I keep forgetting about this blog!! I know, it's terrible. CBS 2 called Adam yesterday to see if he wanted to be interviewed because of our "sniper" attack on Cline last week. No and no, thanks. He said he would send them pictures if they wanted. I don't want anything to do with TV interviews!!
Yesterday I called my grandmother in Spokane. I haven't talked to her in over a year or more and I haven't seen my grandparents in SIX YEARS.
S.I.X. Y.E.A.R.S.
I told myself I wasn't taking ONE MORE TRIP until I went to Spokane to see them. So, Adam and I are going to Spokane in October!! I am ELATED. We need a vacation together in the worst way and what better vacation than to see my grandparents?? This also means they've never met Adam. Sheesh!
We're leaving Saturday, October 14 in the evening and flying to Seattle. On Sunday the 15th we're hoping to do a brunch cruise around Seattle to take in the sights and also do the Space Needle (I never got around to doing that in all my trips to Washington). Then on Monday the 16th we'll do the [incredibly scenic] drive to Spokane from Seattle. We'll spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with my grandparents in Spokane. On Thursday the 19th we'll need to drive back to Seattle to catch our next flight to... Los Angeles! We'll spend the night in LA at Dan's apartment and then Friday the 20th Anna, Dan, Adam and I will pile into Dan's Civic and drive from California to... LAS VEGAS!
We'll be in Vegas Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday. We'll make the trek back to LA on Sunday, spend the night at Dan's Sunday, and leave for Chicago Monday morning.
PHEW!
I already made an elaborate Excel spreadsheet for this trip. It has the price of attractions we want to see and everything.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
ONLY ME
On the way home tonight B dropped me off at my favorite Mexican restaurant so I could meet Adam there for dinner. Roach and Jen are in Vegas (Roach won a trip playing pool) and Roach gave us his Cavalier so Adam could take it to the shop to get it worked on. He has to go take it to get a new windshield tomorrow, too; it's had a crack in it. Adam was in that, so B just took the G6 home (her first solo car trip since getting her license!) and I stayed with Adam to eat.
The service was TERRIBLE--it has been lately, but since it's our favorite, we tend to overlook it. Then afterward we went to the bank to get $2500 out to pay Adam's dad off for the taxes and the Monte (we want to hang onto it for awhile). We took out an extra $100 and went to scope out our next purchase, a twinkie Camaro. Some guy Adam knows is selling his 1981 hardtop Z28 Camaro for $100. We wanted it for parts. I thought it was going to be a hunk of SHIT the way Adam was talking about it, but it ended up being really nice!!! That is, considering it's $100. So now I have grand dreams of having my very own 1981 Camaro. Wouldn't we be so cute--in matching Camaros?? Well, mine would be a hardtop, but still. It'd be freaking SWEET.
Then we were on our way home. As you might know, we've had "sniper" shootings in the area on Cline Ave. It's actually a highway and I travel it every day--to and from work. Statistically the odds of me getting hit by the sniper are pretty freaking good. Since it's never happened Scott and Robert at work joke that I'M the Cline Ave sniper... I always seem to be there right before/after a hit but I never get hit!
WELL, that all changed.
Adam and I are on Cline in ROACH'S CAR merging onto the 80/94 entrance ramp when Adam makes this noise--kind of a mumbling stutter surprise sound--and next thing I know I hear this huge CRACKSMASH and I'm COVERED in GLASS SHARDS.
You know how they always say that you never know you've been shot right away? I was in such SHOCK from being splattered with glass... I could hardly bring myself to look down, I was seriously scared I was going to have a bullet hole in my chest and not even realize it. When I finally got the balls to look down I saw that I was just glittery with glass shards all over my body. There was no blood.
Adam said "It was a rock! It was a rock!" I said "IT WAS THE FUCKING SNIPER! IT WAS THE SNIPER!" We pulled over and I was like "WHAT THE FUCK!!!" Adam was pissed and on the phone to the cops. Someone had THROWN a rock at our car--Adam saw it coming at us and that's why he made that sound right before we got hit. It was a huge rock, he said about 6" in diameter. HUGE. Not something a truck could kick up... especially since it came OVER THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY from a grassy area!!
It took FOREVER for a cop to show up. In the meantime I got out of the car and shook off all the glass and tried to get it off of my arms. I had little pin pricks of blood all over my arms from where the shards were in it. Adam called Roach to tell him part of his windshield was smashed. He just asked if we were okay. Since he was getting it replaced tomorrow anyway I don't think he much cared. I told Adam "We're going to be on TV!" I asked him how it felt to look over and see me covered in glass. He said he was really scared.
