Yes, But Can it Chill in 10 Minutes??

Oh the joys of buying a fridge over the phone.

Husband is in VA working while I remain in Ohio until the house there is ready. We need a refrigerator for the new house. So I have been checking Consumer Reports and spending hours online comparing this fridge and that one. What it comes down to is the "look". There's a chick for ya...I don't care how fast it makes ice, I just want a pretty refrigerator.

And darn it, I think I deserve it for giving up my friends and beautiful home here and schlepping across the country for him.

Anyway, I thought I was quite clear in my instructions to Husband about what I wanted. So imagine my surprise when he called saying he had purchased a different frig. A frig that is stainless steel like I wanted but has black handles and a black ice/water dispenser. Say what?? That is not the "pretty" frig I described to him. I wanted ALL stainless for a lovely monochromatic look. He thought it would be more important to have the "super chiller" feature that can chill food in 10 minutes. "Why do we need this?", I ask him. "Uh, well, I just thought it would be nice", he says. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

So, long suffering Husband will be going back to Home Depot this morning to try again. I'm trying to feel a little guilty about this, but as I lay in bed this morning looking at the gorgeous view of the sun rising over the lake behind our house, all I can think of is, "Damn him for making me leave this!"

Yes, But Can it Chill in 10 Minutes??

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/yes-but-can-it-chill-in-10-minutes.html

Thursday Thirteen - My Head is Spinning

Thirteen Things That Happened in the Past Thirteen Days

1. We found out Husband got a job transfer to Richmond, VA. Yay!
2. We went to Richmond and bought a house in one day.
3. I had a little melt down because it's much more expensive there so we couldn't get a house like we have now.
4. Husband stayed in VA and is already working. I came ALONE. boo hoo
5. I put our house on the market here in Columbus.
6. A recessed light went out in our two story family room.
7. I impressed myself (and Husband!) by changing it with a very tall ladder, an 11 ft. pole, a suction cup and string.
8. I wish I hadn't told Husband because now he thinks I can do handy type things. Blows my "poor little me" image.
9. The guy who came today to take pictures of this house to put in a brochure said, "Um, I think there's something wrong with your furnace." Crap
10. The vet told me today that my cat Hobbes needs his teeth cleaned at a cost of $600-$800 even though they were cleaned last year. WTH?!
11. Hobbes apparently has a mammoth hairball and has been puking on the carpet daily despite me going through an entire tube of Cat Lax in an attempt to make it come out the other way.
12. The guy husband hired to mow the lawn since he's gone came once and now that the lawn is half a foot high he's no where to be found.
13. The movers will be here in 2 1/2 weeks to move us.

Get the code here

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen - My Head is Spinning

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/thursday-thirteen-my-head-is-spinning.html

Richmond, VA - Here We Come!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!








In three more weeks I'll be joining Husband in the beautiful state capital of Virginia!

Richmond, VA - Here We Come!

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/richmond-va-here-we-come.html

Are You My Father?

I read an interesting article in the newspaper about "sisters" who recently found each other.

No, not long lost twins or adopted siblings but sperm donor siblings. Interesting, huh?

I'm not sure what to think about this. Technically, yes, they are sisters and I guess they have every right to find each other - and potentially several other siblings! Apparently there is even a huge sperm donor sibling registry (www.donorsiblingregistry.com) where you can go find your half-sibling.

But, are they then going to want to find their "father"? I'm not sure if that is fair...If a guy donates his sperm for money does that automatically make him a father? I don't mean in the biological sense because of course he is the father. I mean in the emotional sense of being a father. For example, is he going to have kids showing up on his doorstep saying, "Hi Dad! I'm your daughter/son!" Are they going to want a relationship with him? Is he going to be asked to pay child support??

Just found the whole thing very interesting...what do you think?

Are You My Father?

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/are-you-my-father.html

Get Me Off This Rollercoaster

Wow!! What a ride.

Two weeks ago Husband found out he DID get the promotion to Virginia - YIPPEE - and it has been quite a roller coaster ride since then. Asshat Corporation said he could not tell anyone, though, and everything must be kept hush hush to the point where he wasn't even allowed to contact the relocation department. This meant we couldn't contact a realtor here to sell our house or a realtor in VA to start looking for one there. Oh, but they'd like him to start in 1 1/2 weeks!

