Baseball
Today I was reading the comments to a blog posting about a 210 pound 8 year old that the British government wants to take away from his parents. Apparently, foster care and fat camp will be so much better for him. Anyway, somehow the comments degenerated into an AL Central competition. Someone posted a Bitch Sox fight song (who knew they even had one?). You'll be happy to know that this was one of the posts in response:
We're gonna win, Twins
We're gonna score
We're gonna win Twins
Watch that baseball soar
We're gonna win, Twins
Give a hip-hoo-ray
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today
Snow
It's supposed to snow again this week. I like snow. It's pretty and I can handle the cold better when the ground is blanketed in white instead of brown. Normally I'd question whether the weather people are hyping another storm unnecessarily and will indeed be completely wrong about their forecasts. Can you imagine if they got major weather events correct twice in a row? It'd be the end of the world. That said, I have to go out of town this weekend so I'm sure that when I leave the roads will be a mess and my life will suck. Damn all weather.
Best Weekend Ever (or more truthfully in a really long time)
My weekend started out great and just improved as time went on. Friday my computer was taken away for repairs, so I went home early. I took a brief nap, got a surprising phone call that made my day and spent the rest of the evening in an absolutely euphoric state.
Saturday it snowed a bit. I went to the store for some food and spent the afternoon making a dinner of oven roasted potatoes, meatballs, garlic breadsticks and green beans. That night around 12:30, my hateful neighbors got stuck in the driveway. Instead of offering to help tow him out, I watched out my window for 25 minutes as they tried to dig his car out of the snow. I was vastly entertaining. I did finally break down and go out to offer help but the second I opened the door, he got loose. Had it been the drunk lady and her boyfriend I would have helped immediately, but these are the losers whome I hate so whatever.
Sunday, I went out and played in the snow. I made a large tunnel which the kids enjoyed immensely. I wonder if J was ever convinced to leave it and go inside. We also went out on a toboggan behind the snowmobile. The directions on the toboggan said do not pull this with motorized vehicle. Whatever, it was fun. Then I went to an Oscar party which involved excellent food and I won the Oscar picks so I got a gift certificate to the movies. I had seen exactly two movies on the entire ballot (Pan's Labyrinth and United 93) so obviously I'm just gifted when it comes to reading the minds of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Also, apparently it was Rachel's golden birthday. So happy birthday Rachel!
No News is No News
I put most of my missing CDs on my iPod yesterday. So excited to have Gary Allen's older albums back on my playlist. His life has been so messed up in the past couple years that it's affected his music. His older stuff is less depressing. Although if my wife shot herself in my house I suppose I'd write more depressing stuff too.
In other exciting news, my credit card bill was less than $300 this month. That's two months in a row. All of my non-home expenses go on that card - gas, groceries, Target purchases, clothing - everything except my mortgage, phone, insurance and utilities. It's nice to see that I can maintain a consistent spending level. My babysitting cash is used for any extracurricular activities and I don't track those expenses except to stop going out when I've spent it all.
My Ox is Broken
Yesterday, I spent most of my time extremely upset because my computer was sick and in a steady decline. IT has yet to assign the ticket, but my computer seems to have improved over night so maybe the rest helped. Anyway, I was in a bad mood. Last night, I went out to look for a book the library says I have out but I don't think I do and lo and behold, I found my CD case. It totally made my day.
You have no idea how upset I was to get my iPod and then not be able to find all my favorite CDs to put on it. I had worried that maybe it had been stolen here at the office. I'm happy to say all my CDs are there and I plan on putting them on my iPod this afternoon.
This picture is all kinds of awesome...
Two Things
1. I've been pretty good about people messing with me. Although lately it's gotten to the point where I am so confused about what I want to do that I'm not sure I'll make a healthy decision should the messing with my head end. Yesterday, however, you did not just mess with me, you messed with my dog. Okay, technically he's not my dog, but he's living with me so he's mine for the moment. Messing with an animal and his potential enjoyment of such a beautiful day is not okay. I've been debating breaking off all contact. Then again, maybe not.
2. E is wondering just when her parents are going to pay back the money they owe me. Somehow I bought both my brother and my dad Christmas gifts for my mom who has yet to acknowledge that she owes me several hundred dollars to pay for them. She also owes me the $100 that she was given by Ewa to pay me back for driving her box of stuff to Chicago. This was never my mother's money and yet, she spent it all and decided I didn't need it. This is my mother's typical
modus operandi. Maybe I should talk to my dad. I am not a bank.
Of Cabbages and Kings
I am a film star. I searched myself on IMDB and it seems that I played Miss March in The Revenge of the Calendar Girls.
I'm tired today. W snores and wouldn't settle down until I let him sleep with me. Is it nap time yet?
