Finding That Balance Again

Ok, after complaining, I am making a conscious effort to be happy about life. So, good things in life at the moment:

• I am not homeless, even if I have to push the closing date on my house back because gifts and loans are stupid (at least official ones).
• A TON of awesome amazing concerts, including... Pete Yorn
• The Decemberists
• Snow Patrol
• Ingrid Michaelson
• Paper Route and/or Regina Spektor (possibly)
• Fixing up and painting said house, once it is actually bought, with Neil
• Having a job, even if I work in the basement and share an office with my boss. heh.
• I have a tomato plant, and have successfully kept it alive for four months now. So far, it has even given me TWO tomatoes. Ahhhhmazing.
• I also have a BBMF that comes to see me at work and drop off Pop Tarts. It's pretty awesome, really.

Are Mondays Falling on a 13th Supposed to be Cursed, too?

No, really... 'cause everything that could possibly go wrong yesterday, pretty much did -- from insurance companies denying prescriptions that they have been filling for the first half of 2009 to catching pizza on fire in the oven to Chewy deciding he hates children.

Yeah, Chewy hates little people. Neil and I took the dogs for a walk yesterday, and there were these two little girls selling lemonade for .20 cents a glass. I am all for supporting the sale of lemonade, so we went over to them to buy a glass, and when one of the girls came over to hand me my glass, Chewy went nuts -- barking and growling and lunging at her... and coming VERY close to biting her.

I'm a bit devastated. Chewy has never been aggressive, really. Stupid, absolutely, aggressive, no. And I have no idea what to do to make sure he doesn't do it again, aside from making sure he isn't ever around kids. Thinking back, he has not really been around kids at all before -- but why would be stupidly friendly with adults and insanely aggressive and nervous around children?

If you're into graphic novels...

You should check out Ultra: Seven Days. It's not exactly philosophical or uber deep or anything, but a tres enjoyable read:

Can you be maudlin and emo at the same time?

If so, that about sums out how I'm feeling at the moment.

Attempting to buy a house is stressful. Especially when you have no idea what you're doing.

I want the process to be over, already... and I still have six weeks to go. Bah.

I think going it alone just makes it that much harder. Still, I know it is the right decision. Roommate or no roommate, the responsibility of the thing is entirely on me. It's kind of scary. But, regardless of what happens, I am going to try to stick it out here for at least a few years, so I might as well stop renting. Plus, painting is fun? ...

Sometimes I wish I weren't so inconsistent about oh, everything in life. It would be nice. Sometimes. I am too emotional and easily affected by the moods of others around me. It's annoying as hell.

I just had one of the best father's day experiences that I can remember... and now I am being emo. For basically no reason. I'm pretty sure this makes me a complete pain in the ass.

And so it goes.

So... I bought a house

Yeah, I am actually investing in Michigan when everyone else is leaving and losing jobs. Well.

I've decided since I, once again, am having trouble updating this thing on a consistent basis, that I would try to use it to post house/decorating ideas. The four people I know of that read this thing are all much more knowledgeable about this sort of thing than I am, and can also match things. Both big pluses when giving a house a makeover.

And the house I bought is definitely in need of a makeover. It is entirely livable, but nearly every room is covered in horrible 1970's floral print wallpaper. The hardwood floors in one of the bedrooms is covered with ugly carpet. The kitchen and bathroom share a vinyl floor that probably wasn't a good choice even in the '60s. So, before I move in, I want to at least paint the bedrooms and get rid of the carpet.

So... as I come up with anything that comes remotely close to a design/idea possibility, I'm throwing it up.

Up first: I have this cherry oak sort of dresser, but it's normal and boring and I want to spruce it up a bit. Ignoring the price, do you like any of these knobs?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22031814&ref=sr_gallery_12&&ga_search_query=knobs&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_page=5&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19163764&ref=sr_gallery_13&&ga_search_query=knobs&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=51&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Single Women: the Happies and the Crappies

I came across this article on CNN. While I agreed with most of it, I didn't get anything close to satisfaction for having others reaffirm the attitudes of some people. It just makes me sad.

I know too many people like this, both male and female -- most single but a few in some unhappy relationships.

You cannot expect a happy, functioning relationship to just fall in your lap. I'm sorry, it won't happen. To paraphrase one of my favorite shows ever: This isn't Disney; it's life. Contrary to popular belief, most things in life really are work. When you get married or enter a truly committed relationship, that isn't your happily ever after. There is no such thing as happily ever after because this is no "ever after." You can be happy, and I hope you are. But, it is never lasting. Relationships are never stagnant; they are fluid, constantly changing, practically every minute.

I fully believe that people can absolutely be happy on their own. But, in today's society with so many expectations for monogamy and a life partner, I think it is more challenging to be -- there are expectations to get married and find your soul mate, "the one," etc. But there is no such thing as the perfect relationship or the perfect person for you, and the sooner people accept that, the more open they are to others, the easier it becomes to find someone you are compatible with.

We have one chance to get everything right

Through Rock Band and an introduction from a friend about a year, I have really gotten into Modest Mouse. If you don't know them, check out "Little Motel" and "One Chance." I think they are pretty awesome, and have subsequently been listening to about three songs of theirs on repeat that really fit with my life right now.

The past few weeks have been crazy. Really. Moving, buying a house, lots of projects at work... always moving.

We have one chance, one little chance, to get everything right...

A long time ago, I would have really taken that line to heart. Now, I have a little more faith in second chances.

Regardless, I'm really digging Modest Mouse.