good grief! what else? (warning: rant ahead)

Sometimes being a homeowner sucks. Well, it's just being an adult that sucks. When you are a kid, you get other people to fix the problems. When you are the adult, you have to fix it yourself or hire someone. And if you know me, you know I hate making phone calls.

The sprinkler system needs help. It's been a long time since it went out but now we are in the really dry season and I need to get it done. Now.

The drain in my bathroom sink is slow. OK, it's practically stopped. I tried do-it-yourself and ordered some stuff called Bio-Klean. I think it has gotten worse. Might be time to call a plumber.

My dryer isn't work well. It takes about 3 cycles to get a smaller load dry. Because we are deed restricted, we can't hang a clothes line. Not that I would want to. I have never liked clothes dried on the line. Now to be honest, I did call for repair. My stand-by repairman could not be located so I tried another company. I was told they would be here before noon. He called after 1 pm to ask for directions. He got here and saw the dryer and said, "Oh it's gas. They didn't tell me." Well, they never asked so I assumed it wouldn't matter. He unhooked the vent and said it was lint build-up. He climbed up on the roof and cleaned out what he could reach. He said the flap couldn't even open and it should be fine now. He took my $75 and left.

The dryer still wasn't working. I called and was told it was too late to come back that day but that they would call in morning. They didn't call. I didn't call back because I don't think they can't fix it. If it is the lint, I need to call someone who has the tools to clean it. The dryer repairman said that the lint problem gets worse when the humidity gets higher. Hmm... seems like the problem started the day we got rain all day long. Yep, I have to call someone else.

I did have the vent cleaned out years ago. I think it was about $150. I asked how often this should be done and they guy said every 6 months. Huh?! Sounds like a scam to me. Maybe every few years? I should go through my poor excuse for files and see who came the last time. But chances are they won't be in business anymore. Seems that way with most of the service industry these days.

Today's problem is the cable box. The box is going out. Or is dead. It first happened a couple of months ago on a day when Ryan went to watch the NASCAR pre-race stuff. He got very upset when it wouldn't work. The other TV did come on but this was to televise on Speed. Speed is only on the digital channels and only have one box. I called Brighthouse and they did manage to get it back.

Last Sunday, the cable box went out again. Ryan was very upset even though he could watch on the other TV. I called Brighthouse again and they again managed to get the box fixed. Today, they didn't even go through all the steps, they just started to make an appointment. And the next available time is Wednesday. Or I can pick up a box. OK, that sounds better. Where is the office and what are the hours? Yolanda gives me an address and tells me they are open Monday through Friday 9 to 6.

After I hang up, I check out google maps and find it's going to take me about an hour to get there. Maybe I should call back for the appointment? After all, we don't watch TV except for the weekends. But then again, I'd probably be charged for the service call.

How do I tell Ryan that the TV is low priority? How do I make him understand?

some choice

No, this nothing like Sophie's Choice.

It seems like I always have to make the choice who will get their way. Compromise is not easy for most kids. My kids just don't get it. Unfortunately, Ryan tends to get his way more. He gets upset more easily and more vocally. Andy gets upset but he is more quiet about it.



We went to Lowry Park yesterday. I have been there walking but this time I took the boys. It's Spring Break. We walked along the river and on the docks and then around the rest of the park. As usual, we followed Ryan's lead. It was cool when we left the house this morning so we took our jackets. Andy likes to bundle up. I left my jacket in the car but Ryan chose to take his, just in case. I had to show him how to tie it around his waist.

The boys haven't grown up with squirrels around and Ryan was afraid of them. And these squirrels are beggars and kept getting closer to him. It was kind of funny.



Sometimes, they actually act like they like each other. Yep, Ryan is holding onto Andy. Then Ryan does something like this. He almost got away with it.



There is a river tour boat that is part of the zoo. You have to buy tickets through the zoo. I know the boys would have liked the boat ride, especially Andy, but it's expensive. They wouldn't leave the dock until the boat left. We walked some more and played on the playground. Ryan wanted to find the Visitor's Center but there isn't one. I realized later it was because he wanted a map of the place.

