Category: Friends

Making Progress

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Joe is working on the guest bathroom today since it’s raining out. Yea, it’s still not done, but we’ve run into some issues with the stupid wall. I’m also pissed that the paint color didn’t come out looking like the sample. It looks like purple instead of grey but whatever. I’m so sick of this project that I don’t care what anything looks like anymore as long as it’s done. Seriously, I have no patience for remodeling projects.

In happier news, Friday after work we had friends over which was nice. One of them used to be an electrician so he helped Joe replace the switch by our front door. We couldn’t get it to work properly because it turns out they had the wiring wrong. Nice. Then we had pizza and the guys drank like they always do. I seriously don’t get the appeal of beer. It’s disgusting.

Yesterday we went to see G.I. Joe which wasn’t too bad. After the show we were stopped and asked to take a short survey and we scored two free movie tickets out of the deal which was cool. We had lunch at Chipotle and then walked around downtown Geneva eating ice cream. It’s a real cute area.

Ugh. I so don’t feel like blogging lately as you can tell by the lack of updates. I don’t know what it is… maybe spending so much time in front of a computer at work has started to make me hate sitting down in front of my computer at home. The last two weeks we’ve had working lunches so I’m completely behind on my podcasts and reading because I never have time to do either.

I’d rather be on the couch on my iPhone than sitting at my desk. I did want to write an entry about some of the cool iPhone apps I’ve discovered lately but I lack the motivation to do much of anything lately. Joe and I even discussed hiring a maid so I don’t have to clean the stupid bathrooms anymore but I doubt we’ll do that because I’m too cheap and now that our wireless bill has doubled, I don’t want to spend any more money than I have to.

Oh, we’re going to run to the store and get a light for the guest bath. Hallelujah it might be done soon.

* This entry was brought to you by a cranky Nicole

Charlotte Sometimes

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Well, as usual I’ve neglected my blog. It’s not that nothing has been going on – more like too much has been going on and I’ve been too tired to sit down and write about it. Let’s see …

Friday night (the 3rd) we went to a pool party where most of the men proceeded to get drunk. One lit firecrackers from his butt (no joke) and some of them decided to strip down to their skivvies and jump in the pool, proving that alcohol does warm the blood as it was not terribly warm outside by that point. There was more than one beer run made (with a designated driver, of course) and the girls, who weren’t drinking at all, made a run for marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate and made s’mores on the host’s cool fire pit.

Saturday (the 4th) we were up bright and early to head to Darien to see Joe’s son’s in the annual 4th of July parade (he plays bass drum in the band). It was rainy and cool so it was not the best time ever, unfortunately. After the parade we took the kids back to our place for a bit before heading over to my parents’ to hang out, eat, and play games. Then we headed back toward the kids’ neighborhood to check out the fireworks before going our separate ways.

The rest of the week fly by in the blur thanks to lots going on at work and having two rats who desperately want to run around the house for at least an hour every night. Templeton is definitely the naughty one – he’s obsessed with climbing over the gate that is preventing him from getting behind the couch so that he can crawl under it. No matter how many times I pick him up and try to distract him, he runs right back over there. So we took some empty boxes and Joe made a barrier with them. They are too tall for either of the rats to climb over and once we get the entire living area surrounded by our homemade gates, we will even be able to let Oreo run around (separately, since the rats could harm her) without fear of her getting under the couch or behind the furniture.

Earlier in the week we got a shipment of painted lady caterpillars in the mail (care of a kit we bought) and as of this morning all five of them have formed a chrysalis and will soon become butterflies. I’ve wanted to do this for years as it’s a very interesting process to watch. Too bad once they are butterflies they will only live two weeks. We’ll probably keep them for just a day or two and then release them so they can enjoy their short little lives.

Today I awoke to a welcome surprise – a notice from AT&T that my iPhone has shipped. I couldn’t be more excited! I was really starting to worry I wouldn’t get it before the 20th when the kids are coming to stay for a week (and I’ve got a few days off). We’re going to Indiana Beach one of those days and since both kids love riding the swings over and over I’ll now have something to entertain me.

The kids are with us this weekend so we might be heading to the pool later on once my brother gets here. Joe and I went to the pool last Sunday and I got burned even though I put on sunscreen. We’ve lived here nearly five years and I think that’s the first time I’ve actually gone in the pool. I’ve been poolside a few times but I don’t think I’ve ever gone in before because I was heavier and felt uncomfortable being half naked in front of other people.

Downloaded apps: 57 and counting
Current phrase: “My iPhone is coming!!! Woohoo!”

Two Memorial Days are better than one

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I’ve been so busy since our vacation started that I haven’t had the time, nor inclination, to update, so here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve been up to.

Saturday was spent running errands and cleaning the house. Joe also finished painting the molding around the hall closet and front door. The guest bath still needs work, but at least the foyer area looks good.

