Everything Must Go!

To those of you who don't hang out with me and John often, you should know that we supposedly live in (Mikey voice) the gheeeeetttooooo. There is this running joke with some of our South Riding friends that we live in the ghetto due to the fact we have a 1 car garage townhome, as opposed to a 2 car garage townhome. I never really believed this myth, until this morning. You think people are going to start wondering what's happening on Upper Clubhouse Drive?

I must have this.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/732d/

Thank you, NASA!

Finally, our billions of tax dollars are producing something!

Catholicism.

When I talk to non-Catholics, I get so many questions from them that actually get me to think. I really enjoy when people question my faith, because it allows ME to question it as well. Questioning faith is a fantastic way to grow in faith. Someone just asked me the other day, "What happens if you ask the wrong Saint for the wrong thing?" Like, if you ask the Patron Saint of Tulips for help with your Rose Garden, does that petition get answered? I thought that was a really good question -- I still don't have an answer for that. I'm assuming the Saints have this cool little workflow system where they just pass the wrong requests on to the right person. I dunno.

Anyway, my church priest has a question box in the back of the church and every week, he posts the answers to the questions asked the week before in the bulletin. It's really an awesome thing, especially because he addresses each and every comment in the box -- no matter what.

Here's one that I thought was interesting:

Question 6 - Since the man who invented ... (Another pathetic (and sinful) attempt at humor) ...

Answer - The handwriting suggests that it was a young person. I am caught among a number of options available to me. Do I ridicule you with sarcasm? Do I criticize you for your vulgarity? Do I call into question the quality of your home life? Do I suggest that the parish has failed you by not engaging you and your relationship with God? Do I pray and do penance for you? Do I assume that you are one of bored and indifferent young people that our culture produces and who seem to take far too long to grow up? Do you need therapy? Do you need a hug? Do your parents know how sad you really are? Can I help? What do I say?

Your question does bring to mind this passage from the New Testament: "2: And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3: But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. 4: Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving ... 6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience ... 11: Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12: For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret." (Eph. 5:2-4,6,11-12)

In any event, I used to be able to say, that of the questions and comments I find in the box, I print all of them (or at least most of their substance). No longer. I am sad. :(

Here's one that is just random (written by a child, I assume):

Q: How many brothers do you have and what does sacrilegious mean?

A: I have three brothers. I am the second oldest. Sacrilegious means treating holy things in an unholy way.

If you're interested in reading more questions and answers, you can look at the archives here.

Semantics.

I was thinking about word usage today and how we tend to latch onto certain words and phrases for a short period of time and then suddenly let go of them. For instance, in the past 2 days, I've used the word "sellout" 3 times. I'm not really sure why that word entered into my vocabulary all of a sudden, but it did. It makes me think of little idioms that my friends and I would have with each other and then one day, they would mysterously die away. It's funny, because you can never quite pinpoint the day you started and the day you stopped using them-- but you definately (in horror) remember doing it. So in tribute to the dead idioms, I will attempt to list some of them:

- Wazzzzzup.
- Word.
- How YOU doin?
- Da Bomb.
- Talk to the hand!
- It's all good.
- My Bad!
- NOT!
- Barf me out to the max.
- Gag me with a spoon.

I'm ashamed to say I actually used these at one point in my life. I wonder how many more will come and go into my vocabulary?

On Dorkiness...

"It is a lot like being cool, being a dork. You don't talk about it much, you just learn how to handle yourself in a given situation."

~Gill

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz...

OH WHAT A RELIEF IT IS! So we sold our house last night! Woo hoo! We got two great contracts -- both from single women. We settled on a contract from a lady who's moving out of Action-dale to settle down in South Riding. She said she loved our house and the paint colors and it was just so "her". So it's good to know that our home is going to a good home (so to speak). She's also letting us rent back for 5 days for free, and isn't requiring a home inspection-- both great things.

Our next adventure will be packing and moving to our new abode. Sooooo... if anyone is willing to help us, we would love you forever and ever! The good news is, we're only moving down the street. The bad news is, we still have to move.

