I totally recommend BGE Home.

My situation is described here -- #2 (and when I said it's been happening for a while I mean ... YEARS!!!)

Monday morning I went to the BGE Home website and scheduled the appointment online (YAY! for that, if you know me you know I HATE talking on the phone and usually avoid it at all costs :P).

You pick a day and then time period... ie AM or PM. I picked AM. Which means they can come anytime between 7:30am and 12:30pm. They call when they are on their way... no answer means they move on to the next appointment! 7:35am my phone rang ( I was ready!)... The repair guy said he was on his way and would be here in approximately 30 minutes... and he was! Less than 45 minutes later and he was done...I thought the price was reasonable... and he even adjusted the fridge so that the front is higher than the back (this has something to do with the door closing...)

I was very pleased :D

Luckily it's very short!

1. Get the ceiling in the Kitchen/Living Room/Dining Room painted. - - You may be asking yourself why... The reason is I used to put Yankee Candles ( the big 22 oz jars) on my countertop that divides the Kitchen and Dining Room... and after a few years it caused a nice brownish discoloration to form. It wasn't obviously noticeable... but I knew it was there so of course it bothered me. So about 2 years ago when I painted my kitchen cabinets white... I had the brilliant idea to attack the spot with the white paint! Bad idea because it didn't match the ceiling white :( And now it is very noticeable (as my mother likes to point out whenever she comes over :P). So I need to get an estimate and have it painted...
2. Have someone look at Refrigerator - It's dripping water from the freezer area into the fridge part. This has been happening for a while... actually and I have been using a cup to catch the water (and then water plants - see I can "think green" when I want to! :P) But since you can't sell like that it needs to be fixed. Google-ing assures me that it is a common problem, and easily fixable... (something about water draining from the freezer... some hose may be clogged). BGE Home is scheduled to come Wendesday morning!

Track Santa's journey online :D

I managed to show some major shopping restraint today....

So my Daily Shop-It-To-Me alert arrived.. and Ann Taylor Loft was having a major sale... and the pictured handbag caught my eye.

But I thought A) I already have a "quilted" black handbag and B) I already have a hobo style black handbag.

So I restrained myself from adding to cart (oh and I thought about the impending house search :))

Perhaps I should unsubscribe from these shop-it-to-me alerts ? :P

Don't watch if you've never seen 6 Weeks. (cause this is the end!)

I have been thinking for a while that if my job was looking stable around May 2009... I would seriously start looking into moving into DC (I work in SW). Job looks very stable...and this event of 2 weeks ago may have finally been the straw that broke the camel's back.

I love my condo. I bought it new about 7 years ago (after a horrific experience with a real estate agent that I am not looking forward to repeating) with NO HELP FROM MY PARENTS! I have painted every room (except the master bedroom) by myself, I picked out the flooring myself. I bought curtains and furniture, and all kinds of other things...I love the location - can't beat being halfway between DC and Baltimore

My commute is not terrible but I want to live in the city.... (and luckily DC just approved Verizon to bring in FIOS)

I hate that we have a never ending trail of renters rolling through the building that have no respect for anything or anyone.

My employer is going through a major growth spurt (good thing in these rough economic times)! So the branding is on the upswing.... today we all got shirts (Land's End polo's with the company name embroidered on the top corner)... The guys got gray shirts... the gals (of which there are 3) got pink!


Am I odd for thinking that is odd??

Perhaps the owner just really thinks I am a fan of pink.... (MacBook Pro Skin is Hot Pink; iPod is green, bit I have a pink skin for it (with stripes... so the green partially shows through), and a new pink skin for my BlackBerry). :D

In your work life, things are about to get busy -- so you might want to tidy up your work area so that you can be ready for the onslaught.

You have no idea!

Sent from my BlackBerry

on NBC tonight!

on ABC tonight! Linus rocks!!!




