tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30172506138510278632024-03-13T17:15:40.073-04:00Craving SilenceA blog with no discernible purpose. A sort of catch-all for what clutters my mind that may entertain yours.Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-42802741020158127802010-08-19T23:11:00.004-04:002010-08-19T23:46:48.709-04:00Things that skeer me<span style="font-size:130%;">I was looking through the Chive today (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thechive</span>.com - too lazy to code) and they did an experiment where they had everyone send in a photo of what scared you when you were small. I immediately thought of two things that hadn't crossed my mind in <em>years</em>. Remember the six million dollar man?</span> <em>we have the technology...</em><span style="font-size:130%;">There was an episode called the death probe. The death probe was this thing:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YUFLCcNe8w6xdwiLFvgVhAf9mwIbIzXZZMGzOaqdredB8IydvY4zMjfJ5lPrUeamPPeLXjmzQCKOKc0OfybLDkFj_keFelg9y3iyE4gN1soybkktSL6sqeKaeUg_C5uy7MF5MrCjuWPF/s1600/vlcsnap-977857.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507324722953583186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YUFLCcNe8w6xdwiLFvgVhAf9mwIbIzXZZMGzOaqdredB8IydvY4zMjfJ5lPrUeamPPeLXjmzQCKOKc0OfybLDkFj_keFelg9y3iyE4gN1soybkktSL6sqeKaeUg_C5uy7MF5MrCjuWPF/s400/vlcsnap-977857.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">No matter what, it kept coming and killing. For some reason, I convinced myself that when I was outside, it was going to come lumbering up over the hill and kill us all. Kittens, I was <em>ten years old</em> when this episode aired. Ten. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OMG</span>, I just thought of something that makes me feel marginally better about being a big tit baby. Anyone remember the song about Bigfoot and how he was coming to get you, you better lock the doors? My little brother was in our car listening to the radio when that song came on and scared the living <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bejeebers</span> out of him. He locked the doors and was crying his little heart out. So while I'm out creeping around trying not to make any vibrations for the death probe to pick up (that's how it found you), I come across <em>that</em> hot mess. Laws, we were some messed up kids! </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hmmm</span>. There's one for the therapist. (note to self: find a therapist. Quick.)</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Anyhoodles</span>, the second thing that sprang to mind? - this little feller:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8L7lGBREbPBRtT2aCWdE3ehfOuO0YOuHKr3SGYlkoZ5FL8_0Rtv_xYW4wUOMrPhZ3lIVtzw1f_tYojpwK2XNxD9GVKXIDZdFRYmqq7vHdjzW_W1Uv_PVyrHURA2-eyCKL34hNT6lCzla/s1600/zuni.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507324720473655010" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8L7lGBREbPBRtT2aCWdE3ehfOuO0YOuHKr3SGYlkoZ5FL8_0Rtv_xYW4wUOMrPhZ3lIVtzw1f_tYojpwK2XNxD9GVKXIDZdFRYmqq7vHdjzW_W1Uv_PVyrHURA2-eyCKL34hNT6lCzla/s400/zuni.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Charming, yes? He is Zuni from the Trilogy of Terror. He ate a lady. With his big ole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">teefs</span>. Really fast, like a piranha. There were other scary parts of that show, I'm sure. I don't remember them. Only him. And how wee he was. Wee enough to fit <em>anywhere</em> in my bedroom. Dresser drawers, closet, under the bed. Hell, under the pillow. And FAST, my he was fast. So fast that even the dog wouldn't be able to save me. And he could jump really far, like from the dresser to my bed. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So...not a lot of sleep for little me after watching that. I have no idea what my parents were thinking, or if they even had recognizable brain activity at that point. Six Million Dollar Man I can understand. You don't expect that to be scary. But when a show is called "Trilogy of Terror" it's a pretty safe bet that it's probably scary.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Now that I've given you a glimpse into the wasteland of my psyche, please do share. Tell me something that scared you so I don't feel like such a goober.</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-83032147392669907252010-07-17T09:56:00.005-04:002010-07-17T10:15:58.248-04:00A decision. One has been made.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgPT8u_E37zKxgfsF650oXH0BLyqGEGBN3MIN8zkeCM8Z_XjEUUdpuk9b2C4qBRomItxPNPz7cZfuYx6kA9tRjMdVFgJLTC_x5n8t-N3kVmE-24mJu7psbx5YcqJjBo20sUI40IN0DVrf/s1600/cabin_10_30x400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875119127035282" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgPT8u_E37zKxgfsF650oXH0BLyqGEGBN3MIN8zkeCM8Z_XjEUUdpuk9b2C4qBRomItxPNPz7cZfuYx6kA9tRjMdVFgJLTC_x5n8t-N3kVmE-24mJu7psbx5YcqJjBo20sUI40IN0DVrf/s400/cabin_10_30x400.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgP2OziA3RBsQf1RBiL0W5kEuV-qyvC78cYtGsibCBZkcH6VI4R0_rDGjS9WKeMdfC_7vt8BpwP9MFPBo803seQED6jEx6tPQV2xJX7RZCqkGrS-SNU_61-aDufPqJC0Xn6h7wf28ILHB/s1600/cabin_410.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494874302059693058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgP2OziA3RBsQf1RBiL0W5kEuV-qyvC78cYtGsibCBZkcH6VI4R0_rDGjS9WKeMdfC_7vt8BpwP9MFPBo803seQED6jEx6tPQV2xJX7RZCqkGrS-SNU_61-aDufPqJC0Xn6h7wf28ILHB/s400/cabin_410.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Imma build me a cabin. Oh wait, excuse me. It's a <em>log home</em>. Because I'm fancy.</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">These are pictures of ones my father built in the Smokey Mountains last year. Take these, add another level, and stretch them out about twenty feet all around, and that's what I'm putting up. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnAVKbhUklul9DCs4ww8g6soi514MvBl9Yhl2pIqYkSjWhBkOg0-YjEoqinii8JfY_ILYuorKNxNkJN1IGtJ4F6QTpvUaN0Y8Ywn8x7xHO6mbVigRqFFzgFDiNAjkMSFZX6X6wJfHRF3/s1600/Awestruck%2520Game%2520Room%2520-%2520250x188.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494874321348251986" style="WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnAVKbhUklul9DCs4ww8g6soi514MvBl9Yhl2pIqYkSjWhBkOg0-YjEoqinii8JfY_ILYuorKNxNkJN1IGtJ4F6QTpvUaN0Y8Ywn8x7xHO6mbVigRqFFzgFDiNAjkMSFZX6X6wJfHRF3/s400/Awestruck%2520Game%2520Room%2520-%2520250x188.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sadly, I will not have a red pool table as this area will be Silas's bedroom and I hear that they're very uncomfortable for sleeping. I <strong>will</strong> have cool rails made out of sticks though. I'm going to go pick some up out the woods this afternoon. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">also sadly? not kidding. that's how you make them<br /></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVGffXOTcdagNSUH-dMvThjE2uceM6DpCCB52o6nBVMp4v1hhcmvAqtKNh2rxQZxfLAdF7LsUBTnFwSTQWjdBi6V8WBWjYpkYHP5RJ2bcY0sQVNRbRY2I2zrPEtmgwNmOtCWrRzWpgp7x/s1600/living.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494874316096718994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVGffXOTcdagNSUH-dMvThjE2uceM6DpCCB52o6nBVMp4v1hhcmvAqtKNh2rxQZxfLAdF7LsUBTnFwSTQWjdBi6V8WBWjYpkYHP5RJ2bcY0sQVNRbRY2I2zrPEtmgwNmOtCWrRzWpgp7x/s400/living.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Please ignore furniture that doesn't look right. Mine will be nicer. Also ignore green cabinets. My father hand crafted those and they are <em>gorgeous. </em>But the green? not so much with the gorgeous.