Month: March 2004

Metra … the way to really die

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We were watching the local news the other evening when a reporter interviewed people regarding the recent bombings in Spain. When asked how they felt about traveling by rail, Chicagoans said they were not concerned. At that point, a representative for Metra assured viewers that their security is top-notch and that the trains are completely safe. Yea, I guess you’re safe if you’re inside the train, just not outside it (note there are two separate links there).

Metra better get their shit together before another innocent child dies due to their lack of common sense.

Dumbass = Me

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Do you want to laugh your ass off at my stupidity?

Well awhile back, I was looking at the payment coupons for my car loan, and noticed the last coupon was for December of this year. So I told Joe, “Check it out, only a year more of payments and the car is paid off.” He suggested we use his company bonus, which got paid out on Friday, to pay off the loan so we’d have that extra money monthly to add into our Money Market account.

So a couple of days ago I called the bank to see what the pay-out amount was on my loan, and the girl told me $10,006. Before I made a complete fool out of myself, I asked her what the length of my loan was. “It’s 60 months,” she said, and then, “You have 33 payments left”. Doh! So I said, “Oh, so that means at the end of the year I will receive another coupon booklet?” “That’s right,” she replied, “Would you like the address to send the payoff to?” I told her no thanks.

I don’t know what either one of us was thinking. I had just taken that loan out in January of 2002. What made me think I was almost done paying it? It would have been nice to have that money for our future mortgage, though. Now it’ll be another three years before it’s paid off.

St. Louis

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For a little weekend getaway, we’ve decided to go to St. Louis (in April). We’ve already decided what to do since we’re only staying one night … but I’m wondering if anyone knows much about the city – how safe it is at night and all that stuff. Oh, and if you can recommend a nice inexpensive hotel, that would be cool too. Right now we’re leaning toward the Hyatt in the city.

I Don’t Wanna Grow Up

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Sunday Brunch: I Don’t Wanna Grow Up

1. Do you watch cartoons? Sometimes. I love South Park and will watch the occasional episode of the Simpsons, plus I enjoy the Pixar movies, but it’s not a daily thing except the weekends the kids are here.

2. Ever buy a box of cereal (for yourself) just for the prize inside? Can’t say that I have.

3. Do you ever go to the playground to play on the swings, slide or teeter totter? There used to be this little playground in Joe’s old neighborhood where we’d stop on an evening walk. It had a tire swing and he’d spin me around until I was dizzy. That’s a very fond memory.

4. Do you occasionally pout, throw tantrums or cry to get what you want? No, but I used to do that a lot when I was a kid. I was the pouting queen! Now I feel that’s too immature. Besides, I usually do get my way. Hmmm … I guess I’m a control freak. Well, that and Joe is just so easy going that I make a lot of the decisions.

5. How long has it been since you’ve done childlike (for example: ride a bike, play marbles, jump rope, build a sand castle)? Hmmm … I wouldn’t classify bike riding as a childlike activity. But as for the others … it’s been a long time. I love playing in sand, though! I had a sandbox at my grandparents’ when I was young and I played in that thing every day. Those were the days.

Chairs

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We were at Target today and they have all their spring/summer stuff out already. I’ve got total spring fever now!

There were so many nice patio sets … I can’t wait til we get a house so we can have one! They also had some nice beige reclining plastic chairs. They looked almost identical to the ones we saw at Walmart at the end of the season last year. We were going to get them then, but there was only one left. So we’ll be shopping around the next month or so to find some (they were $13 each at Target and I have a feeling they will be cheaper at Walmart). I really want to get rid of the white plastic chairs we currently have, not just because they are ugly, but because they aren’t very comfortable either. The ones we saw today are lower to the ground and make a perfect chair to recline in outdoors and read a good book. I look forward to it. I have cabin fever. :p