2008 February Archive at eastowners

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Monthly Archive for February, 2008

Latest Obsession

Published

charmaspice

on February 29, 2008

in TV

. 5 Comments

Current Mood: Martini Mood

I’ve always secretly loved fashion, even though I’m not terribly fashionable myself. I blame growing up in the country - sorry Mom & Dad. My other thing is that even though I love fashion and craftiness - I don’t have a single crafty bone in my body. I can try, excedingly hard to make something that I saw in a cute magazine article, and yet it never comes out anything like it. So, alas I live my secret obsession for fashion and craftiness by watching television shows like Bravo’s Project Runway. Now even though I’m not one for reality television, I love shows like this that challenge people to make their craft better. I was a little saddened to see Chris leave the show when I watched my DVRed episode last night. He was so funny, and edgey - and Rami was just a little too cocky for my taste. My favorite though has to be Christian though, he’s so FIERCE! So, do any of you have any new obsessions to share in the tv world? I can’t wait for the writers to actually have their work come out after being on strike for so long. Then again, I’m way too much of a TV junkie than I need to be.

And the third day was better than the previous two…

Published

dead headphonist

on February 27, 2008

in Rants and Vehicles

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: On Ice emoticon On Ice

So it’s obviously been a hectic couple of days around here. If you’re following Char’s blogs, you’ll get that her car broke down again (second time in two weeks), Char got a ticket in Kentwood for the license plate being in the back window, a building blew up a couple of blocks away from our house yesterday, and we are finally getting around to having the drywall in the east bedroom fixed up so we can move Clare out of her smaller room and make it into an office for Char.

Me? Well… it’s good you didn’t ask yesterday. I’d have recommended hand-grenading the whole freaking place. Today is better, though. The drywall guy showed up this morning and got the drywall in. He’s coming back on Friday to sand and settle up. I got Char’s brakes back under control (another broken brake line) actually in record time; it took me only about 30 minutes.

I took the day off, so I’ve been spending some time playing guitar and generally chilling out. The day off will at least make this week less stressful overall, which is good for me.

Wordless Wednesday - College Fun!

Published

charmaspice

on February 27, 2008

in Photos and Wordless-Wednesday

. 6 Comments

Current Mood: Cool emoticon Cool

One night my roommate, my dearest friend, and I got dressed up to go to Brothers (aka one of the gay bars in Kalamazoo). Fun times - Fun times!

For more Wordless Wednesday’s check out 5 Minutes for Mom or Wordless Wednesday.

Smoking in Eastown

Published

charmaspice

on February 26, 2008

in Local

. 1 Comment

Current Mood: Alarmed emoticon Alarmed

So, there was an explosion 2 blocks away from our house today. Thankfully I wasn’t home when it happened, but aparently it shook the houses in our neighborhood. I drove by down the street from where it happened and the smoke was thick and yellow, so thick I couldn’t see down the road 5 feet in front of me! Thankfully it sounds like most people that worked there were able to get out, however there were 7 people sent to the hospital. Hopefully they’ll all be okay. We weren’t required to evacuate, but we did. The smoke was affecting our breathing, and it was beginning to give us headaches. So, we went out to dinner, and did a Meijer run to buy some neccesities to help with the stench that now has our house wreaking of smoke. We bought an air purifier to help with the smoke stench that has permeated our home. We also bought some Oust to help with the smell too. It’s like we had a campfire in our house, except we missed out on the fun of making smores. Thankfully most of our clothes don’t smell, because I was dreading the thought of having to wash all of the laundry that’s clean just because it smelled of smoke. I however need a shower, my hair is oh so stinky. I’m really hoping our week will get better!

If you’d like to read some of the not so informative news articles go here or here.

Headache the size of Montana!

Published

charmaspice

on February 26, 2008

in Rants and Vehicles

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: Angry & Angry emoticon Angry & Violent

Why did I choose Montana - I don’t know, all that I know is that I think my head is ready to explode into many little pieces after my week that only began yesterday. So, my car is still broken, Brad ordered the part to fix the brake fluid leak last night and I was able to get it today. I am hoping, praying, and even beseaching a higher power that this will fix my car and I’ll be able to be on my merry way again soon - VERY SOON! I hope.

However if my day finishes the way it’s been it wouldn’t be too big of a suprise to me if my car doesn’t get fixed because of something else. So, the day began by hauling my tired booty out of my warm bed to bundle up and take Brad to work. Clare and I came home, watched some tv, and I snoozed on the couch to help catch up on my lack of sleep from the night before. The door bell rang, I assumed it was the pestery people that come around every time it snows wanting to shovel my sidewalk for $3 - however it wasn’t. Brad had found a drywall guy to come give us an estimate on fixing the wall in the room that is to be Clare’s, and this was him. He told me it’d be a couple hundred dollars, and that he might be able to get me in later this week. SWEET! So, with any luck Clare might be moved into her new room by Springtime.

