Home, Sweet Home

Well, this blog has, in the past, been devoted to my ramblings. But since it's been 5 years since I updated it, I'm going to start anew. And I've decided to give it some focus.

Matt and I closed on our home on December 2nd and started removating it that night. We officially moved in about a month ago and have been continuing to work hard since. I'd like to use this forum to document the changes to our house. It's going to be a lot of major changes, so stay tuned. The house is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath ranch on a half acre wooded lot built in 1979. After we closed, we learned that the house was actually built by Matt's great-uncle. That proved to us that this house was fated for us. Matt's family owned a couple of lumber companies and his great-uncle built this house for himself. It's about 2 blocks from where the lumber yard used to be.

The sellers made buying the house a hassle, but in the end, I feel like we got a great deal for our house. Originally, we were planning on getting a cute little starter home and moving in 5-7 years. That was before we found our forever house. This house needs so much work, but I know that in the long run, it will all be worth it.

Here's the floorplan of the house. The arrows indicate the stairs to the basement, the side door and the front door.

I went into a new discount bookstore on Veteran's Parkway today and got a book called "Judaism in a Nutshell:Holidays" for virtually nothing. I purchased this book because, while at the bookstore, I was perusing the Religion/Self-Help section and I realized that (while I have quite a few on Catholisism) I have almost no books on other religions. Sure, I have a Zen book. And I have a books on Greek mythology; but, other than that, nothing. So, I picked up a book on Judaism.
Fast forward from this morning to about 20 minutes ago. I return from Cory's tired and ready for bed. I brush my teeth and wash my face before deciding to quickly check my e-mail and update my blog. Imagine my surprise when I read my MSN horoscope.
Here it is:
Spiritual growth may be an aspect of your development that has been neglected, dear Libra. If so, consider taking steps to bring more understanding of your beliefs into your life. If you go to church, are you learning there? Have you considered exploring other faiths? Consider doing so.

-Weird, huh?

I think I lost an earring.

I miss our cable.

It all started when Cassie knocked on my door and said, "The man in the truck outside just took our cable." Now, readers, you have to understand that this wasn't a huge surprise since we haven't paid for cable since we moved in because we never signed up for it. Cassie left for work and I went on with my TV-free day. The boys came home and I informed them of our new Cable-less situation. (Doug did NOT take it well at all.) We were all simply ruined over the news that we have to actually converse with each other now because that mean man took the buffer that was TV. I went to work. I came home. I listened to Doug yell some more, then I got on the internet to see what our options were. Long story, short: Starting the 9th, we're paying for cable.

Deanna and I played in the rain last night. It was totally awesome. We were sitting in my apartment and we heard laughter and debauchery outside. We looked out the window and Adal, Katie, and Big Scott were playing splashing around the puddles in the pouring rain. We immediatly jumped up and ran outside. We played in the rain and got soaked. It was so much fun.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Cheered by supporters, Michael Moore previewed his Bush-bashing documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," before a mostly Democratic audience in the nation's capital Wednesday night. Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said he thought the film would play an important role in this election year. (What a coincidence! A movie about George W. Bush released before the election! Terry McAuliffe should be elected Vice President...of Obvious Town!)

The two-hour film depicts President Bush as lazy and oblivious to warnings in the summer of 2001 that al-Qaida was poised to strike. It also accuses the administration of manipulating the Sept. 11 attacks and fanning terrorism fears to win support for the Iraq war.

Dozens of fans greeted Moore outside the theater with applause and shouts of "Go Michael!" Moore, a fervent Bush critic, said he hopes the movie will get people to the ballot box in November. (Because if they go in October, it won't mean as much! Haha, I kill myself.)

-Seriously, go see the movie. It's still at the Normal Theatre. Four Dollars, I think you can afford it.

I've been waiting for that to happen.