On the way home, Ryan wanted to go one way, Andy another. I know most parents, if the kids can't agree, choose a third option. That would only leave them both upset. The lesser of two evils, letting Ryan get his way. But I did say that Andy gets to choose the way we go today.

show me the money!

I could say that I decided to be good and not get my MilkyWay Midnight which I get only when I go to the grocery store.

But the truth is, you can't buy an $.89 candy bar with $.38. I took $79 into the grocery store and left with $.38.

We had just been there on Monday so this shouldn't have been too expensive. We stayed on the list dammit!

I hate having to worry about money.

drink some green tea, now!

I was hesitant to try green tea. I was happy with my black tea. But green tea has more antioxidants.

OK, I got some. I added a couple bags to my black tea bags and eventually switched over. I like it. Yes, I do still like the robust flavor of black tea but not enough to switch.

One thing I was worried about was drinking too much of it. Everything is bad in excess, right? After reading this, I'm not so concerned about that now.

A recent study has shown that women who drink four or more cups of Green Tea per day are up to 80% less likely to get cancer. 80% is a massive number! As far as I know there is nothing else that can reduce your chance of getting cancer more aside from quitting smoking. With such powerful statistics we would be crazy not to increase our tea intake.

One thing that is not a good idea is to mix milk with tea. The proteins in the milk don't play well. So when I have my Black Tea Lattés, I don't consider them part of my healthy drinks.

And green tea helps burn calories according to Dr Wiel.

The main antioxidant polyphenol in green tea, known as Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, stimulates the body to help burn calories. Dr. Weil recommends drinking a few cups of quality green tea every day.

x-mini capsule speaker

Back story: I had a JBL On Stage speaker dock for my iPod to listen in the bathroom. Andy kept breaking his headphones so I gave him my On Stage to use with his iPod. He killed the On Stage.

Meanwhile, I missed listening to music in the bathroom. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and but the cheaper alternatives were either clunky or just plain fugly.

I was at Think Geek and found the X-mini Capsule Speaker. I got it yesterday and charged it up last night. I tried it out this morning and it's not bad. Yes, there is distortion but it's fine for listening to podcasts. And it's cute. It's costs $24.99 so it's not really cheap. I'd call it affordable. If you want something to listening to music with, spend the money and get something better.

addicted

I think I may be addicted to Twitter. It's down now and I don't know what to do.

Actually, it's not that bad. It's just that this is the time I check out the tweets I starred to look at later. See, I mostly twitter on my iPod Touch, when I have a few moments. So those tweets that have links to articles or pics I can see on my iPod, I star for later. Then I go back and check them out.

Now is my time and I can't. drats.

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Today is the first day of spring break. It looks like it is going to be one expensive week and we are staying home.

he breaks his shoes

Two weeks and his new shoes are breaking. And it's all his fault. Andy likes the sound his shoe makes when he drags the toe. Eventually the side cracks and as he continues, the sole breaks. This photo is from the first pair he broke years ago. He would get in trouble then be OK for the next pair or so. Then he would do it again. Even after wearing sneakers all winter, he hasn't figured out that he shouldn't do that. Two weeks is the quickest he has ever managed to break a pair.

When I saw the crack yesterday, I was angry. But I can't yell at Andy. He gets too upset. I can raise my voice and talk in that tone that should have his quivering in his sandals. But I have to make it clear that I still love him even though he did something bad.

I will not buy him birkenstocks anymore. Besides the cost, they take too long to ship from Germany. So we looked online and he chose a pair from Lands' End. These are Trekker Slides and I like that the toe is protected. And we did luck out a bit as Lands' End had free shipping. (They seem to have it a lot lately.)

my roommate arrives

Nopp is from Thailand and she had been visiting her family before the trip. She flew from Bangkok to Poland. She said the flight was so full that some people actually stood for the entire flight! I guess flight regulations don't apply to eastern block countries.

Nopp brought a suitcase full of toilet paper. Bless her! She gave a roll to Teré and one to Lori and said that was all that they get. The rest was for us. Yay!

The Polish students had arranged for us to take meals in the school cafeteria. Our first meal was Fat Tuesday. We walked into a large nondescript building and then past the bathrooms. Oh god! What the hell? Was this an outhouse? Oh the smell! We quickly walked upstairs and thankfully the smell did not follow us.

