I like rain. When i got up this morning and saw that it was raining, i looked forward to my walk to get the paper this morning. Much better than the extreme heat, if you ask me.

But our basement doesn't like rain much. Last time it rained heavily, we had some standing water, about 6 inches, but it seemed petty to complain about it since the poor people in the gulf coast were actually flooded. Real flooding, not what i was calling flooding, this mere 6 inches or so. We went and got ourselves a little pump, thanks to a really helpful man at Home Depot.

Today, Walt decided to check the basement. Sadly, we were having some backup from the storm drains. We decided to call someone this time.

The phone book yielded the number of the Buffalo Sewer Authority, and i called. The first thing i said was "i don't know if you are the people i am supposed to call about this, but..." and proceeded to tell them the holes in our basement floor that are supposed to carry water out are carrying water in. I was asked for my name, address and phone number. I was put on hold for about 10 seconds and then told someone would be out right away. Huh? You mean i don't have to wait on the phone for hours and argue with someone about it to get someone to unclog some drains? What is this world coming to?

I will say that now, about an hour after i called, we are impressed by the Buffalo Sewer Authority. They were prompt, friendly and accommodating on the phone. I didn't have to wade through voicemail bogs too deeply. When the gentleman arrived to take care of the problem he was quick and efficent. He explained things to me, then re-explained them when i couldn't manage to explain them to my husband (i suck at anything technical!).

Our problem was fixed in less than 2 hours. You rock Buffalo Sewer Authority!

Because tonight, i will be parked in front of the tv and there would be very little that will pry me away.

Some of my favies start again tonight. I am so addicted to Gilmore Girls. I reckon it it is my soap. That Rory is really acting up these days... what happened to the good girl she used to be? She is such a hottie, too. *sigh*

And then, there is House. Hugh Laurie rocks. I've been a fan of his for a long time... back to the days of the Young Ones and Blackadder Then again, i have been such a fan of that Brit Brat Pack of Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry and Rown Atkinson for what feels like forever. When i found out that Hugh Laurie was going to be on an "American" show, with an "American" accent, i knew there would be little to tear me away!!!

I have nothing to complain about. My life is wonderful. I have nothing to complain about. My life is wonderful. I have nothing to complain about. My life is wonderful. I have nothing to complain about. My life is wonderful.

If i repeat that mantra, perhaps all the little things that annoyed me today will not bother me so much?

Today was interesting. It started last night even. I reckon if it began after midnight, it counts for today?

We have a mouse in our house. Don't know how long he (she?) has been here, but it appears as though we might need to think about rent soon. Last night, mousey decided he wanted to listen to our cds. Of course, trying to hide behind them doesn't help! We tried to catch him. Instead, he decided to run across my foot! Oh, i behaved like a girl, and i am ashamed. I squealed and fell down from the squat i was in.

This morning, the bug bites i got the other night felt worse than ever. Walt tells me they look better, though... which accounts for something. But damn it, they itch like hell. And burn. I think they are spider bites.

And then, when i was cleaning our streaky bathroom mirror for what felt like the zillionth time, the light fixture gave me a shock. I screamed. Hurt to my shoulder. Poor Walt came running, not knowing what sort of clumsiness i was up to now. Looks like we need to update our groovy 60's light fixture! No more floresent for us, thank you!

I also decided it is finally time for me to go to a dentist. I've been meaning to for the LONGEST time. [inlink]leetee,24[/inlink] Thanks to both (e:Hodown) and (e:Mike) for their recommendations. I couldn't find the dentist you told me about, (e:Hodown), so i went to the one you recommended, (e:Mike). I am getting my teeth cleaned this Wednesday. They had a cancellation. Not with Brenda, though. With someone named Cheryl, i think. The receptionist told me she is gentle. I am SUCH A WUSS.

