Just a mild rant...
Jamaal used to work with a guy named Slavo. He is a mechanic and a very good worker (most of the time). Jamaal made an agreement with Slavo, allowing him to use our garage, to work on a car or two, in exchange for working on a couple of our cars for Jamaal. He did a few of the jobs that Jamaal could do, but didn't want to because of how much work it was.
Well Slavo has been walking all over us. He was showing up at our house at 2 AM, driving loudly up the driveway, that goes right under our bedroom window. Working on cars all night. Revving engines at 4 AM...it was awful. Jamaal told him that "business hours" are from 9 AM to 9 PM. Which Slavo followed for a few weeks, but slipped a couple times so Jamaal told him that he had a month to get his stuff out of our garage, yard, and storage shed.
Now to my rant....
Jamaal has a heater that is powered by propane tanks in the garage. Jamaal made the mistake of telling Slavo he could use it one night when it was really cold. We have two tanks, one for the garage, and one for the barbecue. Well, one day I noticed that the propane tank was missing from the barbecue, and Jamaal said "I told Slavo he could use it, because it was cold out." And of course both tanks were empty. I was upset because I had planned to use it, and so Jamaal was guilted into going out to fill a tank for me.
Well again the other day I noticed the propane tank was gone from the barbecue. The one we had filled for ourselves. This time Jamaal did not give him permission. Well a day or two later, the propane tank that had previously been in the garage was hooked up to the barbecue.
I asked Jamaal if he had done it, and he said, "No." So I asked, "do you think he refilled it and put it back?" Jamaal of course, did not know.
Well tonight I wanted to cook some brats on the grill, and so I opened the propane tank, and lo and behold it was empty! What kind of person takes a basically full tank, and replaces it with an empty one?? I was very upset. Jamaal knew I wanted to use the barbecue, so he had gone into the garage to get the second tank, and stored it in the house. Fortunately it was not empty. But now the tanks will be stored in the house.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Honeymoon here we come!
Jamaal and I decided that Disneyland would be a good honeymoon for us. We were debating on that vs. a cruise. (I also wanted to go some place tropical, but Jamaal isn't sure that he would enjoy that. Jamaal is someone who likes to do activities. He doesn't want to do nothing. I want to just lay on a beach and relax and talk, and drink...but that is not his idea of fun.) I think eventually he will want to do that with me, but he's not at that place right now.
So we were trying to figure out Disneyland vs. a cruise. Both options have a lot of activities to be done. And both can be about the same price. (Usually the cruise was a bit more expensive). The deciding factor was that we realized that on the cruise we would be paired with other couples at dinner. We would have to sit with random people, and actually talk with them...we did not want to be forced to be social....
Sounds terrible, but we aren't interested in being nice to other people and making friends on vacation...if it happens that's fine, but we don't want to be forced into that situation. So Jamaal and I decided we would go cruising with friends later on instead. We think it would be more fun that way.
Since we decided on Disneyland, we also decided that we wanted to stay someplace nice. But that meant that our 8-night trip became very very expensive very quickly. So I had an idea, we would stay at someplace cheap for 4 nights, right across the street from Disneyland, and then the last 4 nights we would stay at a nicer place right on the ocean. However travelocity was not allowing me to do this. It was very frustrating and annoying...and all of the decisions were very tough. SO I decided to speak with a travel agent. I went to DougFox in "the commons" and talked with a travel agent, and booked our honeymoon just like that. I was so relieved to get what I wanted...and now we have a vacation planned!! :D
So we were trying to figure out Disneyland vs. a cruise. Both options have a lot of activities to be done. And both can be about the same price. (Usually the cruise was a bit more expensive). The deciding factor was that we realized that on the cruise we would be paired with other couples at dinner. We would have to sit with random people, and actually talk with them...we did not want to be forced to be social....
Sounds terrible, but we aren't interested in being nice to other people and making friends on vacation...if it happens that's fine, but we don't want to be forced into that situation. So Jamaal and I decided we would go cruising with friends later on instead. We think it would be more fun that way.