After a week of me bitching, he talks with the new boss in VA who OKs contacting the relo dept. and realtors as long as it's kept Top Secret. Whatever. In a company as large as Asshat Corporation, there is no way any secret is ever kept. But all I really cared about was getting this house on the market and buying another one, otherwise Husband and I would be living very far apart for a long time.

So, last Wednesday we drove to Richmond and managed to purchase a spec home in one day which will be ready in 3 weeks. woo hoo! We beat our previous home buying records of two and three days. Luckily, our tastes are very similar and we can walk into a house and know in 2 minutes whether it's even worth going upstairs or not.

Now I am back in Ohio and Husband is working in VA until we officially move there in 3 weeks. Thanks goodness the company will buy our house if we don't sell it, because I think the chances of it selling in 3 weeks are nil.

Other than that, the news here is that my cat Hobbes apparently has a huge hairball that he's trying to get rid of by throwing up daily. Joy!

Get Me Off This Rollercoaster

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/get-me-off-this-rollercoaster.html

Monday Memory #7

I remember a warm Spring day just two years ago when we lived in Upstate NY.

I was over at my friend Kathy's house and we were painting the rails on her deck. It was one of those glorious days - 75 degrees, no humidity, birds singing and flowers blooming everywhere. The sky was such a brilliant blue - blue as far as you could see without a cloud in sight. There was a gentle breeze and you could just smell Spring.

We talked about "girly" stuff like what color we should paint our toenails and if she should get her hair highlighted. We talked about our hopes and dreams - she and her husband were trying to get pregnant for the first time, and I wanted to apply for a promotion at the publishing company where I worked. We talked about nothing and everything; just like good friends do.

Then we ate lunch out on the deck, admiring our handiwork, wondering how long until the rails would need painted again.

Monday Memory #7

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/monday-memory-7.html

MEME - Six Weird Facts About Me

OK, I've been tagged by Chaotic Mom to share six weird things about myself.

1) I actually like to work out

2) I am addicted to cereal - any kind - and have no problem eating it for 3 meals a day, especially if Husband is gone and I don't have to cook.

3) When I find a CD or song that I like I will play it obsessively over and over every day - could be for months - and not listen to any other music. Right now it's the James Blunt "Back to Bedlam" CD - love it!

4) I can't stand it if my nails look bad. I have a nail file hidden in just about every room. If I have polish on and it chips, I'll either repair the chip or remove the polish altogether. I rarely get professional manicures because they don't usually live up to my ridiculous standards but I do like getting pedicures, go figure.

5) I'm shy to the point where if I walk in somewhere and don't know anyone, I've been know to leave vs. trying to meet people. Ridiculous!

6) I decided in 4th grade I didn't want kids and I've never changed my mind. No, nothing weird happened in 4th grade that I recall. Let me be clear on the fact that I DO like kids; I just don't have any maternal instincts. I think you have to have a desire to want kids at the very least before bringing them into this world. I don't feel that desire and I don't really know why. I've revisited the issue a lot as I near the "age of no return", but I just don't feel IT, whatever the it may be. And, I'm not about to have a child because my parents and inlaws want grandkids, my brother wants a niece/nephew, I'd have someone to take care of me in my old age, I might regret it later, and the million other reasons I've been told as to why I should.

I don't like to officially "tag" anyone in case they don't want to play. So anyone who can think of 6 weird facts about themselves - feel free to play along. Enter your name below ONLY IF YOU'RE PLAYING, otherwise, please leave a comment.

MEME - Six Weird Facts About Me

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/meme-six-weird-facts-about-me.html

Pimped Peeps

Oh! I am cracking up! Remember when I wrote about the "Pimp Your Peep" contest that created a little controversy here?

Well, pictures have now been published in the paper and they're so funny I wanted to share. For your "peeping" pleasure, hee hee that was bad.

Pimped Peeps

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/pimped-peeps.html

Thursday Thirteen - Feel Good Things

Thirteen Favorite “Feel Good” Products

1. Bare Minerals makeup. Love it! Will never use “regular” foundation again. A friend turned me on to this line about 5 years ago and I’m addicted.

2. Sephora is a fabulous makeup/perfume/hair product store that has just about every line you can think of. I was thrilled to find out yesterday that they are putting stores inside JC Penneys, so there should be a store available no matter where I move to!