More to come...

For Gill & Dawn.

http://www.foon.co.uk/farcade/hapland2/

Inspector Gadget

So we had our home inspection yesterday. Everything seemed to be running quite smoothly-- foundation, check. Windows, check. Appliances, check. Roofing, check. No water damage, check. HVAC, check. Basement, not so good. Apparently, the basement was built without a building permit. So now we have to get the owners to contact Loudoun County and get an inspector out there to make sure the place is up to code. In order to do that though, he's going to have to cut a bunch of holes in the drywall to inspect the electrical and duct work. So you ever come over and the basement looks like swiss cheese, don't be surprised.

We'll see what happens. Oh the joys of home ownership.

Top 5 Most Stressful Events

I've heard from several sources that moving is the third most stressful life event, behind death of a loved one and going through a nasty divorce. This is wrong. Here's the list:

1. Being tortured
2. Having to kill a man with your bare hands
3. Falling from a great height
4. Being trapped under water
5. Moving

Blogging will be light this week.

Post stolen from Bob.

For Sale.

Fabulous 3BR/2.5.5 Bath townhome in South Riding w/ 3 story extension=2298 sq ft! Designer upgrades to include custom paint, hardware, lighting, wood blinds, plantation shutters & crown molding. Country kitchen with S/S appliances, breakfast area, & sunroom. Finished LL with fireplace, half bath, garage & storage. Large MBR w/ vaulted ceilings, jacuzzi, WIC, & sitting room. Deck backs to common area. New ext & int paint in 2005. If interested, contact Betty Peerenboom 703-281-0969.

There's No Place Like Home.

Well, we're pretty sure we've just bought a house. The contract isn't ratified yet, but we've gotten down to the nitty-gritty details and it looks like it's gonna happen. We're not really sure if we've gotten a good deal or not, but we both really love the place and I know we'll be happy there for a long, long time.

We managed to get it for way below asking price-- partially because they were asking way too much, and partially because the wife is 2 weeks from having a baby and really really wants to sell. Our only problem is that we're at Virginia Beach on vacation with our real estate agent (John's Mom) and we have yet to put our house on the market.

It was pretty scary-- writing a contract for over half a million dollars on a house that we've only seen one time a month ago. That's scary enough, but when you factor in that we're writing the contract from the kitchen table of a beach house at Virginia Beach with no way of knowing when and how we're going to get our house on the market, we're pretty darn scared.

Let's hope it all works out, and if you know anyone that wants to buy a townhouse in South Riding, send them my way!

Happy Anniversary, John

6 years ago today, John and I went on our first date. Man, how time flies! This is a poem I wrote a few months later about the experience and my interning days at USI, now Integic, a Northrop Grumman Company.

