Here are some more cute and cuddly creatures that live with Emily,
well, in her yard anyway.
172 comments:
Anonymous
said...
"Write an offer now, lock in a low rate, close after the stimulus passes...OBAMA ricks!"---m.e.
I don't know what obama ricks means, but we are doing just that! We put in an offer on an awesome house today (we were really worried we lose it if we didn't soon). This should work to see the house- http://www.iowarealty.com/buying/detail_ml.asp?list_numb=334808&view=5&port_id=&rt=gh
If not, you can go to iowarealty.com, MLS #334808. This house looks cool in the pictures, but really much better in person. Hope everything goes well!
The patio would be one of my favorite features if I lived there. The whole house looks great. Will you leave that one room pink?
I just heard from my beer distributor that the promoters of this Rock Gone Wild concert (www.rockgonewild) are hoping to sell 30,000 tickets. That would be quite a payday for us.
Andy had an unofficial review, the official one comes in March. Basically, they are always talking about ways to reorganize at his work. While he was never worried he'd be out of a job, he didn't know if he wanted to stay for a few more years or try actively looking for another job in the Omaha area. Right now he's pretty satisfied, and thinks he will be for the next 3-5 years, so this is great experience for when we do eventually decide to move away.
As far as the pink room goes, it will be changed by summer. We like the colors for the most part, it is just too muted. I would make every room, besides the bedrooms, slightly deeper tone. Oh, if we get it, I'm not getting too excited about this :)
Eww gross, I think I have to teach sex ed to 8th and 9th graders this afternoon! The school I'm going to normally has the P.E. teachers take turns doing one period of health each day, but last time I did P.E. there, they said there was one health teacher that does the stuff they don't want to. I'm working for that guy in an hour. I hope they just like watch a video on healthy food choices or something today.
Lisa...do you want Kelli's Algona address, or the funeral home info? The link Nance posted has the funeral home (and you can post condolences), here's Kelli's: 414 W. State, 50511...
Ellen...that's a cool house! It reminds me a bit of our house on Hawthorne in Omaha (but yours has a cooler kitchen) the outside areas look wonderful. How much time did you give for a response?
The lack of detail in the "recovery/stimulus" bill is driving the market down. Pushing almost neg 5% right now. Markets hate uncertainty. Everyone knows this.
This whole thing has been mishandled from the start. From icing out the republicans at the start to letting Pelosi do the initial draft and now finally releasing it without enough detail. Schmucks.
52 and sunny. I'm going to go check my new $2500 intake and make sure it's draining like it should.
Yeah...the markets were so great before..there were no uncertainties...some people talk as if they've forgotten what Bush handed to Obama...the American people want something to happen and the Republicans aren't helping at all!
We mustn't make the perfect the enemy of the good. Or whatever. I gotta say, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are starting to remind me of Newt ("the Newt") Gingrich during his Contract On America days. They need to be more civil. Democratic Senator Ben Nelson is largely responsible for hammering out some of the compromises in the Senate bill. He's civil.
Council Bluffs had a famous little people couple who retired from public life and then graced the tops of the famous CB-based Woodward Candy Company's candy boxes for many years. They had a small house built about 2 blocks from ours - it's still there between two big houses. It had normal-sized doors and windows but it's little and cute. Someone lives there.
My intake is working like a charm. Now this spring I need to connect my sump pump discharge line to it and I'll be golden. I wonder why none of the idiots who owned this house before did this. By my count, this home has had at least 6 owners. They just kept on passing the problem along to the next person. I should take another look at my disclosure statement.
ELLEN: That's a great house. I don't know the area but the price seems like a steal for Des Moines. The owners looked like they made some contemporary upgrades and improvements over the years that look good.
We gave the sellers until tomorrow at 6pm to let us know...but a lot's happened today. Their realtor, who has been in the biz for awhile doesn't think FHA will allow the loan until the house is painted. The sides and back are starting to chip away, but it didn't scare us. Apparently FHA is strict on that. So we have to decide to go for a conventional loan, risk trying FHA, or through a Neighborhood Financing loan, but that extends the time we'd be able to put in another offer. So, we will probably go with a conventional one, but are waiting to talk to the mortgage guy still tonight. Our agent assured us that they are very eager to sell soon, and we're the only people who have put in an offer so far. Oh gosh, first time home buying is everything people say it is- exciting, scary, nerve wrecking. Just like worms coming out of a cat's butt.
Good news- I dodged a bullet with the "health" class. It was really more like life skills- they did an interest survey to find out what career they would be good for. I apparently would be good in education, bus driving, and parole officer.
I have this fear that my work is going to lay me off once the busy season ends. The museum is only super busy December thru March, and no one got any raises this year. And they did without a receptionist for a month before I arrived, since there is always the visitor services desk in the actual museum. It would be a curse and a blessing.
Donny is starting to, on a fairly consistent basis, bring home test scores that are A's and B's. Given the habits he had when he arrived to us this is quite amazing.
We praise him highly when we become aware of these scores. His reaction is fairly nonchalant.
Aside from credit to Don, Nance should be sainted for sitting with him for an hour minimum every night to ensure that he knows the material. Don is smart, but he does have some inability to handle the task at hand. Nance, with all possible patience, walks him through every problem, every assignment, every project, and every commitment that a 3rd grader who is not up to speed has. Not up to speed through any fault of his own.
I second Molly's comment and highly admire and respect all that you are doing for Donny and the love that you are extending to him. Donny is a lucky guy.
Thanks. But, I personally don't do much. I'm sure I will coach whatever teams he may join just as I did my own kids...football, baseball (assuming that he is able to stay with us. Other than that it's all Nance and the boys. Eli and Liam share with him like a brother.
Ellen, Going FHA would not be such a bad idea because you have anxious buyers...they'll accept you FHA offer, and then a week or 2 from now the inspector will say it needs to be painted, then go back to the buyers and offer to split the costs, put it into escrow, and close and then paint when the season changes.(Paint it yoursekf and keep the cash, but don't mention that now) The buyer and you can also raise the purchase price a couple thousand and wrap it into your loan...and you end up with a freshly painted house!
Tom...all this aggresion towards Obama and you got Bogarted on your disclosure...who'd you buy the house from? They can't lie on disclosures, it's an easy win for you! Make them share the costs. (Also, find out what your agent knew!)
Josh's coworkers in Switzerland all got knocked down to 40% time. The gov't will supplement that to 100% for a time, and then will supplement at 80%, and then they'll either all go back to work, or some will and some will get laid off. The US group is safe from any reductions for at least 2 months. P
The paper this morning said that the stock market started dropping almost as soon as Geithner started talking yesterday and it occurred to me that it would have happened no matter who was saying what. The stock market is a hysterical bipolar fear-and-loathing-driven entity that thinks it's the center of the universe. I think every CEO and big-time broker should spend a winter and a muddy spring at a POW camp in the upper midwest helping farmers with their chores.
Pat, that sort of suprises me 'cause I would have thought the market would drop out of the $1,000 watch price range (like Movado), but not the $100,000+ Rolex, etc market...(I gues the richy rich don't but the super expensive stuff) Also...in times like these, wouldn't a person want to repair rather than buy new?
Rolex is in bad shape. But they are actually considered more midrange than Josh's brand. They are doing better than many companies. It has to do with contracts Rolex and others have with jewelry stores. They require stores to keep a minimum inventory, which now is like 4 years worth. p
Here is why the market started to drop as soon as Geithner started...
For the past week Obama has been saying that as far as the plan goes he didn't want to speak too much about details. But not to worry. My man, Geithner will be letting you all know when he speaks. This caused some positive movement in the markets in anticipation of some real remedies.
So Geithner begins to speak and answer questions. He has nothing of substance. It's apparent the administration has no detailed plan for this spending. (Funny, cause this is the guy who said he would use a scalpel when working with the budget). The markets reacted predictably. They tanked on the uncertainty of it all.
I heard Obama have the audacity to say something like..."Okay. We've had our little debate (that part is verbatim). This is the democratic process as it should be. But now is the time to end the debate and start action. We need to pass this bill now."
