And, having lost so much grout to gravities seductive call, I got halfway done and had run out of mixed grout. Now panic was setting in. I'm mixing, I'm cleaning, I'm trying in vain to smear this cake batter-mixture from hell on the wall above me rather than below me, and cursing like a pirate with turret's all the while.
Amy choose this moment to treat herself to some coffee. Someplace far away from home. Smart girl.
In the end it looks very nice, with some incidental grout splatter on the joining walls and ceiling. I may get around to sanding them off before next year.
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Incredibly slow day at work means you get several postings from the silent partner today.
Since I've not been bloggerly of late, I'll take this time to catch up on recent events in my life with a mini-series of recent amazingly mundane adventures. First up:
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Back in November I auditioned for an independent film. Just on a whim. Saw a poster making an open casting call and noted they needed a couple "male 20-30" types. Acting isn't something I've ever really put myself into - but I've enjoy what little experiences I've had (acting class, high school plays and the like). And, as there was a casting call poster in the Mishawaka Border's, and the auditions were taking place in on of the meeting rooms at the local library, the intimidation factor was pretty low.
Surprisingly, though it's a no-budget film, it has a decent script and seems to be pretty professionally thought out and structured so that it actually CAN be filmed on weekends and evening - around people's real life schedules. I did not get the part they had me read for (20-something Yale grad) - but I did make enough of an impression to get a call back for a second audition, and heaps of praise, with a lot of "I'm really not just being nice. I really mean it" thrown in. Right off the bat the mentioned that my lack of experience was actually refreshing, because they'd auditioned a lot of people with stage acting experience, and acting on stage and on camera are two very different things. It surprised me that anyone with actual acting experience wouldn't be aware of that and adjust for it. Seems obvious to me. Anywho, didn't get a speaking part, but depending on need and scheduling, they may call me in as an extra. We'll see. Regardless, it was a fun leap to take.
Since I've not been bloggerly of late, I'll take this time to catch up on recent events in my life with a mini-series of recent amazingly mundane adventures. First up:
Lights! Camera! Inaction!
Back in November I auditioned for an independent film. Just on a whim. Saw a poster making an open casting call and noted they needed a couple "male 20-30" types. Acting isn't something I've ever really put myself into - but I've enjoy what little experiences I've had (acting class, high school plays and the like). And, as there was a casting call poster in the Mishawaka Border's, and the auditions were taking place in on of the meeting rooms at the local library, the intimidation factor was pretty low.
Surprisingly, though it's a no-budget film, it has a decent script and seems to be pretty professionally thought out and structured so that it actually CAN be filmed on weekends and evening - around people's real life schedules. I did not get the part they had me read for (20-something Yale grad) - but I did make enough of an impression to get a call back for a second audition, and heaps of praise, with a lot of "I'm really not just being nice. I really mean it" thrown in. Right off the bat the mentioned that my lack of experience was actually refreshing, because they'd auditioned a lot of people with stage acting experience, and acting on stage and on camera are two very different things. It surprised me that anyone with actual acting experience wouldn't be aware of that and adjust for it. Seems obvious to me. Anywho, didn't get a speaking part, but depending on need and scheduling, they may call me in as an extra. We'll see. Regardless, it was a fun leap to take.
Cheesiest Update Ever
OK, I know the male half of this blog (me) hasn't posted in ages. And I'm truely sorry. Hopefully this illustration Amy mentioned a couple entries ago (in a comment under the entry "New Year") will at least start to make amends for my absence.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Lives Within Lives
Yesterday I was showing some friends pictures of the spleen that I removed last week. Jason commented that I have this whole other life from the one that they know me in. It's true, but as I thought more about it I realized that everyone does. It's not that we're all paranoid and super secretive, though I will admit that there are parts of myself I protect from everyone but a very few. I think that it's simply that we need to be so many types of ourself to navigate the world. I have my lab-time life and my work life and my life at home with Tony and our friends and family. I like taking of my doctor face at the end of the day. Whether I like putting it on is another issue entirely. Anyhow, Tony has home life and art director life. I know that my friends also have their own lives that don't necessarily intersect with mine and it's easy to forget in our interactions that they go off and do these amazing and interesting things. I feel really lucky when I can hear the stories later. Even if the stories don't involve spleens.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Parents Are Amazing
Truly!
