project economy
tomorrow is the big day for the 55+ housing development down the street. the plan was to build 24 units. they completed 4. 2 have been empty for a couple of years. one was finished, barely, this spring. the original asking price for these homes was in the neighborhood of 300k. last summer/fall they dropped the price to the low 200s.
tomorrow they go on the auction block. another house nearby, sits empty. it has been for years. it's a nice house, but not a great lot, (i've seen worse), there is some sort of note on the front door. and another house on my dogwalking route, sits empty too. it has a for sale sign on it, but it has the look of abandonment.
i don't know if it's another sign of the times, but it is a lot quieter here at night this summer. in past summers, i would be awakened in the middle of the night by the loud exhaust of a harley davidson motorcycle, kids burning off their tires doing brake stands on the hill, or other shenanigans. or woken early, by an increase in traffic or rumbling trucks. it's just quiet. are there less people living around here or do they just have less to do, no late night to come home from or early job to go to? i lay in bed reading my book and stop to just listen to the silence.
Everyday News
things that occur to me on a daily basis
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
turd burglar
i just felt like sayin' that. i'm avoiding going back down into the basement. there is water down there. really? do we need more rain?
this house is a wreck. the kitchen is a mess. the floors are disgusting. why bother though when the dog only tracks more mud/slime/water in and mushes it around with all her hair? and the bathroom which we tried to start painting over a month ago is in total disarray. right now, it has no door. the door is in fact laying atop the dog kennel, protruding out in to the middle of the aforementioned messy kitchen. i'm surprised no one has gotten hurt on it yet. i'll just let it keep getting messier and in a frantic cleaning attack try to get it all done on saturday. yay,me.
i just felt like sayin' that. i'm avoiding going back down into the basement. there is water down there. really? do we need more rain?
this house is a wreck. the kitchen is a mess. the floors are disgusting. why bother though when the dog only tracks more mud/slime/water in and mushes it around with all her hair? and the bathroom which we tried to start painting over a month ago is in total disarray. right now, it has no door. the door is in fact laying atop the dog kennel, protruding out in to the middle of the aforementioned messy kitchen. i'm surprised no one has gotten hurt on it yet. i'll just let it keep getting messier and in a frantic cleaning attack try to get it all done on saturday. yay,me.
it's not the holy grail, but
my cousin is part of the security detail that is working on this.
read it!
Treasure hunters | Portland Press Herald
Shared via AddThis
my cousin is part of the security detail that is working on this.
read it!
Treasure hunters | Portland Press Herald
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
mental dental
i've said it before (many times) and i'll say it again. i hate going to the dentist. not because i've had any terrible experience, but because of personal space issues and gross tastes and sometimes a little pain. my teeth/gums have gotten more sensitive as i've gotten wiser and with each visit i get a little more anxious. sometimes the slightest touch in just the right spot sends every nerve-ending into overdrive. But today, i actually felt a little less anxious. i haven't had any pain spots, so i thought this cleaning would be a breeze until i saw that Attila the Hun was going to be servicing me. i had to be brave though, because the gremlin was with me and it was her turn next. this woman had no right cleaning teeth. i've been seeing this dentist for 8 years and have always had the same hygenist until today. my old hygenist, Debbie has sadly left for an early retirement. Debbie and i had an established routine, from precise x-ray placement to the final flourish of toothpaste samples. Debbie would methodically clean left to right, bottom to top and she knew where all the sensitive spots were. Attila hacked and ground and scraped her way in zigzags throughout my mouth. I cringed and sweated through one of the worst cleanings ever. even after she 'polished' i could feel areas that she had missed. fortunately, she never hit a sensitive spot, that is not to say that there wasn't any pain and luckily, she didn't even try to scrape my daughter's teeth.
the gremlin did great. teeth cleaning at this age is more about getting them used to the idea than accomplishing anything. and the good news, this hygenist is only a temp. hopefully, next time we can establish a new routine with someone better.
i've said it before (many times) and i'll say it again. i hate going to the dentist. not because i've had any terrible experience, but because of personal space issues and gross tastes and sometimes a little pain. my teeth/gums have gotten more sensitive as i've gotten wiser and with each visit i get a little more anxious. sometimes the slightest touch in just the right spot sends every nerve-ending into overdrive. But today, i actually felt a little less anxious. i haven't had any pain spots, so i thought this cleaning would be a breeze until i saw that Attila the Hun was going to be servicing me. i had to be brave though, because the gremlin was with me and it was her turn next. this woman had no right cleaning teeth. i've been seeing this dentist for 8 years and have always had the same hygenist until today. my old hygenist, Debbie has sadly left for an early retirement. Debbie and i had an established routine, from precise x-ray placement to the final flourish of toothpaste samples. Debbie would methodically clean left to right, bottom to top and she knew where all the sensitive spots were. Attila hacked and ground and scraped her way in zigzags throughout my mouth. I cringed and sweated through one of the worst cleanings ever. even after she 'polished' i could feel areas that she had missed. fortunately, she never hit a sensitive spot, that is not to say that there wasn't any pain and luckily, she didn't even try to scrape my daughter's teeth.