Shows that claim that they are killing off a major character have begun to annoy me. Either they kill someone off who could hardly be classified a major or they "kill" them only to have it be a dream or for them to miraculously revive themselves. Though if the premonition that Charlie dies can come true, I might consider watching Lost again.
In related news, Patrick Dempsey is hot. While I care little about the show he's on, I will flip over to watch him during commercial breaks on CSI. If he's not on screen, I flip back to watch the commercials.
This just in...
Bismarck has an affordable condo market. Is there really even a condo market in Bismarck? The mind boggles.
In mind messing news, I put off responding for a couple days then caved and responded this morning. On a positive note, things seem a bit more promising as I got a response within fifteen minutes. I'm totally going to mess with them a bit more though because I don't appreciate being put off. We'll see how they like it.
Also, what do you all think of Peru?
I Must Be Bored
I just saw a fare sale to Dallas. Apparently, I can fly there next weekend for $159. Having been to Dallas, I can see no reason why I would go back. However, I have this sudden urge to go. Why?
Do you ever do something and get really excited when it looks like it might happen only to have it appear to fall through a little while later? I had just gotten to this point about something and I was even convinced that I was okay with it. Then along comes another burst of hope and the process started all over again. This time though I have all the reasons I used to convince myself that it wasn't such a good idea in the first place going through my head. Now it seems I have to convince myself the other way to follow up on the prospect. I think people are just trying to mess with me.
War Is Hell
Here's an interesting story about a soldier severely wounded in Iraq. Life is precious. It's nice to see that in spite of what this guy has gone through, he's got a great outlook on life.
E Goes Shopping
I went shopping this weekend. Shocking, I know. Friday, I hit the mall and scored 2 t-shirts, a camisole, a dress shirt and a sweater for a total of $22. Clearance sales are the best. I also went shoe shopping. I absolutely despise shopping for shoes. I found a couple of pairs of great shoes, but of course, they were not available in my size. Apparently everyone wears a size 8. I did not buy any shoes.
Yesterday I was paid $20 to act as cab service to Southdale, so I went shopping again. I found a
dress that I liked, fit me very well, and was not too expensive. I decided not to buy it because a) where would I wear it? b) I would be cold if I ever did find someplace to wear it and c) I would have to buy shoes to go with it.
Also, I washed my truck last night. Did you know my truck is red not white?
Things I Learned Today
- I do not want to be embalmed. Given a choice between cremation (which had its own set of not-fun things associated with it) and embalming followed by liquefaction, I'll take cremation. On a list of details I did not need to know, the sewing part of embalming is very near the top. Interesting, but really not necessary.
-My mortgage has been sold. It's damn annoying to have Wells Fargo constantly buying up my various financial deals. I want them to go away. Do you know that they allowed someone to steal a guy's 401(k) and did not provide any fraud protection? This guy was hosed. Wells Fargo sucks.
-People are damn pushy about getting the free stuff they ordered. Seriously, it's free. You can wait a few weeks.
-People have been studied having sex in an MRI tube.
Part II
I'm desperate to get away from other things today, so I'm back. Today at lunch I began reading a book I've been anxiously awaiting from the library. It's called
Stiffs: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. So far I've read about plastic surgeons practicing face-lifts on heads (these same heads had gotten nose jobs the day previous) and gross anatomy labs in addition to the more interesting history of cadaver acquisition. The most disturbing part was the revelation that in the past rather than using cadavers to gain surgical experience, patients were treated to unnecessary surgeries or procedures other than what they went in for. What's an unnecessary appendectomy between friends? Female patients were often given pelvic exams by inexperienced doctors while they were still recovering. Today, doctors learn the art of giving pelvic exams from professional pelvic educators. Yep, people are hired to let students try out their pap smear skills and provide personalized feedback. I wonder where they find these people and how much they're paid?
In other news, I read an interesting blog questioning whether spending habits would change if everyone knew everyone else's private financial business. If it weren't a taboo subject and quite normal for everyone to talk about. What if all of your friends knew how much you made, how much debt you have, how much savings, how much you spent for that new handbag, everything? Would you be less apt to give in to temptation and buy those $500 shoes? Most people were appalled at the very idea, but it's an interesting thought. Would peer pressure or the thought of censure/disapproval from your friends and family keep you from spending a lot on things you don't need? Would it rein in your spending habits? Would you even care?
In a related note, I checked out a website where people post their net worth. The site tracks your net worth on a monthly basis and does post your information publicly if you want. It's very interesting to look at info based on age, geographic region, income, etc and see where you stack up. I'm now tracking my info online. I'll be interested to see where I am in five years and look back at the beginning. The internet is a fantastic place.