About a week ago Tony's family visited us. Tony's family is wonderful and this visit included his brother, Seth, our sister-in-law, Amanda and our niece, Morgynn. we really don't get to see them often and we were especially excited to see Morgynn as there aren't many children in our life right now. We forgot, in our anticipation, all that an almost-three-year-old entails. Morgynn did really well with the house and the cats. Only one thing got broken. I got to see Bob do a classic turn and run (yes, nonanimated cats can pull off this move). And, we were exhausted the next day.
So, I am in complete awe of those of you who are parents (particularly of toddlers). Kudos to you for having the energy to keep up with them day after day after day. You have the toughest job on the planet! And thanks Mom and Dad!
About a week ago Tony's family visited us. Tony's family is wonderful and this visit included his brother, Seth, our sister-in-law, Amanda and our niece, Morgynn. we really don't get to see them often and we were especially excited to see Morgynn as there aren't many children in our life right now. We forgot, in our anticipation, all that an almost-three-year-old entails. Morgynn did really well with the house and the cats. Only one thing got broken. I got to see Bob do a classic turn and run (yes, nonanimated cats can pull off this move). And, we were exhausted the next day.
So, I am in complete awe of those of you who are parents (particularly of toddlers). Kudos to you for having the energy to keep up with them day after day after day. You have the toughest job on the planet! And thanks Mom and Dad!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
New Year
We spent a really nice New Year's Eve with Megan, Guy and their dogs. Fargo and Dakota are very good houseguests and Bob, our kitty, was too under the weather to cause trouble. I made my first venture into stuffed poultry (rock cornish game hens) and will soon be learning the best ways to handle poultry and stuffing. Thanks Guy and Alton Brown! I think the best thing that I cooked that evening was Winter Plum Soup from Cooking Light. It tasted great and made the house smell good, too! We played a very spirited game of Candamir that night and enjoyed Settlers of the Stone Age on New Year's Day. I prefer Candamir with four players, but it's nice to have a two-player Cataan game out there.
I've decided that every year needs a theme. I think that 2006 may be the Year of the Pirate at our house.
However, it may end up being the Year of Cheese. Any opinions on this? (Megan and Guy, I think 2005 may have been the Year of the Pirate for you).
Tomorrow is the final day of Christmas for us. Hmm, that adds up to 15 days of Christmas. I think we need to add on 13 chocolate covered coffee beans, 14 kooky paper clips and 15 caramels to complete the song. Happy New Year!
I've decided that every year needs a theme. I think that 2006 may be the Year of the Pirate at our house.
However, it may end up being the Year of Cheese. Any opinions on this? (Megan and Guy, I think 2005 may have been the Year of the Pirate for you).
Tomorrow is the final day of Christmas for us. Hmm, that adds up to 15 days of Christmas. I think we need to add on 13 chocolate covered coffee beans, 14 kooky paper clips and 15 caramels to complete the song. Happy New Year!
Friday, November 18, 2005
Return from Slacking
Have we been slacking on the blog? Yes.
Have we been slacking in life as we know it? Only moderately so.
Since we last posted there have been ...
A trip to Saugatuck where we met Jesus in a nice little cafe (pictures to arrive at some point) and
bought a really nice piece of furniture at a really good price.
Tony's return trip to Saugatuck to pick up said piece of furniture (some things just don't fit in the back of
a VW Beetle).
Halloween.
Our third anniversary (the cause of the aforementioned trips).
My 31st birthday. I felt so loved.
A trip to Indianapolis to see the Lord of the Rings exhibition. It was a wonderful geek-out experience
and as a bonus we ran into our friends Jerry and Michelle. They were leaving the Colts game while
we were leaving the museum. Jerry was painted blue and white. the Colts won. He was very happy.