the gremlin did great. teeth cleaning at this age is more about getting them used to the idea than accomplishing anything. and the good news, this hygenist is only a temp. hopefully, next time we can establish a new routine with someone better.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
nuts to the nuts
in case any of you were sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what was what with the gremlin and the nuts...the verdict is in. she can NOT have them. the allergy test showed that she is specifically allergic to pecans and black walnuts.
armed with this information, i was not relieved, but rather incensed. I did not speak to the person who called with the results and therefore had many more questions, like WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? can she eat other nuts? products that MAY contain nut pieces...made on the same equipment as other foods with nuts? products made in the same building as other products with nuts? i called back and asked if this meant that she could eat almonds...the person on the other end of the phone said 'i think that would be okay.' However, after scanning websites, i wasn't so sure and asked for a referral to an allergist.
in a nutshell (pun intended), the allergist said "NO NUTS. in any amount." and the reason for this is while she did test negative for the other nuts, there is NO WAY to predict if she will become positive for them, and really, who wants to take that chance. another thing that i learned is that food allergy tests can't predict severity or reaction threshholds. so while some people may be able to eat a nut and get a little rash around their mouth, others may have full-on anaphylactic shock from
a trace amount. will she outgrow it? she has about a 9% chance of outgrowing it. what is more likely to happen (which i don't think will and am really hoping it won't), is that she could become allergic to more things.
in case any of you were sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what was what with the gremlin and the nuts...the verdict is in. she can NOT have them. the allergy test showed that she is specifically allergic to pecans and black walnuts.
armed with this information, i was not relieved, but rather incensed. I did not speak to the person who called with the results and therefore had many more questions, like WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? can she eat other nuts? products that MAY contain nut pieces...made on the same equipment as other foods with nuts? products made in the same building as other products with nuts? i called back and asked if this meant that she could eat almonds...the person on the other end of the phone said 'i think that would be okay.' However, after scanning websites, i wasn't so sure and asked for a referral to an allergist.
in a nutshell (pun intended), the allergist said "NO NUTS. in any amount." and the reason for this is while she did test negative for the other nuts, there is NO WAY to predict if she will become positive for them, and really, who wants to take that chance. another thing that i learned is that food allergy tests can't predict severity or reaction threshholds. so while some people may be able to eat a nut and get a little rash around their mouth, others may have full-on anaphylactic shock from
a trace amount. will she outgrow it? she has about a 9% chance of outgrowing it. what is more likely to happen (which i don't think will and am really hoping it won't), is that she could become allergic to more things.
Monday, June 15, 2009
just feeling sorry for myself
i wish good things would happen to me. it's not like bad things happen, and not that i don't really appreciate what i already have and i'm not talking about winning the lottery or getting a free vacation or anything like that. i'm talking about little things, like winning the candy jar at the library, or winning a free month of childcare at the gym. (every month they have a raffle with the previous months cards and out of at least 24 months, my card has never been picked. yeah, i took statistics.)
i try not to make it all about me, but sometimes, Sometimes, SOMETIMES, i wish it was...for a little while. does shy mean unfriendly? does unobtrusive equal bad? should i start being a pushy bitch? become more of an asshole? get mine? i know the world does not revolve around me, god don't i know it, but how can i stop myself from feeling like it should...for a little while. how can i change? what do i need to work on? if i could be pointed in the right direction, i would try.
i wish good things would happen to me. it's not like bad things happen, and not that i don't really appreciate what i already have and i'm not talking about winning the lottery or getting a free vacation or anything like that. i'm talking about little things, like winning the candy jar at the library, or winning a free month of childcare at the gym. (every month they have a raffle with the previous months cards and out of at least 24 months, my card has never been picked. yeah, i took statistics.)
i try not to make it all about me, but sometimes, Sometimes, SOMETIMES, i wish it was...for a little while. does shy mean unfriendly? does unobtrusive equal bad? should i start being a pushy bitch? become more of an asshole? get mine? i know the world does not revolve around me, god don't i know it, but how can i stop myself from feeling like it should...for a little while. how can i change? what do i need to work on? if i could be pointed in the right direction, i would try.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
stolen from McPolack
What is your current obsession?
going to the library. i try to read a book a week.