Universal Systems Inc., Administrative Assistant, Human Resources

8:45-My green civic screeches to a halt and I run into
the building. Jane, the receptionist greets me with
a smile and I run through the second set of glass doors, into the first
cubicle on the left. 8:51-As my computer boots, I check my
phone messages and say hello to Debbi, whose office is right across
from my cube. She asks me about my date last night. I tell her
it was great. 8:59-I make my way through the glass doors again,
smile at Jane, and turn left down a long carpeted hallway in search
of that greatly needed cup of coffee. Third door on the left. Mike
is standing at the sink, sipping something. "How was your
date?" I smile at those serene blue eyes. "Wouldn't you like to
know?" 9:05-Thump, thump, thump...my high heels move quickly
on the red carpet, the coffee already starting to scorch my hand through
the thin paper cup. 9:06-Sitting at my computer, I check my
email. "Just wanted to let you know I had a great time last
night. Love, John." There's always something magical
about a good first date. 9:10-Ring! "Hello, USI
this is Michelle speaking...yes, I have that report right here."
9:15-Clack, clack, clack...I have to enter the interview dates
for all employees since 1996. 10:40-Clack, clack,
clack. 11:30-Clack, clack, clack. 12:00-Ring! "You ready for
lunch?" "Yes." Through the glass doors, into the hallway thump,
thump, thump...and into the parking lot. Mike and I wait
for John. 12:10-Mike and I wait for John. 12:15-The '64 Mercedes tears
into the parking lot and stops just long enough for us
to get in. My long hair flies out the window as we take off
and I curse myself again for forgetting to bring a ponytail holder.
Maggie May bring us another beer, we need another--The Pietasters are blaring
but John pauses the song just long enough to look
into the rearview mirror at Mike and say, "Where to?"
We all shrug. "Gyro place it is!"
beer, take away our troubles here... 12:25-Whump! Whump! Whump!
We get out of the car and follow the beckoning smell of soft pita bread
and spiced lamb's meat. We find a table by the window and look over
the whole menu, even though we all know we're going to order
a number six. My eyes shift from Mike to John and back
again. 12:30-"So guys, tell me about your date last night,
what did you do?" I look at John and smile. 12:45-The waitress brings
out three gyro platters and our drinks. Mike with Coke, John with
Dr. Pepper, and me with Ginger Ale. 1:30-Mike and I scurry
back into the building, already a half hour late and dissolve
into our separate wings of the building. 1:35-Clack, clack,
clack. 2:27-Clack, clack, clack. 3:03-Ring! "Hello, USI
this is Michelle speaking...Hi John! I'd love to get dinner tonight...
ok...I'll see you then." 3:05-Clack, clack, clack. 4:20-My boss enters
my cubicle. "How are those interview dates coming?" "I'm on
1998," I reply. 4:21-Clack, clack, clack. 5:00-Mike walks in and sits
in an empty chair. "You wanna go rollerblading?" I smile,
"No, I'm going out with John tonight." "So the date was that good
huh?" "Yes, it was really good." 5:02-I turn off
my computer and fill in my timesheet with a "6.5". "We've got
to take shorter lunches, Mike." "That we do." 5:05-I wait for John.
5:07-I wait
for John. 5:10-The now familiar Mercedes pulls up and I hop
in letting the wind carry my hair away.

Exercise Your Brain!

I've recently found this really cool site. The idea behind it is to exercise your brain. Supposedly, the more you do the exercises, the higher your IQ will get. Also, by exercising your brain, you'll be less likely to get alzheimers and other such brain diseases.

I've given them my ten bucks in the hopes that it will actually work. So far, I've managed to improve on each exercise the more I do them. My goal is to get in the top 10 for at least one exercise.

It's a pretty neat site filled with stats and they do different polls everyday. For instance, people who said autumn was their favorite season tend to score better overall on the brain exercises. Same with people who prefer cats as their favorite pets. Interesting stuff.

At any rate, check it out. And if you subscribe, let me know so we can compare scores!

DigiScents

A couple of weeks ago Mike and I were talking about how much smell triggered memory. My sense of smell is so in tune with my past, that it amazes me how much one smell can bring back something long forgotten. For instance, today I was washing some dishes in the sink at work. For some reason, the smell of the water reminded me of my late Grandmother's house in Baltimore. I was immediately catapulted back into her 1950's kitchen with the green countertops and the dishes that my grandfather bought at a local gas station.

I then remembered an article I read many years ago in Popular Science about how this group of scientists developed a digital way to reproduce scent. I tried to find this wonderful machine, but all I could find was a bunch of articles about a company called DigiScents that was making a product called iSmell. The articles were all from 1999 and 2000 -- but I have yet to find the product. It makes me wonder if the company sizzled out due to lack of market?

I did manage to find another company called TriSenx that is actually selling its product. They already have a couple music videos and educational sites that allow you to "smell" the items you see. Pretty cool.

Can you imagine what this technology could do to advertising? Waft a smell of a Big Mac into my living room or actually be able to SMELL the aromas of a cooking show? It would bring a whole new meaning to sporting events when you could smell the sweat and B.O. from the court...