Hold Back the Rain

I'm very disappointed that it's a rainy day. I wanted to start my errands earlier, but I didn't want to go out in torrential downpour. Nothing was time-sensitive so I didn't have to leave the house at a specific time, but I hate waiting for something I can't control.

At least it gave me a chance to watch Raging Bull before returning it to the library.

Come Undone

Awhile ago, my hot water heater started leaking. Just some water on the floor. No big deal. I still had hot water and the basement wasn't being flooded or anything.

The tank would leak some days and not leak other days, then it was an everyday occurrence. I had the local heating and plumbing guy come out and give me an estimate for replacing it, and he told me that it didn't HAVE to be replaced but that it should be replaced. He said it could last another week or a year before it broke down completely.

I still haven't gotten it replaced.

Last month, my mom's water heater broke and had to be replaced immediately. Today, my grandparents' water heater did the same. How weird is it that mine has been dying a slow death and theirs just quit all at once?

Redder Tape

Oh, who doesn't like questionnaires that make you answer yes or no when the answer isn't yes or no. I tried answering yes and it told me I answered wrong. I tried answering no and it told me I answered wrong. Now I have to make a call tomorrow and try to fix what I couldn't fix on my own. I hope my yes/no answers today didn't screw up the whole system.

There's gotta be a better way. Maybe I should play the Lottery.

Bad Luck!

I broke a mirror today while I was at my grandparents' house. A few hours later, I stepped on a tiny shard of the mirror that was on the floor near the garbage and must have missed the can. My poor foot bled profusely even though the cut wasn't that deep, but now I have a Winnie the Pooh band-aid covering the gash.

I'm glad I didn't injure my foot until after I got back from The International because it would have made walking around the food booths harder. I probably couldn't have carried the pastellio, dumplings and gravy, Greek desserts, Polish cream horn, Filipino egg rolls and meat-on-a-stick, spanakopita and turkey legs. Don't worry there are plenty of booths left to sample if I go tomorrow.

Save the Libraries!

I've written a few times about my rekindled affection for public libraries. I literally go once a week to use their resources. Of course, since I'm now using them regularly, Governor Strickland wants to cut their funding!

Save Ohio Libraries has details about this issue, and you may have seen protesters on the news.

I emailed my state representative and state senator in Columbus, which I hope helps the issue. Even if you don't use the library regularly, isn't it nice to know it's there? If you want to contact your elected officials, but don't know who they are, the Save Ohio Libraries website has links to help you find their names.

Melting Point

Yesterday, I made a baked potato for dinner (along with other food, not just a baked potato) and when I opened the butter dish, I noticed it was very soft and a little melted. It definitely had lost some of its stick shape.

And just now, when I ate the last Malley's chocolate egg, I noticed it was getting melty as well. It's near 90 degrees outside, but inside it's closer to 80. When should I have put the butter and chocolate in the fridge? At 75 degrees? I wonder if other pantry items should be refrigerated or maybe put in the basement? Are the potatoes okay? What about the shortening?

Change of Pace

Since I have time during the day, I've decided to update this daily blog in the morning instead of at night. Keen observers might think I've already been doing that for awhile. I have. But, the posting times will start being close to the actual typing times in the future.

Hopefully, this won't last long if I ever get back to office life.

Deep-Fried Goodies

I stopped at Dog 'n Suds on my way home from Lorain, but couldn't eat my takeaway until I got home since I was in a loaner car and eating isn't allowed. Well, I ate a plain hot dog because I knew it wouldn't be messy. I drank my root beer too. The rest of my order was greasy goodness as only Dogs and Suds can do it.

I got the veggie basket, which has breaded and fried cauliflower, mushrooms, green pepper rings, onion rings and zucchini and an order of mozzarella sticks. I could only eat about half of the order, but I think it will reheat okay tomorrow. If you order the veggie basket, skip the sauce it comes with and get ranch dressing and marinara sauce instead.

Paper or Plastic?