3. MAC eyeshadow. Unbeatable. Once you put their eye shadow on, it does NOT come off or smudge.

4. Benetint. I’ve been seeing this stuff advertised for years but finally just tried it. Love it! Gives your cheeks a very natural flush, like you just exercised had great sex.

5. Sally Hansen Maximum Growth for nails. I have tried EVERY nail product out there, including the very expensive Nailtiques line, I’m telling ya, nothing works like this stuff. I’ve been using it for 15 years.

6. OPI Nail Polish. Again, I’ve tried ‘em all – I give myself a manicure every week and this polish doesn’t chip nearly as quickly as others.

7. Lip Fusion XL. Holy cow this stuff actually works! It’s a lip plumping treatment you just swipe on before you go to bed. In about 2 weeks you’ll notice fuller lips – I kid you not. Supposed to be the only non-injectable lip treatment that actually puts more collagen into your lips

8. Tend Skin. I use this on my bikini line when forced to wear a swimsuit and it really does get rid of the red bumps/ingrown hair.

9. Biosilk Silk Therapy. Absolutely great for de-frizzing your hair and making it very glossy. It’s expensive, but you only need a little.

10. Rembrandt Whitening Strips for your teeth. They stay on better than Crest Whitestrips and they’re less expensive.

11. Vibraderm. I am addicted! No, it’s not a fancy vibrator but a skin treatment – much like microdermabrasion but without any of the discomfort. It feels like a face massage and helps in getting rid of brown spots from sun damage, exfoliates, and gets rid of fine lines. You can get it at a dermatologist’s office or a “medical” spa.

12. Peter Thomas Roth Sulfur Cooling Mask. This stuff dries up pimples in a hurry! I use it as a spot treatment more than a mask. Husband is always amused when I get into bed with lumps ‘o clay on my face.

13. Lancome’s Hypnôse perfume. I first smelled it on one of those annoying magazine inserts and was hooked. I kept rubbing the paper on my wrists for days – way past the point where there was any fragrance left! I finally went and bought it – passion flower, vanilla and vetiver, whatever that is.

Thursday Thirteen - Feel Good Things

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/thursday-thirteen-feel-good-things.html

Random Thoughts

The title of this post reminds me of the SNL skit - "Random Thoughts with Jack Handey" - remember that?? So funny. Actually, was it "random" thoughts or am I misremembering the name?

Any Sephora fans who are currently forced to buy online - BIG Announcement - Sephora is putting stores inside JC Penney stores starting this fall. Yippee!! If you've never been into Sephora - you're in for a treat. They have a gazillion makeup lines in one store and everything has a tester. You are encouraged to use the testers and can do so without a snotty sales person hovering over you! Happy, happy day!

Apparently there are some very misguided democrats from Ohio in the U.S. Senate who would like ACTOR Martin Sheen to run for Senate. Say what?! Hello, he's an ACTOR playing a political role, not a real politician despite all the speeches he's given at various political fundraisers. Geesh, it's not like West Wing is a reality show, how can people be so confused? Asshats!

I've determined I'm a "bored eater". When I'm busy, I only stop and eat when I start getting hunger pangs. When I'm bored, I apparently think I'm hungry 24/7.

What is the appropriate amount to spend for a bridal shower gift for a cousin I don't know very well? I haven't been to a shower in years and I'm afraid I didn't spend enough. I got two things off her Crate and Barrel registry - wooden cookbook stand and big cookbook that came to $55. Should I add something else to get up to $75??

Random Thoughts

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/random-thoughts.html

Pimping Your Peep

Another post about Easter...sort of. Couldn't resist commenting about this content in the local paper.

It's called "Pimp Your Peep". The paper is asking readers to create a custom "peep" using those brightly colored lumps of sugar and marshmallow that appear around Easter. Their example is pictured at the left. So, you dress your peep up, take a picture, submit it to the paper and you could win a t-shirt.

I thought this contest was somewhat amusing. It created quite the backlash though, due to the title, “Pimp Your Peep”, and the stereotypical outfit the peep is wearing. People wrote Letters to the Editor about the inappropriateness of the contest and the fact that their children read the paper and they don’t want them reading the word “pimp”.