When a cop finally showed up he was SKINNY like a beanpole and dressed in a brown uniform. We told him what happened and he said that his buddy (aka another officer) had caught a guy RUNNING ACROSS CLINE from where the rock was thrown. He hadn't known about the windshield so the other officer just stopped him, got his info, and let him run along. They're pretty positive it was him. I'm pretty positive too. The guy who showed up first was a K9 unit, so he went off to search the grassy area with the dog and told us to hang tight when his cop buddy showed up. Supposedly Lake County was going to come out and take crime scene pictures.
The first beanpole dude (when we joked about the sniper) said "Sniper? Psh. Fucking BB-gun bandit is what that is." No shit. I thought so. Media, media. The next guy rolled his eyes about his boss (the sheriff) and how he has a special task force, etc. They agree it's out of control and that they're sick of all the bullshit happening on Cline. The second cop had to wait with us forever and so we were chatting it up. He kind of gave Adam a look and then started telling me to go home and take a cool shower (this after he heard I was covered in glass). He said if you have shards you shouldn't shower with hot water. Then (with another glance to Adam) told me if I thought it was a good idea, to shower WITH my underwear on first, and then without my underwear on. I don't know why this is, but he knows more about glass than I do. So I might be getting in a cool shower with my undies on. Or he might be laughing at the visual of me getting into a cool shower with my underwear on.
And it's funny, because both cops who saw it agreed it's the WORST incident they've seen since the "sniper shootings"!! Funny how that happens. I'm pretty pissed because I had leftover Mexican food, I was so looking forward to eating it, but it was in the front seat of the car and I'm sure there's glass in it and I had to toss it.
I had B go to my house to let the dogs out. Eventually we had three squads by us and they told us to go on home. I rode home in the back seat, the front seat was covered in glass. I had B take some pictures. I look like an idiot but at least I can laugh about it.
Adam... looking like a dork...
Had it hit a little lower, I think it wouldh ave gone THROUGH the windshield. I was sitting RIGHT THERE... I would be needing plastic surgery if that were the case...
Me.
The service was TERRIBLE--it has been lately, but since it's our favorite, we tend to overlook it. Then afterward we went to the bank to get $2500 out to pay Adam's dad off for the taxes and the Monte (we want to hang onto it for awhile). We took out an extra $100 and went to scope out our next purchase, a twinkie Camaro. Some guy Adam knows is selling his 1981 hardtop Z28 Camaro for $100. We wanted it for parts. I thought it was going to be a hunk of SHIT the way Adam was talking about it, but it ended up being really nice!!! That is, considering it's $100. So now I have grand dreams of having my very own 1981 Camaro. Wouldn't we be so cute--in matching Camaros?? Well, mine would be a hardtop, but still. It'd be freaking SWEET.
Then we were on our way home. As you might know, we've had "sniper" shootings in the area on Cline Ave. It's actually a highway and I travel it every day--to and from work. Statistically the odds of me getting hit by the sniper are pretty freaking good. Since it's never happened Scott and Robert at work joke that I'M the Cline Ave sniper... I always seem to be there right before/after a hit but I never get hit!
WELL, that all changed.
Adam and I are on Cline in ROACH'S CAR merging onto the 80/94 entrance ramp when Adam makes this noise--kind of a mumbling stutter surprise sound--and next thing I know I hear this huge CRACKSMASH and I'm COVERED in GLASS SHARDS.
You know how they always say that you never know you've been shot right away? I was in such SHOCK from being splattered with glass... I could hardly bring myself to look down, I was seriously scared I was going to have a bullet hole in my chest and not even realize it. When I finally got the balls to look down I saw that I was just glittery with glass shards all over my body. There was no blood.
Adam said "It was a rock! It was a rock!" I said "IT WAS THE FUCKING SNIPER! IT WAS THE SNIPER!" We pulled over and I was like "WHAT THE FUCK!!!" Adam was pissed and on the phone to the cops. Someone had THROWN a rock at our car--Adam saw it coming at us and that's why he made that sound right before we got hit. It was a huge rock, he said about 6" in diameter. HUGE. Not something a truck could kick up... especially since it came OVER THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY from a grassy area!!
It took FOREVER for a cop to show up. In the meantime I got out of the car and shook off all the glass and tried to get it off of my arms. I had little pin pricks of blood all over my arms from where the shards were in it. Adam called Roach to tell him part of his windshield was smashed. He just asked if we were okay. Since he was getting it replaced tomorrow anyway I don't think he much cared. I told Adam "We're going to be on TV!" I asked him how it felt to look over and see me covered in glass. He said he was really scared.