After taking out the garbage today, I noticed that all of my efforts to use green bags have resulted in dwindling supplies of the paper bags that I use for newspaper recycling and plastic bags that I use for small garbage cans and recycling plastics and glass.

I might have to "forget" my bags at home next time I go to the grocery store and ask for paper bags. I can always get plastic bags from my relatives that I'm still trying to talk into using reusable bags.

Follow the Bouncing iPod

I've dropped my iPod a lot recently, especially when I'm recharging it and it is connected to my laptop by the cord that is both too long and too short. I dropped it on the tile floor and the hardwood floors and it's holding up pretty well.

All of this dropping started when I took it out of its neoprene case that holds its headphones since I haven't been using the headphones. I'm putting it back in the case tonight. I hope to either stop dropping it so much or cushion the fall.

Yeah, That's the Ticket

I was on the phone for 45 minutes today and most of it was spent on hold. I was trying to get information about getting a refund on a ticket to a rescheduled concert. Admittedly, I should have tried to find out about returning it sooner than 3 hours before showtime. Conversely, since it was so close to the performance, you would think that this wasn't a new question to either the House of Blues, where I bought the ticket or LiveNation who sold me the ticket. HOB told me to talk to LiveNation and they told me to talk to HOB.

At the show, there was a lady from LiveNation who told me I could still get a refund and that she would email the three managers at the HOB to approve the refund. I got a little bitchy with her as I explained the situation but made nice by the end of the conversation. I don't think she was happy with me, which is fine since I wasn't happy with them.

Four Days in June

I just finished a four day project, and it took a lot out of me. We had limited time to do a lot of work. We had to get there early, we worked through lunch every day and it was more physically demanding than most projects. I hate working at a hurried pace.
Pobrecita!

Sweet Treats

Is it bad that I'm still eating candy from Easter? I'm down to a couple bunny pops, some chocolate eggs, a white chocolate bunny and one Reese's peanut butter egg. And jelly beans.

So, am I eating it too slowly or did I get too much?

Maybe I Should Just Go To The Lorain Library Directly?

I got my nearly weekly selection of videos from the library and two are from Lorain. How is it possible that I keep getting DVDs from Lorain? Don't people in Lorain check out A/V items? Do I have a preference as a former Lorainite? It's a mystery.

Lists

I was going through a box of documents yesterday and came across some of my many lists. Most were songs that I wanted to download on iTunes. Some were movies I wanted to see. Few were "to do" type lists.

I make lists electronically too. I have a bunch on my iPod and computers. My favorite application for lists is the stickies on my iMac.

Do you ever add stuff to your to do lists just so you can cross it off?

Free Cable!

I finally took my DVR back to the cable company and got a regular cable box. I set it up and started flipping channels and saw that I have EVERY SINGLE CHANNEL offered by my cable box. I kept quiet over the weekend and called to turn myself in today. The first guy I talked to didn't understand what I was talking about. He transferred me to a lady who told me that I wasn't being charged for them but to watch and enjoy the channels. Apparently, at some point the bonus channels will go away.

I don't know how long the free cable will last, but I'm watching it!

Marvelous Muffins

Made with bananas.

Sad Salvation

I forgot my iPod when I left the house so instead of playing my tunes in the car, I had to listen to the radio. I usually check the preset stations and if I don't hear anything I like, I hit the scan button. I did this on the way home from Lorain tonight. It wasn't until I was almost in Lakewood that I realized the radio was still on scan. My radio was flipping stations for a good 20 minutes without playing something I remotely wanted to hear. Why is Cleveland radio so crappy?

Hormigas and Homies

Yesterday, I spent hours cleaning my bathroom. Hands and knees type of cleaning. Terminix was coming to spray for ants so I wanted a clean surface for the poison. And damned if I didn't see a stupid ant today. What are these guys, super ants?

I also cleaned and rearranged my medicine cabinet. The soap dish that's never had a purpose is now full of Homies.

Again With The Hair?

