Friday, March 27, 2009

Haircut

Why, oh why, everytime when I get my hair cut it ends up being TOO SHORT?

I specifically told the lady an inch and got three cut off. I told her at the collerbone and it rests on my shoulders.

Grr

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

New Fridge! and House.

Well we finally sealed the deal on the new house in Atlanta. No new roof, but they did drop the price with us (rolling the dice, anyone?). We'll be super duper excited once it passes appraisal...


Until then, we are excited about this! My splurge (other than a new house) is a new french door stainless steel refrigerator -




GE® Energy Star® 25.8 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator with Icemaker
- Stainless steel crown doors with hidden hinges - create a high-fashion look with contoured doors with concealed hinges
- Secure-Close door system - securely pulls the door shut, even after you release the handle
- Deluxe quiet design - significantly reduces operating noise
- ClimateKeeper™ with dual evaporators - uses two evaporators to maintain higher humidity for fresh foods
- Upfront temperature controls with actual temperature display - features easy-to-reach, easy-to-read temperature controls and displays the actual temperature setting
- Internal water dispenser with GE water filtration - delivers chilled fresh-tasting water through an internal water dispenser
- Factory-installed icemaker with water filtration system - automatically creates fresh, filtered ice cubes
- Freshness Center™ - offers maximum convenience by utilizing two humidity-controlled drawers and one full-length adjustable temperature deli drawer
- BrightSpace™ interior with GE Reveal™ lighting - cast a natural-looking glow throughout the refrigerator
- Two level Slide 'n Store™ system - uses large and medium freezer baskets to allow easy access to frozen foods
- Adjustable spill-proof glass shelves - raised edges help contain spills to make clean-up quick and easy

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

What is my namesake?

I wish that I had an awesome TV show for which I could shamelessly publicize my own brand. Alas, living vicariously through others, and publishing my blog, will have to do for now.

FROM THE AP:
WASHINGTON - NASA's online contest to name a new room at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won.

The name "Colbert" beat out NASA's four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new room will be launched later this year.

NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday.

NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration."

Visitors!

Yea! We had unexpected visitors this weekend - Jenn, Dustin, and our nephews were in town for a party for Jenn's college roommate, so we got to spend most of Sunday with them. It's amazing how much bigger those kids are only 3 months after we saw them last!!!!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Frag Swap

Today was a good day for these three reasons

1) New Appliances in the form of a washer and dryer for whichever new house we end up in

2) Seeing our fish club friends at the frag swap

3) Taking delivery of Samoas, the greatest cookie on earth


and it was a bad day for these reasons

1) The frag swap also meant delivering all corals from the fish tank to someone else

2) Tearing down the tank and turning off the lights

3) No word on the roof inspection yet

4) Seeing our fish club friends at the frag swap, for the last time

Leaving sucks.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Far vs Near Sadness

Whenever something tragic happens to a celebrity (or I hear a story from someone else about someone they know), I always have a stomach churn and usually end up with a few tears. I feel so terrible for them, and their situation.

It was especially true for Natasha Richardson's story this week. A bump on the head, seemingly just fine, and a few hours later...I know the heartbreak her family is feeling and it is making my stomach churn and have a few tears. I also immediately think of my own friends and family who have passed away...and am currently having a moment...deep breath...ok.

Thinking about all my peeps not here today,
Jess

Thursday, March 19, 2009

*sigh* Some Days...

I have to share this story because it is so epic. Title: "A water-filled catbox is a force to be reckoned with."

Jeff is tearing down his fish tank :( which is very sad altogether since he has spent so much time and effort on it. Anyway, in hopes to recoup some of his favorite pieces of coral, he is giving away big chunks to a bunch of different people so they will be able to keep a piece for their trouble, and also hopefully mail us a piece in a few months.

Anyway, in order to "frag" these corals, you fragment a portion off the mother colony and put it in a baggie filled with water. Inevitably, you need more water.

So, Jeff has a water-making system that makes ultra pure water. And it runs through all these filters and canisters, and comes out of a teeny little tube that he puts into a 7 gallon jug, sitting on top of the catbox in the laundry room. (Anyone see where this is going?)

He only runs it when he needs more water. He needed more water on Monday. On Monday (when I am in ATL), the whole roof shenanigan happens and we have some serious paper pushing to think about. And phone calls to make. And people to talk to. And...he forgets all about the teeny tiny hose running into the jug, on top of the catbox.

About 5 hours later, he remembers and runs down stairs to find box catboxes totally flooded, kitty litter turned to turdy-clay, and the floor is a mess. (Did I mention I was not at home?). CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW TERRIBLE THAT WAS TO CLEAN UP? Poor thing. But he did, and the kitties had a bathroom again.

Until Tuesday night. When the same thing happens. Yes, the same thing. More phone calls, people to talk to, conversations to have, all while the water is running...and filling up the catbox. Again. Except this time no turds (because honestly, how much can 2 kitties "go" in one day?).

All together now, GROAN - - - - -aw, shucks, Jeffy, when are our lives going to go back to normal????? Soon. I promise.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Springtime in MN too!

Wow, I got back today around 12:30pm and walked out of the airport to BAM - same weather as Atlanta. I love springtime...pansies, tulips, crocus...I know in the south they are planted as annuals but it sure has given me spring fever!