Scene: During a very drunken Roommate Night; Cassie, Doug, Laurie, and Adam sit in thier living room asking each other "Would you Rather..." questions.
Laurie: Okay, guys; I've got a good one. For a year, Would you rather constantly have the hiccups or bang your bunny phone every 10 minutes?
Cassie: (Not even trying to control her laughter) I'd have to go with the Bunny Phone. HaHa. (Doug and Cassie start doing impressions of a bunny phone.)
Laurie:Oh, Damn, It really says Funny Bone.
Adam: (Sluring his words.) Guys, I think Laurie's drunk.

I got a kick out of this and I thought you guys might too. This is Ken's actual description of finals:

Ah, finals week. How can I possibly describe my feelings towards finals week?

Perhaps with a metaphor. Finals week is like having a tiny fairy fly around your head, screaming all the time.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

And once other fairies hear the first fairy screaming, they swoop down and start screaming too.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! AAAAAAA! AAAAAHHHH!"

Once you've got 20 or so of them swirling around your head and screaming at you, that's when a shark comes and eats you.

Wow. Just wow. Walking into the boys apartment with all of those candles burning and beautiful flowers in the room completely swept me off my feet. By far the best Mock Prom experience to date.

I think my imagination's broke. I got nothing. So, here's some websites:

I never could resist a brilliant site about the Bible. Seriously, think about how much time this actually took him.

Are you sick of catching your own unicorns?

This will help you become a more informed voter. If you want a better government, take steps to fix it; educate yourself.

Spiderman has a new super power! And it's so cool!

This URL is pure brilliance. Everyone of legal voting age should visit this site.

They added 'Oy' to the dictionary! Find out what other words were added.

Readers, Please don't tar and feather me. I tried to post a Friday Five this week. I was really ambitious; I went to the site and, much to my dismay, this was the message that awaited me: "None this week!"
-No explanation, no signs of remorse. They even appear to be excited about the lack of a Friday Five. Why would they use an explanation point?

Happy St. Pat's Day! To commemorate this occasion, I've decided to share some of my favorite quotes about the Irish:

-"I'm so glad I'm fuckin' Irish" -Colin Farrell

-"In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God." -Stephen Braveheart

-"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go."-Irish Blessing

-"Give an Irishman lager for a month, and he's a dead man. An Irishman is lined with copper, and the beer corrodes it. But whiskey polishes the copper and is the saving of him." -Mark Twain

-"God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world." -Anonymous

-"Maybe it's bred in the bone, but the sound of pipes is a little bit of heaven to some of us." -Nancy O'Keeefe

-"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic." -Adrienne Cook

-"The curse of the Irish is not that they don't know the words to a song -- it's that they know them all." -Susan Dooley

-"This [the Irish] is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." -Sigmund Freud

It's been awhile, but she's back: This week's FRIDAY FIVE!
1. What was the last song you heard?
-Outkast: Hey Ya (Mary Colleen and I are going insane at the office)

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
-2. Thelma and Louise
-1. Waking Life

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
-3. A new bra and matching thong from Victoria's Secret
-2. .....something.......
-1. Shampoo and Conditioner (Alberto VO5 Pear Mango Passion)

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
-4. Memorize my speeches so Krista doesn't kill me
-3. Get my oil changed and fill my tank up with gas
-2. Deposit my checks so I'll have rent money for next year
-1. Get my suits dry cleaned so they'll be ready for LA

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
-5. Matt
-4. Jared
-3. Mary Colleen
-2. My mom
-1. Jon

You guys, seriously, go see the play, "Crowns". It's really good.

(P.S. - I hope you're reading this:
Thank you for an awesome night tonight. You're wonderful. I'll call you tomorrow, have a great night.)

So, after my attempt to give up murder for Lent last year was unsuccessful, I decided to be a bit more practical this year. I'm learning from my mistakes. (I knew it would be too hard to give up murder cold turkey.) So, this Lenten season, I'm taking a cue from one Christy O'Connor. For Lent this year, I need your help. I'm trying to get to bed before 1:00 every weeknight (weekend nights excluded). Here's where you come in:
a) Don't keep me up, if you can help it
b) If you see me online or awake in general, yell at me.