Sorry, but I think we need to step back and decide more carefully how this money should be spent. I mean this is now in the trillions. There is no possible way that any governmental agency can efficiently spend this kind of money. They can spend it, no problem. But not with any efficiency at that rate.
We should set aside a few billion as a social safety net. Ensure that in the short term people can keep their homes and can eat. Maybe set aside as much as a couple of years worth of support for those who need it. It could take that long. (But, they should be doing some sort of civil work even if it's picking up garbage in the ditches).
Now we have bought ourselves a couple of years to figure this out.
Instead, Obama has the nerve to say, in essence "Just shut up (stop the debate) and give us this money." It's pretty audacious. This will be about as poorly planned as the post invasion plans for Iraq unless everyone takes a deep breath and slows down.
On yet another note, Geithner actually said when pressed for some details, "Hey, I've only been on the job for 2 weeks."
Well, before that he was the President of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The second most powerful job in the treasury. His area of responsibility was Wall Street. He did a fine job there, just ask the former Lehman Brother's employees.
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- Moving with lightning speed, key lawmakers announced agreement Wednesday on a $789 billion economic stimulus measure designed to create millions of jobs in a nation reeling from recession. President Barack Obama could sign the bill within days.
"The middle ground we've reached creates more jobs than the original Senate bill and costs less than the original House bill," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of the participants in an exhausting and frenzied round of bargaining.
The bill includes help for victims of the recession in the form of unemployment benefits, food stamps, health coverage and more, as well as billions for states that face the prospect of making deep cuts in their own programs.
It also preserves Obama's signature tax cut _ a break for millions of lower and middle income taxpayers, including those who don't earn enough to pay income taxes.
I think Treasury has worked out how and where to spend the money. But to say "50 billion to help people facing foreclosure" is way different from creating the mechanisms and putting anti-abuse safeguards in place to make it actually happen. I do think the administration sort of got caught up in trying to look like they're in action, solving the problem NOW when it can't be done that quickly. So Geithner could have used at least another week before he called a news conference. But I think the media is sort of piling it on about him saying nothing - I think he said what they have to say for now. At least he's not throwing money at banks with no preconditions.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the Federal government will not be administering how all this money is spent. Money for the states will go to the states. Food stamp money will go to food stamp entities, SSI payments will be administered by the Social Security (ok, federal) Administration, etc. So hopefully Congress can't muck it up too much. I do wish they had a no-Halliburton clause in the public works part, though.
Tom, ditto on what you posted regarding market reaction, Geithner, and El Supremo's chatisement. To Quote Rudy's Dad: "Doesn't anything ever change around here?" To quote Cathy's favorite political commentator (Lou Dobbs): "Doesn't everyone have the right to good government?"
On a different note, in my earilier posting I of course meant you and Nanc and the boys are all doing all you can for Donny and kudos especially to you Nanc for all the extra time you spend with Donny.
Mike n Mary-you've gotta get your new ad ready to go about the tax cut for homebuyers. Be sure and say "consult your tax preparer for details" or some such.
Why is it if you go to a restaurant and order a Stack of pancakes that nearly cover the plate and are 1 and a half to 2 inches high you are just hungry.
But if you go in and ask for a peice of chocolate cake that nearly covers the plate you are a pig. I mean, they're both cakes.
By the way...HyVee complete buttermilk pancake mix. Two thumbs up. Fed the kids 3 meals out of one box @$1.79 for the box. Not only is it cheap - they are as good a mix as there is out there. Yeilds bodacious golden cakes.
So here is what the home buyer tax credit ended up looking like. You have to be a first time home buyer:
First-time home-buyers could qualify for an $8,000 tax credit.
The credit is slightly larger than the $7,500 credit in existing law, but it is substantially less than a proposal in the Senate bill that would have boosted the credit to $15,000 and broadened the eligibility.
In addition, the compromise bill waives a requirement that the tax credit be repaid. The credit applies only to homes bought between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 of this year.
Homeowners who install new doors, windows or furnaces to make their home more energy efficient would be able to get as much as $1,500 back through new tax breaks.
Gol darnet. We took that 7500 tax credit to buy a minivan. Would have been nice not to have to pay it back. Oh well.
Desmond, are you enjoying being part of the snuggi revolution?
Joe, I am sick of those ads too, but Gas - X's "Your son Rip is on line toot," makes up for it.
Is everyone healthy? No more flu?
I'll have to try the store brand pancake mix. I use Krusteaz and make pancakes about twice a week. (with bluberries becasue they are supposed to be good for your brain) I love Krusteaz. Everyone shoudl try the Krusteaz cinnamon swirl coffee cake mix. It is the best thing in the world and every time I bring that cake somewhere, people rave.
Tom and Nance, thanks for all you do for Donny and it must be nice to see the benefits of Nance's hard work.
Oh and Ellen, that house is really cute. Get your hands on a house before August so you can get your free 8K.
There were other things I meant to comment on, but I can't remember right now.
You can buy a house in Lone Rock for $8,000...does that mean it's free, with the tax credit?
The gas stopped, MidAmerica and Algona Heating were "stumped"...it was a very strong smell...maybe my tenant somehow dispenses natural gas to cover up the cigarette smell...sounds dangerous doesn't it?
Mary- we are planning on using an escrow account for the painting if the FHA inspector says we need to paint. Then of course doing the work ourselves. Andy and I have already helped paint two houses in the 4ish years we've been together. If that doesn't work for some reason, our mortgage guys said it will be pretty simple to switch to a conventional loan later as long as we put "FHA loan pending...something or conventional." Does that sound right? ALso, something happened yesterday- we don't know what- that made the sellers unavailable all day. Both realtors said as long as both the parties agreed to extend the deadline for a reply to our offer, it is still valid. Does that sound right, too? Their guy promises we will hear back today, but I'm getting very anxious now!
Hi Ellen...Did all parties sign an extension? Realtors know a verbal agreement doesn't mean a thing...Just call your realtor back and say you would be more comfortable with a signed extension...and then they'll just give you an answer. Good Luck
I'm working on my next radio ad. Since we are trying to attract a more "down home" crowd I had thought I would invent a character - Cletus. Cletus is clearly a hill billy by his accent. Cletus is a restaurant reviewer. The ad would be his take on Sister Sarah's. However, Cletus clearly is no dummy. He uses words like essence, aroma, bouquet & succulent but when spoken in his accent could be quite comical.
Cletus would tout the new menu, promos and the clear value they provide.
A person I spoke to about this said you wouldn't want to portray our customers as dummies and that using Cletus might just do this.
I have to clear up a vicious slander about me that has appeared on this blog. Lou Dobbs, far from being my favorite, makes me scream at the TV. And I laugh at people who talk, yell or otherwise converse with the TV so I always have to turn it off when he comes on or switch to something better like, say, (trying to think of something I would never watch and can't, which is scary.....) replays of old Nascar races.
Mmmmmm,pancakes. I predict breakfast for dinner in my near future.
If Cletus spoke very poetically and intelligently it could be funny without being offensive. Think of the language in "Raising Arizona." Cletus could quote Shakespeare or Keats or Milton in his ads. Valentines day: "Compare thee not thy love to the moon. Th'inconstant moon! Invoke rather to thy fevered imagination the eternally reliable quality, the sweet succulence, of Sister Sarah's Prime Rib Sandwich, its ineffable bouquet, its juicy deliciousness, its special low price - 5 smackeroos every Thursday! Y'll come over!"
I like the Cletus idea and would totally go forward with it. But maybe that’s why they laid me off from my previous job. Because I was a risk taker. A liability. A Maverick. I can’t help that about myself. That’s just how I was when the doctor pulled me down from heaven.
Maybe Cletus hates Sarah’s. Maybe he gives the restaurant bad reviews because he just doesn’t get it. Like, “Rosemary is a lady. A very nice lady. But why on earth would I want her on my chicken?” Or “Is there such thing as zero stars? Well now theyis.” Gags like that.
Maybe Cletus is mad because he’s married to his sister, Sarah.
I'm thinking about a primerib sandwich, if work goes well today, without a hitch I'll go to Sarah's with a fivespot, get the primerib with fries, no tots.
