Appliances

Posted on November 29, 2004 by Frog

We have several appliances we need to purchase for the new house. We’ve been doing some research on the web and while we were at Home Depot today we looked at a number of different products just to get an idea of prices.

The last time I bought appliances (washer and dryer), I just walked into Sears and told them my old stuff had just died and I needed new stuff by the next weekend. When the sales person started telling me all the features, I said that I needed to do loads with jeans and towels and delicate loads and here’s my credit card. I really didn’t care that some washers will hold 16 pairs of jeans. I think the entire process took 15 minutes.

Now, we’re in the market for a refrigerator (I’m convinced that we’ll get one with the freezer on the bottom), a washer and dryer, dishwasher, a gas range w/double oven and maybe a new microwave. Any suggestions on what to look for are greatly appreciated.

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5 Does

Posted on November 28, 2004 by Frog

Yesterday morning while the better-half and I were making breakfast we saw 5 does in the back yard. They mostly stayed just off the grass in the woods but a couple of them crossed into the grass and then stripped yellowing leaves off the forsythia bushes. We watched them until finally all 5 went down into the gully.

Later, while eating breakfast, we saw them in the front yard. There’s a low spot just off in the woods where deer seem to like bedding down. We figured they were making their way over to that spot to take their morning nap.

Continue reading →

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PORKY HAM!

Posted on November 26, 2004 by Frog

As good Virginians we went out and got a country ham last weekend. Was the ham from Virginia? Heck no. We got a North Carolina ham. You know there are more hogs than people in NC so they should know from ham.

The better-half sawed off the hock.

We soaked the ham for a couple of days. Then the better-half put the ham in a huge aluminium roasting pan to which we added 14 ounces of apple juice, two cups of apple cider vinegar and some cloves. The ham was covered with the other part of the roasting pan and we set the oven for 250. After 5 hours the internal temperature wasn’t even close to the done stage so we cut the heat to 210 and then left it in the oven for another 4 hours.

We had scrambled eggs with cheese and ham this morning and corn cakes (some with blueberries, some without).

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Twelve Years Ago

Posted on November 24, 2004 by Frog

Twelve years ago the better-half and I went out on our first date. I’m not one of those people who celebrates “it’s our 46th month of dating, sweetie, here’s a piece of cake” anniversaries, but I am someone who celebrates two anniversaries. The first date and our wedding anniversary. Our first date is an easy one to remember because it was the night before Thanksgiving and our wedding anniversary is also easy to remember because it is engraved inside my wedding band. I’m a staunch romantic, I am.

Tonight we’re going out to dinner to Maggiano’s. I know it is a chain restaurant, but it is a fancy chain restaurant. We’ve tried to eat there before but since we didn’t have reservations we were shown the door. I’m looking forward to it but must confess I have a craving for fried chicken, mashed potatoes and greens right now. Must be the yucky weather that’s making me want comfort food.

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Strange But True

Posted on November 23, 2004 by Frog

Item 1: We have a showing of the house scheduled tonight between 7 and 7:30. We live in the country. There is no glow of the city. It is dark. Real dark. Blair Witch dark at our house (a friend once told us that). Now, I ask you, how much can a potential buyer tell about a house when it is dark outside? I think vampires are viewing the house. They should watch out for the garlic in the pantry.

Item 2: We met with the floor refinishing guy at the new house today. Our realty team let us in (yeah, we have a team–we’re so important). This is the third time we’ve been to the new house and every time it has rained. I bet when we close next week it will be a rainy day too.

Item 3: I read an article a few months ago about the Hmong people. I was unaware of Hmong people until reading that article. Since reading it, I’ve run into several news items about Hmong refugees. Weird, don’t you think?

Item 4: We’re traveling to Northern Virginia for the family Thanksgiving. Today an email went out with short-cut driving directions and a menu list. I guess the email was so we’d all remember to bring what we said we’d bring. The strangest thing on the list…someone other than the host is bringing gravy. I’m guessing we’re getting something out of a can instead of gravy made from the actual turkey juices. I shouldn’t be surprised though. This family breaks out the ketchup for turkey.