.... and i want my rug back :(

Be sure to catch the two day season premiere... starting Sunday January 11 @ 8pm EST

We all know by now that I love to shop! (Thanks to Visa for raising my credit limit this week! What credit crisis ?!?!) When I was younger I used to make fun of my mother for using coupons...I even went so far as to say I would NEVER use coupons (for retail... I was fine with them for groceries). Fast Forward 20 years (WOW! that sounds crazy to even type)... Ulta coupons, Macys' coupons... Yankee Candle coupons, and my fave - Lord & Taylor coupons!

I have not met a coupon I don't like :D Except for the restrictions... Luckily this is one reason Lord & Taylor is my fave (unlike Macys) L&T will at least try a coupon even if they think it won't be valid... and actually I have had a salesperson at the Columbia L&T override the register and apply the discount anyway!!

Yesterday was my flex day so I used it wisely to finally go pick op my Notary Commission.

First up entered the address for the court house in my navigation system (I had been there once before for jury duty... many years ago).. and interesting thing too... after living in Odenton for over 6.5 years.. I learned a new way to get to RT 32.

Anyway it was a quick drive to Annapolis... then I got to look for parking. Luckily my navigation system lists Ps on the map where a Parking facility is. Except I have a weird habit of not being able to commit to a parking garage. It's very odd. I drive up, and I know where I should turn but I just can't do it! I usually end up driving around and around... (except if it's somewhere I have been before .. then I stick to the garage like glue.) So I was meandering through downtown Annapolis... and come to City Dock aka Main Street. I turn and start going up the street and notice that there are red bags over all of the meters! FREE PARKING (2 Hour) for the holidays!!!! Yay...except I am really bad at parallel parking... especially if there is moving traffic...but I got lucky! 2 spaces in a row.. so I could do the pull in manuever and then straighten out by backing up and then pull forward again!

So it's off to the courthouse. I signed in... raised my right hand and took the oath of office :D

Now I just need to order my stamp and I will the be officially open for business!

Sent from my BlackBerry

As I walked into my office, a co-worker walked in behind me... with the above item!

Not again! It's barely been 2 weeks since the last one! and the fallout...

So when we last left the stolen rug situation...

I had my note's on the front door...well today passed the 48 hour mark. I called the local non-emergency number and stated that I wanted to file a police report.

Dispatch - What was stolen?

Me - The welcome mat in front of my door.

Dispatch - We have 2 ways your can file the report - using an over the phone service or send an officer out.

Me - (being honest) -an officer please.. I want the people to see the car.

Kiefer Sutherland was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today.

Congrats!!!!!!

I came home from work yesterday to find my Winter themed welcome mat missing... (the above image is a snapshot of the box).

My mom made this rug for me years ago (she told me last night it took her 6 months!!). I have put it outside my condo unit door ever since I bought it and moved in...6.5 years ago :(

Never ever had a problem before (it's a "secure" building) ... I have packages delivered all the time (see my shoe habit :P), nothing has ever gone missing ... not the boxes from Dell, or Amazon, or Nordstrom, or Sephora.

So I was really upset ... and debated calling the police. After talking to my mother, I decided to put a sign on the building's front door... (with a pic of the rug)

I got this email in my Inbox on Friday! Sounds good except that monthly ticket holders are getting screwed! You would think they would allow them to be used, because that one monthly ticket holder may be bringing 5 more new ticket buyers along with them. Now they may just skip MARC and drive to an outlying Metro station....I wonder what VRE is doing?

INAUGURATION DAY SERVICE

Presidential Inauguration Day is January 20, 2009, and MTA is working with event planners to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend. MTA will operate special MARC Train and Commuter Bus service that day as well as the prior day which is Martin Luther King Day.

MARC Train

Inauguration Day: Penn, Camden and Brunswick lines will operate between 5 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes, 10-trip tickets and previously purchased one-way tickets will not be accepted. All trains will be reserved and tickets must be purchased in advance. For the Penn Line, there will no service north of Penn Station.

Martin Luther King Day: Penn Line will operate on a regular schedule; Camden and Brunswick lines will operate on a limited schedule. Regular fares apply and passes will be accepted.

