Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year. "2009 was _____."

Chaos.



The home front was chaotic. From the beginning of 2009 I was running around trying to get the condo ready to go on the market, I found a buyer pretty quickly, but then had problems finding a house that I wanted to buy. When I did find my house, it was a short sale, with 2 banks involved. I lost my first buyer because the short sale was taking too long to be approved, and I refused to remove the contingency that I find a home of choice. I found a new buyer 3 days later, and the short sale was then approved, but things were down to the wire for closing ....

Work was chaotic too.... Potluck Bitch. Need I say more? She was on a major path of destruction, and I am lucky I didn't pop her in the face.... cause I came close ;)

Then I moved into the new house and started dealing with raccoons, bees, mice, bats!, guns, leaks, and fleas!

So 2009 was Chaos. But I managed to stay on top of things!

If you are in the DC area you know we are in the middle of some crazy wind...

And over the last few weeks I have not been sleeping well, usually I wake up a few times, turn on Nick-at-Nite, with the sleep timer amd roll over and go back to sleep.

But last night ... I slept awesome. Until about 5AM.... when I heard a big crash! Then I realized it was very windy outside... I figured maybe a shutter had blown off the house... but then I got up and checked outside....my trash can had blown over :)

So I went back to sleep for about 20 minutes....

The morning continued as normal... Madison messing up the bed making process, hair drying, etc...

Then I went downstairs.... to get ready to leave.... something didn't seem right. I have gas logs in my living room, and I can usually hear a small hiss from the pilot light. So I went to look for the blue flame. No sign of it! I thought Oh No! Pilot Light is out! Is gas streaming into my house?? Um no cause I didn't smell it..... Weird I thought.... is gas out to the whole house??
I didn't think so becase the heat had been running all night, but I ran downstairs to check the furnace. Everything seemed normal.

Ran back upstairs, figured out how to turn off the pilot light from the main controller. Then sat down to think about next steps. I was still confused why gas wasn't coming into the house. I called the place that installed my gas logs. Not open until 10am.

Then I remembered "Google is my Friend" :)

I googled "Pilot Light Blows Out" and found a site that explained all about how pilot lights work... Basically when the flame blows out there is a mechanisim that shuts off the gas flow... YAY for Safety Features!! Now I just need to remember how to re-light it when I get home :P

Forget the Una-Bomber....

Now we got the Fruit-o-the-Loom-Bomber...

Hanes-Bomber?

Jockey -Bomber?

Tightie-Whitey - Bomber?

Boxer-Bomber?

We're all gonna die (eventually).

I'm surprised the WMATA Metro hasn't been blown up yet... there is plenty of opportunity. MARC train too.

There are a ton of unstable people in the land. You cannot put your life on hold and cower to the threats.

Shame on TSA or whomever is announcing all these reactionary plans (no bathroom use for the last hour, no tv, no wifi). Fix the screening/security process. If it means doubling your time at the airport... Too Damn Bad. Welcome to the world we now live in.

Live your life to the fullest.

When did you get your best rush of the year?

This is easy.... Sea of Confetti 10/31/2009 - Pearl Jam @ The Spectrum. Truly an awesome and magical moment :)

What's the best change you made to the place you live?

This should be obvious to regular readers!!! The best change is that I sold my condo, bought a single family house, and cut my commute in half (thereby doubling my social life :P)

I received this in my INBOX today (via the 930 Club's mailing list)....

Weird. Pearl Jam fought against Ticketmaster's monopoly maybe 15 years ago.....

Concert Fans Beware!

There’s a train wreck about to happen and consumer groups say YOU will be the victim if the two most powerful corporate interests in the live concert business get their way. But you can help stop the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The government needs to hear from music fans now. Tell the Department of Justice that you’re against these monopolies amassing illegal power over consumers, before it’s too late. antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov

As a concertgoer you have already felt the pain, and if Ticketmaster and Live Nation get their way, it’ll get worse. In the last 12 years, since Live Nation and its predecessor started its widespread takeover of the concert industry, concert ticket prices have shot up 82% while the consumer price index has gone up just 17%*. We are concerned that if the two concert industry behemoths, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, are permitted to merge, the variety and quality of artists coming to local venues will be affected, and your costs could rise further and faster.

Five of the nation’s most prominent public interest groups called on the Department of Justice to block the proposed merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation:

“Consumers deserve a fair deal in the entertainment marketplace, not the fewer choices and higher prices that would result from this merger,” said Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection at Consumer Federation of America

“This merger is an insult to both musicians and consumers,” said James Love, Director of Knowledge Ecology International

“We cannot envision a remedy that would ease this chilling impediment to competition… In the absence of other effective, expeditious remedies, the proposed transaction should be prohibited.” American Antitrust Institute White Paper

As described by Senator Herb Kohl (WI) in the House Antitrust hearing, “This merger will not only expand Ticketmaster’s control of the ticketing market by eliminating a competitor, but it is also creating an entity that will control the entire chain of the concert business – from artist management to concert promotion and production to ticketing and ticket resale.”