It's always a bit odd to travel 3 hours and run into friends that you never run into at home.
A piece of our siding fell off while we were in Indianapolis (of course, it's been raing and/or snowing
ever since).
The first snow of the season.
I was given authoritah in the lab. I promise not to whack anyone with a baton, though. (Did you know
that just about everyone loves South Park? It's quite amazing!)
What lies ahead ...
Thanksgiving! Actually it'll probably just be me and Tony this year, but we're still going to feast and
use the good china.
I have a week's vacation in early December, may go to Kalamazoo to see the Chihuly exhibit, will go to
Chicago to see the Pompei exhibit.
Hopefulyy less slacking on the blog!
Have we been slacking in life as we know it? Only moderately so.
Since we last posted there have been ...
A trip to Saugatuck where we met Jesus in a nice little cafe (pictures to arrive at some point) and
bought a really nice piece of furniture at a really good price.
Tony's return trip to Saugatuck to pick up said piece of furniture (some things just don't fit in the back of
a VW Beetle).
Halloween.
Our third anniversary (the cause of the aforementioned trips).
My 31st birthday. I felt so loved.
A trip to Indianapolis to see the Lord of the Rings exhibition. It was a wonderful geek-out experience
and as a bonus we ran into our friends Jerry and Michelle. They were leaving the Colts game while
we were leaving the museum. Jerry was painted blue and white. the Colts won. He was very happy.
It's always a bit odd to travel 3 hours and run into friends that you never run into at home.
A piece of our siding fell off while we were in Indianapolis (of course, it's been raing and/or snowing
ever since).
The first snow of the season.
I was given authoritah in the lab. I promise not to whack anyone with a baton, though. (Did you know
that just about everyone loves South Park? It's quite amazing!)
What lies ahead ...
Thanksgiving! Actually it'll probably just be me and Tony this year, but we're still going to feast and
use the good china.
I have a week's vacation in early December, may go to Kalamazoo to see the Chihuly exhibit, will go to
Chicago to see the Pompei exhibit.
Hopefulyy less slacking on the blog!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail Part II: Out of the Closet
The book had been cleverly stashed in The Really Large Closet. The Really Large Closet is a wonderful place. It has three ascending levels and I can sit quite comfortably on the top one. I considered putting a light up there and some of our big pillows and making it into a little fort. That was before it was filled with comic boxes. Now, it just looks like an only slightly larger than normal closet full of random junk. That's actually what it is (filled with random junk, I mean). I think that that is what drew "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" to it. The Holy Grail could be in there and neither Tony nor I would ever find it. Luckily I found the book and there are still no library fines. Woo hoo!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
"Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail"
This the true title of a book I checked out of the library and have now lost. This is really disappointing for two reasons.
1. I had really enjoyed the little I had read of this nonfictional account of a punk rocker who decides to find the Holy Grail in France.
2. I enjoy being smug about not having library fines when Tony has to pay out large sums of money.
So, if anyone who attended the Katie Party happens to have seen "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" sitting around, please let me know.
While I was wondering where R.S. had gotten to, I went ahead and read "The Historian". While there are no aging punks in this book I really enjoyed it. I thought the concluding section felt a bit off, but overall it was well worth the hardcover price and I'm looking forward to passing it on to my Mom when I see her next weekend.
1. I had really enjoyed the little I had read of this nonfictional account of a punk rocker who decides to find the Holy Grail in France.
2. I enjoy being smug about not having library fines when Tony has to pay out large sums of money.
So, if anyone who attended the Katie Party happens to have seen "Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail" sitting around, please let me know.
While I was wondering where R.S. had gotten to, I went ahead and read "The Historian". While there are no aging punks in this book I really enjoyed it. I thought the concluding section felt a bit off, but overall it was well worth the hardcover price and I'm looking forward to passing it on to my Mom when I see her next weekend.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Katie Party aftermath
Another fine night of eating, drinking, laughing and karaoke-ing.
