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Lauren's Journal

lauren
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10/02/2009 12:06 #49904

HmmmHeat
First of all, felly and I put up our Frost King plastic kits on the windows yesterday, and boy was it satisfying! I had read (e:libertad)'s comment about the satisfying-ness of it all, but I wasn't exactly sure why. Now I get it! I thought we were going to be blowdrying the tape, not the plastic. fancy business.

anyway, felly let me turn on the heat now that we have the plastic up. i guess this house is kinda old, cause we have these vents in the walls that blow out heat and vents in the floor that take that cold air out (?) I think. anyway, the air coming from the vents in the walls kicks in every now and then and my cat. hates. it. he lets out this... oh i dunno, sad pathetic yet extremely grating meow letting me know how much he doesn't like this vent system heat. i hope he will get used to it. poor kitty.
libertad - 10/07/09 13:10
Your landlord is supposed to take care of it but a lot of them don't. If you don't change it the furnace will not be that efficient and you will be breathing in yucky air. Good luck looking for a job. You might want to try Autistic Services.
metalpeter - 10/03/09 18:37
I'm guessing he hates it because of it being like hot wind. If they where floor vents he might like them since they are warm and something nice to lay on.
lauren - 10/03/09 11:14
furnace filter??
libertad - 10/03/09 11:07
That is so cute. Did you have the furnace filter changed?
james - 10/02/09 12:45
Hi, I am a cat. I hate everything you like.

Pet me.

09/30/2009 14:30 #49892

Winter Prep
Hey folks...question for the masses. We are planning on putting plastic on our windows in preparation for winter. Already feeling the effects of having large windows in our-what was once an open porch but is now part of the living room-section of the apartment. Just looking for suggestions on the best product to get, the best way to put it up, things to avoid, etc.

Thanks!
joshua - 10/01/09 14:36
I wonder what people do with windows that have sills that extend out further than the rest of the frame. We've never been able to install the plastic as nicely as I'd like. Two winters ago we just put plastic up on the outdoor side of the windows, which isn't the most attractive thing in the world.
lauren - 09/30/09 16:43
awesome, thanks! we do have tons of windows, although i don't we will do all of them, just the older ones...and we are paying for heat this winter (!) so I'm willing to pay a little more now then be paying all winter! thanks again
theecarey - 09/30/09 16:42
no! no talk of winterizing yet :) but yeh, (e:libertad) nailed it!

It can take awhile to do, so maybe a couple of windows at a time. I've always done mine by myself though.

if you don't so much care about aesthetics or being able to see out of the window clearly, or simply have odd spots/doors that it doesn't matter--a roll of floor drop plastic (like for painting and other messy projects) will do- and is very cheap. Can use the same tape just not the hair dryer.

I have also used a heavy clear vinyl on certain windows in my house and I reuse this heavy plastic each year. That too comes on a roll.
janelle - 09/30/09 16:31
I love the hair dryer step. It IS satisfying!

Follow libertad's steps and you won't go wrong. It's what I do too.
libertad - 09/30/09 15:39
This is definitely a two person job. I usually get the frost king kits but you may want to consider getting something more cost effective if you have a lot of large windows. If you do the frost king it is important that the area you apply to the adhesive is clean and dry. You want to run your fingers around the adhesive and make sure that it is secure before you take off the paper backing. Then with helping hands you have to hold the plastic as taught as possible and secure it to the adhesive. The last step is the hair dryer which I kind of find to be the most satisfying step.

09/17/2009 10:45 #49793

Mode
Category: food
Something got ahold of (e:fellyconnelly) last night and she brought me home flowers, wine, and took me out for dinner. We decided to go to Mode. Why, I don't know, but that's what we did.


