How Bizzare, how bizarre

So I was writing back to Yeimy about what's up, and telling her about my house in Berkley. I ended up selling it to my company, at a loss from a year ago, but given the terrible market in Michigan, it could have been far worse. I went on realtor com to see if it was still listed and if so, how much. (They've dropped the price already.) Here's the site if you're interested, http://www.realtor.com/realestate/berkley-mi-48072-1093478175/ .

Now for the bizzare, I'm pretty sure the current Realtor is my former personal trainer. I'm not sure, because his name is common, it's not a great picture, its been a couple years since I've seen him, but if it is, what a small world.

Every vote counts...

Hi All, thanks Yeimy for the petition, I will try to do better, and it is always nice to be missed.

I just finished making up a cheesy hash brown slow cooker recipe to take to work tomorrow for the "Packer tailgate", here's hoping it turns out, I had to improvise quite a bit because it's late and I don't want to go get more stuff. I didn't have a recipe, so I just bought stuff then searched the Internet until I found a recipe that was close. I also made a quick bean cheese dip as back up in case the potatoes don't turn out. I'm waiting for my Mom to call back, I think it might need a little more liquid, but this is the first time I've used my new slow cooker and my new mandoline slicer. Both were gifts for Christmas, I'm very excited about each, the slow cooker especially, it comes with 3 inserts, 2 quart, 4, quart and 6 quart. So making food for work party, 6 quart, making food for just me, 2 or 4 quart. and they all nest together very neatly. The mandoline just shredded through the onion like nothing, very fun.

Just got done talking to Mom, she thinks the sour cream will curdle on low, so I turned it up to high and will set an alarm to turn it off tonight. Actually now that I think of it, maybe I should just put it in the 'fridge and cook it on high at work tomorrow... nah, I want to have it pretty much done before I go to work so if it is a total loss, I don't have to lug it in.

I didn't even leave work until after 7 this evening and need to be in at 6 tomorrow to do tests and get results so they will know the right trial to do on line at the customer's plant. Nothing like cutting it close, right? It's been one of those weeks, my boss is moving this week, so she's been out since Monday afternoon, and the other group's boss and their boss were in Detroit at the auto show and meetings Tuesday to Thursday, so I've had to try to hold down the fort and try to keep things going. I could reach them by phone occasionally, but it's not the same and it is so hectic without them. They are not all allowed to leave me again!

My Mom is coming to visit me next weekend, I am so excited! She's flying out Thursday night, I took Friday off and we're going to the Milwaukee Admirals vs the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey game on Friday night. Of course the only way to lure her out was with a hockey game, the Griffins are the 'farm team' for the Red Wings, so we might see a few familiar faces.

I do have a issue I could use all of your help with. I live in the 1st floor flat of a old house in Milwaukee. My upstairs neighbors are a couple, the guy moved in around the same time I did in the fall, but his girlfriend/fiancee? just moved in a the first of the year. They have the second floor and the attic which is a finished loft space for them as well. I use the back bedroom as my bedroom, they seem to be using the front bedroom.

Here's the deal, I hear then every time they 'get it on'. I can live with all the other noises of having upstairs neighbors, and I love the house and the location, but the moaning and rhythmic thumping is getting old fast. Heck, it was old the first time, and it gets more irritating every single time since. I remember the landlord clearly making a point that when he and his wife lived upstairs they used the loft as their bedroom for more 'privacy', but if they mentioned it to my neighbors apparently it went over their head. My problem is my mom will be here next week, and right now, my guest room is right below moaning central. Can I tell them my mom is coming to visit and ask them to keep it down, for the weekend? Is it out of place to suggest they might be more comfortable with the loft as their bedroom? Or do I ask my landlords to talk to them about knocking it off in general? Do I have a right to ask? Or do I get passive aggressive and play Barry White or porn really loud when they get it on and see if they take a hint? I'm at a loss and looking for suggestions... unfortunately I don't have a willing partner to 'fight fire with fire'. Besides, he moans like a girl, I don't think I could do it with a guy that sounds like him. Help!

What, it's only been almost 4 months?!