To be fair, the paper later published this other “pimped peep” in a much less controversial “outfit”.

Hmmm…I thought it was just a silly, fun contest but then again, I don’t have kids. On one hand I thought, well, why don't you monitor what your kids read? But on the other hand, would you really think you'd have to monitor what's in the daily paper??

What do you all think? Harmless or not?

Pimping Your Peep

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/pimping-your-peep.html

Monday Memory #6 - Easter!

I have such great memories of Easter when my brother and I were kids. Both sets of grandparents and my Aunt would make the drive from Pittsburgh to Bloomington, IL (10 hrs!) to visit us. We would be spoiled rotten.

Of course, Easter baskets then and now are very different! We would get the basket with the colored plastic "grass" (loved that!) and we each got one big chocolate bunny and some jelly beans. Then we would find the plastic eggs that came apart which would have more candy and some times a few coins inside - very exciting at the time! We loved it.

One Easter in particular my brother and I decided WE would hide the eggs and make the adults find them. I think we were 8 and 9 at the time. It seems so silly now, but we had such fun watching our parents and grandparents search for the eggs! And they were such good sports about it - going up and down the steps in search of them.

Sadly, I no longer have any grandparents living and I miss them like crazy. I do have my dear Aunt Mary who always had loads of time to play with my brother and I and even though I won't see her this Easter I'll be sure to call her and say, "Remember when...".

Monday Memory #6 - Easter!

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/monday-memory-6-easter.html

Feeling the Teal

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you.Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Feeling the Teal

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/feeling-teal.html

Don't Leave Me!

Geesh! Anyone else have a dog that is afraid of thunderstorms? My guy shakes and pants and does NOT want to be left alone. Missed my Pilates class this morning - a little annoyed but can't be mad at him. I mean look at those eyes - could you be mad?? I really did try to leave. Had my coat on, keys in hand, but then he just looked at me and started barking. Clearly, he was saying, "Don't leave me!" So, I didn't. I tried some homeopathic drops I bought at the dog groomers but they didn't work at all. Any ideas?

Don't Leave Me!

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/dont-leave-me.html

Thursday Thirteen - A Normal Day

Oh yes, here's the post you've been waiting for, drumroll please...

Thirteen Things I Do on a "Normal" Day

1. The crossword puzzle in the daily paper
2. Take Sampson for a morning walk
3. Work out
4. Read (just finished a great mystery called "Nicotine Kiss" by Loren Estelman who writes the Amos Walker detective series)
5. Write a post for my blog and read wonderful posts from all my blogging pals
6. Look at houses online in VA where I hope to find out we're moving to (supposed to hear next week!)
7. Get the coffee maker ready for the next day (Don't laugh - it is very important the coffee is already made and waiting for me when I come downstairs!)
8. Pilates class with friends if it's Tuesday or Friday
9. Literacy tutoring for students whose first language isn't English if it's Wednesday
10. Hopefully remember to take something out of the freezer for dinner
11. Brush the cats and give them hairball medicine in hopes that they will stop throwing up every day - WTH?!
12. Take a shower (Glad I threw that in, I know you were getting worried)
13. Tell Husband I love him

Thursday Thirteen - A Normal Day

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/thursday-thirteen-normal-day.html

Wordless Wednesday #5

This is where I want to go for our next vacation! It's a picture of Costa Rica - has anyone ever been there?

Wordless Wednesday #5

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/wordless-wednesday-5.html

When Ranting Becomes Public

Well, it's happened again. I got another Letter to the Editor published in the paper. Blog rants do pay off! I didn't know if links to the online version of the paper would work for non-subscribers, so I copied and pasted the letters below.

First is the letter from the pharmacist that irritated me so much I ranted about it on my blog and then wrote a Letter to the Editor.

Don’t force pharmacist to help with abortion
Monday, March 27, 2006


I respond to the March 13 letter to the editor "Don’t let pharmacists decide for patient," from Kathy Oyster. Her attack on Ohio House Bill 469 clearly shows a lack of logic and understanding of the abortion issue.

Even though abortion is legal, it does not give anyone the ability or right to force a physician or other healthcare provider, including a pharmacist, to participate in an abortion against their will.