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrCHLyOPhH3Iq18Xf6Yn9lAqGghB4Le6f861U1f1Kw0uoU5fiIVmuyOIsjyR0qqjKZE1accDQ7NX5KwYz4s3MGe8pvd_WMYCHbqEM5bFx9y1AD0cDSD9Pcwipnt5pXpIMLHTAWg0WHC9z/s1600/Great%2520Room%2520from%2520loft_307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494874305863761922" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrCHLyOPhH3Iq18Xf6Yn9lAqGghB4Le6f861U1f1Kw0uoU5fiIVmuyOIsjyR0qqjKZE1accDQ7NX5KwYz4s3MGe8pvd_WMYCHbqEM5bFx9y1AD0cDSD9Pcwipnt5pXpIMLHTAWg0WHC9z/s400/Great%2520Room%2520from%2520loft_307.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm considering a zip line from the loft down to the living area. </span><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Now all I need is a building permit and <em>lots</em> of sticks.</span></p>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-10677261016733274272010-06-05T09:21:00.001-04:002010-06-05T09:24:02.436-04:00Saturday Smiles<span style="font-size:130%;">Two smiles today cause I luv ya!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggITCXKKG_hEb8ZAxCTMzmFFPcw01NCkE1CEXR5JVCBVK9ew6MxGsPvfvX2G5oVwNwcDIOB5QX4vcguw_HI0gz9ajbmWKcZ-0FRty5mLheExBgX0pAAHCZ1dDQ4mqvPrcnFv5ZeXPhu9Ae/s1600/captions-forever-4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479279390058329714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggITCXKKG_hEb8ZAxCTMzmFFPcw01NCkE1CEXR5JVCBVK9ew6MxGsPvfvX2G5oVwNwcDIOB5QX4vcguw_HI0gz9ajbmWKcZ-0FRty5mLheExBgX0pAAHCZ1dDQ4mqvPrcnFv5ZeXPhu9Ae/s400/captions-forever-4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8MGWMojxAyR61ODnuTYxclU0HmH3gTIJF6J0Yfdgu7Db_IjkC-8UPCv_zLX1tSXcuI7TDaq_5Oc_wUvXF6jCwJ8NWCqoE6qOCqEK8YNbgHNm30D_lyh_MiYjT5znLagODLhYDX9gS1rA/s1600/captions-forever-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479279388060185234" style="WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8MGWMojxAyR61ODnuTYxclU0HmH3gTIJF6J0Yfdgu7Db_IjkC-8UPCv_zLX1tSXcuI7TDaq_5Oc_wUvXF6jCwJ8NWCqoE6qOCqEK8YNbgHNm30D_lyh_MiYjT5znLagODLhYDX9gS1rA/s400/captions-forever-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-51321968502530937852010-06-01T21:26:00.005-04:002010-06-01T21:55:47.905-04:00So anyway,<span style="font-size:130%;">Where was I? That's right, bitching about all things insurance related. I'm still on that roll, but I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, house rebuild? Not started. Yes, I know it's been four months. Moving on before I cry from frustration </span><span style="font-size:85%;">frustration because the insurance people won't come out of the phone so I can wring their necks</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I believe it's time for a seasonal Silas update. Dude is getting <em>tall</em>. I'm only 60 inches tall and he's already 46 at 6 years old. It's just not fair. <em>Everybody's</em> taller than me. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">He decided to play his violin in his Academy's talent show. He didn't seem to mind that he doesn't know <em>how</em> to play it. He was content to just stand up there and saw away. So my bestie Google and I figured out the first four lines of twinkle twinkle and taught him that. He put on his fancy clothes and knocked em dead.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zlzh70yyz8T6FTPqPUAXVAywxT-fqRVJ7NUqEG7yOoHJSpQGNRH3TZjmZJqxQpF50qT3XZVaF5V8K4CeVT8GcTu_lQpZwM4iogPzgb_od8l9-72hMsGsKp7wcP-eE5rOcQGmKIq19S6j/s1600/talent+show.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477987141325801170" style="WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zlzh70yyz8T6FTPqPUAXVAywxT-fqRVJ7NUqEG7yOoHJSpQGNRH3TZjmZJqxQpF50qT3XZVaF5V8K4CeVT8GcTu_lQpZwM4iogPzgb_od8l9-72hMsGsKp7wcP-eE5rOcQGmKIq19S6j/s400/talent+show.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">please note the boots. They are a point of pride.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We're also halfway through baseball season. It was supposed to be the pitching machine this year, but for some reason the coaches keep pitching. Which I guess is better than the kids pitching. That just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. In other news, is this a killer action shot or what? </span><br /><br />><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioOsQRFReC1Rc3Pbtwoqf8HiJfKKcEY3Y5qWtXkkh3R2bDSPruWR1PK8F5fnPhdanpIK5Gwp_oUYqYhkWKS8OIWDj5P4XhpPmV2XBk5GbqYvETYV9R9OPXJd-rTcCV5TAZzadDkkD1dwD/s1600/coming+home+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477987140623571442" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioOsQRFReC1Rc3Pbtwoqf8HiJfKKcEY3Y5qWtXkkh3R2bDSPruWR1PK8F5fnPhdanpIK5Gwp_oUYqYhkWKS8OIWDj5P4XhpPmV2XBk5GbqYvETYV9R9OPXJd-rTcCV5TAZzadDkkD1dwD/s400/coming+home+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The smoke monster! Behind his head!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Someone should pay me for this stuff. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">or not, because I don't want to take pictures of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">anybody</span> else's kids and they won't pay me for pictures of mine </span><span style="font-size:85%;">(but they should)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Speaking of getting paid, I'm thinking of taking a job as administrator at Silas' school. Thoughts? What do you mean I dislike children? Not all of them. Mine are cool, I can stand yours. It's the rest of them that make me felonious. But! Good news, as administrator, I just administrate. No <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chirruns</span>! Only paperwork. Paperwork I can do. I can push paper with the best of them. Push it right off my desk into the circular file. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So I got an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ipad</span>. I'm going to quit rambling and go play with it.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Loves,</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-53892032392051394672010-05-22T08:25:00.002-04:002010-05-22T08:29:05.063-04:00Saturday Smiles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u0CZ3hegd_7M0nKq31jJSFEw2106gpUi8_sPwuGc1nW-_TWQxKwZlbaF68_R0BC6oHE6zIjCtlclZ8LrZ5lkftMsZNJJLkoppPuywF6GpLHJMHNLPoyHZZ02H57lz3zWiVZKOBqwSADh/s1600/00038865.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474069820432614738" style="WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u0CZ3hegd_7M0nKq31jJSFEw2106gpUi8_sPwuGc1nW-_TWQxKwZlbaF68_R0BC6oHE6zIjCtlclZ8LrZ5lkftMsZNJJLkoppPuywF6GpLHJMHNLPoyHZZ02H57lz3zWiVZKOBqwSADh/s400/00038865.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This is how I feel with all the craziness going on. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Insurance, contractors and inspectors..oh my.</span></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-91826641673382154132010-05-09T00:53:00.003-04:002010-05-09T01:27:49.664-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;">I just received the following text from daughter Lucy:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"OMG, am getting ready to drive Daniel Dae Kim to New Orleans. am freaking out. OMG."</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">*backstory - she just got her first job on a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1639094">feature film</a> in Baton Rouge, LA. It stars Samuel L. Jackson and Daniel Dae Kim.