Since we decided on Disneyland, we also decided that we wanted to stay someplace nice. But that meant that our 8-night trip became very very expensive very quickly. So I had an idea, we would stay at someplace cheap for 4 nights, right across the street from Disneyland, and then the last 4 nights we would stay at a nicer place right on the ocean. However travelocity was not allowing me to do this. It was very frustrating and annoying...and all of the decisions were very tough. SO I decided to speak with a travel agent. I went to DougFox in "the commons" and talked with a travel agent, and booked our honeymoon just like that. I was so relieved to get what I wanted...and now we have a vacation planned!! :D
Package on my doorstep
One of these arrived to my front door the other day.
I knew it was coming. Jamaal told me that he ordered it from a website, because they were on sale.
This boy has wanted one for a very long time. They are made by the same company that makes racing car seats. He says that he would drive around with one in his backseat even without a baby...
Unfortunately they only had it in Pink, so now I know that we are jinxed. Boys boys boys only for us. Since he did get it for pretty cheap we could sell it, and make money on it. But I secretly love it. It is gorgeous, comfy and Jamaal likes it so I do.
Looks like he's getting okay with the idea of having babies now huh?...
I knew it was coming. Jamaal told me that he ordered it from a website, because they were on sale.
This boy has wanted one for a very long time. They are made by the same company that makes racing car seats. He says that he would drive around with one in his backseat even without a baby...
Unfortunately they only had it in Pink, so now I know that we are jinxed. Boys boys boys only for us. Since he did get it for pretty cheap we could sell it, and make money on it. But I secretly love it. It is gorgeous, comfy and Jamaal likes it so I do.
Looks like he's getting okay with the idea of having babies now huh?...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wedding Bells are ringing....
Goodness me! I only have 2.5 months to plan this wedding! Fortunately I have accomplished some things since I last updated this blog.
You might have read on my artsy blog that we have been working tediously on my invitations. Mostly now we just have to print the text part for the RSVP cards and for the main invitation. (I got the final shipment of supplies yesterday, and will deliver them to my parent's house which is where we are printing at). I also have to cut the paper for the RSVP cards which I will do today. After that we just have to assemble and add embellishments, and stuff the envelopes. They should be sent by April 1st, no problem.
On Sunday we (Jamaal, two of the groomsmen, and I) went to The Tux Shop to pick out the tuxes. It was way more stressful than I ever expected. I did not want to do it, and for some reason every little detail was a very hard decision for me to make. But it's over and done with and hopefully it all looks good together.
Jamaal and I decided that we wanted to have a friend or relative officiate the ceremony. Neither of us have any special connection to a minister/priest/person of the church etc. So, at least for me, I felt awkward about asking a random person to marry us. Mostly I was concerned about what they would say, it would all be generic marriage talk, and would have no meaning behind it. Any stories that the minister would mention about Jamaal and I would be stories we had told him or her before the ceremony. And most likely it would be just before the ceremony.
I thought about our family and friends and who would be willing to do this for us. I immediately thought about D, Jamaal's cousin, mostly because he is hilarious. Jamaal asked him, and D said that he would be too nervous, and was worried that he would say something he shouldn't. I understood, he is a very funny guy, but most of the time he says things under his breath. He is quiet and doesn't say things so everyone in the room can hear, he says things so only the few closest to him can hear. It was funny, after we had asked D, Jamaal's mom called and said, "I think D is confused. He told Lamar (Jamaal's brother) that you guys wanted him to marry you. I told Lamar 'He can't do that'"
That's when I explained that there are ministries online that you can become an ordained minister, which is one of the only requirements for being able to marry people. (It's either that or a judge of some kind).
I had pretty much given up on a family member after this.
A few days later, Lamar called Jamaal and I'm not sure how the conversation went. But basically, Jamaal said that we wanted someone in the family to marry us, that it was simple to become a "minister" and I'm not sure if Lamar offered, or if Jamaal asked him, but....Lamar agreed to marry us! He said that he would be nervous, but he'd do it.
Also, we've decided on a caterer. He basically charges for food, and tax and gratuity. That's it. There are no random fees added in. Best of all, he cleans up after himself! Which makes it all worth it!
I've decided that I want a Videographer, but I am going to ask a family member or friend to do it. Jamaal can edit it later. So at the moment I need a nice video camera and someone to be the director!