We got a bottle of Relax, Riesling from Germany and it was mighty tasty. What was even tastier was the cheese board appetizer that had brie, pecan encrusted goat cheese and gouda on it, accompanied by some strawberries, apples and bread. Oh my god, I love cheese. I ordered the pan-seared scallops on corn puree with chipotle sauce. I was honestly a little nervous about the whole corn puree thing. Didn't sound very appetizing to me, but I love scallops so I went for it. turns out that corn puree is mighty tasty and goes well with scallops. Who knew. And the chipotle sauce was faint, but that was fine with me. The scallops were perfecto. I love scallops in general, but these were fantasically cooked and coupled with the sauce and puree, they were just divine. Mmmmmm. Felly got some kind of fancy meat and potatoes which they called frittes. It looked pretty, but the meat was a little tough and the frittes, aka french fries, were awesome for about five minutes, then got kinda cold and not so amazing.

We had never been to Mode before. I have to say that, while I understand the whole ambiance thing, because of the tinted windows we initially thought they were closed. You can't see in and have no idea what kind of place you are entering until you are already there. However, it was really nice inside. the dining room is pretty small and we got stuck sitting next to the rich ladies wine and dine night, which was annoying and entertaining all at the same time. But, it's still pretty nice inside. Our waitress was really awesome. Very friendly and personable and everything a waitress should be.

Overall I think Mode was pretty great. We spent a little over one hundred for the whole thing, which isn't too bad. It's definitely not something we can afford to do all the time, but I wasn't disappointed in what we got for the money. I would recommend Mode, with the precaution that it's a little pricey, but if you are looking to get fancy and have some good eats, go for it.
ladycroft - 09/19/09 14:51
relax is one of my favorite riesling wines!
lilho - 09/18/09 10:09
that's cute, you have a nice lady.
tinypliny - 09/17/09 15:26
Wow, that's too pricey...


  • For me. :)
joshua - 09/17/09 15:24
I used to bring my ex-girlfriend there a few years back... although at the time it was Le Metro. I really loved it there - they used to have free jazz on Saturdays at 11:30pm and we'd go down, eat appetizers and drink wine.

08/20/2009 19:03 #49582

Hmm...
Where is everybody lately? I posted on 8/17 and my post is still on the sidebar? Is it that it's too fricken hot to update or is everyone getting up off their behinds and enjoying summer Buffalo style?

Speaking of the weather...what the eff? Where did this come from? Now don't get me wrong, I prefer heat to cold any day, but I am sitting up in this second story apartment with few windows to speak of and papers all over that prevent the use of fans and I am down right miserable. I feel like taking a shower every five minutes. My forearms are constantly stuck to the computer desk and I am certain that I am sweating more than my water glass that has a small ocean forming around the bottom.

I have plans to go to Fantasy Island on Tuesday. Watch, thunderstorms all day long.

My thesis is due in EIGHT days. AAAAHHHHHHHHH. I am calm.

Felly and I have been packing a little every night, but I know that there are all those things that we can't pack until the very end because we use them on a daily basis...those things will kill us.

We did, however get rid of two garbage bags full of clothes and gave them to Amvets. Felt good to get rid of things...even though I am a hoarder who attaches sentimental value to inanimate objects, every now and then I get the urge to purge...eww...that sounded gross. but yeah, its good.

Alright. Just thought I would post a bunch of random nonsense and I think I successfully did that. Hope to see some of you out tomorrow night!
paul - 08/23/09 14:32
There actually have been a lot more journals since you wrote, the thing is in this verison of estrip you only show up in the list, once, instead of once for each journal. In th new version each entry shows up, making the list move faster. That is whenever I am done with it.
metalpeter - 08/23/09 14:05
Well you are still in the top 10 or 15 and it is a few days later. Bye the way does anyone know where (e:tinypliny) is I was hoping she would have some pictures of the fair or her Ice Cream adventure up she was going to go on the next day but I don't even see any comments. Maybe she is caught in the web of (e:theecarey)'s spider?