We can deem the part must have been successful, because it was a topic of much discussion at Amy;s work and lab, and two people have requested that we now throw a party in their names. Perhaps this is a chargeable service - "for the low price of $99.95, Amy an Tony party service will throw a party of your very own."
At 13 people, not a huge party, but within the area of optimal guests/fun/space ratio. Not a ton of leftover food. Lots of mess, but centralized to the kitchen, dining room, and back room (and, sadly, still present in the kitchen).
Although the blog is the place for breakdown of party minutiae, I'll leave that for Amy. 'Cuz I don't feel like it (and I'm at work right now).
Thank you all who came, shame on those who didn't (especially those who said you would but "forgot" or "double booked" or "didn't exactly give a reason, which might mean we don't want to know". You know who you are).
We can deem the part must have been successful, because it was a topic of much discussion at Amy;s work and lab, and two people have requested that we now throw a party in their names. Perhaps this is a chargeable service - "for the low price of $99.95, Amy an Tony party service will throw a party of your very own."
At 13 people, not a huge party, but within the area of optimal guests/fun/space ratio. Not a ton of leftover food. Lots of mess, but centralized to the kitchen, dining room, and back room (and, sadly, still present in the kitchen).
Although the blog is the place for breakdown of party minutiae, I'll leave that for Amy. 'Cuz I don't feel like it (and I'm at work right now).
Thank you all who came, shame on those who didn't (especially those who said you would but "forgot" or "double booked" or "didn't exactly give a reason, which might mean we don't want to know". You know who you are).
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Another Party - for Katie
We're having another party next weekend. My friend Katie requested another pajama party a few months ago. Now, while winter pajamas are cute and fluffy and cuddly, summer pajamas tend to be only cute. Sometimes they are even nonexistant. So, no summer pajama party. However, we're rarely opposed to having a party (it gives us an excuse to clean the house, after all) so next weekend Katie's party will become a reality. We've begun cleaning already and have purchased a new Karaoke Revolution disc in anticipation. We also bought some more Caramel Temptation. if we can't have real pajamas, we can at least drink caramel pajamas!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Burgled!
So I might have next caught up and written a few words about my Father's (adoptive, not genetic) visit, or our weekend fun in Chicago. But instead, I'm compelled to share annoying crappy news.
We've been burgaled. Two nights in a row. Maybe three.
Nothing of tremendous value was taken. Petty Burglary. A weedwacker. A gaspowered lawnmower (which wasn't working anyway). An old bike (which may actually have been quite valuable in an antique/collectible sort of way - the jury is still out on that one). But ti's more the principle that's pissing me off.
It happens once, and oh well, things happen. But it is becoming a pattern. And I'm not sure how immeadiately anything can be done.
I went out to my car Monday morning to find the garage door open. And I was sure I had closed it. The I noted an oddly 'empty' spot in the garage. My mom's handed down 1978 Motebecane Touring bike was gone. This morning the door was open again (and you can be damn sure I closed had it that time) and we were minus one lawnmower. And a weedwacker, which might have been gone before unnoticed.
Our garage door auto opener and lock have been broke for some time. We tried to fix it a few times, but the "oh its easy, all you have to do is this" advice proved insufficient. I will confess to having a couple times in the past absent-mindedly left it open overnight. Obviously I'll be far less likely to do so in the future.
The truely aggravating thing is that there is no immeadiate fix to keep it from happening again. I somehow doubt we can get Lowe's out to install a new opener after I get home at 5:30. Or a locksmith. And I think our previous experiences have shown this is beyond and evening of 'do-it-ourselves". Maybe motion lights are easy to install. I can hope.
The other annoying thing (well, one of) is the dangerous desire to wait in the garage overnight and catch the bastard. Yeah. That's safe.