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm not going to link him because I don't want him to google himself and find out what dorks we are, but I did link the film. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">What does any of this have to do with mother's day? Well, first I wanted to brag on my kid. She must be doing ok if the people she's working with want to party with her. Second, I'm flattered that when something exciting happened to her, she chose me to get advice from. She could have called any of her friends, tweeted it, or any number of things.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hopefully, I didn't steer her wrong. I told her to talk to him like he's anyone else and not to act too deferential. That he'd probably appreciate that more than bowing and scraping. That has to get old after a while. (although I could probably endure it for just a bit) I also mentioned that if Lost came up, let him know that we had sad faces when Jin died. *sidenote: fucking Sawyer. He's all 'sorry Jack, I don't' and then my Sayid has to save them all. <em>sob</em> I'll never look at a man in a black tank top the same.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I realize that if you don't watch Lost, you're all 'the hell?' and I'm sorry about that. But seriously, how can you not watch what is arguably one of, if not THE best show ever produced? I highly recommend it. Get the boxed set. We'll watch it together. also, I may be high. I think I confused the xanax with the sudafed. Upside is, I'm so mellow I don't care if I'm congested. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So, since my mental faculties are rapidly deteriorating, I best wrap this up </span><span style="font-size:85%;">quit sighing with relief. it's rude</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> To recap - kids are doing good. I got asked for advice, so I'm all that, tomorrow's mother's day. So whether you're a birth mother, earth mother, soul mother or heart mother, I hope you have a wonderful day. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Loves</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-45824442906242415882010-05-01T10:16:00.003-04:002010-05-01T10:20:57.947-04:00Saturday Something<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZhRA0oFoFJLYOE5bdT2xHUIPozJnU0z7ivEwEYAU2HUz-BCbxh0FEskQTQbRLJ8htk7TkgoEq_S-eQCKUXjzaODl2vdHYukwCi8dTnP6m2gCMtDtO-nisUoTxkUborWJG7g3DM3uh9jT/s1600/00038672.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466305637699369970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZhRA0oFoFJLYOE5bdT2xHUIPozJnU0z7ivEwEYAU2HUz-BCbxh0FEskQTQbRLJ8htk7TkgoEq_S-eQCKUXjzaODl2vdHYukwCi8dTnP6m2gCMtDtO-nisUoTxkUborWJG7g3DM3uh9jT/s400/00038672.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This isn't a smile, but I had to share it. Stare at it for a moment. Does it make your brain hurt, too? I probably should have put a seizure warning on it. </span><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">We should download it and make it our screensavers. Then we can sit around in a stupor, staring at it and drooling all day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">I do that anyway, but at least I'd have an excuse.</span></p>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-73726319085805231122010-04-28T22:45:00.004-04:002010-04-29T22:02:36.940-04:00Sad :( ...then - Happy!<span style="font-size:130%;">I had to lawyer up on my insurance company today. This makes me sad. Let's suffice it to say that I didn't feel they were really 'on my side' anymore. Our loss date was 1/28/10. What's left of </span><a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2010/01/have-i-got-before-for-you"><span style="font-size:130%;">my house</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> is still sitting, stripped down to its shell, with nary a new board or nail in it. Nothing has been done. I had to threaten legal action to get the preliminary payment for my contents. I won't bore you with the details, but it's been one hassle after another to get what is due, especially the additional living expenses, such as rent, dog boarding fees, etc.<br /><br />So it appears we'll be living here in </span><a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2010/03/welcome-home"><span style="font-size:130%;">plantation central</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> for more than the initial six months. It's a lovely home, but it's so BIG. Which you'd think would be grand, but there's a problem with big. Someone has to clean it. That someone would be me. And I don't like to clean. Especially when it involves several flights of stairs to complete one load of laundry. It's a long way from the third floor down to the basement laundry room! But it's farther back up, believe you me.<br /><br />On to the happy! When I went to </span><a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2010/04/beware-those-in-north-east"><span style="font-size:130%;">New York</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> to fetch Lucy from her movie premier, she told me that she had made some valuable contacts. I figured she was just trying to justify the trip, which was really mostly for pleasure. Turns out, she was right. She wasn't home three days before she got a call to report to a shoot in Baton Rouge, La. A feature film! This will look fantastic on her cv. Her second day was today and she got promoted to Director's assistant (not to be confused with Assistant director). I'm so pleased for her. The highlight of her day, of course, was meeting </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000168"><span style="font-size:130%;">Samuel L. Jackson</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> (ahem, <em>Sam</em> to us in the know) and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0196654"><span style="font-size:130%;">Daniel Kim</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, who will forever be Jin from </span><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/lost"><span style="font-size:130%;">'Lost'</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> to me.<br /><br />Perhaps I'll have her film a documentary "A small town woman's fight against a national insurance company to get her house rebuilt". Would you see it? How about if Johnny Depp plays the evil adjuster?<br /><br /></span><a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2010/03/welcome-home"></a>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-2646886564384149312010-04-24T10:18:00.002-04:002010-04-24T10:19:38.465-04:00Saturday Smiles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQxzX-Pyu6aGaFIBijA4ZxQhgysrAZ1Q5KjNh0dLHtS9_kHgZAiczWNQ-geQBXkJZYJURacplTqRRrpzZ0OIHMXnnD7BwXtAr2vPRMqNmT97XcvZJ8860wp6xK1AZK6ZwR9LD7ody3CLb/s1600/129165205690958183.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463708403540041394" style="WIDTH: 328px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQxzX-Pyu6aGaFIBijA4ZxQhgysrAZ1Q5KjNh0dLHtS9_kHgZAiczWNQ-geQBXkJZYJURacplTqRRrpzZ0OIHMXnnD7BwXtAr2vPRMqNmT97XcvZJ8860wp6xK1AZK6ZwR9LD7ody3CLb/s400/129165205690958183.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a great weekend!</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-71567764805076786372010-04-23T13:14:00.003-04:002010-04-23T13:20:44.137-04:00Antibiotics! They work!*<span style="font-size:130%;">We're on our way back from the big city. We survived! The city survived! Win-win!