She is concerned that pharmacists will be allowed to "choose" those to which they will dispense the drugs that "may or will" result in abortion. I doubt if any true pro-life pharmacists would dispense abortifacients to anyone, but why shouldn’t they also be allowed to choose?

Her concern about the lack of a "provision for rape victims" also is flawed. Rape is a terrible thing, and the woman should have all the support and counseling available. But should the child be killed and, thereby, punished for the crime of the father? Is this child any less valuable as a person because it was conceived by force? Using the same logic, what if a child were left on your doorstep "against your will"? Shouldn’t you also be given the choice between killing the child and finding it a home?

As a pharmacist, I am just refusing to be a willing participant in the killing of an innocent child.

Why should the woman be allowed choice, but not the health-care professional?

OK, now my response. Let me first say that my issue was with a person whose job it is to dispense medication that people are legally entitled to refusing to do so. I am NOT debating the pro-life vs. pro-choice issue.

Pharmacist can’t make decisions for others
Sunday, April 02, 2006

I respond to the Monday letter "Don’t force pharmacist to help with abortion," from James F. Haninger.

Haninger said, "Why should the woman be allowed choice, but not the health-care professional?" In other words, he believes that healthcare professionals should be allowed the same choice women have in making health-care decisions about themselves.

Haninger doesn’t get to make health-care decisions for other people just because he is a pharmacist. He has a job to do, and, if he is not comfortable doing it, he needs to find a different profession. No one needs him deciding whether or not they get the medicine they are legally entitled to because it might go against his beliefs.

He definitely is in the wrong profession if he thinks he can personally decide who deserves help via medication and who doesn’t. If someone comes in for their cancer medication and he doesn’t think they look sick enough, is he just going to decide they can’t have their pills this month?

My last sentence was not printed in the paper, don't know why - maybe space considerations or they just didn't like it!

When Ranting Becomes Public

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/when-ranting-becomes-public.html

Monday Memory #5

THE BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

This is a recent memory as it happened just last year. My husband decided to surprise me for my birthday. When he told me he was planning a surprise I just laughed. He’s never been able to surprise me because he gets too excited and blows it. I ALWAYS know what I’m getting for Christmas way ahead of time because he either lets it slip or just gives it to me because he can’t wait. The man truly enjoys giving more than receiving (I know I’m a lucky girl!)

So, TWO months before my birthday he tells me he’s going to surprise me. “Uh huh, OK”, I say, smiling. Two weeks later he caves to the point of telling me that the surprise is he’s taking me somewhere but he’s not going to tell me where. “Sure, sounds good”, I say.

Well, he continues to taunt me and gloat about this big surprise to the point where I become seriously annoyed. I definitely liked it better when he couldn’t keep a secret. I finally blow up and tell him I think the whole thing is more about him being proud of himself for keeping a secret for the first time in his life than actually doing something nice for me for my birthday. Ouch nasty, but hey, there are only so many refrains of the “I know where we’re going and you don’t” song that a girl can take.

Anyway, the day of the trip comes and he’s holding firm. We’re packed and ready to leave for the airport. All I was told was to pack for warm weather. I’m in the office doing a last minute email check and he’s in the kitchen on his cell phone jabbering away. Then I hear, “Well, I’ve got to get going to the airport, Joe, we’re going to New Orleans!” “Ah ha”, I say, and then realize he can’t hear me and doesn’t realize that I’ve heard him. Hmm, dilemma…do I spoil his fun?

Of course. I make it all of about 15 minutes until we’re in the car and almost to the airport. “I know where we’re going”, I sing. He laughs, not believing me. “Where are we going then?”, he asks, clearly humoring me. “To New Orleans”, I say, very smugly. He looks at me with his mouth open. “How did you…?” “You said it on the phone”, I screeched triumphantly! He couldn’t believe it – didn’t even remember saying it on the phone!

So, we’re in the Charlotte airport waiting for our connecting flight when I hear, “Fancy meeting you here!” It’s close friends of ours from when we used to live in NY. My husband conspired with them to join us in New Orleans and that he did manage to keep me from finding out.

So in the end I declared him the winner – for the first time in our relationship he had managed to keep at least one secret!

PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME ONLY IF YOU'RE PLAYING MONDAY MEMORY. Otherwise, please leave a comment!

Monday Memory #5

http://casalinga.blogspot.com/2006/04/monday-memory-5.html