It's also tempting to play 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. Stupid, but tempting. We have a lot of stuff that is broken/valuelss (old broken TVs, etc.) that we'd have to pay for the city to pick up with out garbage. Maybe I could just leave those in the front of the garage and get 'em toted for free. And encourage repeat visits from our freindly neighborhood thieves guild.
We've been burgaled. Two nights in a row. Maybe three.
Nothing of tremendous value was taken. Petty Burglary. A weedwacker. A gaspowered lawnmower (which wasn't working anyway). An old bike (which may actually have been quite valuable in an antique/collectible sort of way - the jury is still out on that one). But ti's more the principle that's pissing me off.
It happens once, and oh well, things happen. But it is becoming a pattern. And I'm not sure how immeadiately anything can be done.
I went out to my car Monday morning to find the garage door open. And I was sure I had closed it. The I noted an oddly 'empty' spot in the garage. My mom's handed down 1978 Motebecane Touring bike was gone. This morning the door was open again (and you can be damn sure I closed had it that time) and we were minus one lawnmower. And a weedwacker, which might have been gone before unnoticed.
Our garage door auto opener and lock have been broke for some time. We tried to fix it a few times, but the "oh its easy, all you have to do is this" advice proved insufficient. I will confess to having a couple times in the past absent-mindedly left it open overnight. Obviously I'll be far less likely to do so in the future.
The truely aggravating thing is that there is no immeadiate fix to keep it from happening again. I somehow doubt we can get Lowe's out to install a new opener after I get home at 5:30. Or a locksmith. And I think our previous experiences have shown this is beyond and evening of 'do-it-ourselves". Maybe motion lights are easy to install. I can hope.
The other annoying thing (well, one of) is the dangerous desire to wait in the garage overnight and catch the bastard. Yeah. That's safe.
It's also tempting to play 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. Stupid, but tempting. We have a lot of stuff that is broken/valuelss (old broken TVs, etc.) that we'd have to pay for the city to pick up with out garbage. Maybe I could just leave those in the front of the garage and get 'em toted for free. And encourage repeat visits from our freindly neighborhood thieves guild.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
The Wife Has Returned
I made it back from California well educated and glad to be home. Monterey was nice and it was great to see Valerie, but it was very hard to be stuck in the same dark room for several hours at a time. I had scary flashback to E-100 the large, usually very dark lecture hall that sucked up many hours of my life between the ages of 20 and 22.
Tony did get a few things done while I was gone. The recycling got taken out, the kitchen is cleaner than I left it and our remaining baby dove is becoming more social. Unfortunately, Bob did some things, too. Urinating on the Welcome mat in the cafe room being the most significant. I'll see what nature's Miracle can do, but it might just be time for a new mat.
Last night was fun! Westayed in Chicago and went clubbing. This involved Tony playing sugar daddy and buying me appropriate clothes before we left the hotel. We tried 3 clubs, but only got into 1 because there was a special event going on at the second and we didn't really want to pay $40 cover for music we didn't care for at the third. Now Tony's napping (we rarely see 3am anymore) and I'm thinking that's a great idea.
Tony did get a few things done while I was gone. The recycling got taken out, the kitchen is cleaner than I left it and our remaining baby dove is becoming more social. Unfortunately, Bob did some things, too. Urinating on the Welcome mat in the cafe room being the most significant. I'll see what nature's Miracle can do, but it might just be time for a new mat.
Last night was fun! Westayed in Chicago and went clubbing. This involved Tony playing sugar daddy and buying me appropriate clothes before we left the hotel. We tried 3 clubs, but only got into 1 because there was a special event going on at the second and we didn't really want to pay $40 cover for music we didn't care for at the third. Now Tony's napping (we rarely see 3am anymore) and I'm thinking that's a great idea.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
When the wife is away...
...the husband falls into a temporary depressed state and accomplishes nothing.
Amy is at a vet conference in California this week. Leaving me with loads of time to get things done in a distractionless environment.
Or not.
Mostly not, so far.
Amy is at a vet conference in California this week. Leaving me with loads of time to get things done in a distractionless environment.
Or not.
Mostly not, so far.
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