Sunday, March 30, 2008

Laundry Fiasco

This morning I put a load of laundry in the wash, thinking that I'd dry it after I got home from the day's activities. So, when I came home tonight (around 8:30pm), I went downstairs to switch my clothes to the dryer. When I opened the garage door to the basement, I heard running water, and immediately, I knew, this was not a good sign.

Apparently, the water drainage hose for my washing machine had somehow come undone... and so the washer never knew that it was full to continue on with the cycle... which means that my washer was running ALL DAY. I think I probably turned it on somewhere around 11am. So it was like having a hose running in my basement for ... oh ... nine and a half hours.

Arg!

The good news is that the drain in my basement works marvelously now. No flooding or crazy water build up. It came out of the back of the washer and went right down the drain. The bad news is that I don't want to see my water bill. Ever. Oh, and my laundry never went through the cycle, so it's not clean. I suppose. Do you think running water over your clothes for 9 hours makes them clean? I dunno either. I hooked the hose back up, threw in some more soap, and am now letting it cycle through the wash.

Hopefully all works out properly.

Man, that's a lot of wasted water. But at least my basement isn't flooded.

That was not really a cool thing to come home to. And people wonder why I hate laundry so much. I vote to never have to do it again.


Karen: [in a laundromat] What is this place? It's pretty.
[starts to tap on a washing machine]
Karen: Where are all the fishes?
Grace: No, Karen, this is a laundromat. Normal people wash their clothes and wear them again.
Karen: Well, poor people are just plain clever!


End Blog.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Life Without Remy

I think I might be Jon Arbuckle.


Have you seen the Garfield Minus Garfield website? I've been linked to it twice recently, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon.

Some of them are really weird and some of them are really sad (for Jon), but this one made me laugh... probably because I also think I need to cook something tonight. (And I'm jealous of his hat.)


End Blog.

Six Feet Over

That's it. I've done it. I've watched every single episode of Six Feet Under in less than three weeks.

I don't know what to do with myself now.

Also, that show talks a lot about "living each day" and how "you could die tomorrow"... and while sitting on my couch, eating cookie dough, I felt awfully guilty for doing absolutely nothing. So, for those of you that don't have strong wills like me - don't try this at home. It would probably crush your spirit.

I won't post any spoilers about the show, but I will say that the last 15 minutes of the series is so good, I watched it four times in a row, and then watched it again with commentary. I can't think of a more appropriate way to end the series. It remained faithful to the last frame.

I do have to tell you that if you decide to embark on this endeavor, there is one side effect. I had a crazy dream involving Brenda Chenowith and Remy. It was too odd and complex to really describe... and when I woke up, I felt like I could have been one of the characters on the show, for a brief moment at least.

And so it ends. As we all will. As does this blog.


End Blog.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Dear Cookie Monster, Come Over

A guy I work with has a son who was fund raising for his football team. I remember fund raising. Rather, I remember the need for fund raising and my father always doing all the work required. So, I figured I'd help him out. I didn't really care if it was overpriced or whatever - since the point was to make money. So, whatever, glad to help and all...

But now I have 3 pounds of frozen chocolate chunk cookie dough in my freezer.

I want to just tear the packaging open and eat it without cooking it.

I'm staring at my freezer right now. Or rather, where my freezer is, through the wall, and my mouth is watering.

It's weird. Because I don't really have food cravings, or snack a lot, and I'm not even hungry. But I think that having three pounds of cookie dough in my house is probably a really bad thing.

And I'm sure I won't actually bake them.

Sure of it.

Although, I'm sure it'll get eaten all the same...


End Blog.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

You Have Lettuce in Your Hair

I grab fast food for lunch all the time. (Which probably has a lot to do with the additional 15 pounds I've put on since moving to Kansas City.) It's just too hard to cook something at home and then put it in little containers to heat it up at work. (And I'm lazy.) I'd rather spend 5 or 6 bucks a day for the convenience of fast food. However, we don't have a wide variety of fast food selections near my workplace. Yesterday I settled on going to Taco Bell because it's cheap, I hardly ever eat there, and I was looking for something different.

Usually my standby is a turkey sub from Mr. Goodcents (with provolone, lettuce, onions, black olives, banana peppers, and mayo). But yesterday, I thought... why not? And I had the number 5 combo from Taco Bell. (Don't worry, I felt pretty horrible last night. I probably won't be eating there again until I forget that I didn't feel well.)

Anyway, the point is, when I was done eating and about to throw my trash away, I noticed that I had lettuce in my hair. Cue the laughter that only I understood. This will explain it all:



I'm sure that a reason why I love this show so much is that a small portion (or maybe more) of me is just like Liz Lemon. Did you notice she was eating a turkey sub?