The meal wasn't bad. Typical Polish fair, pork, potatoes and over-steamed vegetables. I think their was even some dessert. We figured this would be OK.

You know what comes next, don't you? Ash Wednesday. I got up early and went walking to go to church. The Church of the Black Madonna happened to be pretty close. I walked in to the dark church to find mass already taking place. In fact, mass just continued from one hour to the next. I hung out in back because I'm shy.

The floor was covered in straw. Huh? Well, it wasn't completely covered but mostly in the aisles. I guess it was cheaper than floor mats. The place was pretty crowded and there were not enough pews. Many people were standing. When it came time to kneel (I always felt that mass should be called Catholic aerobics; stand up sit down, stand up, kneel...) people knelt on those dirty floors! Um, no thanks. Call me sinner. I got my ashes and left.

Do you know that on Ash Wednesday, good Catholics are supposed to fast. Now, Catholic fasting is not the really fasting. It means no snacks, and two small meals that together do not equal the third. OK, not a problem since we still hadn't figured out breakfast yet. We all went to the cafeteria for lunch. Oh no. Cabbage soup and the driest bread known to man. That was it.

We found that the hotels had good food and pretty cheap for us. We went there for dinner. There was one hotel we favored over the rest, The Forum. They had a cheap side and an expensive side. The meals were similar but the cost was double in the expensive side. On the cheap side, there were only waitresses. On the expensive side were waiters. We learned to ask for ice for our cokes. When we first arrived, our salads were cole-slaw. As the weather got warmer, we started getting iceberg lettuce. We never tried the beefsteak tartar.

Realizing that Ash Wednesday would be lacking in food. We went back to the cafeteria on Thursday. Walking past the sess-pool and up the stairs, we realized that was Fat Tuesday was a celebration in good food. What we got that day was one step about Ash Wednesday. This wasn't going to work. After trying to eat another scary, unfulfilling meal, we would have to walk past the raw sewage smell and hope that our meager lunch stayed in our stomachs. We went to talk to the Polish students.

rainy days

This is our dry season. Well, really, most of the year we are dry. Except for summer. So having rain showers this morning was odd. And Ryan did not appreciate it. "Andy had his field day. Why can't I have mine?" What could I say? I saw the forecast and it said 40% chance of rain all morning. Like a coward, I ignored the question.

Later when it thundered, Ryan went and got his quilt. Oh come on! Why do I have to have kids and dogs who are afraid of thunder? OK, that's not exactly true. Yes, every dog I have add was a coward during storms. My last dog, Duffy, didn't acquire his fear until he was about 7 or 8 years old. Before that, he would actually watch fireworks! And Ryan was never afraid until last year. WTF?! I love storms and it's hard to be sympathetic.

Bad mommy. I told him he couldn't sit on my lap during a small storm. This was small, only one low clap of thunder and no lightning. But then I felt bad so I let him sit there for a while. He played with my iPod Touch to distract himself.

Andy wanted the umbrella while he waited for the bus. I saw Ryan trying on Andy's sneakers. They are way too big. Ryan doesn't have any sneakers of his own, he won't wear them. But he doesn't want his feet to get wet today. We find Andy's old Van's slip-ons and they are big but will work. Ryan takes his sandals in case in dries up.

I asked Ryan if he wanted his rain coat but he kept ignoring me. I know it's too warm sometimes but it does keep you dry. After getting wet in his regular jacket, he did agree to his rain jacket. You can tell he is just not happy with the rain.



I took too many photos. I think there were over 90, reduced to 12 that are decent. Yes, I do delete bad photos. I called Andy to get him to turn his head and he walks run up to me. I am surprised it came out so well.



It did end up drying out for Field Day. When Ryan got home, I asked him how it went. "Awesome!"

sneakers update

Yes, I still love my sneakers.

I don't, however, love Kelly's Running Warehouse. Not only do they charge $9.99 for return shipping, but another $10 for restocking fee. Even if you exchange shoes you are charged these fees.

And they don't tell you when they get your returned item. You just have to check your statement, 2-4 weeks.

I will not order from them again.