My day isn’t sounding so bad you say - oh you just wait! So, Clare ate lunch, and we got ready to go to school. As I was driving down Breton I noticed a cop in the left hand lane, I wasn’t speeding so I wasn’t worried. Oh no, he pulled me over - in the school parking lot! I’m grumbling, wondering why I was pulled over. He asks for my license, registration, and proof of insurance. Since this is no longer my car I am rumaging through papers in the glove box. I found the registration, but no proof of insurance. I couldn’t even find the expired one for this past year, as I knew that I had this years on the dining room table. Apparently having the old license plate on the car (even though the new plate is in the window) is considered having an expired plate. COME ON! It’s not even my car! I explained that the old plate is still on there because it’s been on there since Brad bought the car in 1997, and the screws are rusted into the car. Oh no, apparently they come off he says. He was kind enough to not give me a ticket, however I need to take the proof of insurance with me to the Kentwood courthouse to prove that I have it within 14 days or else I get a $150 fine for several years. What bull s$%#! Gee thanks officer. I think I need to go make some brownies.

Edited to add: Thanks for taking the $125 from me city of Kentwood! YOU SUCK!

Cars Suck!

Published

charmaspice

on February 25, 2008

in Rants and Vehicles

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: Martini Mood

So, this is a picture of my car (not my exact car, but my car type) - I love this stupid car. It’s the ~~grocery getter~~ station wagon I never thought I’d want. But alas, with a husband, a child, a dog, and places to go - I needed a big car to haul our stuff. And haul she does. I have packed more stuff in this car than ever thought possible. For the most part she is reliable, and gets me around town and accross the state, and sometimes even accross the country. That is until today when she couldn’t even get me accross town. Once again my brakes went out. I was on my way to take Clare to school, and I got close to half way there when my brakes went out - yet again. UGH! I called Brad, he had a meeting this afternoon so he was unable to help me out. I made my way home, I had enough brakes to get me there without dieing. Unforturnatley I had to keep Clare home from school with no way to get her there. I felt like such a failure as a mom, not able to get my own child to school for an education. I ate the remaining 4 sugar cookies with chocolate frosting in a binge to help me feel better - unfoturtunatley it didn’t work. Instead I settled for a nap on the couch while Clare watched some tv upstairs. We did do something educational though by working on our “Math Box” activities.

The “Math Box” is good and bad wrapped into one. Every month the teacher sends home a sheet of some activities to do at home with parents, and they have to return the calendar with 10 activities or more written on it. I think it’s great to have a clue as to what they are working on at school, and to be able to help Clare with improving her math skills, but when things get busy around here I tend to forget about the “Math Box”. Which means we always seem to cram in those activities at the last minute. Ah well, with any luck we’ll improve in our motivation and get them done earlier in the month.

Now we just need to fix my stupid car. The part is in, tomorrow I’ll get it, and with any luck I’ll be back on the road by the end of the week. Happy Freakin’ Monday!

9 Days…

Published

charmaspice

on February 24, 2008

in Rants and Updates

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: Martini Mood

So, you’re probably wondering where I’ve been for the past 9 days. I honestly don’t know where I’ve been or what I’ve done (well I remember most of it). Last weekend I know I went grocery shopping on Saturday with great success. I shopped the ads with my coupons and had a savings of $22 in coupons alone. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that much savings, so I was really proud of that. On Sunday I conquered some laundry during the rainy day.

Most of last week was a blur as Clare had tons going on at school. Almost every week they have a “Royal Student” where that student gets to bring in a few of their favorite pictures for the royal buliten board, a special snack for birthdays (or 1/2 birthdays - which was Clare’s case), items for their guessing jar (ours were gummy bears), and I went in to read a special story. Clare really wanted Brad to come into class to play his guitar with the class, but unfortunately he couldn’t get any of his afternoons free last week. So, instead I went in and read one of our favorite stories “Sally and the Something”. I also baked some sugar cookies (unfortunately with my time constraints they were refigerated break apart ones - but good none the less) and frosted them with Clare’s requested chocolate frosting and sprinkles on top. On top of all the “Royal Student” activities I did with Clare there were some big school activites too.

Tuesday was the designated Kindergarten Sled day (young 5’s came out to join them too). I was able to find Clare a roll up sled for $5 at Toys R Us, and she can take this to school whenever to sled during recess. The weather that afternoon was less than desirable as we were getting hit with lake effect snow, high winds, and temps were in the low 20’s. Fortunately I think I’ve finally adjusted to driving on cruddy half plowed roads, as we’ve had more snow than I care for. Clare had fun rosy cheeks, nose, and all.