Once again, I praise this show, its writing and continuity, and Miss Tina Fey's portrayal of the woman who acts exactly how I feel sometimes. This comes from episode 01x06: Jack Meets Dennis.

I'm happy that 30 Rock is coming back in April because the last episode that aired (02x10: Coffee and TV) was probably my favorite so far. Liz sets out to purchase a condo, which I totally understand from my house hunting days. And on top of that, there's a musical feature with "Midnight Train to Georgia". So, you should check it out at nbc.com, or by clicking here.

Liz: "Look at those floors. I would walk all around inside of that."

I also like to sing show tunes really loudly.


End Blog.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Moving About

Remy's current location: The guest room bed.

She's happy to be there, as told by the wagging tail. I've given up on her ever laying on her bed-pillow ever again, and have removed it from the floor in the living room and placed it on the bed in the guest room.

So, as you can see, she does move from the couch.

Here she is, sitting quite nicely on the floor between the dining room and kitchen. I think she is impressed that I was cooking. Look at her funny back leg sliding out from under her.

But this... this series of photos explains remarkably well what she's been doing lately. I let her out:

She does her thing, and then SPRINTS to the back door, super speedily.

Like it's home base. And she's about to get tagged out. Vrooooooooooom!

And then she stands there, on the top step, saying, "Lemme back in. Now. I've done everything there is to do outside."

I kept her outside for a little extra today somehow. Maybe someday soon she will decide that she likes the outdoors again. I think that she's gotten too used to it being freezing outside all the time.

So, yes, Mom. Remy does get off the couch. Plus, I wouldn't want a stuffed dog. They don't keep you nearly as warm. =)


End Blog.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Blockbuster Magic

One of my friends let me borrow her first and second season DVDs of Six Feet Under, knowing how addicted to marathons I get. I watched them all, and I love the show, which she knew would happen. Turns out season 2 ended in such a way that I NEED to see season 3. Now.

A plan is hatched. I know, you're thinking that I'd illegally download them from the internet. Well, you'd be wrong. And it's not just because finding the third season all by its lonesome is a difficult task and like, no one is seeding it. It's because it would take a few days. I'm not about to wait that long.

So, I picked up my three Blockbuster DVDs from the mail and decided I'd finally turn them all in (seeing as how I'd watched them all already). I was going to suck it up and only rent 3 of the 5 discs of season 3. I'd get over it. UNTIL...

As I was in the car, I remembered that I get two coupons for free rentals every month. That makes five things I can rent for free! The whole third season! Thank you Blockbuster! I love you!

So I did. I've never walked out of there with 5 DVDs before without paying one little penny. It was pretty cool. And now I'm going to plant myself firmly on the couch and watch as many as possible today. Now I kinda wish I hadn't slept so long so there was a chance of getting all the way through the season in a day. But, it's a good thing that I likely won't - because I will be in the same predicament for season 4, and I will no longer have the free rentals. I'd put them on my Blockbuster mailing queue, but they can't be trusted to send them in the proper order.

Hooray! I'm off to watch a season 3 marathon of Six Feet Under of my own creation! Happy Easter to me. I love that I'm watching a show about a funeral home on Easter.


End Blog.

Oh, PS, if you spoil me on what happens in this show, you'll be making your own trip to see the Fisher sons, and Rico will be in charge of your restoration.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Daily Dose

That's right, it's that time again: Your daily dose of doggie goodness!


It's Remy!


End Blog.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Jungle Dog

Jungle Dog, Jungle Dog...
Does whatever a Jungle Dog does...


Lays on the couch.

Okay, I think that picture's cool because if it's out of focus, it feels artsy. But, the auto settings on my camera did that, because apparently Mr. Spidey seemed more important than Remy. But, since I know how to work a camera (or rather, trick a camera while its still on its auto settings), I also have a better picture. Although, it doesn't quite scream "Jungle Dog" as loudly.


Look out...
There lays the Jungle Dog.


End Blog.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is really cool. Remember my eye problem? Well, I finally got my insurance claim from that. I had a $20 copay because I was seeing a specialist, but the total bill came out to $159.60. Just for the exam. So, I'm glad I didn't have to pay that on top of the charge for the antibiotics I had to buy.

That whole medical and dental insurance thing really comes in extra handy. Thank god I have a real job and am no longer in grad school.


End Blog.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

It's 70 Degrees in Here, Too

"It's so nice and warm outside today!"


"No thanks. I don't care if it's nice outside, I'm perfectly content right here."

"C'mon, Rem! Let's go play outside!"