After the odd morning i had, we decided to go out to lunch. We went to Sahara Grill. Silly me, i wore a white tank top. And they so like to garnish with paprika. They are mad for the stuff, i tell ya. And, not to brag, but i do have quite a chest... particularly with the push up bra. And i had paprika boobies. My poor favie Betty Bop tank top! The food was good, but they got mine and Walt's mixed up. I don't like pickles so much, so i picked them out of my sandwich to give to him.

Last night and now this evening, our poor little iBook is illing. Don't ask me what is wrong with it. I have no idea. Walt knows, i am sure. Or at least suspects. We think we might be able to get it fixed under some sort of warrantee. Thank goodness i am uptight enough to keep reciepts from 2 or 3 years ago, eh?

I don't always go in this direction, but i decided to paricipate in a little retail therapy. I love a bargain and with a coupon, i am unstopable. I got a pleather jacket to replace the one i bought in England oh so long ago on a dreary wet day. I also got a pair of shoes and a couple of tops... and i think with the discounts and coupons, i basicly got the tops for free. Yay me. We also bought some clearance storage bins at Home Depot while we were looking for new bathroom light fixtures... Oh, how i LOVE a bargain!

I had a great time last night. I am very much looking forward to seeing all the pics you smart (e:peeps) with cameras took. HINT HINT. Silly me, i didn't bring our camera.

Thank you, (e:Ladycroft). I hope it was a wonderful birthday bash for you... despite standing on a street corner for so long. Thank you to you too, (e:Theecarey), for helping in the prep and planning. Was great meeting you. And a very big thank you to (e:PMT) for hosting the party. The tour was done with flare, and was appreciated. Since you missed out on ours that one time, you are welcome to come get a tour of our home anytime, (e:Matthew). Lastly, a big thank you to (e:Mike), (e:lilho) and (e:Jill) for the giant baby pic in the "nice room". I will have nightmares for weeks!

Was great to meet all of the new (e:Peeps) i had not yet met in person and to hang again with those i had met before...

Gay Marriage

Thank you, (e:Uncutsaniflush) for you post about gay marriage in California [inlink]uncutsaniflush,110[/inlink] As ya'll may have noticed, i am not very political, but i do have a few issues i stand firmly behind. Gay marriage is one of them. I think every adult should be able to choose who they marry. I understand why it has become a political issue in theory, but i just don't understand why it has to be. I think i tend to be naive about it, however. I assume that everyone thinks in the same open minded way i can...

Taste Good?

A week or so ago, we decided we were going to get take out from Taste Good. [inlink]leetee,10[/inlink] After much confusion due to language barriers, i thought i understood that they no longer had any of the mock chicken and mock beef vegetarian stuff i loved so much. *pout* So, today, when we decided to get more take out, i ordered some tofu. While picking it up Walt asked about it, and it turns out i missunderstood "we no carry" somehow. Go me. I ended up having a pretty crappy tofu dish (imagine hot and sour soup, without the sour, with soft tofu and frozen peas and carrots floating in it... and it wasn't even a soup i ordered!!) wishing i had some of the curry mock chicken. Walt, the sweetie that he is, offered to go back and get some for me, but we decided to strain out some tofu and stir fry it for me.

What's The Green Thing, Paul?

I think my eyes are going... What is the green thing beside a post when it is a mobile post, (e:Paul)? I think it looks like a fish; (e:Uncutsaniflush) thinks it might be a turlte. We both thought it might be a green cell phone. Inquiring minds want to know!


Gadgets

I just saw the weirdest faucet.... called the "dante", it seems as though some people do not know how to turn the darned thing on!

Well, time for me to go attack the ice cream we bought earlier!

Welcome to your 30's!! Hope you have a very happy birthday without one single problem from a student or a parent today, just as an added bonus!

Today, i reckon i woke up feeling sorta like a domestic godess? I haven't done the house cleaning i intended on doing (big house, big dust), but i did 4 loads of laundry (just finished!).