Wednesday was the 100th day of school. Not something that most of you probably think is a big deal - OH NO - this is a big deal. They had to do a 100 Day project - it could be 100 of anything. What did Clare pick you ask? Not too shocking with her latest craze, she wanted 100 Star Wars Heads. So, her and Brad found 20 pictures each of Han Solo, R2D2, Jar Jar Binks, Yoda, and Leigha for her to cut out and glue on a bright pink poster board I got her. She did it all, and was very proud of it. They also had to collect and roll 100 pennies for their class service project (they donate something every month to a comunity house that helps people less fortunate than others out). For snack that day everyone brought in 100 of something for their 100 Day stew - think trail mix on Kindergarten crack. Clare suprisingly picked dried blueberries to take, but the rest was a lot of candies, crackers, and popcorn. They did 100 day stuff all day, so it was quite a fun day for all of them.

Thursday is my busy day as I help out Clare’s teacher with copies, I read to the kids, made more copies, grabbed some lunch, and then came back to school for centers. I love doing centers with the kids. For those that don’t know what centers are, it’s essentially a way for the teacher to get 5 projects done in one afternoon. Each table usually has a parent helper to help the kids out and keep them on task, and then after 10 minutes they switch tables. It’s been a great way for me to help out in the room, and I know all of the kids in the class. Plus it gives me an outlet to use those skills I learned in college to become a teacher. Eventually I may do something more with my degree, but for now I’m enjoying being a mom and helping out in the class.

Friday was errand day. Saturday I spent just about all day in a conference to help better my in-home party business. I have started selling Pure Romance products to help bring in some extra money, get me out of the house, and to help me gain some sort of semblence of adult conversation. Not that I don’t love talking with other mom’s about our children, but come on how many times can I tell my story of the past 6 years (including labor and delivery, and potty training). I love my mommy friends, and my MOMS Club, but it’s time for me to get out and talk about something else. So why not become a consultant where I help women feel they way they need to be: Fun, Sensual, and Fabulous! We carry a great line of bath, beauty, massage, and products to enhance adult relationships. So far I’ve had a few parties, and I actually have money in my bank account - money that I earned! Granted most of it has to go to pay my state sales tax on products I purchased last year, as well as the 1 party I did - BUT STILL, it’s something I’ve done for me. My goal is to start doing parties on a regular basis so I can start paying for some of the dreams I want to come true. Can you tell I’m excited about the things I learned during Pure Romance University?!?!?! I have met some great women in the area, and I am ready to get rocking so I can go to our yearly convention next year in Vegas for little to no cost. So, if you’d like to order from my Pure Romance website, please do. If you’d like to book a party - PLEASE DO! I am open to traveling, so long as the weather permits.

Okay, now that I’ve dropped the bomb it’s time to scrounge up some dinner. Today has been nothing but late meals, a trip to the mall to find Brad some new shoes, and a stop at Costco for some necessities.

It’s been a damned long time

Published

dead headphonist

on February 21, 2008

in UFO

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: Meh

Umm… hi. How are things with you? Hopefully you have been able to deftly maneuver the winter weather in your locale. Things have been pretty much fucked up the whole country over, so I suppose no matter where you are, you’ve seen some creepy weather.

Here in good ol’ MI, we’ve gotten a good amount of snow, followed by a wierd de-frost that resulted in more water in our basement (this time in the front of the house, yeah!). After a day of running a dehumidifier, though, it seems to have cleared up.

I’ve been busy, off and on, lately. My longtime friend and I are working on developing a management application for a certain, unnamed industry (once it’s a product, I’ll link it here). Hopefully this will help put some cash in our pockets, and it is providing a much needed creative outlet for us both.

I’m also working on a new project; kind of a “one man band” concept. I’m using the proceeds of my recent Fleabay activity to fund the purchase of various instruments that will help me realize my dreams of basement rock-star-dom. Should be interesting. I’ll post the results as they come in. I already have 2 or 3 songs almost fully realized in my head and I’m working on more. Learning guitar to get them down has been a little bit of a challenge… the older brain doesn’t pick up on instruments as well as the younger brain. Lessons would probably help, but I don’t have time/money for that right now.

In other news, apparently there were two armed robberies in our neighborhood last night. That kind of sucks. Eastown is such a great place to live, with a truly diverse and wonderful group of people living and playing here. I don’t see this getting any better with the economy on a downward slide and more and more middle-class being displaced into the lower class, and those in the lower class getting desperate. Help wanted signs, even in fast food, are rather scarce around here these days.

Cross your fingers for the health industry taking off here. Say what you like about that situation, but if it brings jobs here, it’s an important thing for GR, which would have become another Flint had Spectrum and others not made the decision to build out in GR.