"YOU go play outside!"

Seriously, I've created a monster. She's so not interested in retrieving or anything anymore. Maybe she's depressed. Does she look depressed to you?


End Blog.

Merry Spring

Happy first day of spring, y'all. We had a lovely day today. So lovely in fact, I swindled my friend into holding the base of her own ladder for me while I finally took down my Christmas lights. Yes, you read that right. I finally undecorated the house. What? They were only up since the day after Thanksgiving...

That can't be right. Man... four months? That's like a third of the year! I'm a horrible homeowner.

You know what I need? A tenant... who pays rent... and has a ladder.

Wanted:
Quiet, unobtrusive dog lover seeking home filled with dirty dishes, dog hair, and obnoxiously large video game equipment for the few games actually owned. Must own ladder, garden hose, and install own window coverings in available room. Large DVD collection and ability to cook a plus. No cats, smokers, drug users, snorers, light sleepers, felons, mental health patients, vegetarians, hypochondriacs, or generally freaky people need apply. I reserve the right to evict from premises without notice, at any time. And I'm not kidding about the ladder.


End Blog.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Death and Taxes... Or Just Taxes

I hate the country but love my state. Why? I finally did my taxes.

I owe the Feds $339. I hate them. I ALWAYS owe them something. And I never feel like they deserve it.

Missouri, on the other hand, is giving me $177. And I'd give that $177 right to Kansas City, if they promised to put it into the Police Department funds somehow... you know, since the city is in a major budget crisis. (People are trying to save the zoo because it's been suggested that's a good place to cut city funds. I agree. I have yet to go to the KC Zoo, so I really wouldn't miss it... and I know other super useful places that money could go. Like the police department, so all my best friends at work don't get fired, or so that they can actually pay for the gas that goes into the patrol cars. But I digress...) I love my job. And the city in general. I wouldn't care if my local taxes were raised. It was only like, 1% of my income. It hardly seems fair. I mean, this is where I care about, where I live, where I'd actually see improvements with the money they've taken.

They give you the option of donating your tax refund to the general state fund. If I could guarantee that money went to KC and not anywhere else, I might have actually done it. But I can't know where that money goes, so I didn't. Also, I need it to help pay off what I owe to the Feds. Damn them. *raises fists to the sky*

So, considering the fact that I had to pay $13.95 to file my state return online, and the numbers I listed above, this year I come out owning a grand total of $175.95.

I almost don't care because I know I don't have to fill out those forms again for another year. And I'm hopeful that since I'll have more interest accrue on the loan for the house, I might not owe as much next year. You know, since I only had the house for like 3 months in 2007. I'll likely be sorely disappointed when it comes to filing the 2008 taxes, huh? Ahh... what else is new?

But it's over! Over for another year! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!


End Blog.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Kristen Wiig = Favorite SNL Cast Member

Saturday Night Live has seen better days. Sure, I agree with that statement. But I think that the current women of SNL are really brilliant. I miss Tina Fey as an anchor on Weekend Update and her writing in general, but since I have 30 Rock now, I'm not complaining about her loss from the show. (I'm very happy she's moved on to bigger and better things.) Amy Poehler does a great job on SNL. But, I have to say, I am most impressed with cast member Kristen Wiig. More specifically her reoccurring character, Penelope.

She cracks me up to no end.



Please write more Penelope. I adore her and can't get enough.

The bit at the end where she says, "Oh, hi Tony the Tiger, how are you? ...Oh, just good? That's weird. I thought you'd be something else." BRILLIANT!!! Brilliant, I say!!

Really... more, please. It's Grrrrrrrrreat!


End Blog.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Lazy Weekend

Remy and I spent a wonderful weekend at home. I wouldn't really call it doing nothing, so much as preparing for an hour of lost sleep.





We love daylight saving time... we just hate switching to it.


End Blog.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Fortunate


I had a fortune cookie for desert the other day and when I cracked it open, there was no fortune inside.

I have no future. The cookie told me so. I thought you'd want to know.


End Blog.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

I'm Going To Eat Your Babies

Yes, my friends had to go out of town again, and I agreed to watch their dogs one more time. In return, they are to change the oil in my car. I think this was a fabulous plan. I mean, how hard could it be, watching them for another weekend? Simple. Totally. Dogs love being around me. Easy. Right?
Angel.

Devil.
"I'm Going To Eat Your Babies!"

I think she might be a hellhound or something. She chewed up the rug in my bedroom and ate her brother.

Okay, the cannibalism part wasn't true. But she did chew up my carpet and wake me up at 6am every day she was here.


She's pretty cute... but Remy's still the best dog in the world.


End Blog.