My hair has been driving me crazy lately. The humidity always makes my hair challenging to style, but since it's longer and thicker than usual I'm kind of lost. I'm not sure if it's the new conditioner I'm using or my hair itself but my hair hasn't completely dried today.

I really need to get some more layers cut into it. I'm still not cutting it off, but I totally need a haircut. It could use some dye too.

Twas Blind, But Now I See

I finally picked up my new contact lenses today after weeks of wearing my glasses or suffering while wearing my really old lenses. You know you need new contacts when you roll your eyes and it causes great pain.

Nigel's Food Set-up

The white fish bowl is his water. The blue fish bowl is his dry food. The round bowl (with a blue fish inside) is his wet food. The placemat is a map of the United States that I bought at Discount Drug Mart one day and was supposed to be temporary. I haven't found a placemat I like to replace it.

Soon To Be...

Banana bread.

I got these bananas from my grandparents because I thought they were almost ripe enough to make into bread. I'll probably make it Thursday or Friday when they're browner.

Call To Arms

My biceps and triceps are aching. I'm pretty sure it's from lifting, carrying and playing with my littlest nephews. They're both over 20 pounds, and I'm not used to picking up anything that heavy. Nigel's about my usual limit, and he's 13 or 14 pounds. At least the ache is limited to my upper arms. I'm not incapacitated or anything.

One for Legends of the Fall

I saw an ant in my bathroom last night and one again tonight. If I see a third, I'm calling Terminix to take care of the problem. They were here recently for the quarterly service, but the hotter temps have awakened some bugs.

I try to be environmentally friendly in most things, but I really hate ants. And they're bad for houses. Is there an effective green alternative to Terminix?

No Thanks, I'm Driving

I drove home late tonight with my oldest nephew to keep me company and awake. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts so I could get some coffee, which was too hot to drink for a good 20 minutes, and he could get a doughnut.

Today was free doughnut day so the doughnut should have been free with the purchase of my coffee. But the 24-hour DD we tried had none. What a rip off! The guy at the drive-thru window said he had just thrown out the doughnuts and bagels.

It was probably too late for Q to have a sugary treat anyway. Also, it may have been after midnight and the deal was done before we got there.

June Advertising

Why are all of the ads for June for "dads and grads." I hate dads and grads. I also hate mad for plaid. Is that really the best marketing they can come up with?

Why Am I Not Memorable?

I have to sign-in to Twitter more than once a day. I feel like I'm constantly signing in. On my iPod, on my laptop, on someone else's computer. Am I signing-in on too many different systems? Does Twitter have short-term memory loss?

Also, what should you do when someone you know follows you, then unfollows you, but most likely doesn't know that he/she knows you? I'm sure this acquaintance, who lives in my city and has some similar interests, didn't intentionally follow me and had no idea he/she knew me, but it's an odd coincidence. Do I want an acquaintance following me? Do I want to follow him/her?

Free Cookie!

Today I had lunch with friends at the food court at the Galleria. We all ended up getting sandwiches at the same place. I ordered the chicken pesto panini.

They called my number and I sat down and opened the container. Before I took a bite, I noticed the grilled bread contained chicken and cheese, but no pesto or vegetables. I took it back and while I waited for them to fix it, one of the workers offered me cookie. Who says no to a free cookie? I was too annoyed to choose the type so she gave me chocolate chip.

The first bad experience happened when I first moved to my neighborhood and was trying the restaurant's main store. I ordered a sandwich and was told they were out of bread. Did I mention this store/restaurant sells whole loaves of bread and that every item on their menu is on bread or contains a side of bread?

Maybe I'm the only one who has bad luck there. I think it might be another 7-8 years before I go back.

In The Middle of Our Street

I've now owned my house for six years. For a change, I actually paid my mortgage payment on its due date instead of within the 2 weeks grace period.

I'm proud of the improvements I've made to the house, but there are about 50 more I'd like to do. I hope to be done in the next 24 years.