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Recap later after recuperation. Much walking and riding of ferries and topless buses was done, along with hanging out with New York's finest in times square (Silas' chosen method of vacationing, but who can blame him? They had horses). </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br />*we weren't going because Silas had strep, but....<span style="font-size:85%;">(see title)</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-18208726361325965682010-04-17T09:43:00.002-04:002010-04-17T09:44:25.143-04:00Saturday Smiles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN57xdx2fQwcVFfxc-cIVwgOFwb0RJgCKi6RUHMyQe6Qm-lql0wvCOsdKdQYajd6IYTlFLa4oss0jbncrtfH9BXWH2Rjd8U5I_iDNTzZYEMkU_wznUBtYWzOnqGkyetsGnaWo2x-pVqbJ2/s1600/funny-pictures-cat-slept-on-face.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461101800503059890" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN57xdx2fQwcVFfxc-cIVwgOFwb0RJgCKi6RUHMyQe6Qm-lql0wvCOsdKdQYajd6IYTlFLa4oss0jbncrtfH9BXWH2Rjd8U5I_iDNTzZYEMkU_wznUBtYWzOnqGkyetsGnaWo2x-pVqbJ2/s400/funny-pictures-cat-slept-on-face.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-91428422531768023202010-04-16T16:51:00.004-04:002010-04-16T16:59:30.330-04:00Sidelined by the monkey plague*No New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yawk</span> City for me. Sigh. Silas came home with strep throat yesterday. Poor baby. He'll miss opening ceremonies for baseball and a birthday party. I feel bad for him. But I feel worse for me (I'm selfish like that) cause I don't get to go cavorting around the big city. I was really hoping to look like this on Monday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDhwLJK4JFGvO73-x3IL9V33TKD9l5cIfL22gY2I7MjIPL-hRq7NKK6YH7NYWwJ7VWlzfid1U4Wgkmgy6pvdtUq7p-WmG8ho4HOPmSKdQxWXhr27rnciwYiVPNFYDeYk7g815FJnMr5CK/s1600/funcage54.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460841714682443426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDhwLJK4JFGvO73-x3IL9V33TKD9l5cIfL22gY2I7MjIPL-hRq7NKK6YH7NYWwJ7VWlzfid1U4Wgkmgy6pvdtUq7p-WmG8ho4HOPmSKdQxWXhr27rnciwYiVPNFYDeYk7g815FJnMr5CK/s400/funcage54.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br />*title <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">blatantly</span> stolen from the lovely <a href="http://newlifesd.blogspot.com/">Kate</a>.Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-79335592545468708642010-04-12T12:33:00.002-04:002010-04-12T12:48:11.961-04:00Beware, those in the north eastHey! Where in the hell are my font and text size buttons?!? I can't post in this little bitty ole type, I can't even see it! For those of you not on blogger (you lucky dogs), there used to be two little buttons in a bar across the top of the window where you could pick your font and text size. I always picked large so I could SEE what I typed. But no more, apparently. Get out your magnifying glasses.<br /><br />Anyquityerbitchin, guess where I'm going this weekend? To new york city! Yay! Happy face! Lucy went to a movie premier last week, and instead of having her bring the train down, I'm going to hop in MINI Pearl and go fetch her.<br /><br />So of course, I need advice from the natives. Where to stay, where to stay OUT of, etc. I really don't want it to be like my first New Orleans trip, where the limo from the airport pulled up in front of a falling down motel in between a liquor store and a strip club. Although, that probably could have been fun too.<br /><br />I'm thinking of trying to see at least one show (Wicked, maybe?) and do the cheesy tourist thing and take a tour. Other than that, please to advise. What can I do that the other 86 bazillion tourists there won't know about? Give me the inside scoop, and I promise I won't call you, drunk and lost, at 3 am Saturday morning.Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-31333932539463346312010-04-10T00:09:00.004-04:002010-04-10T00:24:47.765-04:00Saturday Smiles<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gnHVOf9dFf3W5OBzN7plahHxO5FmpUZCJukw2J7uykP_tX-JKDYo6x7CnaWkdpiNIvqLM7oXkQvHq7F4tggsF73-MhJ8mTVSfoyuKmiM7Qqh8yzzWey5yYQQZT5__D6fBC5abJ0JBnrd/s1600/129152070510610004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458356342707570578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gnHVOf9dFf3W5OBzN7plahHxO5FmpUZCJukw2J7uykP_tX-JKDYo6x7CnaWkdpiNIvqLM7oXkQvHq7F4tggsF73-MhJ8mTVSfoyuKmiM7Qqh8yzzWey5yYQQZT5__D6fBC5abJ0JBnrd/s400/129152070510610004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLm4nw0B0QjqcIN7U7eoRZOM8mndkY4tC5imnlrkAMXj2zhWkEG81Q8kYIr2xMlCVSalUxgfclSiwU_kjnGSkxxajHJ670oAVX39YbFEqLWGjFgoHVrowwioXFVQVNVhMy46hf70LZfM6/s1600/129143848778764803.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458359861012554898" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLm4nw0B0QjqcIN7U7eoRZOM8mndkY4tC5imnlrkAMXj2zhWkEG81Q8kYIr2xMlCVSalUxgfclSiwU_kjnGSkxxajHJ670oAVX39YbFEqLWGjFgoHVrowwioXFVQVNVhMy46hf70LZfM6/s400/129143848778764803.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a great weekend!</span></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-67003709191728751512010-04-07T18:52:00.002-04:002010-04-07T19:11:41.171-04:00This post is mandatory<span style="font-size:130%;">I was recently contacted by the Association of Professional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bloggers</span> and informed that I was in violation of Code 28, subsection 6b. Apparently, it is required that all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bloggers</span> publish a mandatory "It's Spring" post or risk losing their license. Because I don't want to get kicked off the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">internet</span>, I give you:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">SPRING!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jUP6pbmgQia1Cll9jOPBAj_kA1T-ZsyvlVs56emS8bKiDCIIAlW7D8ij8gKdr1AwSkC-u-VecrlMuipjRXfgTQMmqMLhgMXaIwmgXWUWpEJQ57zr11gx9jGu3OfvtsIBYK_7X9VIyNEX/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457532743728430930" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jUP6pbmgQia1Cll9jOPBAj_kA1T-ZsyvlVs56emS8bKiDCIIAlW7D8ij8gKdr1AwSkC-u-VecrlMuipjRXfgTQMmqMLhgMXaIwmgXWUWpEJQ57zr11gx9jGu3OfvtsIBYK_7X9VIyNEX/s400/DSC_0248.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It doesn't get more springy than a puppy in a convertible.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDYjG3Tmv9MEZAvFm4zBD0satn9Uekm20HjymFK_T5j8_McETILDy40CBTCVBMqTFCWcSERfN1OrPLhqnkl9VqzFxGc2deHIDsxFuf6QiOV88DdD99R7nm6YFk4TRUwuO8chVYqV29Klj/s1600/DSC_0241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457532737126170194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDYjG3Tmv9MEZAvFm4zBD0satn9Uekm20HjymFK_T5j8_McETILDy40CBTCVBMqTFCWcSERfN1OrPLhqnkl9VqzFxGc2deHIDsxFuf6QiOV88DdD99R7nm6YFk4TRUwuO8chVYqV29Klj/s400/DSC_0241.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">'come on woman! We've got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cruisin</span>' to do. I want my jaws <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">flappin</span> in 5 minutes'</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLbUS9n-qcs9qMpdnAcRXuZTsQTmYtW_Vf4tx2ZJGVR6DXMcCsMgP4oXz6BN16jeCeZ5JEcYgWCehI_SahpiEDYBeCIdVPf6Vr6N4MdHQCTN3nH3EI5sPIdxIjuIsJ_kcOFJ-qoazCuYi/s1600/DSC_0253.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457532730590968546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLbUS9n-qcs9qMpdnAcRXuZTsQTmYtW_Vf4tx2ZJGVR6DXMcCsMgP4oXz6BN16jeCeZ5JEcYgWCehI_SahpiEDYBeCIdVPf6Vr6N4MdHQCTN3nH3EI5sPIdxIjuIsJ_kcOFJ-qoazCuYi/s400/DSC_0253.