Our list is getting smaller and smaller! :D
(But this is only the big stuff...you should see the list I have hanging in my kitchen...it makes a girl want to elope!)
Officiant, Caterer, Videographer, Tuxes, Flowers, Decoration rentals, Sound equipment (a friend of Jamaal's dad will be our DJ), Invitations, Honeymoon accommodations, Dress, Venue, Wedding party, DJ, wedding cake, White lights for decorating the venue, Photographer
You might have read on my artsy blog that we have been working tediously on my invitations. Mostly now we just have to print the text part for the RSVP cards and for the main invitation. (I got the final shipment of supplies yesterday, and will deliver them to my parent's house which is where we are printing at). I also have to cut the paper for the RSVP cards which I will do today. After that we just have to assemble and add embellishments, and stuff the envelopes. They should be sent by April 1st, no problem.
On Sunday we (Jamaal, two of the groomsmen, and I) went to The Tux Shop to pick out the tuxes. It was way more stressful than I ever expected. I did not want to do it, and for some reason every little detail was a very hard decision for me to make. But it's over and done with and hopefully it all looks good together.
Jamaal and I decided that we wanted to have a friend or relative officiate the ceremony. Neither of us have any special connection to a minister/priest/person of the church etc. So, at least for me, I felt awkward about asking a random person to marry us. Mostly I was concerned about what they would say, it would all be generic marriage talk, and would have no meaning behind it. Any stories that the minister would mention about Jamaal and I would be stories we had told him or her before the ceremony. And most likely it would be just before the ceremony.
I thought about our family and friends and who would be willing to do this for us. I immediately thought about D, Jamaal's cousin, mostly because he is hilarious. Jamaal asked him, and D said that he would be too nervous, and was worried that he would say something he shouldn't. I understood, he is a very funny guy, but most of the time he says things under his breath. He is quiet and doesn't say things so everyone in the room can hear, he says things so only the few closest to him can hear. It was funny, after we had asked D, Jamaal's mom called and said, "I think D is confused. He told Lamar (Jamaal's brother) that you guys wanted him to marry you. I told Lamar 'He can't do that'"
That's when I explained that there are ministries online that you can become an ordained minister, which is one of the only requirements for being able to marry people. (It's either that or a judge of some kind).
I had pretty much given up on a family member after this.
A few days later, Lamar called Jamaal and I'm not sure how the conversation went. But basically, Jamaal said that we wanted someone in the family to marry us, that it was simple to become a "minister" and I'm not sure if Lamar offered, or if Jamaal asked him, but....Lamar agreed to marry us! He said that he would be nervous, but he'd do it.
Also, we've decided on a caterer. He basically charges for food, and tax and gratuity. That's it. There are no random fees added in. Best of all, he cleans up after himself! Which makes it all worth it!
I've decided that I want a Videographer, but I am going to ask a family member or friend to do it. Jamaal can edit it later. So at the moment I need a nice video camera and someone to be the director!
Our list is getting smaller and smaller! :D
(But this is only the big stuff...you should see the list I have hanging in my kitchen...it makes a girl want to elope!)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?
Who ME?
My dogs keep me entertained. I came up the stairs to begin making dinner, and when I reached the top of the stairs I saw the above scene...
I immediately started laughing, and the camera was right next to me, so I took a few pictures and called Jamaal up from downstairs to see her. He asked: "did you put that on her head?"
"No, I didn't!" I replied mid-laughter. She must have been licking the inside of the bag to get the remaining crumbs, and it got stuck on her head. She is definitely not the brightest crayon in the box.
You can see that her tail is down in the picture which could mean one of two things: 1) She thought she was in trouble, and was scared of being yelled at. 2) She was scared of the bag being stuck on her head.
Knowing my dog, it was probably #2.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lent
I was recently reminded of Lent by a good friend of mine. While I had not forgotten about it, I did not realize that it had started already. Last year was the first year since high school that I did not give something up for Lent.
This is interesting because I am not Catholic, nor do I associate myself with any other religion. The first time I gave up something for Lent, it was because a friend of mine Senior year of high school was doing it. I thought it was interesting, and decided to do it. It turned out that I went to a Jesuit Catholic University so I was around people again that followed Lent, and I liked it from the year before.
