Mystery Solved

Posted on September 18, 2005 by Frog

I didn’t figure out the “why” of the garage door opening by itself until I got in the car the next day. Of course, the better-half joked that maybe the snake slithered into my car, hit the button and was waiting for me in the back seat. I checked the car out when I got into it. If there had been a snake in there every single person in a 5 mile radius would have known about it. Good thing for the local community there wasn’t a snake in my car.

Anyway, back to the mystery of the garage door. I have one of those middle consoles and it is a two-parter. Hit one switch and the top opens a small shallow storage area and hit the other switch and the bottom deeper storage area opens. Earlier that day I had to go out to the car to get my emergency dollar out of the shallow storage area so I could go to the local Mexican place for lunch. We have calculated that it costs about $8 to eat there and I could only come up with $6 in dollars and $1 in quarters. That’ll teach me not to go by the ATM. When I opened the shallow storage area, a pen I keep in there flew into the back seat. I retrieved it and hastily shoved it back into place. Then I smacked the lid down and went to lunch.

When I opened the compartment the next day to replace the emergency dollar, I noticed the garage door opener was shoved way in the back and directly under the hinge. I think the hinge relaxed and pressed the garage door opener and opened and closed the door.

The garage door hasn’t “magically” opened and closed itself since then so I’m pretty confident the mystery has been solved.

Posted in Thinking | 2 Comments

The Heebee Geebees

Posted on September 15, 2005 by Frog

Early this evening, I went outside to water some of our potted plants. After watering the grapefruit tree (in a pot and grown from a seed), I turned and saw the biggest snake skin still attached to the under-the-house access door. It creeped me out. I went into the house, called the better-half and told him he needed to come home (it was after 6:30 anyway). There are some boy jobs around our house that this girl just doesn’t do. Opening the access door to see if the snake is sitting just inside the doorway is a BOY job.

After I hung up with him, I headed up our back staircase. I thought the dehumidifier in the garage was making a racket but when I got to our bedroom I realized it was the garage door opening. That makes a girl home alone a tad freaked. I looked out the window and didn’t see anyone and it looked like my car was untouched (the garage door opener is in the car). I tiptoed around to the front stairwell and crept out the door with my keys in hand. I figured I had a pretty good chance of speeding away in the car if some freak had just broken into the house.

I got to the car and looked in the garage and it didn’t look like anyone was in there so I grew a sack and marched right in. No one was in there but I did consider sitting on the front steps until the better-half got home. As I stood on the steps, I realized he didn’t say he was out the door when I talked to him, so I just went back in the house and curled up on the couch with keys still in hand.

Check out the snake skin:

That’s almost 5 feet of snake:

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 4 Comments

Tuesday Afternoon

Posted on September 15, 2005 by Frog

I forgot to mention that I took off two hours early on Tuesday and the better-half re-arranged his schedule so we could work on getting the roof rafters up. We were worried Ophelia was going to drop a ton of rain and we hoped we could get the roof on before she hit. Ophelia is kicking NC’s butt but all we have is lots of humidity and some wind. I don’t think it has rained significantly in the last month. I’m hoping our well doesn’t go tits up before we get another one dug. I don’t know how in good conscience anyone could sanction a shallow well in this area. Our last house had a well that was 150 feet deep. This one is 35 feet deep. What’s up with that? We’re pretty good about conservation anyway. The better-half and I grew up in houses with shallow wells and we don’t want to deal with that headache.

Whew, where was I? Oh yeah, the roof rafters:

Posted in House Proud | 1 Comment

Egads

Posted on September 14, 2005 by Frog

I watched House Hunters tonight and I was so very annoyed by the couple who were house hunting. They called each other Honey or Darling at least 4000 times. And, every single room in every house brought a conversation about the grandkids. Enough already. Live your own lives and just pick a house.

Is it just me or does the female host on Surprise by Design look like one of the Dixie Chicks? The show isn’t my favorite, but I’m too lazy to even pick up the remote to change the channel.

On a completely different subject, I’m considering buying some dye and sprucing up the black of some pants. Anyone have an opinion on whether or not this is worth the trouble? I’ve never done it before but I have a couple of pants that aren’t ready for the trash bin.

Posted in Watching | 2 Comments

Because I Just Can’t Take It Anymore

Posted on September 13, 2005 by Frog

Every morning I have to go through the intersection of Westwood and McClellan road in Mechanicsville. It is an intersection where people are thick as posts.

Here’s a little bit about the RIGHT OF WAY law in Virginia (from our DMV page):
Right-of-Way

When two vehicles approach an intersection not controlled by traffic lights or signs, neither vehicle has the right-of-way. Generally, Virginia law states that when two or more vehicles approach an uncontrolled intersection from different directions at the same time, the driver on the LEFT must yield to the driver on the right.