We have the moving company coming today to survey our stuff and estimate how much we have to move - it should be interesting that our little family of "2" will probably have an equivalent amount of stuff to a big family of "5"...I'll let you know! (plus, we even got rid of a bunch of stuff already!)

Still trying to work out the roof situation - a contractor is coming today (I think) to survey the storm damage on the home down south and see if we should insist on re-submission to the insurance company. Apparently the claim was rejected once, but the neighbors on either side are getting new roofs...me too, please!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

House Link

http://www.visualtour.com/applets/flashviewer2/loader.asp?t=1768713&sk=23

Here is the virtual tour of the house! Hopefully the stupid roof situation gets worked out...

Beautiful Southern Day

It is truly the perfect weather today in Atlanta - sunny, mid-60s, slight breeze. I cannot WAIT for 4-block walk to the Hilton tonight!!!

In other news, we have a verbal agreement on the offer we made on the property down here. But they don't know yet we need to re-adjust the close date almost 3 weeks back, as well as get some resolution on a poor-condition roof.

There was a big hailstorm down here about a month ago and there is some roof damage, but thus far the insurance company won't fix it / replace it. We are going to pursue that option as an estimate to fix it ourselves is almost $10K!!! That's the kind of thing that makes you want to walk away from it...

Monday, March 16, 2009

House hunting

Now that are house in MN is sold, Jeff and I spent the better portion of last weekend and a couple days last week looking for a place to live in GA. We looked at a lot of homes but finally narrowed it down to one - we have made 3 separate offers, trying to lowball them....we are still waiting for a call back today on our latest.

IF WE GET IT, I will be thrilled - it's really a step up from our current home. It's probably a little too big, but it was 10 minutes closer drive and a lot bigger than those that were further away (our plans B and C if this falls through), so we decided to make an offer anyway.

We have been frantically printing, scanning, and emailing documents back and forth. And now I am heading out of town again, leaving this afternoon and returning tomorrow night.

Job-wise, things will get much easier once I have only one office and it's in Atlanta. I hope I can (very soon) say the same thing about our potential / probable new place.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Have computer, will type

WOOT! I'm down in Atlanta this week for work and can you believe - I have a computer (finally). I don't know how any self-respecting person can be expected to get ANYTHING done without a computer / email / stored electronic files. Seriously, I am just about worthless without those three things...I can't make phone calls because my data and contact numbers are electronic.

Anyway, I am back online with a laptop and can work nonstop - if I want. Which I don't. So I am going to my hotel!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Quarters

I am getting ready to go to Calgary tomorrow for work...my schedule is crazy for the next week and a half - with the exception of Friday night I will be gone from Wednesday until the following Sunday (11 days)...
Wed - Fri: Calgary
Sat - Sun: Atlanta home search
Mon - Tues: Atlanta training
Wed: Tampa
Thur - Fri - Atlanta home search
Sat - Sun - more home search, maybe

SO - I have been busy today and instead of writing an original and wonderful post, will leave you with a story from Seth Godin's blog.

The panhandler's secret
When there were old-school parking meters in New York, quarters were precious.

One day, I'm walking down the street and a guy comes up to me and says, "Do you have a dollar for four quarters?" He held out his hand with four quarters in it.

Curious, I engaged with him. I took out a dollar bill and took the four quarters.

Then he turned to me and said, "can you spare a quarter?"

What a fascinating interaction.

First, he engaged me. A fair trade, one that perhaps even benefited me, not him. Now, we have a relationship. Now, he knows I have a quarter (in my hand, even). So his next request is much more difficult to turn down. If he had just walked up to me and said, "can you spare a quarter," he would have been invisible.

Too often, we close the sale before we even open it.

Interact first, sell second.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Mission Stimulation Economus Successful

What a weekend! The girls arrived in town about 10:30pm and went straight to their hotel on Friday night, so I didn't see them.
I met up with them around lunchtime on Saturday - they had already hit Ikea (with purchases for Marne's sister's new house), and Victoria's Secret (WOWZA).

Let me just say, a girl needs to get fitted for bras more often (Em....)

Anywho, our long leisurely lunch was punctuated with petite derrieres and voluptuous bosoms at an extremely well-known dining establishment - HOOTERS!!! Between all of us, Diet Coke, a huge beer, small beer, and I think 4 (?) Long Island iced teas complimented our assortment of wings, fried pickles, onion rings, and mini-cheeseburgers. Oh and the giggling. We mustn't forget that.

After our 2-hour lunch we ventured back into the Mall of America to hit up a lot more stores...shoes, shoes, shoes, some work-related outfits, and animal prints abounded. And that took another 5 hours.

After an hour long wait at the Cheesecake Factory (seriously, why would there be a wait like that until 9:30 pm????), we FINALLY got to have dinner. Sorry Marn, I might have to veto the CF experience for the next visit - between your terrible Long Island, no chicken on Angie's dish, and the $15 tacos...we'll try McCormick and Schmick's next time!!!

We were GOING to play Rock Band 2 back at my house, but it was way too late and we were pooped! Instead we chilled to the smooth groove of Justin Timberlake (who else?). What a dream.

I can't wait to see everyone again on the next one - be it Vegas, Amsterdam, or Atlanta! Thanks for the memories - *Hugs*