We had it Tuesday gobbled at a table cluttered with newspaper and mail because I thawed it too soon.
We sliced each rib apart grunted and hummed to each other waving delicate bones with ovals of pinkbrown flesh in front of our faces slugged down fruity wine.
Thanks for your words of encouragement and support!:-) Here's a little bragging...on Donny's behalf... A+ Science Test A SS Test B Math Pre-Test B- Spelling Test He's working hard and it's so wonderful to see it pay off! I asked him "why" he thinks he's doing so well and he simply stated "environment" and gave me a big hug. Simply put and very sweet. We then went on to the A+ dance (insert imagination here). Ha! :-)
This stimulus/bailout scheme has the smell of those payday loans that low income people have to resort to. They keep borrowing against their next paycheck until they got nothing. Then they are in real trouble.
Not saying it shouldn't be done but it smells like it could be trouble....high inflation, high interest rates could be the result of this.
Just stay home and eat lamb. Why are you so tired? That new missing Florida girl is a weird deal, Hayleigh something... Nancy Grace is all over it. She needs another "Tot Mom" to torture!!
Today during lunch Sam kept stuffing food down his shirt for some reason and Jude was laughing hysterically so he kept doing it and I let him. Of course then we had to strip him down and wipe bits of apple, cheese, french fry and chicken off his body. Sam is not a very good eater, but yesterday we had to bring soemthing to Scott downtown so we stopped in the skyway for a slice of pizza. They were BIG, NY style slices and I fully expected to eat half of Sam's, but he ate the whole thing. Boucning up and down saying, "mmmm..mmmm" waiting impatiently while I was cutting it up. I couldn't cut it fast enough for him. He also really likes bagels so maybe he is a New Yorker at heart.
Des, I like these critters. Especially the chipmunks. The squirrels are kind of aggressive though. THey stole a bunch of our little pumpkins and chewed up the big ones. They took apart our Halloween scarecrow. It was funny to see one running across the street while trying to carry a little pumpkin though. THe cats sit in the window and the squirrels mock them. They drive the cats craxy. We gave them a bunch of the peanut butter stuff we were gonna throw out and they've buried granola bars, etc all over the yard.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire released a statement Thursday withdrawing from consideration to be President Obama's Commerce Secretary.
Full statement follows:
“I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.
“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.
“Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.
“I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.
“As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.
“Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.
“As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”
Jeez. I can't stand to watch Nancy Grace, Lou Dobbs or Larry King, and I'm not too nuts about Anderson Cooper. Lord save me from FoxNews I ain't goin there.
Freaky how it was in Friday the 13th. I'm, like, way totally weirded out by that. And I saw a black cat today on the way to work. I'm soooooo not doing anything risky today except trying to own a restaurant in a small town.
Here's an article about the 25 people most to blame for the current financial crisis. It seems pretty balanced, choosing everyone from obvious villains like Bernie Madoff to Clinton, Bush and the American consumer. I don't agree with all the picks, necessarily, but I found it informative, if gimmicky. And it has a link to a project of Americans in their homes, which is also interesting.
I just went to the ribbon cutting for the "rejuvination center" at the hospital...it's pretty swanky...but now the show starts. Lipo-Dissolve...Vein Treatment...Dermabrasion,etc...and acupunture...all done by Dr.Yellie(sp)...the rich get richer and prettier. They shold run ads saying, "I'm going to juvie".
Relax Tom, the plane crashed on the 12th.
Emily, I guess Sam is a New York Walsh!
Great Notre Dame game last night.
I talked to Kelli, Joe4 and Betty late yesterday afternoon, driving, had been on the road about an hour, still in Virgina. They arrived in Algona this morning before 8a.m.!
OH, good. That plane crashed on the 12th and not the 13th so I can do that "to-do" list I had prepared for today...
*Un-jam my automatic pistol *Fix that loose shingle on the roof *See how fast I can drive on gravel *Go to the "hood" and ask randomly who can break a hundred *Practice my knife juggling *Go eat at Prime Time
I am not complaining... but I kinda miss the days when we had two incomes, no kids, we could blow 100 bucks on dinner once in a while, and all my clothes did not come from target or old navy. On the other hand, the kids do bring out full belly laughs from time to time.
They just called from the "juvie center" and said I won the drawing from this morning. I wonder what it is...maybe they'll do all the veins in one leg....that's the side I'll wear my slit skirt on!
Phelan is back from her tour. We went and ate Indian food last night. She said the tour was good even if they were playing for a bunch of islolated rich kids.
Cathy, did you mean to connect the two subjects in your last post? Are you suggesting that bailout money be used for toilet paper? I'm sure that won't be the worst expenditure.
Welcome to the new age of "transparency" in government (to quote our new president). It appears that no one would ever have known that the White House wanted to take over the census if Senator Gregg had not withdrawn from the Secretary of Commerce position. To his credit (Gregg's, not Obama's) he did not make a big issue over it but it is a big issue and makes the claim of transparency a farce. Maybe we are coming into the new age of opaque transparency. Dad
Em- I hear you. Every now and then I'll look over at Eli and say, "You know...if it weren't for you I'd be driving a lot nicer car." He doesn't cry too much.
Dad- This Gregg is not going to vote for the bailout. He's the one outsider who has seen the inside of this administration. He hasn't seen a lot but it was enough for him to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."
The White House wanted to get census results along with commerce to address a well-known concern: the poor are undercounted. Why don't the republicans want the poor to have representation? What's-his-name called Harry Reid and said he wanted the post. Then after talking with irate repubs said he didn't want it. Then said (direct quote) "I guess they're pretty upset at the White House" even though Obama hasn't said a bad thing about him. He now says he won't run in 2010. We'll see. I bet his pals will convince him to do it "for the good of the country."
Hey, Dad, on retreat I found out that a DRE I've known for years was once a client of yours - Mary Green. Her husband Tom taught at Garrigan in the 80's I think? She agreed with me that you were a pretty good guy.
Mom says it's the ugliest fish ever but I had a grouper sandwich when we were in Florida and it was delicious. Huff, puff. We just got done shoveling our driveway & walks and our two adjacent neighbors. We worried about if the Walters ladies had to get out in an emergency and our neighbor Dave dislocated his shoulder a couple months ago. There's a new younger couple across the street and one up on the corner - it's time for them to take over. We're old. This snow is nasty - 8.5" and heavy and sticky. So when you try to throw your 50-pound shovelful, it won't come off. Even if you turn it upside down and shake it. The snowplow just came by. Stevo's back out there. I gotta get nhim a snowblower. Tonight we're having Manhatten style crab chowder (no clams in the house), pierogis, creamed spinach and grilled cod fillets.
After a long day of shoveling and playing in the snow (I stayed in with Oscar) we all enjoyed Hot Chocolate and Chili. Even Catie's friends. Mia dosen't like the beans or the peppers or onions, only the "chicken and tomatos with sauce"(it was ground beef)
By the way, Walmart(I know I shouldn't shop there. I don't very often.) Has great frozen blueberry pancakes. Real blueberries. Not the blueberry chips You can just stick them in the micro or toaster.They come in little packs of three. Great for kids. And you get a giant bag for only $2.50.
Guess my age: I get every single inside joke and pop culture reference ever produced on Family Guy, but I usually fall asleep before the end of the episode.
Valentine Food Poem
Anticipation whets my lips You dry-rubbed the steaks this morning I can smell the Rosemary on your fingers You called my favorite winery to see If the local liquor store carries that Grappa I suspect you're stopping for good bread this afternoon Chocolates don't always come in a heart shaped box Waiting all day long makes it taste so much better
Happy Valentine's Day! Josh and I met mom and dad out last night at McCarthys, heard Jimmy Byrne sing the Obama song. One refrain goes like this" Turu-aru, turu-allama, no one's as Irish as Bay-rack O'Bama...
Today we went to this park about an hour away, and toured mudflats and mangroves. Crabs everywhere. We were going to rent a canoe but decided to just walk instead.
I went to a Jeff Tweedy show last night at the VIc. It was pretty great. It was just him, a guitar and a microphone. Hours before the show, his wife went out and took requests from the hardcore Wilco fans who were already standing in line. Those requests made up his set list. Pretty cool.