Speaking of the local economy, things are rather unstable with my current employ (not for me, but the whole place seems a little shaky). We got our scheduled raises cut in half two days before they were supposed to be delivered. This sort of thing has happened before, but they did it long before the scheduled release, so it wasn’t as big a deal as my boss was able to work it out so mine didn’t quite get cut in half. Not true this time. I’m a little disturbed/pissed about the situation (not that they cut it, but that they waited so damned long to tell us) and it looks like an economic evaluation will start to happen this weekend to determine if I’m making a good decision by staying here.

So there’s the crap; good and not so good. At least I can still afford to buy coffee and vodka. There’s an upside to everything.

Hibity Gibity

Published

charmaspice

on February 15, 2008

in Rants and UFO

. 1 Comment

Current Mood: Martini Mood & Violent

So, my mission came to a shattering halt as I made my way through the bills on the table. I went through all of the junk mail, shredded those things with our names and their offers on it, put the rest of the papers in the recycling, and paid the bills. Well, all by one that is. We have a car payment on my Audi, and when we got the loan we set it up so it was auto withdrawn every month from our bank account. No biggie, lots of people do this, and it went well for us until today. Our loan was bought out by another banking facility, no biggie again - it happens a lot to most of us. Well, I got one letter about a month ago stating that our loan had been bought out and that we needed to switch our auto withdrawls to the new financial company. Okay, well, I need the new account information including address and such. So I wait, and don’t recieve the letter with only part of that information until about 2 days ago. As I sift through the bills I find the letter, I look at the bank account - nothings been taken out of our account, so I call.

I absolutely ~~hate~~ dislike the voice recognized calling systems that want you to speak your info into the phone. It’s not convienent, and I never get what or where I want. Finally I get an operator after sifting through God knows how many menu’s they have in their calling system. I think it’s just a ploy to get you to stay on the line while they transfer you accross the ocean to India. I try to speak clearly, so the woman understands me. I have a hard enough time understanding her. I get no where after 18 minutes and I am ready to chuck my cell phone out the window as I hang up on her. All that I want to do is pay my bill, and then have it reset to be Auto Withdrawn every month.

After hanging up and many failed attempts I finally get logged into their website to find out that the only way to make a payment with them NOW (because the bill was due to be taken out yesterday, and it wasn’t) is to pay Western Union $15. Even if you call them over the telephone to pay with a credit card, you have to pay Western Union. What happened to customer service…where you can pay a bill at any time without talking to a computer, or some Indian woman somewhere on a different continent? GRRR….I think I need a martini. I forsee the mission of earlier this morning not getting finished tonight - there’s always tomorrow, right?!?!?!

Disclaimer for those that don’t know me well: In no way am I racist, or against the people of India. I know that they work very hard for the 50 cents a call they accept every 5 minutes. I just wish companies that have addresses in Ohio would have customer service reps from somewhere in the Midwest or United States for that matter.

On a Mission

Published

charmaspice

on February 15, 2008

in Housework

. 0 Comments

Current Mood: Jammin’

I know it’s Friday, and I should be doing something fun but alas I am tackling our dirty - cluttered house. I know I talk a lot about all of the stuff I do around here, but alas it’s part of my life as a stay-at-home mom. On today’s docket is some laundry, which is probably about 8 loads worth. I am also working on cleaning up the down stairs. Usually I like to start my way upstairs and work my way down, but instead I had to go through the mound of paper at the end of my dining room table to find the bills I promised Brad I’d pay today. So, downstairs it is.

Even though it’s snowing lightly the sun is attempting to peak it’s way through the clouds which helps motivate me out of my winter slumber & funk. That, and I’m actually using the computer in the living room to pump some music into the house with our front shades open. It all helps keep me motivated to complete my mission of gaining control of my currently cluttered house. I think it will take more than today, but maybe tomorrow I can get Brad to help me out with some of it (wink wink nudge nudge). Clare is home on a teacher in service day, so she has been doing her best to attempt to help me. I had her take the lint roller brush and de-dog hair the ottomon, couch, and chairs. She’s also worked on cleaning up her toy shelf mess, and her extremely cluttered Sponge Bob Table (I think I may have to help her more with that as it’s not quite done to Mommy standards). Oh, yeah, that’s my OCD talking - I have to slap it away more times than I can count; it’s a major pain in my booty some times.

So, with any luck by Sunday I will be blogging from a clean house, and I’ll feel better about sitting on the couch once again under my blanket hiding from the winteriness outside. Did I mention how much I dislike winter - oh yeah, I think I have at least a few times. I can’t wait for Spring! What are you doing this weekend? You know where I’ll be!