When a cop finally showed up he was SKINNY like a beanpole and dressed in a brown uniform. We told him what happened and he said that his buddy (aka another officer) had caught a guy RUNNING ACROSS CLINE from where the rock was thrown. He hadn't known about the windshield so the other officer just stopped him, got his info, and let him run along. They're pretty positive it was him. I'm pretty positive too. The guy who showed up first was a K9 unit, so he went off to search the grassy area with the dog and told us to hang tight when his cop buddy showed up. Supposedly Lake County was going to come out and take crime scene pictures.
The first beanpole dude (when we joked about the sniper) said "Sniper? Psh. Fucking BB-gun bandit is what that is." No shit. I thought so. Media, media. The next guy rolled his eyes about his boss (the sheriff) and how he has a special task force, etc. They agree it's out of control and that they're sick of all the bullshit happening on Cline. The second cop had to wait with us forever and so we were chatting it up. He kind of gave Adam a look and then started telling me to go home and take a cool shower (this after he heard I was covered in glass). He said if you have shards you shouldn't shower with hot water. Then (with another glance to Adam) told me if I thought it was a good idea, to shower WITH my underwear on first, and then without my underwear on. I don't know why this is, but he knows more about glass than I do. So I might be getting in a cool shower with my undies on. Or he might be laughing at the visual of me getting into a cool shower with my underwear on.
And it's funny, because both cops who saw it agreed it's the WORST incident they've seen since the "sniper shootings"!! Funny how that happens. I'm pretty pissed because I had leftover Mexican food, I was so looking forward to eating it, but it was in the front seat of the car and I'm sure there's glass in it and I had to toss it.
I had B go to my house to let the dogs out. Eventually we had three squads by us and they told us to go on home. I rode home in the back seat, the front seat was covered in glass. I had B take some pictures. I look like an idiot but at least I can laugh about it.
Adam... looking like a dork...
Had it hit a little lower, I think it wouldh ave gone THROUGH the windshield. I was sitting RIGHT THERE... I would be needing plastic surgery if that were the case...
Me.
Friday, August 18, 2006
yes! no. yes! no. okay, yes. no, definitely no.
We were back and forth on the house thing (see below) these past few days. We had the inspection--worse than I wanted and better than I hoped. We weren't going to do it. Then we decided we were. Then we mutually agreed we WEREN'T after I finally got a gut feeling. Normally I have a really good direction in life but I just could not get a "read" on this house for the life of me. I finally decided that no gut feeling meant a bad gut feeling, and Adam and I discussed it and decided NO. Then he calls me an hour later with "That was your decision earlier! You coerced me! I really want to do it!"
Yeah. I'm being serious.
I tell him I'm fine either way. Do what you want. Just let me know what you need me to do. So he calls the realtor and says "Changed my mind, we ARE going through with it..." and then calls me on my way home to tell me the house is "unlendable"!! Great! Apparently the issues with the inspection are issues that render it impossible to finance. Would've been nice to know before!
So, no second house for us. That's okay though. This now means we can plan a trip to see my grandparents (who I haven't seen in SIX YEARS, and who have never met Adam) and also go to Vegas for Anna's 21st birthday in October. I need a vacation!!!
Last night we went to Gary Airport to watch the air show planes practice. It was AWESOME. Check out pics here at B's photoset.
What else... B did her first wedding photography gig over the weekend. It was pretty fun, I hope to do more with her in the future! Tomorrow I have my childbirth class at St. Anthony's. YAY! That much closer to my doula training...
Yeah. I'm being serious.
I tell him I'm fine either way. Do what you want. Just let me know what you need me to do. So he calls the realtor and says "Changed my mind, we ARE going through with it..." and then calls me on my way home to tell me the house is "unlendable"!! Great! Apparently the issues with the inspection are issues that render it impossible to finance. Would've been nice to know before!
So, no second house for us. That's okay though. This now means we can plan a trip to see my grandparents (who I haven't seen in SIX YEARS, and who have never met Adam) and also go to Vegas for Anna's 21st birthday in October. I need a vacation!!!
Last night we went to Gary Airport to watch the air show planes practice. It was AWESOME. Check out pics here at B's photoset.
What else... B did her first wedding photography gig over the weekend. It was pretty fun, I hope to do more with her in the future! Tomorrow I have my childbirth class at St. Anthony's. YAY! That much closer to my doula training...
Friday, August 11, 2006
perhaps!
Well, we heard back about the offer on the investment property today. They countered us at exactly the amount we thought they would, BUT they're still willing to pay closing costs. Pending a termite and foundation inspection, it's ours.
What the heck did we just do!? That's how I feel about it, sort of. This time last week we weren't even remotely thinking of buying investment property in the near future... I didn't even know it existed.
We both feel like we're in a definite upswing right now. It's nice, but I hope the bottom doesn't drop out too severely on us. It's kind of hard to see how this house ISN'T a good investment. Since we're handy and can do so much of the work ourselves (or personally know people who can), it's just win-win-win. If you had to contract out everything it would be lose-lose-lose.