I know nobody cares, but they should
I made an exciting decision yesterday. As you may or may not know, I have recently discovered personal finance blogs. These blogs are awesome in ways I can't even begin to describe. Anyway, most of these blogs at some point refer to online savings accounts with ridiculously large interest rates - ING Direct, Emigrant Direct and HSBC being the big three.
I have a lot of money in savings that needs to be better invested. Unfortunately, as that money is an emergency fund, it needs to be in an easily accessible and low risk/high yield account. I started by trying to put my money in short term six month CDs so every three months, a CD would mature and I could access the money. Now I have a better option.
Yesterday, I made the jump to HSBC. They are currently offering 6% APY on new money through April 30. Their standard (variable) interest is 5.05% (much higher than the national average on CDs and MMAs). These are accounts with no minimum balance and work only online - you link them with your checking accounts and voila, instant access to your online money. Okay, it might take a day or two for the bank to verify that the money is there, but still, it's a fantastic way to keep my money available and make several hundred dollars a year in interest.
Also, I switched yogurts yesterday from Yoplait to Dannon - Fruit on the Bottom. It was and excellent decision.
Notes on Life
I hate snowplows. I got stuck behind one yesterday on my way to work. That's an additional 20 minutes just to go eight miles. This all thanks to the Californian who refused to turn when he had multiple opportunities.
Special thanks to Wrangler for jumping on the send E a check bandwagon.
There is something disturbing about nine year olds singing Baby Got Back.
I'm not a huge fan of subzero weather.
Hot Cowboys in the City
So did anyone else notice the slight nip in the air this weekend? Saturday night I dragged myself out of my nice warm house (okay so it was mildly chilly inside, but still warmer inside than out) and drove downtown to St. Paul. I have no idea if anyone went to the parade or if it was still on, but there were a hell of a lot of people in town and they parked up my favorite lot (aka the lot that's closest to the X without costing a million dollars). 200 yards farther in -35 windchills is too far. Once inside the X we were kicked out and directed to another gate 200 yards into the wind because we didn't have tickets. Bastards.
After the performance, we ditched the free concert (who's ever heard of Rodney Adkins? and if he can't sing the two songs people have heard immediately, I'm not sticking around) and went across the street to the Eagle Street Bar. They always do an excellent job of catering to whatever crowd's at the X. Also, I know the bartender so free drinks!
K and I managed to snag ourselves a nice booth, get some drinks and enjoyed the one man acoustic country band. I debated calling Rachel and inviting her to join us, but it was late and I didn't want to disturb her if she had to work in the morning or if she was out on a hot date.
People were already dancing and K had her eye on some hot cowboy. I was facing away from the "dance floor" so I didn't see much, but the next thing I knew, Hot Cowboy was sitting next to me. He was followed closely by some other people we didn't know and then Hot Cowboy's friend, M. K was immensely delighted that HC had chosen to sit with us. Sadly, he was a bit of a player and went off dancing with the "molesters" as he called them, leaving us with his friend M, who was really interested in K. K was not at all interested in M. I just sat there singing along to the music and watched her try to put him off. She even played the bitter divorce card. I chose not to help out because I was vastly enjoying myself. The whole thing was really quite amusing.
By the end of the night, HC had gotten K out on the dance floor, his buddy was massively pissed off and I was laughing hysterically. It was totally worth the long drive in and the bitter cold. Yay for weekends and hot cowboys!
I'm so excited
I am very, very excited about many things today. The only one I can share with you is that it's Friday and I love weekends. Even though it may be a bit cold in the house, I'll survive and I can sleep bundled under the covers. I'm going home tonight and sleeping until I can't sleep anymore.
But I'm so excited about other things I can't tell anyone about. Yay for exciting things!
Free Lunch
The concept of free lunch is great (although any good economist will prove to you that there really is no such thing as a free lunch). This week I have scored two lunches and a breakfast. There will also be lunch tomorrow. I pay attention when lunches come in and then hit the lunchroom on that floor around 1:30. It usually pays off. Next week I get two more free lunches. Does this help to compensate for the $41 shortfall in my net takehome pay due to the bastards who increased my healthcare coverage (coverage that I neither want nor need)? Hell, no. Am I increasingly bitter about making less money this year than last year? Absoultely. Has this ridiculously unfair decrease in salary actually motivated me to increase my pay in a more drastic change? Obviously.
On a separate note, my 1098 and 1099 came yesterday so I can have something to do this cold weekend.
Also, the other night on American Idol a very nice young woman auditioned. Her hair was so long she had to wear three inch heels so as not to step on it. I think at the point that your hair is that long, it might be time to consider other hairstyles. I'm thinking she should go with the Princess Leia look. At least it would keep her from dragging her hair on the ground - just thinking about the things that could potentially end up in her hair gives me the creeps.