We did finally come to an agreement on the house. Now we'll get an inspection sometime this week, and planning on closing April 1st.
I tried to post this before, but I don't think it worked...I get so annoyed when people say every winter, "Looks like everyone forgot how to drive in the snow." But I think that really happened this weekend. It took me 2 Hours and 45 MINUTES to get to downtown Des Moines from Ames. There was a traffic jam from just outside of Ames all the way to DM. It was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me while driving. One report said police responded to over 80 accidents Friday afternoon.
And by the way...Polk was president during the Mexican American war which was around the same time that the territory of Iowa was being developed. Thus we have Polk County. And some of the seemingly oddly named counties (odd because of the Spanish names they have) such as Palo Alto (there was a pivotal battle at Palo Alto, Mexico), Cerro Gordo (fat pig?) and Buena Vista.
FYI, the suck ups over at MSNBC just ran a story. The question posed by the story is - Is the Obama'S strong marriage a model for the new marriage in this new age we are embarking on? WHATEVER!
C'mon....don't you guys fist bump every morning before you head off to work? I guess there's no real news. Besides Israel's pivotal elections etc. By the way, I just saw the movie Exodus, about the beginnings of modern Israel, the other night. Much as I like him, Paul Newman just doesn't make a convincing Jew.
Paul Newman was part Jewish (just read that somewhere...). It must be his disarming blue eyes that throw you.
Here's what we watched this weekend: Burn after reading - as the whole thing started to implode, I couldn't watch the rest. And Vickie Christina Barcolena. He had them all speaking Woody Allen-ese instead of having their own voice. (except for Penelope Cruise since she spoke the span side of spanglish) All it was was a story of selfish people with empty lives who didn't know it. Terrible. I think I need a good 1950s musical.
Tom...that Obama story about their marriage...I guess us white folks can sneer, but the rate of fatherless homes in black communities is VERY high. I don't think there's any doubt their example is a good one for certain folks...it's like having "The Cosby Show" in the White House...it's a good thing!
I do think the media makes too much of the Obama marriage. I mean maybe they fight like cats and dogs and call eachother terrible names in private. I doubt it, but we don't really know.
We're off to DC tomorrow. A lovely 3 day road trip with 2 kids and two cats. We are staying in a furnished two bedroom apartment in Arlington two blocks from the metro if anyone wants to come visit and see the sights in DC- we'd be happy to see you. We'll be there until April 3rd.
Exodus made the Jews seem so smart and sexy. In "Fiddler on the Roof" the director had Paul Michael Glaser(Starsky and Hutch fame) wear brown contact lenses even though he was Jewish. The producers hired Norman Jewison to be the director presumably because they thought he was Jewish, but wasn't. Paul Newman with brown eyes would have been distracting. Should the Obamas act like stereotypical inner-city blacks?
Get over it. m.e. makes a perfectly valid point. We don't have to be colorblind, we just have to do our best to give everyone a fair shake. In some cases that means acknowledging that circumstances require a little extra something just to level out the playing field.
Having said that, I have to admit that the MSNBC story was a little silly. Like I said....isn't there any real news out there?
I should have said "Awww, get over it." or something like that. I didn't mean to sound abrupt or aggressive. (I just HAVE to stop watching that darn Chris Matthews!)
Jewboy was me and I meant that we all have certain expectations of how people will look or act. Sometimes they are wrong, such as when you expect a Jew not to have blue eyes or it may be an assumption that all Hollywood directors that have a Jewish-sounding name are Jewish. The Obamas can act any way they want because no two blacks are alike.
172 comments:
"Write an offer now, lock in a low rate, close after the stimulus passes...OBAMA ricks!"---m.e.
I don't know what obama ricks means, but we are doing just that! We put in an offer on an awesome house today (we were really worried we lose it if we didn't soon). This should work to see the house-
http://www.iowarealty.com/buying/detail_ml.asp?list_numb=334808&view=5&port_id=&rt=gh
If not, you can go to iowarealty.com, MLS #334808. This house looks cool in the pictures, but really much better in person. Hope everything goes well!
WTF are those things???!!!!
Eh hem, PIR!
That house is adorable Ellen. Did Andy have his review already (is that what you were waiting for?)
p
i like that house. git it!
Squirrels and squinnies, oh my!
Cute house. Great yard. Yeah!!!
The patio would be one of my favorite features if I lived there. The whole house looks great. Will you leave that one room pink?
I just heard from my beer distributor that the promoters of this Rock Gone Wild concert (www.rockgonewild) are hoping to sell 30,000 tickets. That would be quite a payday for us.
Tom
Andy had an unofficial review, the official one comes in March. Basically, they are always talking about ways to reorganize at his work. While he was never worried he'd be out of a job, he didn't know if he wanted to stay for a few more years or try actively looking for another job in the Omaha area. Right now he's pretty satisfied, and thinks he will be for the next 3-5 years, so this is great experience for when we do eventually decide to move away.
As far as the pink room goes, it will be changed by summer. We like the colors for the most part, it is just too muted. I would make every room, besides the bedrooms, slightly deeper tone. Oh, if we get it, I'm not getting too excited about this :)
Eww gross, I think I have to teach sex ed to 8th and 9th graders this afternoon! The school I'm going to normally has the P.E. teachers take turns doing one period of health each day, but last time I did P.E. there, they said there was one health teacher that does the stuff they don't want to. I'm working for that guy in an hour. I hope they just like watch a video on healthy food choices or something today.
They just played the Hawaii 5-0 theme on KLGA. What a rockin' tune!
And rickin' too.
I am so sorry about Kelli's mom. What is her address - I don't have it and I need to send her something.
lisa
Lisa...do you want Kelli's Algona address, or the funeral home info? The link Nance posted has the funeral home (and you can post condolences), here's Kelli's: 414 W. State, 50511...
Ellen...that's a cool house! It reminds me a bit of our house on Hawthorne in Omaha (but yours has a cooler kitchen) the outside areas look wonderful. How much time did you give for a response?
Obama Ricks!
Last night the cat put her butt in Josh's face and two worms stuck out.
p
You should give that cat to the LaVelles
Tom
That cat is a good communiCATor.
what are mortgage rates at right now? What about for refinancing?
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/divorce
this video is pretty touching i thought.
who goes out of their way to nullify over 18,000 marriages?
blahh,barf. Pat, I'm truing to eat my lunch. You made me gag on my pea soup.
Monica
Good thing it wasn't spaghetti soup, Monica!
Lisa
Hairy Economic Trend: Beards are Back, sales of razors, down.
It's a cute house, Ellen!
By the way, there is nothing wrong with a pink bedroom. Just make the trim taupe and it'll be ok.
Lisa
The queen of pink
56 and sunny, I'm going outside to soak up some rays....and take down the Christmas lights.
The lack of detail in the "recovery/stimulus" bill is driving the market down. Pushing almost neg 5% right now. Markets hate uncertainty. Everyone knows this.
This whole thing has been mishandled from the start. From icing out the republicans at the start to letting Pelosi do the initial draft and now finally releasing it without enough detail. Schmucks.
52 and sunny. I'm going to go check my new $2500 intake and make sure it's draining like it should.
Tom
The two largest spending amendments in the bill are republican driven.
p
The two largest spending amendments in the bill are republican driven.
p
Yeah...the markets were so great before..there were no uncertainties...some people talk as if they've forgotten what Bush handed to Obama...the American people want something to happen and the Republicans aren't helping at all!
We mustn't make the perfect the enemy of the good. Or whatever. I gotta say, though, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are starting to remind me of Newt ("the Newt") Gingrich during his Contract On America days. They need to be more civil. Democratic Senator Ben Nelson is largely responsible for hammering out some of the compromises in the Senate bill. He's civil.
Note the gender of the Republicans with the courage and common sense to jump the fence.
Council Bluffs had a famous little people couple who retired from public life and then graced the tops of the famous CB-based Woodward Candy Company's candy boxes for many years. They had a small house built about 2 blocks from ours - it's still there between two big houses. It had normal-sized doors and windows but it's little and cute. Someone lives there.