I would be disappointed if this fell through, but not if it's because of termites. If there are termites or a possibility of the place caving in during the next 1-2 years, then I will be thanking my lucky stars we have an escape clause.
I'm already daydreaming about buying a new filter for my ShopVac (yes, it's MINE, not Adam's) and attacking the basement of the property with it. Thinking about scrubbing out cabinets and tidying the yard makes me giddy. I don't actually feel this way toward the house where we actually live... I guess it's just the novelty of this. I don't want to fall in love with it but I think already have.
What the heck did we just do!? That's how I feel about it, sort of. This time last week we weren't even remotely thinking of buying investment property in the near future... I didn't even know it existed.
We both feel like we're in a definite upswing right now. It's nice, but I hope the bottom doesn't drop out too severely on us. It's kind of hard to see how this house ISN'T a good investment. Since we're handy and can do so much of the work ourselves (or personally know people who can), it's just win-win-win. If you had to contract out everything it would be lose-lose-lose.
I would be disappointed if this fell through, but not if it's because of termites. If there are termites or a possibility of the place caving in during the next 1-2 years, then I will be thanking my lucky stars we have an escape clause.
I'm already daydreaming about buying a new filter for my ShopVac (yes, it's MINE, not Adam's) and attacking the basement of the property with it. Thinking about scrubbing out cabinets and tidying the yard makes me giddy. I don't actually feel this way toward the house where we actually live... I guess it's just the novelty of this. I don't want to fall in love with it but I think already have.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
investments
I'm pretty excited. A friend of mine loaned me some CDs by Carleton Sheets. He's some real estage mogul that I had never heard of. His CDs talk about creative financing and all sorts of fun things--things I've been thinking for years and I always thought I was nuts, but turns out he has crazier ideas than I do! I LOVE real estate so they're super interesting to listen to. I got really motivated after only three discs (and listening on my iPod at work) and realized I hadn't checked the MLS in our area lately. I normally peruse it every few days or so, just to get a feel for what's for sale in our area (and so I can day dream at work).
When we first started house shopping I wanted a serious fixer-upper that we could rehab and customize to our personal tastes. We ended up with a blank slate, not really a fixer-upper. Our home was totally livable the way it was, it was just pretty ugly and plain. We've done some work to it but cash flow has been slow so we haven't been able to do as much as we like. We don't have any investments right now, and I'm itching to have something to fall back on.
WELL. I found a property A BLOCK DOWN FROM OUR HOUSE. We went and looked at it last night and I am in LOVE. Adam is going to try to get a pre-approval in only his name (our house is in just my name). If he can get it, we're going to make an offer on this property. I try not to get my hopes up about these things but it's just so perfect for our situation. This also has me all revved up to look into real estate classes again--there's so much more I want to know. I love houses and I love showings--the thought of getting to potentially make money off of walking through people's homes makes me giddy. PLUS I think I would do awesome in sales. If Adam weren't already in sales, I would be doing it already. I just can't take the risk of sacrificing my steady income and trading it off for the uncertanity of commission.
What the heck. I want to be a SAHM, a real estate agent, and a doula. I need to start thinking about how to juggle all of these dreams!
When we first started house shopping I wanted a serious fixer-upper that we could rehab and customize to our personal tastes. We ended up with a blank slate, not really a fixer-upper. Our home was totally livable the way it was, it was just pretty ugly and plain. We've done some work to it but cash flow has been slow so we haven't been able to do as much as we like. We don't have any investments right now, and I'm itching to have something to fall back on.
WELL. I found a property A BLOCK DOWN FROM OUR HOUSE. We went and looked at it last night and I am in LOVE. Adam is going to try to get a pre-approval in only his name (our house is in just my name). If he can get it, we're going to make an offer on this property. I try not to get my hopes up about these things but it's just so perfect for our situation. This also has me all revved up to look into real estate classes again--there's so much more I want to know. I love houses and I love showings--the thought of getting to potentially make money off of walking through people's homes makes me giddy. PLUS I think I would do awesome in sales. If Adam weren't already in sales, I would be doing it already. I just can't take the risk of sacrificing my steady income and trading it off for the uncertanity of commission.
What the heck. I want to be a SAHM, a real estate agent, and a doula. I need to start thinking about how to juggle all of these dreams!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
a fresh post.
I made this Blogger back in April to make some Audio Blogs. They were pretty embarassing, so I just deleted all of them and figured I would start fresh. I keep lurking on some people's blogs and I want to be able to comment finally! :) So, here I am. Plus, it would be nice to have an open-to-the-public blog, as my other blog isn't for public consumption. :)
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