Commuter Bus

Inauguration Day: Buses will operate to Metrorail stations between 4 AM and 9 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes and 10-trip tickets will not be accepted. Special tickets may be purchased from drivers.

Martin Luther King Day: Buses will operate to Metrorail stations between 5:30 AM and 10 AM and between 4 PM and 9 PM. MTA monthly and weekly passes and 10-trip tickets will not be accepted. Special tickets may be purchased from drivers.

Details about schedules and tickets will be available Friday, December 12 at www.mtamaryland.com.

My favorite X-Mas commercial -- Cause I'm an M (to my friends ;))

I have had my BlackBerry Pearl for about a year... and if you know me you know I am never without it (because i'm addicted to it ). I take pics with it of random things... like Macy's Birthday Cupcakes, my lunch, or my cat. I blog with it. I Tweet with it.

Well about a month or two ago I got an email that one of my photos had been submitted for inclusion in a City Guide called Schmap.

Yesterday I got the email that I had been included! My photo is from a Happy Hour with co-workers at Tortilla Coast in Capitol Hill! (So follow the link and scroll through the list until you see Tortilla Coast!)

Based on the results of the poll...and my desire to not do anymore research :) I gave Granite Transformations a second chance. I contacted them earlier in the week, and asked to set up an appointment for a date in early January (I need to decorate for the holidays... and don't have the room for holiday decorations and cleaned off countertops...). They agreed to the date so I asked for the earliest appointment available. They responded 11am. ( really?) So I responded and asked them to please confirm the requested appointment day and time (so I could add it to my calendar.

Almost 48 hours goes by....


No response. It's almost like they really don't want to commit. So I contacted them again, and told them to cancel.

So I am back to square one on my new kitchen countertops project :(.

So it was about a year ago that I canceled all Verizon services due to horrific customer service. At the time I was told that I would lose my Flickr Pro account (Verizon + Yahoo! were somehow tied together... and Yahoo! owns Flickr). And for the past year I have been waiting for my little "pro" icon to disappear from my Flickr page. But it has remained! However, today when I went to my Flickr account there is a big yellow warning box at the top of my page telling me that due to not having Verizon internet service anymore.... my Pro status will expire Feb 1, 2009.



Haha! Good thing I am geting FIOS soon.

Just heard that Oprah is coming to to DC (for the Inauguration of course!) and plans to tape some shows around it :D

Seeing a taping of the Oprah show is on my list of 101 things in 1001 days!

I am going to try for tickets, but if anyone can help me out in case I miss out on the tickets, I would be forever grateful :D

And I am not ashamed to say I watched the MTV special and I will be downloading the album from itunes!

So I've been wanting to upgrade my kitchen countertops ever since I painted my kitchen cabinets white... about a year and a half ago.

This past summer my my recommended a place she saw featured on the Today show ( and I then did some further research). Their big selling point is they do the entire job ... install and plumbing (to do the new sink and faucet) and no demo needed - new counters fit over old!. Lowes and every other place I checked will not do demo or plumbing... they want you to find your own plumber.

So last week I set up the appointment for Saturday at 11:30am. They called back a little later and asked if we could move it to 1pm. I agreed. Saturday morning arrived and I cleaned off all my counters. 1pm arrives. No sales guy. 1:30.... 2:30... 3pm Nothing. No phone call! So I gave up. I sent them this email:

Hello --

I spoke with Lisa on Tuesday and st up an appoint for an in home consultation for Saturday November 29 at 11:30am. She then called me back a bot tlater and asked if we could change the time as that would fit better with the salesperson's schedule. I agreed. Saturday arrived and I cleaned everything off my countertops. 1pm arrived and no Granite Transformations. 1::30, then 2:30 and then 4pm. Still no Granite Transformations, not even a phone call stating there was a problem. Is this common practice for your company? I am not sure at this point that I want to work with a company with such poor customer service.