The markets were fine until this whole Democratic initiative of "let everyone buy a house - no documentation needed" blew up in everyone's face.
What are the 2 republican spending amendments, anyway?
My intake is working like a charm. Now this spring I need to connect my sump pump discharge line to it and I'll be golden. I wonder why none of the idiots who owned this house before did this. By my count, this home has had at least 6 owners. They just kept on passing the problem along to the next person. I should take another look at my disclosure statement.
Tom
ELLEN: That's a great house. I don't know the area but the price seems like a steal for Des Moines. The owners looked like they made some contemporary upgrades and improvements over the years that look good.
I stopped at Dairy Queen today.
We gave the sellers until tomorrow at 6pm to let us know...but a lot's happened today. Their realtor, who has been in the biz for awhile doesn't think FHA will allow the loan until the house is painted. The sides and back are starting to chip away, but it didn't scare us. Apparently FHA is strict on that. So we have to decide to go for a conventional loan, risk trying FHA, or through a Neighborhood Financing loan, but that extends the time we'd be able to put in another offer. So, we will probably go with a conventional one, but are waiting to talk to the mortgage guy still tonight. Our agent assured us that they are very eager to sell soon, and we're the only people who have put in an offer so far. Oh gosh, first time home buying is everything people say it is- exciting, scary, nerve wrecking. Just like worms coming out of a cat's butt.
Good news- I dodged a bullet with the "health" class. It was really more like life skills- they did an interest survey to find out what career they would be good for. I apparently would be good in education, bus driving, and parole officer.
Those critters are hitting the feeders like Michael Phelps obliterates a water bong.
"Man, you Bogarted my whole stash in one hit!"
"Hey! I'm Michael Phelps, Be-yotch!"
Tom
I have this fear that my work is going to lay me off once the busy season ends. The museum is only super busy December thru March, and no one got any raises this year. And they did without a receptionist for a month before I arrived, since there is always the visitor services desk in the actual museum.
It would be a curse and a blessing.
p
Well, if they lay you off, hopefully they'll give you a few days warning so you can verbally abuse a few pushy rich people.
Donny is starting to, on a fairly consistent basis, bring home test scores that are A's and B's. Given the habits he had when he arrived to us this is quite amazing.
We praise him highly when we become aware of these scores. His reaction is fairly nonchalant.
Aside from credit to Don, Nance should be sainted for sitting with him for an hour minimum every night to ensure that he knows the material. Don is smart, but he does have some inability to handle the task at hand. Nance, with all possible patience, walks him through every problem, every assignment, every project, and every commitment that a 3rd grader who is not up to speed has. Not up to speed through any fault of his own.
Tom
I highly admire your family's commitment to Donny! It's good to hear he's doing well.
I second Molly's comment and highly admire and respect all that you are doing for Donny and the love that you are extending to him. Donny is a lucky guy.
Thanks. But, I personally don't do much. I'm sure I will coach whatever teams he may join just as I did my own kids...football, baseball (assuming that he is able to stay with us. Other than that it's all Nance and the boys. Eli and Liam share with him like a brother.
"Like a brother", eh? Hope there's no massagees at your house - that one staircase is just right.....
Not a chance. Nance runs a pretty tight ship.
Although, Eli will sometimes try to Bogart time on the new Wii.
(Bogart is my new favorite revived slang word. As in, Obama wants to Bogart my taxes).
Tom
Ellen, Going FHA would not be such a bad idea because you have anxious buyers...they'll accept you FHA offer, and then a week or 2 from now the inspector will say it needs to be painted, then go back to the buyers and offer to split the costs, put it into escrow, and close and then paint when the season changes.(Paint it yoursekf and keep the cash, but don't mention that now) The buyer and you can also raise the purchase price a couple thousand and wrap it into your loan...and you end up with a freshly painted house!
Tom...all this aggresion towards Obama and you got Bogarted on your disclosure...who'd you buy the house from? They can't lie on disclosures, it's an easy win for you! Make them share the costs. (Also, find out what your agent knew!)
Mary...please don't Bogart the blog with all this Obama talk.
Tom
Brett Farve is retiring.
Again.
Josh's coworkers in Switzerland all got knocked down to 40% time. The gov't will supplement that to 100% for a time, and then will supplement at 80%, and then they'll either all go back to work, or some will and some will get laid off. The US group is safe from any reductions for at least 2 months.
P
The paper this morning said that the stock market started dropping almost as soon as Geithner started talking yesterday and it occurred to me that it would have happened no matter who was saying what. The stock market is a hysterical bipolar fear-and-loathing-driven entity that thinks it's the center of the universe. I think every CEO and big-time broker should spend a winter and a muddy spring at a POW camp in the upper midwest helping farmers with their chores.
Never mind, they would probably eat each other.
At least we would have lots of new recipes!
Pat, that sort of suprises me 'cause I would have thought the market would drop out of the $1,000 watch price range (like Movado), but not the $100,000+ Rolex, etc market...(I gues the richy rich don't but the super expensive stuff)
Also...in times like these, wouldn't a person want to repair rather than buy new?
Guess my age:
When I blog it feels fun and when I do Facebook it feels like something I have to do so nobody will think I'm antisocial.
Post your own Guess My Age.
Rolex is in bad shape. But they are actually considered more midrange than Josh's brand. They are doing better than many companies. It has to do with contracts Rolex and others have with jewelry stores. They require stores to keep a minimum inventory, which now is like 4 years worth.
p
Relatively bad. Of course, they'll survive.
Here is why the market started to drop as soon as Geithner started...
For the past week Obama has been saying that as far as the plan goes he didn't want to speak too much about details. But not to worry. My man, Geithner will be letting you all know when he speaks. This caused some positive movement in the markets in anticipation of some real remedies.
So Geithner begins to speak and answer questions. He has nothing of substance. It's apparent the administration has no detailed plan for this spending. (Funny, cause this is the guy who said he would use a scalpel when working with the budget). The markets reacted predictably. They tanked on the uncertainty of it all.
I heard Obama have the audacity to say something like..."Okay. We've had our little debate (that part is verbatim). This is the democratic process as it should be. But now is the time to end the debate and start action. We need to pass this bill now."
Sorry, but I think we need to step back and decide more carefully how this money should be spent. I mean this is now in the trillions. There is no possible way that any governmental agency can efficiently spend this kind of money. They can spend it, no problem. But not with any efficiency at that rate.
We should set aside a few billion as a social safety net. Ensure that in the short term people can keep their homes and can eat. Maybe set aside as much as a couple of years worth of support for those who need it. It could take that long. (But, they should be doing some sort of civil work even if it's picking up garbage in the ditches).
Now we have bought ourselves a couple of years to figure this out.
Instead, Obama has the nerve to say, in essence "Just shut up (stop the debate) and give us this money." It's pretty audacious. This will be about as poorly planned as the post invasion plans for Iraq unless everyone takes a deep breath and slows down.
On yet another note, Geithner actually said when pressed for some details, "Hey, I've only been on the job for 2 weeks."
Well, before that he was the President of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The second most powerful job in the treasury. His area of responsibility was Wall Street. He did a fine job there, just ask the former Lehman Brother's employees.
Tom
WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- Moving with lightning speed, key lawmakers announced agreement Wednesday on a $789 billion economic stimulus measure designed to create millions of jobs in a nation reeling from recession. President Barack Obama could sign the bill within days.
"The middle ground we've reached creates more jobs than the original Senate bill and costs less than the original House bill," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of the participants in an exhausting and frenzied round of bargaining.
The bill includes help for victims of the recession in the form of unemployment benefits, food stamps, health coverage and more, as well as billions for states that face the prospect of making deep cuts in their own programs.
It also preserves Obama's signature tax cut _ a break for millions of lower and middle income taxpayers, including those who don't earn enough to pay income taxes.
I think Treasury has worked out how and where to spend the money. But to say "50 billion to help people facing foreclosure" is way different from creating the mechanisms and putting anti-abuse safeguards in place to make it actually happen. I do think the administration sort of got caught up in trying to look like they're in action, solving the problem NOW when it can't be done that quickly. So Geithner could have used at least another week before he called a news conference. But I think the media is sort of piling it on about him saying nothing - I think he said what they have to say for now. At least he's not throwing money at banks with no preconditions.