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I could nibble on her forever

Posted on November 22, 2004 by Frog

My sister asked me to go with her and the Niece today to the Niece’s eye doctor appointment. My sister wanted me along so that I could be the entertainment/distraction while my sister listened to the doctor. The Niece did a good job at the long appointment (we were there from about 9:15 to noon). She only really melted down once and it was a completely warranted melt-down.

The upshot of the appointment is that the Niece will have to wear glasses. Let me tell you, she looked adorable in the sample set of glasses. I told her that I didn’t know if I’d be able to control myself when she starts wearing her glasses all the time because of the need to nibble on her would increase exponentially. She told me she didn’t need glasses and then she asked for her sunglasses. Because they are two completely different things, silly.

We started a new thing today while sitting on the floor in front of the eyeglass case. I whispered that she was “my her name here” and then I hugged her. Then she hugged me and said “my my name here“. It was the best.

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That Poor, Poor Girl

Posted on November 21, 2004 by Frog

While channel surfing this evening, we came across a live Jim Croce video of “Bad Bad Leroy Brown”. Mesmerized, we stayed glued to VeeH-OneClassics. After Jim Croce finished, the station played “Close to You” by the Carpenters. I can’t help but think of a friend I had in college who told me that his mother would say “That poor, poor girl; she had such a beautiful voice” when she heard a Carpenters song. I’ve been ruined by that one statement. Every. Single. Time. I hear Karen Carpenter I am compelled to say “That poor, poor girl; she had such a beautiful voice”. Then, I usually laugh. A terrible thing to admit, but just the other day I admitted that Marky Mark has it going on.

Posted in Listening | 1 Comment

Sweet Vibrations

Posted on November 19, 2004 by Frog

I was dancing around the big speakers (it isn’t the size of the ocean, but the motion of the ocean) to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s version of “Good Vibrations”. I told the better-half “here’s someone who isn’t all that good looking but who is All That”. Give it up for Mark Wahlberg.

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I Danced A Happy Dance

Posted on November 19, 2004 by Frog

A miracle just occurred at my house. The garage door opener (that has lain silent for more than a year) just raised the new garage door and then lowered it. Ticker tape fell from the ceiling and champagne corks popped all over the garage. I’m really surprised the media didn’t immediately swarm our property to carry the news live at 6 pm.

Not related in the slightest but still cool:

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Where Was I?

Posted on November 18, 2004 by Frog

I meant to write this entry hours ago but I forgot. See, I’m at an age where I forget things. This is completely germane to the topic at hand. This entry is specifically geared to anyone who has kids in their family. Guess what? The kids grow up. They actually have the audacity to get old. And, cranky.

Here’s my beef. Thanksgiving is a week away (get thee to a turkey market). We heard through the grapevine that the feast is being held in Northern Virginia at the better-half’s aunt’s house. The better-half had to finally fire off an email to his aunt to ask whether or not she was hosting, what time should we show up and to tell her we’d like to bring country ham. Then when the better-half told his mother that he’d finally heard from the aunt, his mother copped the “I thought I told you” plea. Sorry, folks. We’re adults. We need a DIRECT invitation or we’ll make other plans. Really. Last year was one of the best Thanksgivings since we got married because we spent it alone. I mean no offense to family members but, seriously, we’re torn asunder during the holidays trying to make everyone happy. Everyone else is happy and we just sort of shrug and say “eh”.

Just because we still have parents (thankfully) doesn’t mean that we’re still dragged to family events by our parents. We’re adults. We have jobs. We pay taxes. We own property. We’re weary just like you are. You invite your neighbors to come to the feast. Extend the courtesy to your family. Thus endth my rant. Stay tuned to the next holiday induced rant.

Speaking of–since when did the Christmas holiday start weeks before Halloween? Do we, as a nation, really just go from Labor Day to Christmas? It sure seems that way.

Posted in General Spleen Venting | 1 Comment