I look forward to you explantion.

Hi Michelle - I apologize for your inconvenience - this is not the way we operate. I visited with the Design Specialist and he said he had car trouble in Virginia (where he was for Thanksgiving) and he tried to call but the number he had for you was incorrect. Again I apologize, we are very customer service oriented -- I would be happy to send you a list of customer refereneces. Also I will call to reschedule if you like.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Saturday night a friend and I went to a Pros in the City event. We attended a 4 minute mini-dating event. It was held at Cafe Soleil in DC (last call at 10pm- crazy!).

Basically the premise is this.... An even number of guys and gals sit at tables and the guys rotate every 4 minutes. So you meet every member of the opposite sex there, and make small talk (or whatever you want to talk about).

So if you know me you know I hate making small talk with people I don't know (actually I am pretty uncomfortable talking to people I don't know in general.... it takes me a while to "warm up" - this is why Potluck Bitch trying to force me into some "friendship" is really not going the way PB wants it to go :P) ... so this was definitely out of my comfort zone!

Going in ... I had no real expectations except hoping that I wasn't stuck sitting at a table staring at someone! Luckily that didn't happen :D There were some characters there, but no one that I felt a connection with....

One guy brought out a mini-hungry-hungry hippo game... for those people where he felt the convo was dragging :P Probably because when he asked me what I did, after I responded he told me he was IT Porject manager, and proceeded to ask me about a software design concept (test driven development).

Me: Never heard of it

Hippo Guy: Yeah... that's the question I use to see if someone is lying to me about what they do.

Me: Thinking to myself... OMG did this guy just call me a liar??!? :P

for Potluck Bitch? Here you go (she's known around the office as Edith Bunker - solely due to the voice).*



*further proof that if there is a hell... I am going there :P

I am excited to see my nieces :D and dreading most everything else !!
This is going to be the most awkward and uncomfortable holiday gathering ever! (For my family). I am planning to park my self in front of the tv to watch football... and if you know me you know that I could care less about football :P

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving airs Tuesday night on ABC @ 8PM EST :D

**This post was originally going to about some minor HOA drama related to Bulk Trash items (exciting I know!!) but has been superseded by workplace drama :D

I thought Axel Rose would have died first!

I adopted Madison about 5 years ago and she is not de-clawed. When I first got her... I could not even imagine trimming her nails myself. I could barely hold a paw! So every few months I would take her to PetSmart to get her nails trimmed. But it got to be a hassle, because getting Madison in her carrier is no fun ( I get to shut us in a bathroom!) then listen to her cry the entire way, over, during, and back.

A few years ago ( since I became able to hold a paw!) I tried trimming myself... it definitely took a while, and I still don't get them as short as PetSmart (or the Vet!) but its getting done. When I made my list I added "Trimming Madison's nails once a week" because I knew it needed to be done more that I was doing it. Once a week is overkill. I think I should aim for once a month :)

By now if you are a regular reader you know about my love for handbags (and shoes)!

For a while now I have been wanting to get a L.A.M.B. Carlisle Clutch (at least a year). And luckily they have a version very season, and they go on sale at the end (usually at least 40-50%)... but I am usually too late to whatever website has it on sale.

So this season my plan was to stake out the local "Off 5th Ave" Saks outlet. They carry L.A.M.B. and usually have a good selection at about 30-40% off. I went a few weeks ago... and they had one... but it had a mark on it... so I restrained myself. Then I went last week.... it was still there....with the same mark... so I somehow restrained myself again :P

Then I went home and hit Google! Nordstrom had it ... Brand New... 40% off and Free Shipping!!! So I ordered it... and it will be delivered today!

Sent from my BlackBerry

Man found with assault rifle...