The difference between this and post-invasion of Iraq plans being, of course, that nobody will die.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the Federal government will not be administering how all this money is spent. Money for the states will go to the states. Food stamp money will go to food stamp entities, SSI payments will be administered by the Social Security (ok, federal) Administration, etc. So hopefully Congress can't muck it up too much. I do wish they had a no-Halliburton clause in the public works part, though.
I hope 'burton's hurtin.
I'm geting sick of pajamagram and Vermont Teddy Bear ads.
I'm geting sick of pajamagram and Vermont Teddy Bear ads.
Tom, ditto on what you posted regarding market reaction, Geithner, and El Supremo's chatisement. To Quote Rudy's Dad: "Doesn't anything ever change around here?" To quote Cathy's favorite political commentator (Lou Dobbs): "Doesn't everyone have the right to good government?"
On a different note, in my earilier posting I of course meant you and Nanc and the boys are all doing all you can for Donny and kudos especially to you Nanc for all the extra time you spend with Donny.
Those ads will stop after Valentine's Day (this Sat.)
Those ads will stop after Valentine's Day (this Sat.)
Emily,
Have you called the exterminator yet?
Correction: Lou Dobbs said "Doesn't everyone deserve a government that works?"
Mary what's the latest on the gas leak.
p
Mike n Mary-you've gotta get your new ad ready to go about the tax cut for homebuyers. Be sure and say "consult your tax preparer for details" or some such.
Yeah Mary, are you still leaking gas?
Monica
Why is it if you go to a restaurant and order a Stack of pancakes that nearly cover the plate and are 1 and a half to 2 inches high you are just hungry.
But if you go in and ask for a peice of chocolate cake that nearly covers the plate you are a pig. I mean, they're both cakes.
By the way...HyVee complete buttermilk pancake mix. Two thumbs up. Fed the kids 3 meals out of one box @$1.79 for the box. Not only is it cheap - they are as good a mix as there is out there. Yeilds bodacious golden cakes.
Eli always tries to bogart the last cake.
Tom
So here is what the home buyer tax credit ended up looking like. You have to be a first time home buyer:
First-time home-buyers could qualify for an $8,000 tax credit.
The credit is slightly larger than the $7,500 credit in existing law, but it is substantially less than a proposal in the Senate bill that would have boosted the credit to $15,000 and broadened the eligibility.
In addition, the compromise bill waives a requirement that the tax credit be repaid. The credit applies only to homes bought between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 of this year.
Homeowners who install new doors, windows or furnaces to make their home more energy efficient would be able to get as much as $1,500 back through new tax breaks.
Gol darnet. We took that 7500 tax credit to buy a minivan. Would have been nice not to have to pay it back. Oh well.
Desmond, are you enjoying being part of the snuggi revolution?
Joe, I am sick of those ads too, but Gas - X's "Your son Rip is on line toot," makes up for it.
Is everyone healthy? No more flu?
I'll have to try the store brand pancake mix. I use Krusteaz and make pancakes about twice a week. (with bluberries becasue they are supposed to be good for your brain) I love Krusteaz. Everyone shoudl try the Krusteaz cinnamon swirl coffee cake mix. It is the best thing in the world and every time I bring that cake somewhere, people rave.
Tom and Nance, thanks for all you do for Donny and it must be nice to see the benefits of Nance's hard work.
Oh and Ellen, that house is really cute. Get your hands on a house before August so you can get your free 8K.
There were other things I meant to comment on, but I can't remember right now.
You can buy a house in Lone Rock for $8,000...does that mean it's free, with the tax credit?
The gas stopped, MidAmerica and Algona Heating were "stumped"...it was a very strong smell...maybe my tenant somehow dispenses natural gas to cover up the cigarette smell...sounds dangerous doesn't it?
Tonight at Sarah's:
Prime rib sandwiches with fries $5.
Mary- we are planning on using an escrow account for the painting if the FHA inspector says we need to paint. Then of course doing the work ourselves. Andy and I have already helped paint two houses in the 4ish years we've been together. If that doesn't work for some reason, our mortgage guys said it will be pretty simple to switch to a conventional loan later as long as we put "FHA loan pending...something or conventional." Does that sound right? ALso, something happened yesterday- we don't know what- that made the sellers unavailable all day. Both realtors said as long as both the parties agreed to extend the deadline for a reply to our offer, it is still valid. Does that sound right, too? Their guy promises we will hear back today, but I'm getting very anxious now!
http://www.wildlife-removal.com/squirrel.htm
Oh, and Emily, when you call be sure to make it clear that you would prefer that the animals be destroyed instead of relocated.
Hi Ellen...Did all parties sign an extension? Realtors know a verbal agreement doesn't mean a thing...Just call your realtor back and say you would be more comfortable with a signed extension...and then they'll just give you an answer.
Good Luck
Advice please...
I'm working on my next radio ad. Since we are trying to attract a more "down home" crowd I had thought I would invent a character - Cletus. Cletus is clearly a hill billy by his accent. Cletus is a restaurant reviewer. The ad would be his take on Sister Sarah's. However, Cletus clearly is no dummy. He uses words like essence, aroma, bouquet & succulent but when spoken in his accent could be quite comical.
Cletus would tout the new menu, promos and the clear value they provide.
A person I spoke to about this said you wouldn't want to portray our customers as dummies and that using Cletus might just do this.
Thoughts...
Tom
I have to clear up a vicious slander about me that has appeared on this blog. Lou Dobbs, far from being my favorite, makes me scream at the TV. And I laugh at people who talk, yell or otherwise converse with the TV so I always have to turn it off when he comes on or switch to something better like, say, (trying to think of something I would never watch and can't, which is scary.....) replays of old Nascar races.
Mmmmmm,pancakes. I predict breakfast for dinner in my near future.
If Cletus spoke very poetically and intelligently it could be funny without being offensive. Think of the language in "Raising Arizona." Cletus could quote Shakespeare or Keats or Milton in his ads. Valentines day: "Compare thee not thy love to the moon. Th'inconstant moon! Invoke rather to thy fevered imagination the eternally reliable quality, the sweet succulence, of Sister Sarah's Prime Rib Sandwich, its ineffable bouquet, its juicy deliciousness, its special low price - 5 smackeroos every Thursday! Y'll come over!"
Lou Dobbs favorite pastime is to replay old Nascar races too.
Cathy - good copy. Keep it coming.
Tom
Krusteaz is, by far, the best pancake mix, and worth the slightly higher price.
Tom,
I like the Cletus idea and would totally go forward with it. But maybe that’s why they laid me off from my previous job. Because I was a risk taker. A liability. A Maverick. I can’t help that about myself. That’s just how I was when the doctor pulled me down from heaven.
Maybe Cletus hates Sarah’s. Maybe he gives the restaurant bad reviews because he just doesn’t get it. Like, “Rosemary is a lady. A very nice lady. But why on earth would I want her on my chicken?” Or “Is there such thing as zero stars? Well now theyis.” Gags like that.
Maybe Cletus is mad because he’s married to his sister, Sarah.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1139262/Keep-eye-TV--TV-contact-lens.html
This is so creepy!
Since we're talking about poetry and food, here's one I read recently:
Ode to Grits
by
Kevin Young
Like y'all, or sorrows,
or pigsfeet,
or God, your name
always holds multitudes --
is never just one --
unlike moose or deer
or death -- which means both many
& alone. Little Lazarus,
you're the world before
the flood, & what's after,
are ash turning back
to a body. Done wrong,
you are the flavor
of a communion wafer.
Miss Hominy,
for years I misheard
your name as Harmony
and I was right. Kissing cousin
to Cream of Wheat, godmother
to oatmeal, no one
owns you, much less
no Quaker. Those mornings
over Strawberry Quik
when the kettle called
the Cream of Wheat cook
to meet me for breakfast,
you waited patiently to shine
the whites of your million eyes
on me. You must know
I love you by the way
I like you plain, maybe
buttered up a bit.