“This merger would be a disaster for consumers. Nothing short of blocking this takeover of the ticket market by two industry behemoths will be acceptable,” said National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg

“As president, I will direct my administration to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement. I will step up review of merger activity and take effective action to stop or restructure those mergers that are likely to harm consumer welfare…,” said Senator Barack Obama when he was campaigning for the presidency.

If you agree with the consumer groups and lawmakers, make a difference and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD NOW.

Send a message to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice telling them you support President Obama’s campaign promise to protect the American public from abusive monopolies.

antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov

To learn more, check out:

ticketdisaster.org

Public Interest Groups Call on Justice Department to Block Ticketmaster/LiveNation/Comcast Merger

American Antitrust Institute's White Paper TICKETMASTER - LIVE NATION

Philadelphia Weekly’s cover story “Monopoly Rules”

Signed,

The 9:30 Club, I.M.P., Merriweather Post Pavilion, Jam Productions, Metropolitan Talent, Another Planet Entertainment, Frank Productions, Stone City Attractions, Rams Head Live, The Black Cat ... and independent concert promoters and venue operators nationwide.

*Study by Princeton University economist Alan Krueger

If you are viewing the text-only version of this email, click the following link to email:

This was my first major snowstorm as a house owner... and here is what I learned....



1)Don't back the car all the way back in the driveway. If I had followed what others were doing I would have noticed they were parking as close to the sidewalk as possible... so they would have the least amount to dig out...



2)Don't go to Ghetto Giant right before a snow storm. It was a mess. All I needed was cat food... and there was only 1 express line open.

3) Buy more Ice Melt. I had one little jug that I was so proud of myself for buying at Target a few weeks ago. It lasted for my front porch and front walk.....I resorted to dumping cat litter on the sheet of ice that is my front sidewalk and driveway... but it is a mess. I'll try to pick up some more ice melt at 7-11 or CVS today.

4) Put recycle bins and trash cans outside. Mine are now safely tucked in my garage. With an icy sidewalk and 18 inches of snow between us :(

5)Shovel a path from front walk to driveway... I should have done this on Saturday.... Now I have to walk across icy sidewalk and driveway to get to my car and garage



When I was in my condo... all I had to do was dig out my car. SFH may be more work... but the quiet is definitely worth it!!!!

I was debating between a few specific places (Matchbox and Bullfeathers)....but ultimately decided... the Best Place of 2009...

DC after 5pm!!!

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You


(bet you thought I would go with Pearl Jam's Backspacer! )

one last Xmas commercial...

Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?

Hands down... biggest challenge.... dealing with Potluck Bitch! I have never worked with someone so hateful (and I am full of Hate :P) and out to cause trouble in a workplace....

Last summer before the finale I guess she was making a no holds barred-end run in a "Its Me or Them" all out fashion. And while I was pretty much able to ignore her from last Thanksgiving (2008) through May 2009 she started pic-picking at me. around June I guess. I told my boss she gets 3 attempts and then I fight back.... just as a fore-warning....

After the third hit eventaully came, I did fire back..... in my usual passive-agressive fashion. I called her out for not following the dress code.... :P

She was canned maybe 2 weeks later....

I am proud of myself for 1) not hitting her and 2) not dumping a beer on her

I have had a bunch of awesome nights out this year, especially since I have moved closer to DC.

I almost went with Halloween up in Philly (for the last show ever at the Spectrum), but after further reflection I think my best night out was July 2 (July 3rd was the Holiday for July 4th).

I started in Capitol Hill for Happy Hour with some co-workers at our usual spot.... Tortilla Coast. Margaritas? Check. Coronas w/ Lime? Check. Tortilla Chips? Check. Random Hot Guy? Check. (I even spotted him on Metro a few weeks later... with Sunglasses on. Inside. Major FAIL :))

Then I went and met up with another friend at Penn Quater Sports Tavern. Then we moved on to Rocket Bar :D

Luckily I was paying attention to the clock and knew I needed to leave around 11/11:30 in order to catch metro since I need to switch from Yellow/Green to Orange. Which I did. But I fell asleep. Ended up in New Carollton. After the last train back to Vienna had left ( it was a Thursday so it was regular weekenight hours). So I had to cab it back to CHV....

Perfect :)

Do blog posts count as an article?

This was an old post that I stumbled across while searching for something else...

A Woman's Right to Shoes...

From my favorite episode of Sex and the City.... ever!


