Happy Turkey Day!

Just packing up to head out of town tomorrow morning for the big Thanksgiving event, and wanted to wish everyone who I won't see a very happy holiday! I'll be enjoying a big traditional meal with the ENTIRE fam up in the Pittsburgh area, and we might even have some snow flurries on Friday!

Ah, the holidays...

Sparks!

So, I just have to share - I had my first real homeowner appointment today: a meeting with an electrician about the laundry list of things I need done in the new house. The good news is that I actually kinda sounded like I knew something about electrical matters, and I don't think this guy tried to pull anything over on me. The bad news is that in order to have him do all the work, I have find some moolah somewhere. Hmmm. Why is everything so darn expensive???

However, when we were in my attic looking at my ancient ventilation fan that runs 24/7 for some reason, he gave me some free pointers on how to re-insulate my attic before snow flies! Did you know that when you roll out the pink blanket insulation, you should coat any exposed skin with baby powder so that the fiberglass threads don't stick? And then, when you finish you should jump in the shower and stand under cold water for a few minutes to make all of your pores close before the threads can get into your skin? I mean, these tips were free - he was just giving them away. Sadly, he is not giving away free dishwasher electrical hook-ups.

Free Candy!

Halloween by the stats:

Number of Trick-or-Treaters: 2
Number of hours I waited for the munchkins: 3
Pounds of candy that I still have: 3+
Pounds that I will gain because this candy is still in my house: not going there
Number of reggae/ska bands listened to: 1
Number of rum and cokes consumed: 3
Number of dirty old men at the bar ogling costumed girls: 2

Ah, what a night!

Happy Halloween!

Ah, the last day of October. My blog posting has been pretty pitiful this month, so I thought I'd make one last effort to get something in before November. I do indeed have a jack-o-lantern for my front stoop that will be making its appearance this evening for the trick-or-treaters, and I did indeed take a picture of it last night to post, but alas once again blogspot is giving me problems with my photos. So, check back later for a look at Jack.

I'm honestly not sure what the turnout will be for trick-or-treating in my new neighborhood. I see lots of kids around, but I'm kind of on the fringe and so far my neighborhood has not been overly neighborly. But, I am prepared with several bags of candy to hand out, should the hoards show up!

So, that's Halloween '09 for me this year! Next year, my goal is to do something that involves a costume - I miss costumes! Which reminds me - Miss Bess, you need to FIX YOUR COMPUTER so that you can post some pics from that annual Halloween shindig!!!

It's Not Easy Being Green

Bailey and Pepper take a break from the all-family painting marathon last weekend.

So, after an extended hiatus from this blog, during which time I was madly installing a new exhibit at the museum and attempting to get something - anything! - done in the house, I'm back with a little progress report. After literally three weeks of short bursts of painting, my living room walls are now officially covered in two coats of Enchanted Forest green, and I'm totally in love with the final result! My parents were in town last weekend to attend my exhibit opening, and while they were here they also installed my new bamboo blinds and and wrought iron drapery rods. I still have to hang the curtains, but its on my list for later on this weekend. Anyway, it feels so incredibly good to get something DONE! I was so inspired that I decided to forego a nap after the parents left to unpack some of my books and arrange them by color on my bookcase. Its an arrangement I saw in a magazine once upon a time and thought was very cool. I'm kinda loving the effect, but I think I need more books!

So, next on the list is to procure a pumpkin and get it carved this evening. My front stoop looks very naked right now and definitely needs some fall-ish decoration!

If I Don't Go Crazy...

Image Courtesy of U2.com - because my camera phone takes bad pictures.

Took a brief and much-needed break from all the craziness at the new house and at work yesterday to go to the U2 concert last night. It was my first U2 concert and it was pretty awesome! We had good seats and had a pretty nice view of the bizarre "360" stage that U2 is using for this tour. G says it looks like an octopus, I immediately compared it to a Flintstones dinosaur. I heart U2!

Now I have to mow my lawn. Ugh.

Guess What I'm Doing Right Now!

Right this very minute. Go ahead - guess! Its something that I haven't been able to do for 5 years. I AM DOING LAUNDRY IN MY OWN HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, that's right - my new washer/dryer was FINALLY installed this morning! It took 4 separate attempts over the last two weeks for it to be delivered and (properly) installed, and truth be told I'm still missing a piece, but it ACTUALLY WORKS!!!! Which means I can now spend my time doing other things while my laundry is going in the kitchen. I can unpack boxes. I can watch TV. I can paint a wall. I can make dinner. I can do whatever I want, because I can now do laundry in my own house whenever I want to. This might literally change my entire world. What am I going to do with an extra 5 hours every weekend?

I'm so unbelievably jazzed over this whole thing that I've almost completely forgiven Lowe's internet sales department for the "4 attempt" debacle (this washer/dryer was originally supposed to be up and running before I even moved into the new house). I was planning to write a scathing post about the evils of big box stores and their lack of customer service, but I've decided to just let it go. I have a washer/dryer. It works. I'm happy!

P.S. Check out those fire engine red walls in the photos - thanks to G and the parents for applying that paint!

P.P.S. For some reason Blogger is being stupid and not letting me post pictures. So, for now, just imagine gleaming white appliances in front of fire engine red walls!

P.P.P.S. As of 5:00 this evening, Blogger has decide to allow my photos once again. Geez...