Salty, you keep me
on my toes, let me
believe, this once,
in purity -- no cheese,
no grape jelly, no Missus
Butterworth's. Undoctored,
your cloudy stare
unlike my father's, his one
eye no bullet met
that, hours after he was shot
through the other,
I had to decide to give over
to someone still
alive, some girl or odd
man whose vision --
even dead, ever
the healer -- my father saved.
Resurrected like you
are daily. Welcome
stanger, pennywise
prophet, you are the wet nurse
of mercy , the rock
water makes speak.
from Dear Darkness by Kevin Young, Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.
Maybe not so much for the Cletus ads, but funny and dark and comfortable all at once, huh?
Let's share some food poetry!
Cletus sucks
Don't do it
Regulars will buck
to Humboldt in a truck.
Here's a fun gardening blog with lots of links (if you're getting the fever):
www.myskinnygarden.blogspot.com
I'm thinking about a primerib sandwich,
if work goes well today, without a hitch
I'll go to Sarah's with a fivespot,
get the primerib with fries, no tots.
Wrack of Lamb
We had it Tuesday
gobbled at a table cluttered with newspaper and mail
because I thawed it too soon.
We sliced each rib apart
grunted and hummed to each other
waving delicate bones with ovals of pinkbrown flesh
in front of our faces
slugged down fruity wine.
Next time I'll at least light a candle.
Thanks for your words of encouragement and support!:-)
Here's a little bragging...on Donny's behalf...
A+ Science Test
A SS Test
B Math Pre-Test
B- Spelling Test
He's working hard and it's so wonderful to see it pay off! I asked him "why" he thinks he's doing so well and he simply stated "environment" and gave me a big hug. Simply put and very sweet. We then went on to the A+ dance (insert imagination here). Ha! :-)
Ellen...love, love, love the house! :-)
This stimulus/bailout scheme has the smell of those payday loans that low income people have to resort to. They keep borrowing against their next paycheck until they got nothing. Then they are in real trouble.
Not saying it shouldn't be done but it smells like it could be trouble....high inflation, high interest rates could be the result of this.
Tom
I like to do the "worm!"
Mary wants a little lamb,
With potatoes white as snow.
To attend kickboxing workout class or not. to do, or not to do. that is the question. so tired.
p
Just stay home and eat lamb.
Why are you so tired?
That new missing Florida girl is a weird deal, Hayleigh something...
Nancy Grace is all over it. She needs another "Tot Mom" to torture!!
Today during lunch Sam kept stuffing food down his shirt for some reason and Jude was laughing hysterically so he kept doing it and I let him. Of course then we had to strip him down and wipe bits of apple, cheese, french fry and chicken off his body. Sam is not a very good eater, but yesterday we had to bring soemthing to Scott downtown so we stopped in the skyway for a slice of pizza. They were BIG, NY style slices and I fully expected to eat half of Sam's, but he ate the whole thing. Boucning up and down saying, "mmmm..mmmm" waiting impatiently while I was cutting it up. I couldn't cut it fast enough for him. He also really likes bagels so maybe he is a New Yorker at heart.
Des, I like these critters. Especially the chipmunks. The squirrels are kind of aggressive though. THey stole a bunch of our little pumpkins and chewed up the big ones. They took apart our Halloween scarecrow. It was funny to see one running across the street while trying to carry a little pumpkin though. THe cats sit in the window and the squirrels mock them. They drive the cats craxy. We gave them a bunch of the peanut butter stuff we were gonna throw out and they've buried granola bars, etc all over the yard.
One time in the spring squirrels were running down our tree and "tagging" our kitty as she lurked among the hostas. Musta been love time or something.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire released a statement Thursday withdrawing from consideration to be President Obama's Commerce Secretary.
Full statement follows:
“I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.
“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.
“Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.
“I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position.
“As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the President’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine.
“Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.
“As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”
Jeez. I can't stand to watch Nancy Grace, Lou Dobbs or Larry King, and I'm not too nuts about Anderson Cooper. Lord save me from FoxNews I ain't goin there.
So Emily is doing do-it-yourself pest control.....
How did 2 people survive, relatively unscathed, when an airliner loaded with 5000 gallons (pounds?) of ignited jet fuel obliterated their house?
Freaky how it was in Friday the 13th. I'm, like, way totally weirded out by that. And I saw a black cat today on the way to work. I'm soooooo not doing anything risky today except trying to own a restaurant in a small town.
Tom
Here's an article about the 25 people most to blame for the current financial crisis. It seems pretty balanced, choosing everyone from obvious villains like Bernie Madoff to Clinton, Bush and the American consumer. I don't agree with all the picks, necessarily, but I found it informative, if gimmicky. And it has a link to a project of Americans in their homes, which is also interesting.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1877351_1878509_1878508,00.html
I think Tom will like the last line of this story:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/39525447.html?page=1&c=y
p
You assume wrongly, Pat. I'm a lover, not a fighter
Tom
I thought it was hilarious. That is very much a fine dining restaurant and to hear the owner chef say that was awesome.
p
Is phelan back from her tour? How did it go? p
Cathy, I think you're cute and kinda sassy!
Cathy, come up to my space ship and I'll show you my interplanetary etchings
I just went to the ribbon cutting for the "rejuvination center" at the hospital...it's pretty swanky...but now the show starts. Lipo-Dissolve...Vein Treatment...Dermabrasion,etc...and acupunture...all done by Dr.Yellie(sp)...the rich get richer and prettier. They shold run ads saying, "I'm going to juvie".
Relax Tom, the plane crashed on the 12th.
Emily, I guess Sam is a New York Walsh!
Great Notre Dame game last night.
I talked to Kelli, Joe4 and Betty late yesterday afternoon, driving, had been on the road about an hour, still in Virgina. They arrived in Algona this morning before 8a.m.!
OH, good. That plane crashed on the 12th and not the 13th so I can do that "to-do" list I had prepared for today...
*Un-jam my automatic pistol
*Fix that loose shingle on the roof
*See how fast I can drive on gravel
*Go to the "hood" and ask randomly who can break a hundred
*Practice my knife juggling
*Go eat at Prime Time
Tom
I am not complaining... but I kinda miss the days when we had two incomes, no kids, we could blow 100 bucks on dinner once in a while, and all my clothes did not come from target or old navy. On the other hand, the kids do bring out full belly laughs from time to time.
Is that Cletus or Tom?
They just called from the "juvie center" and said I won the drawing from this morning.
I wonder what it is...maybe they'll do all the veins in one leg....that's the side I'll wear my slit skirt on!
Phelan is back from her tour. We went and ate Indian food last night. She said the tour was good even if they were playing for a bunch of islolated rich kids.
Hmmm. Not all the kids going to those schools are rich...glad it went well though.
p
So far I've tried Total Body Conditioning and Cardio Kickboxing at my new club. They are not fun at all.
p
Cathy, did you mean to connect the two subjects in your last post? Are you suggesting that bailout money be used for toilet paper? I'm sure that won't be the worst expenditure.
Welcome to the new age of "transparency" in government (to quote our new president). It appears that no one would ever have known that the White House wanted to take over the census if Senator Gregg had not withdrawn from the Secretary of Commerce position. To his credit (Gregg's, not Obama's) he did not make a big issue over it but it is a big issue and makes the claim of transparency a farce. Maybe we are coming into the new age of opaque transparency. Dad
Em- I hear you. Every now and then I'll look over at Eli and say, "You know...if it weren't for you I'd be driving a lot nicer car." He doesn't cry too much.
Dad- This Gregg is not going to vote for the bailout. He's the one outsider who has seen the inside of this administration. He hasn't seen a lot but it was enough for him to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Tom
The White House wanted to get census results along with commerce to address a well-known concern: the poor are undercounted. Why don't the republicans want the poor to have representation? What's-his-name called Harry Reid and said he wanted the post. Then after talking with irate repubs said he didn't want it. Then said (direct quote) "I guess they're pretty upset at the White House" even though Obama hasn't said a bad thing about him. He now says he won't run in 2010. We'll see. I bet his pals will convince him to do it "for the good of the country."