If the traffic lights at an intersection are not functioning, all vehicles approaching the intersection must stop. The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.

The law does not give the right-of-way to anyone. It only states which driver must yield to another.

Yield also means to stop if you cannot merge safely into the flow of traffic.

So, while there are two stop signs, the rule clearly states that the driver on the LEFT yields to the driver on the RIGHT. So, you pack of idiots I see in the morning here’s some news: I WILL SIT ON YOUR LEFT UNTIL MY CAR IDLES ALL OF THE GAS OUT OF MY TANK BEFORE I WILL CROSS IN FRONT OF YOU TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD.

Also, when you are driving on a major city road, do not stop to talk to some guy standing on the side of the road. The people behind you don’t give a rat’s ass that you know that guy. Pull over out of the flow of traffic if you really need to talk to him. And, dumb guy on the side of the road keep your dirty looks to yourself when you and your stupid truck driving friend get honked at. You are impeding the flow of traffic, nitwits.

Posted in General Spleen Venting | 2 Comments

Baby, We Were Born To Run

Posted on September 10, 2005 by Frog

We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen. We’re going to see Bruce Springsteen.

End Transmission.

Posted in Listening | 1 Comment

Not A Good Way To Start

Posted on September 8, 2005 by Frog

This morning I dropped a soda as I was unlocking the office door. That can spewed forth like no tomorrow. By the time I got my key out of the door and opened the top of the can there was hardly anything in it. All morning my feet felt sticky. Remarkably my shoes and pants weren’t stained.

As I walked into our kitchen to recycle the blasted can, I thought this was a bad way to start the day. Instead of having a really crappy day, it turned out OK. How am I supposed to maintain my pessimism when things work out?

Tonight I watched Taking Lives and according to the comments on IMDB, I’m an idiot because I was creeped out and entertained. Yes, there were plot holes wide enough to drive through, but entertaining enough.

Posted in Thinking | Comments Off

He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook’s

Posted on September 7, 2005 by Frog

Really, the last time…thanks to the world community.

I was supposed to have lunch with some people tomorrow but one of them had to cancel because she’s working NASCAR security tomorrow. If you don’t have a racetrack in town, you’ve probably never heard this excuse for canceled plans. I’m sad we’re not having lunch, but I was really glad to be reminded there’s a race in town and so I can avoid that area. A couple of weeks ago I swear we could hear someone practicing on the track. It takes us at least 20 minutes to get to that area, but I suppose as the crow flies we’re a lot closer.

This weekend we’ll be doing more construction on the porch. I think we’re going to get ceiling joists built. As long as this beautiful weather holds, we’ll be cruising right along.

Anyone else mixed up about what day of the week it is? I’m always so confused after a holiday weekend.

Posted in Thinking | Comments Off

An Addictive Snack

Posted on September 6, 2005 by Frog

The better-half bought a can of Asian Gourmet Party Mix not too long ago and I am amused the can says “An Addictive Snack”. Of course, I agree since I just finished it off (almost single-handedly).

I’ve been shamed at work into joining the “we only eat lunch out on Thursday” club. Actually that’s not true because I’ll do what I damn well please with regards to lunch. But it is true that I bought 3 frozen dinners and put them in the freezer at work. The Ethnic Gourmet Pad Thai with Tofu isn’t all that great. If you have to have gloppy peanut buttery watery tofu noodles then that’s the tasty addictive snack for you. We’ll see how the other two meals pan out. Both of them are from Amy’s and I do like the Amy’s.

I’m inclined to eat at my desk or flee on foot away from work, though, if we spend too many more days discussing Katrina. Horrible, horrible, horrible stuff is going on and aside from donations we are powerless to do a thing but talk it to death. I told the better-half I wasn’t going to comment on what the administration is or isn’t doing with regards to Katrina so this will be the last mention here. If you haven’t heard what Barbara Bush has said regarding the situation, you should go find that tasty morsel on the internet. At least George comes by it honestly.

Over the weekend, we worked on the porch and ate pretty well. As I mentioned, I made the chicken curry dish. I also roasted a whole chicken and we smoked a pot roast. All dishes were delicious and there were plenty of leftovers so we’ll be eating some sort of all-over-the-smorgasbord meal tonight for dinner.

Posted in Eating | 3 Comments

Yeah, We Labored

Posted on September 5, 2005 by Frog

Not much got done during the brutal heat of late July and August. We did custom cut all our posts so they sit on the floor sill and then support the header board. Finally, this weekend the weather was wonderful and so now all the posts are up and a temporary floor is down. I’m actually sitting at our porch table typing this entry–Sweet.

From Monday morning:

Ending our Monday:

The best I can do about brick matching:

Posted in House Proud | 1 Comment