(i was not on this train)

Title: Virgo Horoscope for November 17, 2008

Date: Monday, November 17, 2008, 2:37AM

Beware of the people who boast about their achievements, today. You don't brag about how great you are, because you choose to let your actions and behavior speak for you. When people resort to tooting their own horn all the time, it's because they don't have any other way to show people what they are capable. These people lack substance, and should be avoided at all costs. They are a total waste of your time, especially on a busy day like today.
Sent from my BlackBerry

Ever since Footballers Wives wrapped up on BBC America a while ago, I have been waiting for a new British series to draw me in... and looks like I finally found it.

I finally did this Friday.

I went with the Painters Tape - Finger in Baggie method and it worked out well! Fast and easy cleanup. Glad I didn't waste money on the "As Seen On TV" product! :D

• Double Jeopardy - can't be tried for the the same crime twice (Thanks General Hospital!)
• Going to Mexico? Make sure you have your driver's license for return entry (Thanks 90210!) *this is no longer applicable due to law changes but it was good for a while
• Having Sex? Don't want a baby? Use some birth control! (Too many to name, but thanks GH, 90210, Melrose Place, and Roseanne!)*

Time for another personal products/hygiene post!

Last week when I was at Sam's Club I was contemplating toothbrushes... I have been thinking about upgrading to an electric one.

Then I saw the Oral B Pulsar . Its a manual toothbrush that pulses (it has one battery inside).

I got a 3-pk to try it out. I used it for the first time this morning....and I think its great! deep clean... I can already tell a difference :)

I applied about 4 weeks ago to be a Notary, I got a letter in the mail today from my State Senator telling me that I should get a notice to pick up my commission within the next week.

Yay me!

My mother has been wanting to go to a clothing store located "somewhere" in Bethesda. I have been putting her off, because I hate the traffic around there during week days... so when Veteran's Day was approaching I said we could go then because Federal Holiday = No Traffic in DC.

So mom arrived around 9am in Odenton and after programming the address in my navigation system we were off.

Navigation had us headed down Rt3... which I thought was odd. I said I guess we are taking 50 into DC (I thought we would have went over to 495 and around DC) anyway... were making good time, were on NY Ave, then Navigation is saying veer left... so I veered left ....too soon! not sure what road it wanted us on... but were were in some tunnel headed towards 395...

then navigation is telling us to get off.... at this unmarked exit... that looks very familiar. I say... well get ready to see my office building ....and there it is. We are then heading up E St SW towards Independence.... Mom's like "There's the Washington monument!" We made another turn... then she says "There's the WWII museum!" I correct "Memorial!!"

We continued on our way and finally made our destination.

Then we went to the The Container Store ( I got a new water bottle, some hooks for some hangbag organization I am going to attempt, and a pet food scoop).

Next up... White Flint mall.... I didn't get anything, but mom scored big on stuff for niece # 1.

Headed home and saw gas in Laurel for $1.94 WOW!

Make your own Muppet @ FAO Schawarz !

And the Spanish version I found on YouTube contains some stuff the US one does not :P

I have debated for a few days what to write, if anything. Basically I am just really happy. I feel like a horrible weight that has been building during the last 8 years has been lifted from my shoulders. I cry tears of joy when I watch this....

Someone's (aka my sister) favorite Sesame Street clip !

Kermit is great.. and you can get sucked into surfing YouTube for hours :)

It's not easy being green...(or growing up with red hair :P)

So if you know me, you know I am an ebay selling junkie. My awesomest sale - a Pearl Jam concert poster that I bought for $20 and sold for over $400 :)


Last week I listed a coat that I originally got from The Gap for probably $60. When I first got the coat I noticed it on a character when I was watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! So when I went to list the coat I found screen captures from the episode...and included them. I listed the coat at $15 and a bidding war broke out and drove it up to $41 ..... w00t!!!!!

Free Tall Coffee, if you tell them you voted!