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Required outside picture of kid in sunshine. This complies with regulation 124a.</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div> </div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Now that I'm in compliance, I can rest easy knowing that my membership is secure. Happy Spring! May you have lots of gorgeous flowers and no allergies.</span><br /></div><div></div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-87307867854187970452010-04-04T12:27:00.000-04:002010-04-04T12:29:08.845-04:00Happy Easter!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfZeXMiFX3uZlmEH-_1TOB-9i1vp38ppN6D0yi8ZK43Rb0sYm0bDapno4FmShNZZQzA73c6Zv_teHqLuQr0d7Dyk3lkzNWzFI7FAc0IHq6QWhOMsWXb1RnQuy5RvYs9HkFER3OJwfsEvT/s1600/DSC_0237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456320003915264898" style="WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfZeXMiFX3uZlmEH-_1TOB-9i1vp38ppN6D0yi8ZK43Rb0sYm0bDapno4FmShNZZQzA73c6Zv_teHqLuQr0d7Dyk3lkzNWzFI7FAc0IHq6QWhOMsWXb1RnQuy5RvYs9HkFER3OJwfsEvT/s400/DSC_0237.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">bawk! bawk!</span><br /></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-52353155861463957172010-03-10T10:20:00.005-05:002010-03-10T10:51:54.657-05:00Welcome Home!<span style="font-size:130%;">Albeit temporarily. We're finally settled into a rental! And what a rental. After looking at over 18 properties, some of which were just downright nasty, we finally found someone who would agree to a six month lease. I thought the dogs would be the problem, but it was the length of the lease. </span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">So behold, the temporary world headquarters of Casa de Silence:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXudD5DFjXDcgM3Tj6JP8mmKxbJanKcMCXpYMWpsD9IPh-Xq6EVF6diCXCl7HVok_PB5jeStMkvi3qYVaeeqcMTZ4d2hFW_el6xK9afam8Tus3YCHy1xiSe9xBhVBLIJRJYcyxlPkV2u8/s1600-h/Flagg+House.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026558698471714" style="WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXudD5DFjXDcgM3Tj6JP8mmKxbJanKcMCXpYMWpsD9IPh-Xq6EVF6diCXCl7HVok_PB5jeStMkvi3qYVaeeqcMTZ4d2hFW_el6xK9afam8Tus3YCHy1xiSe9xBhVBLIJRJYcyxlPkV2u8/s400/Flagg+House.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />(lifted straight from the realtors site)</p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Please, do come in:</span></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmH5sFT4rsza1q8lrv68mPesc5_rVPFzwIJVSoQoWJ5NiaimI-Zw3p-0a-IF6pnQT09MoJWpMYiTnH85zCi7klQ0g2PiXeQ8sauMx-CPFsr08OsgvzhqoU2AumUoSUOhhmGRxK1E0-7Pz/s1600-h/entryway2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026555098629602" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmH5sFT4rsza1q8lrv68mPesc5_rVPFzwIJVSoQoWJ5NiaimI-Zw3p-0a-IF6pnQT09MoJWpMYiTnH85zCi7klQ0g2PiXeQ8sauMx-CPFsr08OsgvzhqoU2AumUoSUOhhmGRxK1E0-7Pz/s400/entryway2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />entry from the middle landing:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwba4rWZOm-b2C_Fn-hbCtwzQ71hwVHMbBJxBwY8kGdZy3yu2aDLDIJMqjs86xMREmTZBCihDB4pKUPxvYTdy-90yzcVRm1fYB0zMzDqcXJ-UhRM8vxxtm2YvjuiOYEho9UbapASOPbNz/s1600-h/entryway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026317118996594" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwba4rWZOm-b2C_Fn-hbCtwzQ71hwVHMbBJxBwY8kGdZy3yu2aDLDIJMqjs86xMREmTZBCihDB4pKUPxvYTdy-90yzcVRm1fYB0zMzDqcXJ-UhRM8vxxtm2YvjuiOYEho9UbapASOPbNz/s400/entryway.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Step into my parlor:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUckWm6RWZlJKkysYxMqooOsGCZTUwjTEC_WMi0862nN51pyLMvPjuctNLHAcYw5V8GREIvLUBsCxv-Zw5P7morLhUZT8nLEsDUKD4PsI5u41R1-Hl_ovd2RkftlYnZwMu_BjZx7-ufRGq/s1600-h/parlor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447032379487440018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUckWm6RWZlJKkysYxMqooOsGCZTUwjTEC_WMi0862nN51pyLMvPjuctNLHAcYw5V8GREIvLUBsCxv-Zw5P7morLhUZT8nLEsDUKD4PsI5u41R1-Hl_ovd2RkftlYnZwMu_BjZx7-ufRGq/s400/parlor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The second parlor on the opposite side of the entry will not be shown. It has been appropriated by the husband and turned into a man cave. <em>the shame..</em></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Stop by for dinner any time. We certainly have room to seat you. (the table seats ten but I couldn't get all of it in the picture)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUtWlbYwVKWHEAfoYIQ-7H0oOffe2vhOR2xy6vF8mwFVU52LNPiUDIAc4k4x-0X_A88aWR_rAq0gqg3L6wKpPW7kGYc7vpx7uaMza-y-zc1Yga4dY4clrnmw5CM3MnANU88_CGTI32McX/s1600-h/Dining+Room.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026304794887058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUtWlbYwVKWHEAfoYIQ-7H0oOffe2vhOR2xy6vF8mwFVU52LNPiUDIAc4k4x-0X_A88aWR_rAq0gqg3L6wKpPW7kGYc7vpx7uaMza-y-zc1Yga4dY4clrnmw5CM3MnANU88_CGTI32McX/s400/Dining+Room.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The realtor called this the sunroom. Because it's sunny. The genius, it astounds you. The picture was taken from the 'breakfast kitchen'. Which is around the corner from the 'lunch and dinner kitchen'. Yeah, two kitchens. I have no idea either.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy2N-lkYM-UdFJ97YM315fISL664y6sanuTip93vSO9H2zt3Jpcj9gq_SJMbYCRCnn3s35Sx2MrRVPJGOYTRphgoTxAHgb1loe3cj5e_Xgy8mawEc25FZUDmGDo5fTd5CtSjy3EjonIIb/s1600-h/sunroom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026300531843618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy2N-lkYM-UdFJ97YM315fISL664y6sanuTip93vSO9H2zt3Jpcj9gq_SJMbYCRCnn3s35Sx2MrRVPJGOYTRphgoTxAHgb1loe3cj5e_Xgy8mawEc25FZUDmGDo5fTd5CtSjy3EjonIIb/s400/sunroom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The <strong>fenced in</strong> (woo!) backyard, which was on the spring garden tour last year. I hope it's not this year. That would entail me picking up poop.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhre7QSkRPQznOe74xbjc3okWdkhGxobPdwNR7MFDCUYeNfcileksD3Us6AlJgoAUN-cDQ8ksA_LCbypfcrYGEbIJNNy2TckaRS9nKsUOnTVooAj0iqi2Wtgyzv-WPBnmIqOOYd4AGasFc/s1600-h/backyard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026294492245842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhre7QSkRPQznOe74xbjc3okWdkhGxobPdwNR7MFDCUYeNfcileksD3Us6AlJgoAUN-cDQ8ksA_LCbypfcrYGEbIJNNy2TckaRS9nKsUOnTVooAj0iqi2Wtgyzv-WPBnmIqOOYd4AGasFc/s400/backyard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Pickles approves.</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_Z2cq7q-GScThv-M-dca3O0LsVCC-rJp4DokmZ17IqWwsGxPTOclNUTVRY1U0I6PPdH7u1rVdlzoTNymoj1pbgTDT96vaL3bW-gTl0DAfVXHzirZfKM0jPX4UEgNXay-iHRj9f6DCbiN/s1600-h/pickles+happy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447026292139726706" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_Z2cq7q-GScThv-M-dca3O0LsVCC-rJp4DokmZ17IqWwsGxPTOclNUTVRY1U0I6PPdH7u1rVdlzoTNymoj1pbgTDT96vaL3bW-gTl0DAfVXHzirZfKM0jPX4UEgNXay-iHRj9f6DCbiN/s400/pickles+happy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks for stopping by. We'll continue the tour with the upstairs after I clear a path. It's amazing how I can still manage to make a mess when I don't have any stuff. We have very few clothes, no furniture, no toys so how in the world is there a mess you ask? It's just a special talent I have.</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">The house was built in 1840 and has quite a colorful history. It was a hospital during the civil war, a brothel, doctor's home and office, and rehab. Unfortunately, I've encountered no ghosts as of yet. I'll keep you posted.