Today I got a later start because I was dealing with my car issues... So I was watching the Today show. And they did a feature on this...



It's called Mutton Busting. 5-6 yr olds ride a sheep and see how long they can stay attached.
I need to convince my sister that we need to sign my 3 yr old niece up for this. She loves lambs... and we've got 2 years until she is 5. I think my chances are good :D

YeeHaw!!!!

Title: Virgo Horoscope for March 27, 2009

Today you will step into a leadership position, and you will be responsible for getting everyone on the same page at the same time. Luckily, this will be easy and enjoyable for you. You've got the confident charm, a high-spirited attitude, and all the patience you need to keep things moving in the right direction today. Whether you are coordinating everyone for a work project or potluck supper, you will have a ball talking with people and checking things off the list.

Sent from my BlackBerry

I had a post all planned out disputing this all mapped out... but 1.5 hours into today's workday it came out that 2 people on a major high profile forgot to do something... and since I was the only one in... it fell on me to do... this is how none of my work gets done anymore!!

But I can still dispute!!!

1)This morning has not been enjoyable

2) I have no patience (especially with stupid people!)

3)and seriously?? do we even need to go into the Potluck discussion???

4) I hate talking to people.

5)I do love checking things off a list.

It's been exactly 3 weeks since I put an offer in on the above house. And it has been a complete roller coaster since. I put my offer together Thursday evening... and since the price had been drastically reduced just the previous Tuesday I strongly suspected that I wouldn't hear a response until at least the next Monday (giving a weekend for a caravan of people to see the house).

So Monday came and we did hear that the seller was fine with my offer, but it needed to be approved by the bank ( I knew going in that it was a short sale so I knew this).
Tuesday the listing agent flipped the status to "under contract" even though the seller still hadn't signed.... but it was good for me because it meant they couldn't get any other offers. Still waiting for an answer from the bank.

At this point it came out that the bank was on the west coast and the listing agent was in Florida! So even though my day starts at 7am... I would never hear anything from the bank or listing agent until at least 8pm (sometimes later...). A week passed.

Then last Thursday it came out that there was a 2nd mortgage (Home Equity Line of Credit) on the property!!!!

The contract to buy my place is supposed to expire today (but we are trying for a 2 week extension)...because the bank says it will take them 7-10 days to make a decision.

So my fingers are crossed, my mom is lighting Virgin Mary candles... and I continue to look at "back-up" houses.

Title: Virgo Horoscope for March 26, 2009

Are you ready to take on a more involved role at work? A huge opportunity is coming, and you need to make sure that you know what your answer will be before it's offered. So take time to evaluate the situation thoroughly. If you take on a higher profile, will it create problems with coworkers? And does that even matter? At a certain point, you have to choose advancement over popularity. Before the end of the day, you will have a clearer idea whether or not that time has arrived.
Sent from my BlackBerry

I can't shop anyway... until after I settle on my new home...

But area malls are decreasing hours. The biggest change seems to be on Sundays... opening at Noon, instead of 11 am.

This is how Madison was spending her time during the times people came to look at my condo. She was in a cat cave, created out of my decorative pillows (that I rarely used before this... ie only when I was having company). So now she is in the habit of sleeping on top of my pillows ...or pretty much on top of my head. (Previously she was sleeping kind of next to me). Last night she was snoring!!! (yes my cat snores....)

If you follow me on Twitter... you know I am in the midst of an ear bud crisis...

part 1

part 2

part 3 and 4

So basically this morning I headed to CVS to get some new ear buds... I knew they had them because I have seen them in the case before. I arrived and pondered the case for a few minutes and found the ones I wanted. Headed to the register... and told the cashier that I would like some ear buds out of the case... she proceeded to tell me that the manager that had the key to that case would not be in until noon ( it was around 8:45am). WTH?!!? In this economy you are not going to have all of your merchandise available at all times... Too bad for you CVS ... lost sale!

Next up ... the gift shop at the Holiday Inn... no dice there either :(

Then a little convienence store .... nope... but I did discover they sell packaged goods ( aka beer and wine... for future train rides!!)

Next ... another gift shop near L'Enfant Plaza... nope... but the sales person did point me to some nice ear rings :D

I gave up and headed back to my office. Then I thought the Amtrak newsstand a New Carrollton shoudl definitely have them! Uh-uh.... They had full coverage earphones but no ear buds....

Guess I am going to Target this weekend!! YAY I finally have something to shop for!!!

The people at AIG who are most responsible for the severity of the financial crisis should be in jail. But instead, they're slated to get $450 million in bonuses. Unbelievable, right?

I signed a petition urging Secretary Geithner and Congress to do whatever it takes to cancel these bonuses. Please join me!

Title: Virgo Horoscope for March 16, 2009

All of your plans are going to go perfectly today -- and if any obstacles do appear, they will be the kind that are going to fizzle out on their own soon enough. So the only way you can fall into a bad mood today is if you let your mind wander to problems that you can't fix. Dwell on things beyond your control, and you could start feeling blue. Instead, let yourself be happy. Keep your mind on all the good news in your life right now -- there is so much of it!
Sent from my BlackBerry

So yesterday I got this lovely email from my community email group...

(Oh... MOM... stop reading.... NOW!!!)

WEST COUNTY
Armed robbery

Two masked men robbed a man at knife-point near an Odenton apartment (actually it was a condo) complex Thursday night, county police said.

The man told police he was walking in the 2400 block of Chestnut Terrace at about 7:55 p.m. when two men approached him and pulled out a knife.

The robbers ordered the man to empty his pockets. After taking the man's cash, the men ran behind a nearby apartment building, police said. The victim was not injured.

One robber is described as black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 140 pounds, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, white shoes, and a ski mask.

The second man is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 180 pounds, and was wearing a red sweater and dark ski mask

Remember the bulbs I planted last fall?

They have started popping through the soil!

Yes for the 3rd time in less than 2 weeks a maintenance train has derailed on the Orange line. This time at Cheverly.

I am currently stuck on an orange train just outside of Cheverly.

Updates to follow!

UPDATE - 9:32am - Usually I catch the MARC from Odenton, but today I drove to New Carrollton, because I am meeting my realtor to look at houses. I knew there was a delay and single tracking on the Orange line, due to "Emergency Track Work". But I decided to go for it anyway. I made good time to NC, and as I approached the Metro car... it was packed... which I took as a good sign. If it had been sitting for a while.. it should be leaving soon! And I was right! So I only got to work about 5-10 minutes later that normal.

Check out my awesome picture of scene above.... maybe WaPo will hire me to be a reporter :P

Oh... and thanks to all the "gentlemen" that offered me their seat on the Metro ;)

Sent from my BlackBerry