It had been brewing for a while. After the last post, Mr. Do Nothing was assigned to work on a project that was semi-high profile. This was around the beginning of October. Well a few days in an email comes out from the client asking why no work was being done on the project. Apparently Mr Do Nothing decided the project was pointless and he wasn't going to do it!!!! OMG! Who does that!? So there was a mad scramble to cover for him (Oh yeah... he went on vacation right after the email came out) and of course I got dragged into it. (There is nothing I hate more than doing other people's work because they just will not do it!) I asked if Mr Do Nothing was going to be assigned back to this when he got back... response - "No, because he thinks its pointless." So I said, "he thinks everything is pointless!" Meaning is he going to just not do anything because he thinks it's all pointless?


Early this week I thought the ultimate meltdown may be avoided, because I was finally able to move my seat so I wouldn't have to see him "do nothing" all day long. Let's just say I counted my chicken's before they hatched :(

So I was on a high profile, high stress project. I have been working 10 + hours for the majority of this week, add on an hour + commute each way (1 night with a MARC train that was 30 minutes late), I wasn't eating dinner because I was too tired when I arrived home, and no running (aside from Monday). Needless to say I was not in a good place.

Yesterday I was on a tight deadline and trying to do 3 things at once when Mr Do Nothing thought now would be a good time to ask a question about another project that he found himself the sole resource on. He sent an email, I dumped some previous reports on him so that he could attempt to figure it out for himself. Since that entailed thinking and actaul work... no dice. He came by my desk and asked. I said, probably rather tersely (I'm not sure it's all a blur now), "I don't have time for this right now." He kept going and asked how I did something. My response... "I don't remember". Then it got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Looking back I know I said that because I just wanted him to go away... and it worked!

If it didn't happen yesterday, it was bound to happen someother time, so I guess at least its out of the way. Now I can look forward to "team building" dorkiness ...

And I need to figure out how to work with someone I have no respect for and basically think is an idiot :-/

(and tell 5 friends :-D)

I was going to use this post to vent about at least one co-worker that rides the short bus on the road of life... but I can't focus ..... so you get this instead :-)

w00t! Not sure why it's taken so long.... these were great shows (If you overlook Eddie Vedder's "dad" haircut).



I went to the Reading PA and Washington DC shows on that tour....

Random memories ...

* Tim Robbins is tall (and made Vedder look even shorter than he is)
*Death Cab for Cutie.... so cute!
*Bruce Springsteen fans may be even crazier than Pearl Jam fans :P
* I am glad I do not live in Reading PA
* People crawling over a moving freight train to get to the Reading venue.... crazy!

Back in 2005 I got my first iPod (a 4GB nano) for Christmas, then starting that February I used it every day during my daily commute, then I started listening to it while at work. Then last year when I got my new car I made sure it had an iPod Adapter, so that I could listen in the car (without having to deal with the old school tape adapter or FM transmitter). Recently, the iPod was only holding a charge for about 1 hour... not so good for a commute that involves public transportation.

Time for a new one! I had to decide between the nano, classic , and touch. Touch would be overkill I think, since I have my blackberry. If I was a bigger movie watcher I may have considered the Classic, but I am not. So nano it was! 16 GB - I can now have every Pearl Jam concert bootleg that I own at my fingertips! Next up.... pick a color. It was between pink and green. So I picked green and got a pink skin :)

The bathtub/shower in my master bathroom is in desperate need of a caulking...

I am sure you have seen the ads on TV for the Xpress Seal Pro (the thing that comes with the little edging tools...)

I thought yes... this is exactly what I need!

So this morning I went hunting for online reviews...

The results seem mixed as to whether the product works or not so I am going to take this Amazon reviewer's suggestion... and do it this way...

Better bet is to just put masking tape right near the seam, smear caulk on with your finger, and zip off the tape with the excess. Slip your finger in a baggie if you can't stand getting dirty. Result is faster and neater than any scraper.

Wish me luck!

Halloween (the original movie) is 30 years old!

It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is on Tuesday Oct 28 @ 8PM EST on ABC

2 Halloween themed ringtones (mp3s)

Halloween Theme and Thriller (Vincent Price) Laugh


BONUS! -- while I was looking for the above ringtones... I found ... a Gossip Girl ringtone!