</span><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-88588264524789013742010-03-02T08:03:00.005-05:002010-03-02T08:08:49.499-05:00This is a warning<span style="font-size:130%;">Sometime soon, like the next day or two, I am going to publish a post that does not include any gloom, despair, or agony. I am giving you this information so that you will not be shocked and drop your computer. Or do a spit take and soak it.<br /><br />I'm trying to look out for you.<br /><br />The post will be upbeat, include pictures and good news. Now, it's been so long that any of that has happened on this blog that you may want to take it slow. Start with just a peek, then come back when that's settled. I don't want you to go into shock or fall over with a case of the vapors.<br /><br />Consider yourself warned and prepare accordingly. See you soon!</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-81267493382325400712010-02-21T00:18:00.005-05:002010-02-21T00:37:50.943-05:00You know how in the Amityville Horror, the ghost kept following them no matter where they ran to?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHSqeR63T9N5BBde6tB-9SKDANoo6jZE-5Su985Ke5mAvqgR2V3dRaYOpdTuayFdwDxc_onCWMl-V-rgCJDQXP2mbudzOHI60b7K0lvKZLkzgB0OOvC3dl4-WjKM1oKQr3CT107563uRa/s1600-h/hotel+fire+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440563072505871218" style="WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHSqeR63T9N5BBde6tB-9SKDANoo6jZE-5Su985Ke5mAvqgR2V3dRaYOpdTuayFdwDxc_onCWMl-V-rgCJDQXP2mbudzOHI60b7K0lvKZLkzgB0OOvC3dl4-WjKM1oKQr3CT107563uRa/s400/hotel+fire+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It's kind of like that, but with fire.</span></div><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">These are pictures of the hotel on Saturday night. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">The hotel that I'm staying at because <a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2010/01/have-i-got-before-for-you.html">I lost my house to fire</a>.<br /><br />The hotel that caught on fire.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0ngfmdgQw1bciPEyNISr90e-qh2qnGoSRVbOJ2O9Wjw7NOSTrKvKnatUuhHux3C_hOIUFI6vu2joCW_pUy87PReVSyv4l-SY67eNAzWy4zXpM6DQtH5Woyq2ON5kSNzLKbUKkbhPL-fv/s1600-h/hotel+fire+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440562230809052370" style="WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0ngfmdgQw1bciPEyNISr90e-qh2qnGoSRVbOJ2O9Wjw7NOSTrKvKnatUuhHux3C_hOIUFI6vu2joCW_pUy87PReVSyv4l-SY67eNAzWy4zXpM6DQtH5Woyq2ON5kSNzLKbUKkbhPL-fv/s400/hotel+fire+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzNr593p68E8UCc0jme72J00IPzQD_XiISaVQEYyUPcTy8dxeVemOSPNFMWFiLYo_2klsY4nKWTL4kyrrdzKTUA7A1IAe1BVSac0qe5yADIJ9edlhyjJRFv-h_Xj-iJHj0damLVWJUI6R/s1600-h/hotel+fire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440562222625714146" style="WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzNr593p68E8UCc0jme72J00IPzQD_XiISaVQEYyUPcTy8dxeVemOSPNFMWFiLYo_2klsY4nKWTL4kyrrdzKTUA7A1IAe1BVSac0qe5yADIJ9edlhyjJRFv-h_Xj-iJHj0damLVWJUI6R/s400/hotel+fire.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I don't even know what else to say. I mean, have you ever? How much more can I be expected to take? Really, karma gods, you need to learn when to quit. Enough is enough.</span><br /><br /></p></span><div>*<span style="font-size:85%;">only smoke damage. One of the dryers in the laundry got too hot and smoky.</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-45790632062532272362010-02-20T09:59:00.001-05:002010-02-20T10:01:11.724-05:00Saturday Smiles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AFAGLgd9_SNTl0_icOnKBJwmQglN2fh-ad3c8IczrMj1Wl3Yfdc_gw9xNpGVpWGWfFRfgoXXK4vq-4A9RDQKnXm4HAq4jBNAK-CqHh_Etru2h-hAvq0qhPsZL6q77UwAUC2EMUoEmUsu/s1600-h/giraffe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440340758807534850" style="WIDTH: 328px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AFAGLgd9_SNTl0_icOnKBJwmQglN2fh-ad3c8IczrMj1Wl3Yfdc_gw9xNpGVpWGWfFRfgoXXK4vq-4A9RDQKnXm4HAq4jBNAK-CqHh_Etru2h-hAvq0qhPsZL6q77UwAUC2EMUoEmUsu/s400/giraffe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-33093095206262962072010-02-17T20:50:00.003-05:002010-02-17T21:22:57.488-05:00Things I miss<span style="font-size:130%;">What with being homeless and all, I've been taking particular notice of the things I miss. We're still in a hotel, coming up on three weeks now. Snowmageddon really mucked things up further with its ten feet of snow. The cleaning company can't get a dumpster up to the house to start throwing stuff out, so we do nothing. They don't want to handle the items twice, which I understand, but if anything could have been saved it is certainly ruined by now. The smell is just soooo nasty and has permeated everything.<br /><br />I miss my fabulous </span><a href="http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/womensapparel-Jackets-trenches-Seabrook_Sateen_Zebra_Print_Trench_Coat-lordandtaylor/137376"><span style="font-size:130%;">zebra print trench coat</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. And my superfunktastic </span><a href="http://www.zappos.com/dansko-professional-leopard-patent"><span style="font-size:130%;">leopard print dansko clogs</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. That I only got to wear thrice before they became funkified in a not fantastic way. (btw, I did <em>not</em> wear the trench and the clogs together) <span style="font-size:85%;">(but I thought about it)<br /></span><br />I really miss my </span><a href="http://www.levenger.com/pagetemplates/product/product.asp?params=category=5-344level=2-3pageid=614"><span style="font-size:130%;">lapdesk</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. This actually putting the laptop on my, well, lap top, sucks. And gets burny.<br /><br />But mostly, I miss my </span><a href="http://www.keurig.com/allbrewers.asp?mscsid=K4UC73W0QKRD9G2MAT8T6W1PGH0V9NF9"><span style="font-size:130%;">Keurig</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. I'm so zombified in the morning that I just can't face the whole filter, coffee, measure procedure and I usually end up with some swill that's barely palatable. Just when did I get too fancy to hold my own damn computer and measure out coffee grounds?<br /><br />This whole ordeal may just humble me yet.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> (don't count on it.)</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-34733340104746587382010-02-06T15:47:00.005-05:002010-02-06T16:14:29.920-05:00Well, I've had enough of THIS happy horseshit<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj1qU2KiRsRH7f0xNVYLCMqfkad9j6LzgoWhvmdZL98aToG5Z6vEGzhdvLQT3_wUchm5NtMMmmKNuudgiqNcTjrx4k-RNJ_ZEPFlh2WecYGOBi2NjQzW-VbkSIHpm_wgTGj-npQbvY1Hj/s1600-h/snow2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435235558280881314" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj1qU2KiRsRH7f0xNVYLCMqfkad9j6LzgoWhvmdZL98aToG5Z6vEGzhdvLQT3_wUchm5NtMMmmKNuudgiqNcTjrx4k-RNJ_ZEPFlh2WecYGOBi2NjQzW-VbkSIHpm_wgTGj-npQbvY1Hj/s400/snow2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">And so has Pickles. Although she loves the snow when it's not over her <em>head</em>.