What do you hate that most everyone else seems to love?
smalltalk
What are you wearing today?
pj bottoms, purple button up shirt (from yesterday), barefoot
What’s for dinner?
salad and baked sweet potato
What would you eat for your last meal?
if it was my last day i don't think i would waste time eating.
What’s the last thing you bought?
2nd hand clothes
What are you listening to right now?
the CPU or the a power supply. something computerish.
What do you covet?
strength and fortune
If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
i would love to say Alaska, but since i've never been there, i don't know for sure i would like it sooo...
and if i didn't have to commute for a job, i guess i would pick a small northerly NH town with less than 1000 people in it. there are a few of those still left right?
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
i need longer than an hour. so i'll just say, my bed.
Which language do you want to learn?
i think i would like to improve my french.
What’s your favourite quote?
Don't have one.
What is your favourite colour?
red
What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
a black and green buffalo check flannel shirt.
What is your dream job?
writer. guess i should get on that.
Describe your personal style?
lame
What’s your favourite tree?
hemlock
What are you going to do after this?
watch tv
What’s your favourite fruit?
apple if i had to pick just one.
What inspires you?
intelligence
Your favourite books?
if by favorite the one i have read the most...AMC white mt trail guide.
What are you currently reading?
My Father's Tears, John Updike collected stories
Go to your bookshelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:
i'm in a dark room. i would trip over something and hit my head on the bookshelf. ain't happen'
What delighted you the most today?
walking around the outside of the house with my daughter collecting 12 newts in a butterfly net and then making a little nest for them in a plastic bowl. she released 11...the 12th is somewhere in the basement.
By what criteria do you judge a person?
their integrity
Where does it hurt?
my feet
The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag some other people.
Gagknee.
What is your current obsession?
going to the library. i try to read a book a week.
What do you hate that most everyone else seems to love?
smalltalk
What are you wearing today?
pj bottoms, purple button up shirt (from yesterday), barefoot
What’s for dinner?
salad and baked sweet potato
What would you eat for your last meal?
if it was my last day i don't think i would waste time eating.
What’s the last thing you bought?
2nd hand clothes
What are you listening to right now?
the CPU or the a power supply. something computerish.
What do you covet?
strength and fortune
If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
i would love to say Alaska, but since i've never been there, i don't know for sure i would like it sooo...
and if i didn't have to commute for a job, i guess i would pick a small northerly NH town with less than 1000 people in it. there are a few of those still left right?
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
i need longer than an hour. so i'll just say, my bed.
Which language do you want to learn?
i think i would like to improve my french.
What’s your favourite quote?
Don't have one.
What is your favourite colour?
red
What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
a black and green buffalo check flannel shirt.
What is your dream job?
writer. guess i should get on that.
Describe your personal style?
lame
What’s your favourite tree?
hemlock
What are you going to do after this?
watch tv
What’s your favourite fruit?
apple if i had to pick just one.
What inspires you?
intelligence
Your favourite books?
if by favorite the one i have read the most...AMC white mt trail guide.
What are you currently reading?
My Father's Tears, John Updike collected stories
Go to your bookshelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:
i'm in a dark room. i would trip over something and hit my head on the bookshelf. ain't happen'
What delighted you the most today?
walking around the outside of the house with my daughter collecting 12 newts in a butterfly net and then making a little nest for them in a plastic bowl. she released 11...the 12th is somewhere in the basement.
By what criteria do you judge a person?
their integrity
Where does it hurt?
my feet
The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag some other people.
Gagknee.
Friday, May 29, 2009
the last 7 days
so i said i wasn't going to go crazy. well, i lied. i have steered clear from giving the gremlin pretty much any processed food since last friday. she's had plenty of fruit/veggie/meat/dairy. i confiscated her munchkins. and i'm afraid to make betty crocker cupcakes. wtf? the dr. saw her on wednesday, but won't do any allergy tests for two weeks. we have to wait for the steroid to clear her system.
the good news is that dum dum lollipops are made in the USA and are free of peanuts/eggs/tree nuts/wheat and gluten and are made on dedicated equipment.
yay, dum dum!
so i said i wasn't going to go crazy. well, i lied. i have steered clear from giving the gremlin pretty much any processed food since last friday. she's had plenty of fruit/veggie/meat/dairy. i confiscated her munchkins. and i'm afraid to make betty crocker cupcakes. wtf? the dr. saw her on wednesday, but won't do any allergy tests for two weeks. we have to wait for the steroid to clear her system.
the good news is that dum dum lollipops are made in the USA and are free of peanuts/eggs/tree nuts/wheat and gluten and are made on dedicated equipment.
yay, dum dum!
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