Sunday we celebrated Memorial Day early at my parents’ house. We got there early to work on Brother #2’s computer which is infected with a trojan. Even after reformatting his hard drive and reinstalling Windows, it was STILL there. Joe spent a good two hours working to try to eradicate it and was unsuccessful. It’s preventing my brother from being able to do Windows Updates so he’s probably going to end up buying a new computer. Just as well seeing how his is several years old at this point.

Monday we had our own BBQ at our place with friends. The weather was rather uncooperative, but the rain let up long enough to allow me to grill burgers and hot dogs. We played Pictionary and because Joe and I were on opposing teams, we both lost! It was a travesty. We also played a new game one of our friends brought over called Phase 10. It was pretty interesting, but with six people, one game lasted nearly two hours! By that time it was late so everyone took off since one of the couples weren’t off work the next day like the rest of us were.

Yesterday we got our license plate stickers and tried a new restaurant for lunch, then walked around Cosley Zoo for awhile. They have a really cool tank in their gift shop that has poison dart frogs inside. Oh, and I got this short video of a Baltimore Oriole chirping. He’s quite a bright orange!



We had a plumber come over at 1 pm to look at our damaged water spout outside. Unfortunately the part we need has to be ordered so he wasn’t able to fix it yet. We also wanted him to relocate the gas line behind the stove since it is preventing us from pushing the stove against the wall, but he was able to twist something back there to allow us to move the stove back without having to do all that work. Best of all he didn’t charge us anything. I really like that guy! He installed our water heater earlier this year when our old one died.

After the plumber left we had a quick lunch and then went to an afternoon showing of Star Trek which I really enjoyed. I was not thrilled with the three rude teenage boys sitting down the aisle from us, however. Who pays to see a movie and then instead talks the whole time, actually raising their voices during the loud parts? Joe and I both gave them a verbal lashing after twenty minutes of their bullshit and they finally shut up.

After the movie we stopped at Petco where I decided to get a Betta fish who has yet to be named. I came across my old 2-gallon tank the other day so I figured I’d fill it with something. I was originally going to get a goldfish but decided against it since the ones I like aren’t recommended for novices. I’d rather stick with a fish I know how to handle instead of killing one with my inexperience.

Here’s my Betta swimming around in his new tank this morning.



Today we just ran some more errands since it’s been raining off and on. We’re supposed to attend a beginner’s archery class tonight but at this rate I think it might get cancelled. I guess we’ll see.

Craigslist virgin no more

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I experienced my first Craigslist sale yesterday! I finally got around to posting E’s bike on Thursday evening and Friday got an e-mail from a woman asking about it. It took a few e-mails for us to reach a convenient time and location to meet, but we finally settled on 7 pm in the parking lot of the church where Joe and I were going to be playing Bingo with some friends.

The timing could not have been more perfect. Just as Joe was taking the bike out of the trunk, the woman pulled up in a minivan and two of her four kids jumped out to look at it. The boy she was buying it for was so excited, it was so sweet! He was jumping up and down asking if he could ride it and even put the helmet on. His sister was just as excited for him and it made me feel good that such a nice family was getting a good deal. I really hope that boy gets a lot of enjoyment out of his new bike.

Seeing how successful that transaction was inspired Joe to want to post his motorcycle on Craigslist. We were going to sell it to a dealership but would probably get less money for it. He even found a nice contract online that he had his notary friend take a look at so no possible legal issues could arise from the sale. Better to be safe than sorry.

Apparently we’re the last ones in the family to get into this whole Craigslist stuff because I found out yesterday while chatting with my niece that not only has she sold stuff on there but Joe’s mother has too. Once my niece explained to her that it’s the equivalent of an online garage sale, there was no holding her back.

The icing on the cake last night? Joe won $80 at Bingo! Since we had paid $20 at the Chinese buffet for dinner and about $40 at the Bingo hall, we came out ahead by $20. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night with friends.

Frozen tires and Bingo

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Friday after warming up my car in my employer’s parking lot, I backed out of my spot and realized something was not quite right. I pulled into a different spot and checked the car, only to find that one of my tires had frozen flat! I have never seen anything like it.

I immediately called Joe who luckily doesn’t work very far from me and hadn’t left work yet. I headed back into my building to wait for him where one of the women joked that she wouldn’t trust her husband to change a flat. My husband is actually quite good at it and it wasn’t terribly long before the spare was on my car and I was able to drive home.

Unfortunately it did prevent us from meeting up with our friends for dinner as planned, but we were still able to make it to Bingo, so it could have been worse. Joe won a game, but just like the last time he won, had to split the pot with more than one person so we didn’t make much moolah unlike one of our friends who has won too big pots to date. And I swear if I hear said friend say, “don’t hate the player, hate the game” one more time, I’m going to hurt the player! ;)