</span><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaT0DsqD41ZNmLGO9xEui02BPo1iQwVqjBavPGcw8q6w-3VNcUKTMW90M66ouOSGz635qDhdCugoO9Tt_TAyVKk4tNGd9m78RmmTU8ubFe6Kh_l8Csdt4o6xz5Ht-kJNuhmsfggcHsomg/s1600-h/snow3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435236064440212082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaT0DsqD41ZNmLGO9xEui02BPo1iQwVqjBavPGcw8q6w-3VNcUKTMW90M66ouOSGz635qDhdCugoO9Tt_TAyVKk4tNGd9m78RmmTU8ubFe6Kh_l8Csdt4o6xz5Ht-kJNuhmsfggcHsomg/s400/snow3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">The big lump up there? It is the husband's truck.</span></div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiI-qj-z7QwSINQzNIcw8WL_wp7cRIK2sP8US6vKxwkvuA20YN3DAZA52kRsA5evS9RY51qvcXsnLE3kcGgBdJrDmQuLUhxG1D4GE0JaV0CN9IsWKUTZv2rdc3quukLc4bPmFQqxkCMBg/s1600-h/snow1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435235266109604642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiI-qj-z7QwSINQzNIcw8WL_wp7cRIK2sP8US6vKxwkvuA20YN3DAZA52kRsA5evS9RY51qvcXsnLE3kcGgBdJrDmQuLUhxG1D4GE0JaV0CN9IsWKUTZv2rdc3quukLc4bPmFQqxkCMBg/s400/snow1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And that? up there? That's my new car I was fixin to tell you about before my stupid house <strong>burned.</strong> (not linking, too sad. scroll down, it's the last post)</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This is what it looks like when it's not hiding out in a snow drift.</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuBxVLAt6LeHeR3MNCKy-441B-99wXfBB8Bx5iogQI75_YSmKwzF8PhvlgJAMnE4fyDWyQ5F5gQRe21M96yqFF5x0m7R4TDtggOHZLG0c4oNs1uWQ9P1cs8-NxHVCkUsgHHhPnPKpUUxJ/s1600-h/Mini-Cooper_Convertible_2005_800x600_wallpaper_71.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435235264124167906" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuBxVLAt6LeHeR3MNCKy-441B-99wXfBB8Bx5iogQI75_YSmKwzF8PhvlgJAMnE4fyDWyQ5F5gQRe21M96yqFF5x0m7R4TDtggOHZLG0c4oNs1uWQ9P1cs8-NxHVCkUsgHHhPnPKpUUxJ/s400/Mini-Cooper_Convertible_2005_800x600_wallpaper_71.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Not my picture, obviously. Since I have no HOUSE, or CAMERA, or GARAGE for it to live in and not get a billion tons of snow on it. Did you know that with a convertible, you have to go out and sweep the snow off the roof every five seconds or the roof will collapse from the weight? True.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Snow sweeping aside, I lovelovelove this car! It's the bright spot in my otherwise dreary existence of looking at rental after rental after rental. I thought having the dogs would be the problem in renting a house. But noooo, it's that no one wants to do a six month lease. My thinking is that six months worth of money is better than no money, but they'd rather let the house sit empty and get nothing. Me no unnerstand.</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">What I do understand is that I MUST get out of this hotel or I will pull a Jack Nicholson in The Shining. I've got a few more to look at on Monday, providing we're dug out by then. We've got 7' drifts out in the parking lot, but the roads are clear. I guess that's one bright side to not being at home. If I were at home, I'd have no power (it went out at 9pm Friday) and I'd truly be stuck because they won't get to our road until probably Monday night. So see? Bright side to everything! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm going to go sob quietly in the bathroom now. Please don't tell anyone where I am.</span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-26997767592112506992010-01-30T22:53:00.003-05:002010-01-30T23:06:28.671-05:00Have I got a 'before' for you!<span style="font-size:130%;">Unfortunately, the 'after' is going to take 4 to 6 months.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9eXTTzqVIzER5OK9SN5-XakfdWdcs0R06asVqX_wjc_m2Kw5GOcFgN-GfTo-hVD9GBQNe6y6MC8fTxbcZ5sq8PwB4gLRvW30Thfzg9GfzAnSefAMkg7rrRv_9OHONfMshOl1Mo0nQgW/s1600-h/Fire1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432747654675493618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms9eXTTzqVIzER5OK9SN5-XakfdWdcs0R06asVqX_wjc_m2Kw5GOcFgN-GfTo-hVD9GBQNe6y6MC8fTxbcZ5sq8PwB4gLRvW30Thfzg9GfzAnSefAMkg7rrRv_9OHONfMshOl1Mo0nQgW/s400/Fire1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihafZPjiTaOHr9EFhWN-5YgRUMiOJpv7fK5QvnpjWKALoQUFytHjBCT6Q3o4SDiEe6ev6HXRI_WhkIq-SPxWNnvaQNUgiyx_mi5Epda73ZJCJfwm4s-f6UrLsR5-7nrBbXUIivMr9T_t06/s1600-h/Fire2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432747645756773778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihafZPjiTaOHr9EFhWN-5YgRUMiOJpv7fK5QvnpjWKALoQUFytHjBCT6Q3o4SDiEe6ev6HXRI_WhkIq-SPxWNnvaQNUgiyx_mi5Epda73ZJCJfwm4s-f6UrLsR5-7nrBbXUIivMr9T_t06/s400/Fire2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv6NZ6os5yIVQUKKTZXq-poQ1fxagpI5aqhJ8I9wmoXjGjrxZ2dp2LbM-lj79D3IiSDwvfRQmVB6EF0V7JGbq8NOm6ePyLsGNnOhOXMErbo_PEwU8gMr30k82Pb39fpPx2PJ3g7k998Ks/s1600-h/Fire3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432747643353920786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv6NZ6os5yIVQUKKTZXq-poQ1fxagpI5aqhJ8I9wmoXjGjrxZ2dp2LbM-lj79D3IiSDwvfRQmVB6EF0V7JGbq8NOm6ePyLsGNnOhOXMErbo_PEwU8gMr30k82Pb39fpPx2PJ3g7k998Ks/s400/Fire3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7NwpMiLiDwaw_1aoZPWJq5_sJrrz-Uc-s5IJUJsjbo2W_2ZFQAF9hz_wlw4O-sMvBB0IjvQlx6XGC67-sKcDsYDrAiHOCbaH4r6t2FkzPugo5-lvuoWwzSj7B0VLLI7gMTJ0Qak4EcNs/s1600-h/Fire4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432747637757575218" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7NwpMiLiDwaw_1aoZPWJq5_sJrrz-Uc-s5IJUJsjbo2W_2ZFQAF9hz_wlw4O-sMvBB0IjvQlx6XGC67-sKcDsYDrAiHOCbaH4r6t2FkzPugo5-lvuoWwzSj7B0VLLI7gMTJ0Qak4EcNs/s400/Fire4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Anyone have a spare room? or 5? </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We think the cord to the reading lamp that sat beside the sofa short circuited. Thankfully, I was home and was able to awaken SweetieDarling and get her and the dogs out. Everything on our main living level is lost, but other than a bit of smoke inhalation on my part, everyone is fine. They tell me it was less than a minute or two from flashpoint. We would've lost the entire house if that had happened. So there's that. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We're in a motel, one of the few that allows pets. I've boarded the labs, but kept the little ones with me. We'll have to find a place to rent until the repairs are done. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm tired. I really just want to go home.</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-61564681948508970842010-01-27T18:03:00.002-05:002010-01-27T18:28:03.771-05:00Here comes the rain again<span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We had just a wee bit of rain this week.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">A gullywasher, if you will.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFK6VENB6WAhsUpMyz92oBOPevo3Et-oQbHu9QoIiV-O_Rtyv5xIxYyL0ToKoRCOJm20R53vdnmFa8N7AC0rA71PG5SEnhD1Ja-8G2GhaqgFDfwM_C1imq2QF5fJ1G4y4HNQu63XFlAnS/s1600-h/Rain1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561837864753474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFK6VENB6WAhsUpMyz92oBOPevo3Et-oQbHu9QoIiV-O_Rtyv5xIxYyL0ToKoRCOJm20R53vdnmFa8N7AC0rA71PG5SEnhD1Ja-8G2GhaqgFDfwM_C1imq2QF5fJ1G4y4HNQu63XFlAnS/s400/Rain1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGl7vN_2FzavMe81vTBQcbWFecUR6IB6HnmKnh58P1jEZD72bU8BxLgp3cTTaRmjl_tYgteVetKZ4xxzqyPBWUHoyL74gDjXcHZJFs8lbiUrlC6fgphdDZaj9D_gkDHddd-23J1nl6HcD/s1600-h/Rain2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561834401316898" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGl7vN_2FzavMe81vTBQcbWFecUR6IB6HnmKnh58P1jEZD72bU8BxLgp3cTTaRmjl_tYgteVetKZ4xxzqyPBWUHoyL74gDjXcHZJFs8lbiUrlC6fgphdDZaj9D_gkDHddd-23J1nl6HcD/s400/Rain2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4RknQ7Es-rnM7x7QDCi1tFT5za_AxeT9Lx6kFdCo3t8-biYmR3Hwq6OrCx5IcR8XZ_2d_Uc-Sx6eGCiEK6GSFAVAncd7J3l6HrH-dXlRU0hUdQ5W7pC-wMJGB9VxXHitbLzJm9VytyrZ/s1600-h/Rain3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561822911472738" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4RknQ7Es-rnM7x7QDCi1tFT5za_AxeT9Lx6kFdCo3t8-biYmR3Hwq6OrCx5IcR8XZ_2d_Uc-Sx6eGCiEK6GSFAVAncd7J3l6HrH-dXlRU0hUdQ5W7pC-wMJGB9VxXHitbLzJm9VytyrZ/s400/Rain3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Below is what it looked like from my kitchen door to the bottom of the driveway. The river is across the road from my drive. My neighbors get the pleasure of having a ravine carved into their road. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdlnJ84PDASy4jS2PiGLNnI2A7d6YygRXK6ddrbtkKipHbhETXwEjH0rOCqOlIQX6fX7lPsTUUwNGWVAGtqGA-1Wx_igI9r3rMPYTXeLPOmk7Wh20XtLeV3qbCIh9abUYkJix0-BhhtHL/s1600-h/Rain4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561819548493522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdlnJ84PDASy4jS2PiGLNnI2A7d6YygRXK6ddrbtkKipHbhETXwEjH0rOCqOlIQX6fX7lPsTUUwNGWVAGtqGA-1Wx_igI9r3rMPYTXeLPOmk7Wh20XtLeV3qbCIh9abUYkJix0-BhhtHL/s400/Rain4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This is what I encountered when I left to take Silas to school:</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FhyphenhyphenKIf-FNAgrYfMmyv_XkAnBOsSdbr92P6QpwSmpV83HYtPlX8srIqNXjktZEgF3DawyJuiDbijle_KyBesILllEcVl5nwKoyDo5lxr4KESHV94rzdyJH6vOuQgosfgh5w9qusgHKDpu/s1600-h/Rain5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561430782938130" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FhyphenhyphenKIf-FNAgrYfMmyv_XkAnBOsSdbr92P6QpwSmpV83HYtPlX8srIqNXjktZEgF3DawyJuiDbijle_KyBesILllEcVl5nwKoyDo5lxr4KESHV94rzdyJH6vOuQgosfgh5w9qusgHKDpu/s400/Rain5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It used to be my road. Just a smidge problematic to get through, but I made it. Just to encounter this:</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoF0zsEbugPvvGhiBvdM34YG4mAn3LbskTtSyi-CY6h46Noh8EYdqxcRVid7UfoiQM8Oq1kHYZMjfmg1Uhf1aMYcrGMlD_0B1yltVnUvur_lmaYI1Ug2-utIKMQAeb4ZeDbsIjdG0T05h/s1600-h/Rain6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561420521046242" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoF0zsEbugPvvGhiBvdM34YG4mAn3LbskTtSyi-CY6h46Noh8EYdqxcRVid7UfoiQM8Oq1kHYZMjfmg1Uhf1aMYcrGMlD_0B1yltVnUvur_lmaYI1Ug2-utIKMQAeb4ZeDbsIjdG0T05h/s400/Rain6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I finally muck my way through the mess, get off the mountain, and 30 minutes later:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1GnrRC2lqmz4ek-xyo5lykRDbuAM-rahXcJtNBckMdkt4-9y6pPR2y7zaMo0zHfs3zXvyKHNDHVSGe_06HyhRtjK2qWiTIjOF29EPEitTESiFsE9RcG7INHRW4puP4qjvsONmppaLEBU/s1600-h/Rain7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431561416932093266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1GnrRC2lqmz4ek-xyo5lykRDbuAM-rahXcJtNBckMdkt4-9y6pPR2y7zaMo0zHfs3zXvyKHNDHVSGe_06HyhRtjK2qWiTIjOF29EPEitTESiFsE9RcG7INHRW4puP4qjvsONmppaLEBU/s400/Rain7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Blue skies all around. Looks like it didn't even rain here. Must be that storm cloud that hangs around over my head. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017250613851027863.post-46106576724738501742010-01-16T15:21:00.007-05:002010-01-17T15:30:04.617-05:00The Death of the Jaguar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6ciMJFP1q8GtZmvDPgUzruEF76UCGU6jlaDFjuNnwhNmIa68kDPOtTkCcaFIYnshDX2i5Rr2Q5gHzOTPKGGuUbwUI819CpWhx8DrFiFbLG_B25Bxu6Ago6y7PCKt2Faag6XUiHCvdZVF/s1600-h/Jaguar-XType_3_0_2004_800x600_wallpaper_02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427439339769513154" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6ciMJFP1q8GtZmvDPgUzruEF76UCGU6jlaDFjuNnwhNmIa68kDPOtTkCcaFIYnshDX2i5Rr2Q5gHzOTPKGGuUbwUI819CpWhx8DrFiFbLG_B25Bxu6Ago6y7PCKt2Faag6XUiHCvdZVF/s400/Jaguar-XType_3_0_2004_800x600_wallpaper_02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It is with much sadness that I report that the jag has finally given up the ghost. The diagnosis? Transmission failure. The car was running fine when I parked it. I got in it to leave, put it in drive and nothing. Which is unusual, because transmissions don't just go bad sitting still. Unless it's a jag. Apparently.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I've managed to insult my mechanic (evidently I don't take the news of several thousand dollar repair bills very well), I've pissed off (better than pissed on, I always say) the second opinion mechanic I towed the damn thing to and some random guy who answers questions on the internet mechanics forum. Three for three - I'm on a roll! With much wailing and gnashing of teefs, some kicking and a bit of screaming, I have accepted that it is, indeed, the tranny. The upside is that I can honestly say that I've blown a tranny this week. Too bad it wasn't <a href="http://www.eddieizzard.com/index-main.php">Eddie Izzard</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Let's recap, shall we?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">June 09. Scene: me, standing at car auction, looking to buy something to replace the <a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2009/06/they-see-me-rollin.html">expedition</a>. Cash in my hot little hand. Need something practical, that will go in snow and over rough roads. Auctioneer brings through the jag. I take one look, say "ooh, SHINY", throw all my money at the guy and drive away grinning like an idiot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">August 09. Scene: me at the jag dealer holding a printout of all the sensors, parts and various sundry things wrong with car. No longer grinning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">October 09. <a href="http://cravingsilence.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-dogma-ate-my-car-ma.html">Car overheats</a>, gets towed, has thermostat replaced, needs million dollar overflow tank. Still overheats, needs fan assembly replaced for additional million dollars. Frowning commences.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">November and December are deceptively problem free. Tentative grinning is resumed. Grinning is soon replaced by the ugly cry as I realize that there is no way under the sun that I can afford to fix this car. And even if I could, I wouldn't because it would just be something else next week. If I had done my research properly in the first place, I never would have bought it. I was dazzled! Hoodwinked by her beauty! Taken in by her curves and smooth ride. (contrary to the previous sentence, this is <strong>not</strong> a p0rn blog) While I lovedlovedloved that car, if anyone asked me for a recommendation, I would suggest running away as fast as possible. Unless you have an unlimited supply of money and an import mechanic living with you.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Since I still haven't reached a settlement with F0rd for the expedition, I have to find some transportation that fits into my budget of $0. Stay tuned for the next episode of 'As the wheels don't turn'. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">2010? You are NOT off to an auspicious start. Step it up.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Shaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15987082306573944813noreply@blogger.com25