Yeah, I know, I suck at this. But I actually have something to blog about now. I've moved to Milwaukee. I started the job officially July 1, but got here July 8th. I still work for the same company but instead of sales person I am now a chemist. Which so far I really like. I love getting my hands dirty solving a problem and figuring out things for myself.
Since the new job no longer comes equiped with a company car, I got to buy my second car ever. My first was a 1998 Camaro Convertible Z28 that I bought when I worked at GM. I bought another convertible (sort of), a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4 soft top. Dark blue with a kahki top. And it is a manual transmission, my first. I've wanted a car with a stick for a while, at a certain point, the only way you really learn is to drive one.
Well I have lots more news but in order to keep up I'll save more details for tomorrow.

Me as an M&M

We were talking about this at the bar Saturday so I thought I'd post myself as an M&M. You can do it too at
http://www.becomeanmm.com/

Procrastination

So I ignored the Squirrel until the next morning and when I looked, he was gone.
What do you think happened?

1. Another animal dragged it off?
2. A nice neighbor took care of it for me?
3. The squirrel was ressurrected?
4. Nasty person put it on my porch?
5. Other?

Burial arrangments

I looked out my window this morning to see if the garbage had been picked up, and I saw a small pile of fur at the edge of my driveway. A poor little squirrel has expired. I will spare you the photo. Here's the thing, if it were anywhere close to garbage day I would pick him up with a shovel, put in him a plastic bag and toss him in the trash. But garbage day was today so now he will be around for a week. I think I'll call the city department and see if I can dispose of him there. Otherwise I think I have to keep him in the garbage until next week, thank goodness it turned cold again.

Of course all of this makes me think of the book I just read for book club;
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. It is a fascinating book about what the different choices are for bodies after death. It really helped me to clarify what I would want done (donated to science) and what I don't want (burial, don't see the point). Such a personal decision and so hard to find concise information about it.

Committed

As I write this I am think of my commitment issues. Or if I should be committed. To my life, to my work, to a nut house. I am thinking of actions I have committed, or haven't, and which I am less happy about. I'm have certainly not been committed to this blog and for that I feel shame. I do love reading all of yours though so please, keep writing.

This weekend I made a commitment to being Isabelle's owner. I started fostering her late September last year, so on her 6 month anniversary I decided I'm sick of spending almost every Saturday at a pet store trying to get rid of her, when she hates to go, hates to be there, and I do too. Only 3 people have shown real interest that I recall, and they all had small children. That would not be a great situation for Isabelle, or rather for the children, as she likes to be rather violent when she plays or is done being played with, petted, you are within reach of her claws... And while my parents thought me getting scratched up by the cat when I was 2 and played too hard was a good way for me to learn, parents aren't as big on having scarred children anymore. So she's mine. I really love her. She's great company, but not all over me, and if I leave for a couple days she's fine on her own, but really happy to see me when I get back. But I think about the fact that I may have her until I'm 50, and that is a really old age to be thinking about, I have enough trouble with 31. So I'm done fostering I think. I might consider kittens again but not for a while, and I don't think Isabelle will put up with it very well, and it's her house too. I do highly recommend it if you are thinking about getting a pet or have a pet that would tolerate a guest. It was a great way to decide if I was ready, what I really wanted (I always thought I wanted a big dog, but turns out, not by myself.) and it was a lot of fun. The commitment on the weekend gets old after a while, but I got to meet a great group of people too.

[edited]

I am committed 100% to the Red Wings. How sad is that? In the words of the kid in Fever Pitch, "Sure you love the Red [Wings], but have they ever loved you back?" Sadly, no. Can I get credit that I go to almost all the games with my mom or brother so it is really quality family time? No? Well, I tried.

I think I should go do something useful, which at this point is take out the garbage, make dinner, then go buy myself a vacuum. I think I will buy this one, I want a powerful small one that is good for picking up hair (mine and Izzy's) and getting the stairs. I have an upright and a little Sw!ffer Sweeper that I like, but I really want the Dys0n for pets, but that seems so overpriced and a silly thing to get at this point. I really want to commit to being a better homemaker, I kind of stink at it. I so admire how nice some people keep there homes, but I never seem to build the habit. I slowly am getting better though so I have hope.