08/17/2009 10:46 #49556

Good Story/New Place
so...(e:fellyconnelly) and I went to see a place yesterday on Delaware, just south of Hertel. There was also another very nice couple who came to see the apartment at the same time. We walked into the place and it was HUGE and very nice. We quickly decided that we wanted it and afterwards, it was clear that the other couple wanted it as well. We stood outside with the landlord and chatted as he tried to figure out who he would rent it to. turned out they had a boxer mix that, according to the landlord, looked like a pit bull, so they were instantly like, "oh we will get rid of him"...so the landlord was like, ok.. well, what if I tell you that I am a member of ______. I won't put the exact name down because I know how searchable this is, but let's just say it's a caffeinated beverage that isn't coffee which is thrown into the water in protest of government interventions and taxes. Yeah. I just googled this guy and he's pretty anti-Obama, anti-healthcare reform, anti-"socialism" etc etc. So there's that.

what happened was, he decided that he was gonna flip a coin to decide who got to rent this place. They male of the other couple kept saying "ladies first" and I guess because we had two ladies and they only had one, I said "heads". Coin flips up into the air and lands heads up on the landlords hand. YES! We got the place!! Very exciting considering we were getting pretty scared that we had two weeks to find a place....

I can overlook the whole right-wing activist thing...I certainly won't ever get in a conversation about politics with him, thats for damn sure. But, for a HUGE bedroom with a bay window, a brand new kitchen, a dining room, giant living room with (non working) fireplace and a second bedroom...I don't care who the landlord is, as long as he treats me with respect, which I think this guy certainly will.

So, at the end of this month Felly and I will no longer be living on the elmwood strip, or even in Elmwood village for that matter. I am a little sad about that for sure. I love it here and am going to miss it. I am not especially looking forward to living on a four lane road across from Big Lots, but I do have a back yard and a quick walk to Hertel for a little culture and nightlife, so all will be well. Plus, winters coming and I generally stay in for most of that nonsense anyway :)
metalpeter - 08/17/09 19:56
First of Congrats on the new place. Now here is the thing did he Google You two? If he did what did he Find? The answer to both his looking you up and you looking up him is both "IT DOES NOT MATTER". What matters to him is will you be a good renter and to you it is will he be a good landlord. Those two things can be guessed at by things in the past. But Political views are of no interest. Oh and bye the way using someones views as a way to not rent something to someone would be illegal anyways not sure if that is true the other way around. I just hope he is a great landlord.
zobar - 08/17/09 17:16
Welcome to NoBu [OK, North Buffalo never really fit in with the DUMBO kids, but I guess it's worth a try]. There are a number of nice restaurants on the Hertel strip but the general clientele is a bit geezer-nouveau around here. It's not a long drive to Elmwood and Allentown, and you're more convenient to Kenmore and Amherst, where nothing ever happens but the ambience & service are always good.

Keep up with the rent and chill with the loud parties and you won't have to deal with your landlord on any more than a professional basis. And if he gets all up in your grille about something you could just explain that the way he feels about the government and [taxes/handguns/dijon mustard*] is pretty much the same way you feel about him and [none of your damn business].

I hope he's not the kind of guy who starts a conversation with 'I don't have anything against [a group of people]. Some of my tenants are [certain people] and they're the most [backhanded compliment] people I know - It's just that [this is mostly where I stop paying attention, but sometimes I like to see how many long-division problems I can do in my head** before they stop talking and ask if I'm feeling alright].'

- Z

_______________
  • :::link:::
  • None, because I'm not very good at long division.
chico - 08/17/09 16:52
Good luck in the new digs!!
mrmike - 08/17/09 15:05
Congrats, hope it's a happy home, glad you guys are sticking around and whatnot, even if you moving to "Hstrip.com"
jason - 08/17/09 12:39
Congrats on your new place! My landlord and I aren't on the same page politically, but it's never been an issue. Every now and then she'll say she's working towards X thing or Y thing and I'll say "Oh, that's nice." It would only annoy me if she couldn't shut up about it. Hopefully you have a similar good working relationship with your landlord.
matthew - 08/17/09 12:02
Congrats on the new place! I hope you guys are happy there. And I wouldn't worry too much about not seeing eye to eye with the landlord as long as they're lording the land.