XOXO :-)

Posessed Kitty!
Originally uploaded by Anything!

I was expecting laser beams to shoot from her eyes!

Seriously? I'd probably poke my eye out :P

I was tagged by Zipcode ... and here are my 7 Random Facts...

1) I don't like my food to touch... seriously - Chinette with the separated areas was invented for me, if I am at a restaurant where they are going for some elaborate presentation, I won't each the parts that touch... OCD much?

2)I own 55 pairs of shoes

3) I own 24 handbags

4) There was a point in time (pre 1995) where I couldn't stand Pearl Jam!

5) I have used a vacation day to go to the first day of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

6) I like washing windows (well my windows... I'm not going to wash your windows)

7) I am scared of dogs... and when I was growing up... I would climb trees to get away from strays :P

The original rules are below. Feel free to ignore or modify.
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I'd say they were new, but neither is.

First up - Larger Crate & Barrel is finally ready to open!

Second - Pottery Barn opens (again!)

When Towson Town originally opened there was a small Pottery Barn ( along with a Hold Everything and I think a California Closets). But they all closed. :(

Now Pottery Barn is back!

YAY!!

Thanks to loyal reader Robin for checking snopes and finding that this is indeed a hoax!

The fun just keeps on coming!

Sent from my BlackBerry

It must be a real holiday if 2 places are promoting it!

November 23 !

I didn't pull it and run.... I leaned against the door and let it drop in the stairwell... Ooops!

Insert evil cackle ! LOL!!!

Sent from my BlackBerry

Today I applied to be a notary. When I asked 2 of my friends to be a reference, one asked what sparked my interest.

This past summer I needed a notary to notarize 2 items, and I was having a huge problem finding one. So I looked into it... and it looks to be easy... if your State Senator approves you... then you get a commission! Which means a ceremony... and a big party :D

Alas if I am approved I won't be able to notarize stuff for myself... but oh well... in these times of economic uncertainty it could be a 2nd source of income :P

(I hope they don't decide based on the handwriting from that addressed envelope... that is pretty terrible :D)

This weekend I went to look at electric fireplaces. The battle is basically half way done, because I know the exact model that I want. I just need to find a dealer that sells it and will install it (because it will need to be mounted to the wall, and I want the electric outlet moved so that it will be behind the fireplace... no exposed wires!).

The first place I went to didn't have the model but stated that they would call manufacturers that they work with to see what they could find, so I left my contact info and went on my way. The next place... had the brand and model! So then I started asking questions about installation, they salesman looked at me like I had 2 heads... "Uh... we don't do that". So I thanked him for his time and left.

Is it wrong to expect (or at least have the option to pay for) full service including installation? This is why I no longer shop at Home Depot -- because when I went looking for above the stove microwave's they wouldn't do the installation - I eventually ordered from Lowes and had a handyman do the actual install).

I could ask my Dad or other friends to help with the install but I do not like doing that... I am happy to pay retailer to do the additional work, and you would think they would be happy to take my money... it's obvious now to me that the economy is in crisis... both places that I went to look had no one else in the store and I was waited on as soon as I walked in the door (this never happens...ohhh except when I have my Burberry bag and am shopping at Nordstrom :P).

If the first retailer doesn't come up with any options, I will probably order the fireplace online and have my handyman do the install... he is more than happy to take my money :)

I have been wearing my hair parted on the side with no bangs for years now. Whether it was very long and curly or some version of a medium/short straight bob. Last summer I cut my hair shorter than it has been in years but it still ended up being the same old part on the side. So for the past few weeks I have debated getting the "Katie Holmes" bob. Sunday I did it! It's definitely different and I think it will take some getting used to.

But I do like the fact that the bangs camouflage my eyebrows (because of my light red hair... they do not stand out and it has been driving me crazy for these last few years - When we were getting our makeup done for my sister's wedding the makeup artist went to "fill them in" with some dark brown powder...as she "drew them on" she sucked in a breath and said "that's not gonna work.... let's start again" :P) I think I have been traumatized ever since!