And dinner is simmering on the stove, thanks to (e:Ladycroft). I love using roma tomatoes for sauces, and right now, what i hope to be a killer one will be eaten in a few hours. I added a couple cloves of garlic, an onion, a green pepper, a few stalks of celery and a couple of Boca italian sausages. I like cooking. Particularly since (e:Uncutsaniflush) and i have a deal; if i cook, he cleans. Kinda explains his dish pan hands, eh?



Thanks again (e:Ladycroft)!!

Birthdays

First of all, i would like to wish (e:Terry) a very happy belated birthday. I hope it was all you wanted it to be and you got all the goodies and treats you wanted to get.

Next, i would like to wish (e:Mike) a very happy belated birthday. Hope it was a blast! Ah, to be young again... meeting at 11pm? My goodness, how am i, old fart that i am, supposed to go to a get together that STARTS at about the time i am going to bed?? Next year, should i show up in my jammies??

And (e:Ladycroft), i (and (e:Uncutsaniflush), too. i prefer not to speak for him, but i asked him about it earlier today) would love to partake in your party bus birthday party! We'll kick in 10 bucks a piece. Looking forward to it.

Friends

On a more serious note, i recently did something that hurt a friend of mine. She told me she was hurt and i apologized as best i could but i haven't heard from her, and i am beginning to feel as though i squelched in it and she doesn't want to contact me. Maybe it is just me being overly worried, but i feel sad to think i have lost the friendship. I hope not. I want to email her again, but i don't want to be a pest. I've nothing new to add to my already said "I'm sorrys".

On a possitive note, we heard from a friend in Knoxville yesterday. Someone who is always pressed for time. Great to hear from him and wish he had time to come up here to visit.... and yeah, if he is reading this, it is indeed a hint, Chris!

Floods

Words cannot express my saddness at the pictures i am seeing of the aftermath of Katrina. I sat in front of the tv and cried more times than i care to admit yesterday. I regret not having seen New Orleans before. Because, like a lot of places, there will be stories in times to come that start out, "Before Katrina..."

We had a little bit of water back up into our basement the night before last and yesterday. Not much at all, and i felt guilt for being even annoyed by it. I have so much to be grateful for.

Tattoo

It's healing and itchy. Looking forward to wearing clothes that i don't have to worry about getting A&D ointment all over. I wore a tank top today and got some comments on it. I will say that there are not very many questions i think are dumb, but "did that hurt?" in reference to a tattoo isn't what i would call the smartest.

Well, today is the big tattoo day for me. I've been talking about doing this for so long now, it seems a slight dream it is happening. It's as though my crazy mind is sayng "what do you mean Diamond is gone and you are getting a tattoo?".. And my body is saying... "am i ready for the pain?" The answer to both is yes. As ready as i will ever be.

I was a good girl no alcohol (not that it's a stretch for me, that last drink i had was the night of (e:ajay)'s farewell!!) and no aspirin within 24 hours of the tattoo... I feel like a giddy school girl. Off to get a tattoo... now that's an image. lol

My mom says she isn't particularly excited since tats aren't her thing... lol. I just cannot imagine my mother with a tattoo.


Thank you, (e:Ladycroft) for the compliment on my earrings. Took me a few years to get that many... and i still haven't gone all the way like i've wanted to. Always wanted to have 6 on one side and 9 on the other. The year i was born... the winter of '69. Instead,i have a wimpy 8 and 6.... you think anyone would believe i was born in '86???

(e:Ladycrfoft) left our humble abode not too long ago and she brought over the most yummy looking veggies... ok, so there was an eggplant, which i have never been a fan of, but i am sure i can watch an eposide of Good Eats to see what Alton Brown does with them. (e:uncutsaniflush) likes them, and maybe, i just need to try some garden fresh eggplant to appreciate them. If smell is any indication of how yummy these veggies are going to be, then i will be in heaven. Thanks again, (e:Ladycroft). It was great to meet you... and give you the FULL tour that no other (e:Peep) has had!