Reliving the Glory Days

Ho hum...ho hum. Just came across this photo of me in college. I got in a substantial amount of trouble for crowd surfing at this game. Well worth the killer photo-op in my opinion!

Here's another. How fitting is it that I now work for CSP?!

The Back Story of the Screen Door

So yes, Brandy is correct. I've been putting off some of my need-to-do's in favor of some of my want-to-get-it-done's. If you've been to our neighborhood you can appreciate the fact that we have meticulous neighbors who mow their grass two to three times a week. They also clean out their gutters ROUTINELY! And, we can't forget the fact that many of them can be seen hand weeding their front yards or power washing the sidewalks...yes all of this on any given day.

Soooooo you can see why I'm trying to get the roost up to snuff. Our corner lot is not only an intersection but it seems to be the only street in Beaverdale that EVERY SINGLE PERSON uses! I know this because anytime I'm in the front yard neighbors are stopping by to give input on what would "make that house look nice". I mean seriously folks it's a time versus money issue and I've got little of both.

Anyway...the real purpose of this post is to explain the turbulations of the storm door project. For reasons we may choose to share with you sometime in the future, I am quite partial to the Pella brand storm doors. I spent the better part of 60 minutes (a mear 43 simple steps) from carton to install. Not bad considering that's how much time the instructions say it will take. I'm careful not to get false notions of my abilities but I do love the fact that Lowe's makes you feel like you are the second coming of Bob Vila!

Maybe I need to grow a beard. Yes, that would make me more handy.

A beard...and flannel!

Anyway, what Lowe's failed to tell me was that I should plan in advance for a house full of animals and a new screen door. Not two minutes after installation was complete I stepped out front to admire my work and take a picture and what happened? Docker saw me from inside the foyer and came barreling right through my brand new screen! No kidding...pulled the fiberglass right out of the seam and was sitting at my feet lickety-split and happier than a mole in soft dirt (not sure where that analogy just came from but it was a long night so bear with me!).








Thank goodness Lowe's has a don't ask policy because 45 minutes and one little-white-lie later I had a fresh screen back in the door. This time however the Bob Vila in me found a way to position a puppy gate between the foyer and the second brand new screen of the night!

My Husband - Handyman Extrordinaire!

Introducing our new screen door, courtesy of one over-ambitious and loving husband who is agressively tackling our new house to-do list while I'm away. I love it AND I love you, honey!

Isn't it pretty? Can't you just feel the cool cross-breeze now that we have screens on the front and back doors? Ahhhh...

Sorry for the blurry cell phone photos, but also note the awesome new planters and plants (Rex Begonias, in case you are interested) on our front stoop- thanks to Marty and Patti for the birthday money that helped to buy said plans and planters! Now on to tackle the off-center mailbox and that gaudy lit doorbell. What is the purpose of that anyway? In case of complete darkness, vacuum salesmen can still find their way to harass us on our doorstep?!? No, thank you.

Memphis, Eat Your Heart Out!

My dad told us about this great little BBQ joint, Woody's Smoke Shack, a while ago (and by told us about it, what I mean to say is that he couldn't stop talking about it and took us on a wild goose chase in the wrong direction to try and find it to no avail) but it wasn't until we were in San Jose, Ca recently that we figured out it does indeed exist and exactly where it was... thanks to our friends on Good Morning America who voted it one of the top 4 BBQ places in the country!



So we ventured out to give it a try recently and I have to tell you, it was as good as they say! Granted, it's a little hole in the wall, blink and you'll miss it sort of place with all of four tables inside and three crammed on the patio, but now that we know where it is we will definitely find it again. If you're thinking of coming to visit us be sure and let us know if you like BBQ and we'll show you how it's done in Iowa!

{deep breath}

Starting tomorrow my life gets crazy for a few weeks. No matter how much planning and preparation I do for training, inevitably something always veers off track and doesn't go according to plan. This time around, I'm going to try and keep this in mind as my new personal mantra:



{image courtesy of Oh Joy}

Good to know...

... that there's a plan.

I saw this sign designating the "Evacuation Meeting Place" while I was on a walk tonight and thought, you'd have to be in a pretty desperate situation for this (this deserted, overgrown empty lot) to be better than the alternative. But, then again, maybe that's the point.

Lucky.

Tonight is the first of the next twenty-two nights that I'll be in Denver for work. It will be an exciting time for me as I train my new consultants but I'm not looking forward to being away from home for almost 1/3 of the summer. It's probably no secret to our closest friends or family that I don't do well being away from Lawrence (or the pets, for that matter, but mainly the husband) for long periods of time. So here's hoping that it goes by fast and in the meantime, I will just play this song over and over again...