Hey, Dad, on retreat I found out that a DRE I've known for years was once a client of yours - Mary Green. Her husband Tom taught at Garrigan in the 80's I think? She agreed with me that you were a pretty good guy.
Is grouper tasty? We're going out tomorrow and I've checked out the menu online and the grilled grouper caught my eye.
I guess I should also find out if it's one of fish with the mercury warnings.
Why does my frozen pizza curl up in the oven?
Mom says it's the ugliest fish ever but I had a grouper sandwich when we were in Florida and it was delicious. Huff, puff. We just got done shoveling our driveway & walks and our two adjacent neighbors. We worried about if the Walters ladies had to get out in an emergency and our neighbor Dave dislocated his shoulder a couple months ago. There's a new younger couple across the street and one up on the corner - it's time for them to take over. We're old. This snow is nasty - 8.5" and heavy and sticky. So when you try to throw your 50-pound shovelful, it won't come off. Even if you turn it upside down and shake it. The snowplow just came by. Stevo's back out there. I gotta get nhim a snowblower. Tonight we're having Manhatten style crab chowder (no clams in the house), pierogis, creamed spinach and grilled cod fillets.
After a long day of shoveling and playing in the snow (I stayed in with Oscar) we all enjoyed Hot Chocolate and Chili. Even Catie's friends. Mia dosen't like the beans or the peppers or onions, only the "chicken and tomatos with sauce"(it was ground beef)
Never mind. Grouper is on the DO NOT EAT list.
Who wrote that pizza cruling comment. For some reason it makes me laugh. My guess would be that it's over cooked or you have a bad oven.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4602626/Teenage-handbag-thief-outpaced-by-72-year-old-ex-sprinter.html
This is so funny.
p
I wrote it. We have a bad oven. Can you tell we had a great dinner last night?
Oh well, I made up for with breakfast. French toast and really good grapefruit. I like french toast way more than pancakes and especially waffles.
Monica
By the way, Walmart(I know I shouldn't shop there. I don't very often.) Has great frozen blueberry pancakes. Real blueberries. Not the blueberry chips You can just stick them in the micro or toaster.They come in little packs of three. Great for kids. And you get a giant bag for only $2.50.
Monica
To keep snow from sticking to your shovel spray it with Pam cooking spray.
Guess my age: I get every single inside joke and pop culture reference ever produced on Family Guy, but I usually fall asleep before the end of the episode.
Valentine Food Poem
Anticipation whets my lips
You dry-rubbed the steaks this morning
I can smell the Rosemary on your fingers
You called my favorite winery to see
If the local liquor store carries that Grappa
I suspect you're stopping for good bread this afternoon
Chocolates don't always come in a heart shaped box
Waiting all day long makes it taste so much better
Don't spray the snow. Spray the shovel.
Happy Valentine's Day! Josh and I met mom and dad out last night at McCarthys, heard Jimmy Byrne sing the Obama song. One refrain goes like this" Turu-aru, turu-allama, no one's as Irish as Bay-rack O'Bama...
Today we went to this park about an hour away, and toured mudflats and mangroves. Crabs everywhere. We were going to rent a canoe but decided to just walk instead.
p
I hope you didn't catch crabs. ha,ha
I want to tour mudflats and mangroves. Anywhere that has trees and green and warm air.
Good win for the Jays:
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=3924&u_sid=10564792
I went to a Jeff Tweedy show last night at the VIc. It was pretty great. It was just him, a guitar and a microphone. Hours before the show, his wife went out and took requests from the hardcore Wilco fans who were already standing in line. Those requests made up his set list. Pretty cool.
Bill Clinton just said his dog's name is Seamus!
We did finally come to an agreement on the house. Now we'll get an inspection sometime this week, and planning on closing April 1st.
I tried to post this before, but I don't think it worked...I get so annoyed when people say every winter, "Looks like everyone forgot how to drive in the snow." But I think that really happened this weekend. It took me 2 Hours and 45 MINUTES to get to downtown Des Moines from Ames. There was a traffic jam from just outside of Ames all the way to DM. It was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me while driving. One report said police responded to over 80 accidents Friday afternoon.
Most under-the-radar great president-James K. Polk. Picked up the Pacific Northwest and what eventually became 6-7 states in the southwest.
And he had a really good Directory.
Hi all!
Effective immediatly: New cell phone and new cell phone number:
712-309-6261.
This phone is so new that I don't have the voice mail set up yet.
It's purple!
Lisa
And by the way...Polk was president during the Mexican American war which was around the same time that the territory of Iowa was being developed. Thus we have Polk County. And some of the seemingly oddly named counties (odd because of the Spanish names they have) such as Palo Alto (there was a pivotal battle at Palo Alto, Mexico), Cerro Gordo (fat pig?) and Buena Vista.
FYI, the suck ups over at MSNBC just ran a story. The question posed by the story is - Is the Obama'S strong marriage a model for the new marriage in this new age we are embarking on? WHATEVER!
Tom
C'mon....don't you guys fist bump every morning before you head off to work?
I guess there's no real news. Besides Israel's pivotal elections etc.
By the way, I just saw the movie Exodus, about the beginnings of modern Israel, the other night. Much as I like him, Paul Newman just doesn't make a convincing Jew.
Paul Newman was part Jewish (just read that somewhere...). It must be his disarming blue eyes that throw you.
Here's what we watched this weekend: Burn after reading - as the whole thing started to implode, I couldn't watch the rest. And Vickie Christina Barcolena. He had them all speaking Woody Allen-ese instead of having their own voice. (except for Penelope Cruise since she spoke the span side of spanglish) All it was was a story of selfish people with empty lives who didn't know it. Terrible. I think I need a good 1950s musical.
Lisa
I actually liked vicki christina barcelona. it wasn't perfect but i enjoyed it.
p
I knew Paul Newman was part-jewish because Adam Sandler told me.
A guy at Rotary today had never heard of the ethnic cleansing in Serbia/Croatia/Kosavo, as if he had never heard of that war.
Tom...that Obama story about their marriage...I guess us white folks can sneer, but the rate of fatherless homes in black communities is VERY high. I don't think there's any doubt their example is a good one for certain folks...it's like having "The Cosby Show" in the White House...it's a good thing!
I do think the media makes too much of the Obama marriage. I mean maybe they fight like cats and dogs and call eachother terrible names in private. I doubt it, but we don't really know.
We're off to DC tomorrow. A lovely 3 day road trip with 2 kids and two cats. We are staying in a furnished two bedroom apartment in Arlington two blocks from the metro if anyone wants to come visit and see the sights in DC- we'd be happy to see you. We'll be there until April 3rd.
Have fun!
Well...It never occurred to me to put a racial spin on the marriage story. How silly of me.
Tom
Exodus made the Jews seem so smart and sexy. In "Fiddler on the Roof" the director had Paul Michael Glaser(Starsky and Hutch fame) wear brown contact lenses even though he was Jewish. The producers hired Norman Jewison to be the director presumably because they thought he was Jewish, but wasn't. Paul Newman with brown eyes would have been distracting. Should the Obamas act like stereotypical inner-city blacks?
Get over it. m.e. makes a perfectly valid point. We don't have to be colorblind, we just have to do our best to give everyone a fair shake. In some cases that means acknowledging that circumstances require a little extra something just to level out the playing field.
Having said that, I have to admit that the MSNBC story was a little silly. Like I said....isn't there any real news out there?
I have had to stop watching Chris Matthews on Sunday morning because I don't want to go to mass right after cursing/excoriating/making fun of someone.
For the record Jew Boy wasn't me AND I truly didn't view that story with any sort of racial slant.
Tom
I should have said "Awww, get over it." or something like that. I didn't mean to sound abrupt or aggressive. (I just HAVE to stop watching that darn Chris Matthews!)
I liked Burn After Reading.
New candidate for the Games: pizza cruling.
Jewboy was me and I meant that we all have certain expectations of how people will look or act. Sometimes they are wrong, such as when you expect a Jew not to have blue eyes or it may be an assumption that all Hollywood directors that have a Jewish-sounding name are Jewish. The Obamas can act any way they want because no two blacks are alike.
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