"The fact is sometimes it is hard to walk in a single woman's shoes, that's why we need really special ones now and then, to make the walk a little more fun." -Carrie

Happy to see other gals feel the same way :)

So many to choose from....

One of the main reasons I wanted to move closer to DC was so that I could spend more time in the city (after work and on weekends).

And I have certainly been doing that in the 6.5 months that I have been here.

Sometime over the summer I posed a question on Twitter asking about Brunch locations in Capitol Hill. I was directed to Matchbox on Barracks Row.

I ended up going for my Birthday, for Brunch with my mom.

We both started with Champagne Cocktails... my mom got the Capitol Hill (pineapple juice / champagne / aqua pear liquor / granny smith apple) to start and I got the Palm Springs (grapefruit juice / champagne / pama pomegranate). We both agreed the Palm Springs rocked and each ordered another . :)

The actual Brunch menu looked awesome and I had a hard time choosiing but I eventually ordered the cast iron chorizo & manchego egg tortilla (brunch potatoes / salsa verde / chipotle sour cream / grilled ciabatta with garlic butter) and my mom got the goat cheese & chorizo roll (tomato sauce / asparagus / scrambled eggs / brunch potatoes). We both agreed the food was awesome! As was the service! I definitely want to go back and try the stuffed french toast (cinnamon french toast / honey cream cheese / maple butter / fruit salad).

I have since been back for lunch (Awesome Crab Cake sandwich!) and look forward to trying the Pizza!

Prompt 1 - Trip What was your best trip in 2009?


Not counting Day Trips I didn't really travel much this year....Philly and Western MD were the only contenders

So Western MD wins!!

Good friends, Good food, Good drinks, Spa Trip... and something I've never done before.... white water rafting.... :)

I came across a set of 31 prompts for a December Year End Best Of..... while reading a post @WasItforThis....


So I thought I would try to participate.... so be on the lookout for a waterfall of posts :D

A few weeks ago I received my invitation to Nordstrom's Private Holiday Shopping Event (I got one last year but didn't go).

The trigger for the invite is spending a certain amount (via a Nordstrom Card) which I did when I purchased this....

So I decided to attend the morning event at Tysons Corner. I had never been to the mall in Tysons. A previous employer had an office there that I had been to once or twice And i had also been to the Tiffanys located there.

Luckily due to it being early on a Sunday traffic was not a problem.

I took my mom with me. As we are walking into the mall I notice she is carrying a big Macy's shopping bag!!!! I asked her to please fold it up ( hello! we can't have a Macys bag at a big Nordstrom event... that would be like taking a Kate Spade handbag to a Chanel fashion show ;) )

Her response: But my candy canes are in there!!

Me: What?!?!?!!?

Mom: Candy Canes! I hand them out to salespeople!!

This was the first time I had heard about any such activity... so I am sure I made a face....

Moving on...

We entered Nordstrom with my fancy ticket.

Silver platters of food, tea and coffee from Silver Service!



Waiters with trays of OJ, Water w/ Lime and fancy appetizers :)

I only bought 1 item, but wow! some of the other shoppers were going crazy!!

Then we went out and explored the rest of the mall. I did some damge in Pottery Barn, and my mom even handed out her candy canes, which the salespeople made a fuss over (since I am not one for fuss... and really want to avoid talking to salespeople at all costs anyway... I just smiled and tried to get out of the store as fast as possible).

We went to lunch as Coastal Flats..... it was all decorated for XMAS..... and I had an awesome Shrimp Roll .....

and I don't even believe in God :P

Yesterday I had the opportunity to work some overtime (aka bill extra hours aka buy more shoes!).

Orange line was of course single tracking (hey its the weekend!). So I decided to drive to my office. Mapquest put it at an approximate 20 minute drive. Metro usually takes me 30 Minutes. With the waiting around for single tracking trains driving of course won out. Weekend street parking was free. This all probably sounds like driving should win..... but I can't read while I am driving....In bound traffic would be way worse during the week....and if I wanted to go out after work I would need to move my car somewhere. Also the big downside to driving.... getting from SW to 295N. Its weird and annoying.

WMATA wins!!!!!!!

But the real question is... if I had used Metro to commute this weekend, and SmarTrip had converted to the new system... what purse would my fare have been deducted from!?

A new one.... but it mocks AT&T so I am a fan :)

MTV's Jersey Shore.... this may put RHoNJ in a whole new perspective!

On your Best Rock Song Grammy Nomination for "The Fixer"

If you spend anytime in the malls or reading fashion magazines (or in Ann Taylor Loft) you know that ruffles are huge this year.





Yesterday's Zoe Report arrived in my inbox touting a ruffled blazer, but the real find was what was suggested in the Parallel Universe (aka cheaper option).

Ruffled Cardigan from Anthropoligie!