Fresh Stuff!

Just a picture of the haul from the farmer's market this morning (I also bought asparagus which is not pictured)! I have to come up with something to make now. I think I've mentioned my inability to just throw things together and come out with a great meal. I really need a recipe to do any kind of cooking, and even then its always anybody's guess whether or not I'll produce something edible. But, everything at the farmer's market looked so pretty and good that I got sucked in! Anyway, we'll see what I come up with...

Adieu Van Buren

Well, its official, I've passed on the Van Buren house. After another visit with Suzy to take photos and make notes and 48 hours of serious deep thinking, I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't the right fit. Well, that and I think I witnessed a drug deal go down in the neighboring yard the other evening. Just didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy! I've also decided to start looking at houses outside of my target neighborhoods - a great house could be out there somewhere.

So, that's not much in the way of news, but its what I've got!

Did I Mention...

I was just looking through my posts over the last few weeks, and I realized that I never got around to blogging about the fact that the Van Buren House from a month or so ago is BACK ON THE MARKET!!! Yes, that's right - apparently the buyer who swooped in and offered the owner his exact asking price didn't actually have the funds to back up that offer and the contract fell through. Surprise, surprise. Well, anyway, last weekend Suzy called me to say that Van Buren's owner called her to ask if I was still interested, and if I was he would take my original offer plus he would pay my closing costs.

Well, gee, darn - that presents a dilemma for me. After the Van Buren House was off the table, I had pretty much talked myself out of it (it needs too much work, the whole scary apartment building next door issue, the weird parking lot situation, etc. etc.) and decided I hadn't been that thrilled about it. So, now I have someone practically giving me this house and agreeing to all of my demands. Does that change how I feel about the house? I don't know...

I was supposed to go take another look at the house yesterday, notebook in hand, so that I could make a very thorough list of all the pros and cons. That didn't happen because of the afore-mentioned Summer Bug (still visiting, by the way). Instead, I've been laying on my couch going over and over it in my head. That's never good. To compund the problem, my landlord showed up yesterday afternoon with a new 12 month lease for me to sign. I guess he got tired of letting me go month-to-month while I looked for a house. What to do???

Any and all advice would be welcome!

The Other Kind of Summer Bug...

Well, it seems that no sooner was I infected with the need for summer road trips a mere week ago that I was also infected with a dreaded SUMMER COLD. I haven't had one of these horrible little buggers for years, and I had forgotten how miserable it is to be sick when its bright and sunshiney outside and not to mention hot and muggy. Yesterday at work I had what I thought was a severe allergic reaction to something and went home early to take a Benadryl and sleep it off. I was feeling just fine by the time I went out for dinner and a movie with some friends last night, but this morning I woke up with a jug of sloshing water for a head and a throat that was on FIRE! Yuck...I had so many plans for this weekend! Bummer...

On the bright side, I saw Angels & Demons last night, which was really good. G, as promised, I will tell you all about Ewan MacGregor's hotness. He was made even hotter by the fact that he played a priest. I kinda get why women went bonkers over Richard Chamberlain in the Thornbirds now! Anyway, good flick.

Off to drink more tea - with some ice in it...

In Memory of...

Just a couple of photos from the annual Luminaria at the local Civil War battlefield over the weekend. I have been to this cemetery many, many times in the daylight, and yeah, 3,500 graves looks like a lot. But when you see a little candlight next to each and every one of them it looks like a million points of light, and it really makes you stop and think. I learned this year that under most of the 3,500 grave markers the remains of 3 or 4 soldiers are buried. I'll do the math for you - that's between 10,000 and 13,000 people. And that's from just one battle in the Civil War. Unbelievable.

Anyway, that's how I marked the occasion...

The Summer Bug...

Once again, I've got it. Every year, just about this time, I always catch it. No, not a summer cold or the swine flu (heaven forbid!) but rather a serious bug for travel and road trips! I get really, really bad cabin fever, and nothing will do until I have a whole line-up of things to go and see scheduled for the rest of the summer. Now, most years, this bug disappears by the time the weather gets really hot and humid - then I catch the bug for sitting on my couch under a ceiling fan with massive quantities of Crystal Light. But, I usually accomplish at least a few of the road trips on my list, and I have high hopes for this season!

With the long holiday weekend approaching, I'm thinking about a little trip to DC on Monday to do something memorial-ish (monuments, parades, etc.), although it might actually turn into a trip to get a pedicure at a favorite shop in Alexandria, Virginia, with side stops at Ikea and the Crate and Barrel Outlet. I'm also headed out to Phil and Elizabeth's for a cook-out on Saturday - not really a road trip per se, but it still gets me out of the house!

I'm also contemplating a serious trip through Philly and Boston - Amtrak has lowered their East coast prices, and I could get to Boston for $67! I think I might even have G convinced to go along!

Now I just need to nail down a list of local summer festivals and craft shows, and I'm all set!

Three Strawberries!

Yay!!! After much trial and tribulation in trying to actually find strawberry plants to put out on my stoop for the summer, I had an actual strawberry HARVEST the other day! Yes, that's right - three whole strawberries! I washed them and ate them right then and there. Awesome. Someday, I hope to have a much larger strawberry patch in a much larger yard. Oh yeah, that reminds me - no news from Suzy. Where are all these homeowners who list their houses in May??