Last year I'm not sure why I didn't give something up for Lent. It could have been that I was not reminded of when it began, whatever the reason, I'm ready to resume my tradition.
Lent, for me, is a time to attempt to better and to challenge myself. I admit, I do not follow Lent for the same reasons as a practicing Catholic might. I understand the ritual, and respect the beliefs associated with Lent.
So this year I have decided to give up/limit the following:
1. Swearing: I have noticed that I swear more than I would like to. Jamaal is a bad influence here. I have decided that "heck" is okay. But pretty much everything else is off limits including h-e-double hockey sticks.
2. Soda: I am allowing myself only 1 can per week. I think this one is going to actually be very difficult. Flavored, carbonated waters do not count. And no ordering of soda at restaurants.
Starting tomorrow....
This is interesting because I am not Catholic, nor do I associate myself with any other religion. The first time I gave up something for Lent, it was because a friend of mine Senior year of high school was doing it. I thought it was interesting, and decided to do it. It turned out that I went to a Jesuit Catholic University so I was around people again that followed Lent, and I liked it from the year before.
Last year I'm not sure why I didn't give something up for Lent. It could have been that I was not reminded of when it began, whatever the reason, I'm ready to resume my tradition.
Lent, for me, is a time to attempt to better and to challenge myself. I admit, I do not follow Lent for the same reasons as a practicing Catholic might. I understand the ritual, and respect the beliefs associated with Lent.
So this year I have decided to give up/limit the following:
1. Swearing: I have noticed that I swear more than I would like to. Jamaal is a bad influence here. I have decided that "heck" is okay. But pretty much everything else is off limits including h-e-double hockey sticks.
2. Soda: I am allowing myself only 1 can per week. I think this one is going to actually be very difficult. Flavored, carbonated waters do not count. And no ordering of soda at restaurants.
Starting tomorrow....
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Irritations
Things that could drive a person nuts!
1. When people on bikes choose which rules they will follow. For example, they ride in the street, but only obey traffic signals when they allow them to go! If you are going to act like a car (ie, drive in the street) then follow the rules of the car. If you want to be a pedestrian, be a pedestrian (although I'll remind you that it is the law to follow the rules of a car while riding bikes on roads). There is no mixing of the two!
2. When you come out to your car after a long day at work (or shopping or whatever) and the person who parked next to you only barely left enough room for the driver's side door to open. (this happened twice in a row recently, I really wanted to leave a note, they were just rude! I didn't though)
3. When a person passes you on the freeway, only to slow down to 5 under the speed limit. Why people race on the freeway is beyond me. I am driving home, you are driving home. We are both going to win the race, I'll beat you to my house, you'll beat me to yours.
4. When patients' family members use the call light before the patient arrives to the floor. And they want something like shaving cream or ice water or something. As if we aren't already busy...there is a cafeteria downstairs, and a gift shop. I don't mind so much if the patient is there and a family member needs something, but come on now....
5. When people call me Audrey and/or spell my name wrong after I have spelled it out for them!
1. When people on bikes choose which rules they will follow. For example, they ride in the street, but only obey traffic signals when they allow them to go! If you are going to act like a car (ie, drive in the street) then follow the rules of the car. If you want to be a pedestrian, be a pedestrian (although I'll remind you that it is the law to follow the rules of a car while riding bikes on roads). There is no mixing of the two!
2. When you come out to your car after a long day at work (or shopping or whatever) and the person who parked next to you only barely left enough room for the driver's side door to open. (this happened twice in a row recently, I really wanted to leave a note, they were just rude! I didn't though)
3. When a person passes you on the freeway, only to slow down to 5 under the speed limit. Why people race on the freeway is beyond me. I am driving home, you are driving home. We are both going to win the race, I'll beat you to my house, you'll beat me to yours.
4. When patients' family members use the call light before the patient arrives to the floor. And they want something like shaving cream or ice water or something. As if we aren't already busy...there is a cafeteria downstairs, and a gift shop. I don't mind so much if the patient is there and a family member needs something, but come on now....
5. When people call me Audrey and/or spell my name wrong after I have spelled it out for them!
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