Maybe this will convince you to start!

I'll have been working in DC for 3 years come February... and since I have been here I have heard many times that the Native American Museum has a great cafeteria. And today is the day I finally went! My lunch buddy had heard that the previous group that had the cafeteria contract at the Ford House Office building now were working at Voice of America. So we started walking over there.... alas when we asked someone exiting if there was a cafeteria inside, he replied "Yes, but you need clearance to get in". So I suggested the Native American Museum.

Entry was quick and soon enough we found the cafe. Many choices from buffalo burgers, to salmon, to burritos, to tacos were to be found. I ended up with a Chicken Tamale with peanut sauce and a Key Lime tart. Both were good, but a bit pricey - over $13 and no beverage. But Federal workers get a 10% discount! So we may be back :)

fyi. I just got this in my inbox!


Sent from my BlackBerry


-----Original Message-----

From: Maryland Transit Administration <mta@alerts.marylandmail.com>


Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:33:53

To: XXXXX

Subject: MTA: October 16, 2008 3:30 PM


Important Information for MARC Train and Commuter Bus Riders


The sources of revenue that support the operation of MTA's MARC Train and Commuter Bus services have declined dramatically since the start of the fiscal year on July 1. Regrettably, MTA must reduce its budget, and while the majority of reductions are taking place in our administrative budget some MARC Train and Commuter Bus services are proposed for elimination. The proposed service reductions are listed below.



Service reductions are proposed to take effect on January 12, 2009 or sooner if the service reduction is based on a holiday.


MTA will hold public hearings throughout the State to receive public comments on these proposals. Click www.mtamaryland.com/Commuter_MARC_Hearings.cfm for a list of public hearings. Citizens may provide comments at any hearing that it is convenient, or may send comments directly to the MTA by mail or email. No matter how it is sent, any comment received by December 26, 2008 will be considered before proposals are finalized.



By mail, please address comments to:


Mr. Glenn Litsinger

MTA Office of Customer Information

6 St. Paul Street

Baltimore MD 21202


By email, address comments regarding Commuter Bus proposals to commuterbus@mtamaryland.com with "Hearing Comments" as the subject heading. Address comments regarding MARC Train proposals to marc@mtamaryland.com with "Hearing Comments" as the subject heading.


The following services are proposed for elimination:


Commuter Bus


· All service from Baltimore to Columbia on the Nos. 310 and 311 Lines

· All service on the No. 320 Line from Laurel to Baltimore

· All service on the No. 412 Line from Bel Air to Baltimore

· One round trip from Harford County to Baltimore on the Nos. 410, 411 and 420 lines

· All service on the No. 913 Line from Waldorf to the Suitland Metrorail Station

· All service on the No. 921 Line from Annapolis to New Carrollton Metrorail Station

· One round trip on the No. 995 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC and the branch of the line serving Oakland Mills

· Saturday service and one weekday mid-morning round trip on the No. 929 Line from Columbia to Washington, DC

· In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans' Day, to:

· Eliminate all holiday service (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day and the day after Thanksgiving)

· Eliminate all service on the day after Christmas

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the day after New Year's Day.


MARC Train


· The last two evening round trip trains on the Penn Line (Trains #445, 446, 447 and 448)

· All service on Mondays through Thursdays on Brunswick Line train #871 (Friday service to continue)

· Termination of Brunswick Line train #883 at Brunswick

· All service on the mid-day bus shuttle between Odenton and Laurel

· In addition to these service reductions, MTA proposes, effective Veterans' Day, to:

· Eliminate all holiday service on all lines (Columbus Day, Veterans' Day and the day after Thanksgiving)

· Eliminate service on all lines on the day after Christmas

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on Christmas Eve and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day

· Operate holiday service rather than full service on the day after New Year's Day.

· The MTA also proposes to eliminate the MARC Ten-Trip Ticket.

I am planning to get a haircut this weekend... and I am 98% sure I am going for something like this!