i'll need you to rip that shit out

The week kicked off with my use of ‘traffic cones’ in the morning meeting, “It seems the only traffic cones that might present a problem are…” We’ll give it a bit of time to percolate and see what kind of run it gets by end of the week.

I also reconfigured my cube to a standup desk fashion runway. Down to one massive monitor and a purpose-built riser that moves everything up to my level – it’s like I’m a circus clown around here. I’ve already ordered an ergo mat for the floor so that will only add to the curiosity of others. I’ve decided there are too many people I’d like to be around for awhile, and dying of a heart attack because I sat on my arse for years would, quite frankly, be embarrassing.

Over the weekend we moved forward with stripping a 6 x 40 (?) foot area from the front of the yard; it’s now garden in a near complete state. The issue was getting rid of the grass before turning the rock hard Virginia clay with leaf mold. The old timey method involves me, a spade, and twelve hours of my time. The less old timey way involves the use of this:


Now, that guy is overdressed for the job; and that hair is something. I actually think the ‘sod cutter’ label is in the wrong place – that should be pointed at dude’s head. You know that happens without guy to kick that damn thing around the yard? Nothing. It’s wood and metal. It’s parts. Unfortunately, the gas powered beast wouldn’t fit in the Merc wagon so me and the rental tool staff were laughing about how much work I had ahead of me on a lovely Saturday. Funny. While my dear was completing the paperwork for the enhanced sod removal device, a landscaper (with a truck) walks in and volunteers to bring the real thing to the house, gratis. And pick it up. And give us about $50 of high-quality mulch. I don’t know how she does it. I asked him if this tool/lawn/nice guy thing was his chosen superhero trait. Makes you hope for society, doesn’t it. Anyway, I ended up with something like this instead, which took about 40 minutes of my time to clear the desired area:


I don’t want you to get any ideas in your head about this being simple. Running this beast, with my little experience, sort of feels like this:


I got my eight seconds and called it a day.

(Speaking of me and machinary or mechanics, if you haven't heard my story on changing the oil on my Geo Metro, circa 1998, you might not understand.)

The front yard, with my lovely gardeness working endless hours, is looking very nice. I’ll get a picture tonight.

reset

Pizza night has slowed over the summer; not happenings, just folks. We have only four last week and four this week (swapping out one kid for another). 'Tis fig season, finally, so we've gone with a white sauce with: figs, heavily smoked salmon, rosemary, and feta - all a gamble. L. is staying true to her bacon, pepperoni, and cream cheese.

I'm now officially working another job - for career ideas, not money - on the weekends. I'll be working a pastry-baking line position at a strongly considered place in Arlington. With the school quarter nearly over, and being off next quarter - I'll be swapping my weekends for being home during the week in the evenings, at least for three months. There will be further evaluation after the New Year.

The house situation has turned. As expected (at least on my part), the sane member of our landlord's house has essentially called in and canceled the whole sordid 60-day notice affair. That means we aren't under a time constraint, though we'll keep looking, and we can actually consider this house as an option.

We've been hit with the remnants of Irene and a pretty good earthquake this week, but we've survived with no damage or worry.

august nights and days

You kids keep it quiet out there!

It truly feels like the end of the summer as our nights have cooled and the days are grasping at heat straws.

Somehow on Sunday we ended up entwined in a full day of working around the house. X handled the gardening (she claimed it had been three weeks since gardening happened) and scrubbing of half the house. I scrubbed the other half and spent a good bit of the day in the kitchen doing bread, pizzas for dinner, Romesco sauce, and two dozen handmade éclairs for her workmates. As we were wrapping everything up we took delivery of a massive mahogany dining room table that Corey transported down from New England. (He built it years ago and brought it down to swap out with our mini 6-person table which he then took to N. Park Dr.) We were forced to call in reinforcements for the move being that apparently two dudes at 6’3” and 6’5” (“at a combined weight of nearly 500lbs!”) weren’t going to be able to move the behemoth on their own. No injuries, no damage.

I got the feeling last night that I wanted to wrap up August with a mishmash of music. Here you go.

Chuck Prophet (& The Mission Express) doing Let Freedom Ring!:



Brother Ali doing Fresh Air:



Mark Olson and Gary Louris doing Saturday Morning on Sunday Street:



Michael Franti and Spearhead doing Say Hey (I Love You):

here's $1 jimmy - now be quiet

X is harassing me about entries – she’s demanding.

I happen to have tickets for the Capitals game on Tuesday night but I return to craigslist every few days to see what’s on offer for the final two home games. It’s mostly a slagheap of ticket agents, people looking for tickets, or the occasional sellers that are either overchargers or sane people selling at face value. And then, you have this buyer who presents a few issues:

“I need two Tickets to the Washington capitals Game on 4/5 Lower level only please. Near Capitals bench would be really cool! Will pay up to 250.00 for BOTH Tickets.

My son really, really wants them!!!!

Email me or call 540-xxx-xxxx. Will pick up at a very populated area only. A bank or Major retail store or restuarant. (don't feel like getting robbed, safety for both of us).
Thanks and have a Great DAY!”

First, he’s flaunting his 250 clams instead a spending a little time searching. You can find this type of ticket for about $65 a seat. Second, his positive attitude toward sellers – robbers, heathens, killers, etc. – is just uncool. I’m sure he’s seen all the real-life crime that inhabits craigslist and is duly warned by FoxNews; he'll no doubt be packing heat for safety. What if I offer to meet up with him at Georgetown Law? What about outside a minor department store, something like a Target? What about at Whole Foods? Or the Apple Store? Could we meet at the Amsterdam Falafel shop in Adams Morgan? How about Kramer’s Books at DuPont Circle? I guess if someone offers to sell you tickets and they want to meet in the worst corner of the city, you should either not buy those tickets and/or leave your little MikeTV at home – your assumptions can be left in your McMansion out in Herndon. I wouldn’t sell to this guy if I had free tickets, great seats, couldn’t make rent, and his little Veruca Salt was an honor roll student at some GREAT school. I have to say, the “…have a great DAY!” almost saved my opinion of him until I realized just how much I hate caps – have I mentioned that?

I noticed in the clearance carts at our local grocery store that we’ve got a collection of Easter leftovers that includes multiple sets of “Bible Highlighters”. What I need to know is this: if I try to highlight a Garcia-Marquez book will the highlighters work? Must it be scripture?

The house move seems to have been approved and we’ll probably move the first of May.

I won’t yet get to the Disney serial that ran at slate.com this week. I’ll hold that until I get over my endless whining.

Have a nice weekend.

Love to all.

T.

i and tina review

We’ve been house hunting (house renting hunting) over the last few weeks. The problem with us and the hunting is that there are a few things that could break the deal: wall-to-wall carpet, electric stove/oven, more storage space, three bedrooms, and an overabundance of bathrooms. There are a few things we’re interested in finding that wouldn’t be breakers: close to the Metro (at least avoiding the horrible roads), staying in Arlington County, and keeping the rent penalty below $2,500. Yesterday we walked into the perfect home – what I’d build if I could angle for a house that is worn by age. A place that’s full of light, space, wood floors, decks, patios, a garden that flows down a back hill, and a house set high enough that there’s nothing to see but big trees and the sky. We’ve got the paperwork in and should know the answer by mid-week. We’re very happy. I’ll have room for a roll-top desk…cheers around.

What’s grinding on me this week is Tina Fey. You’re wondering who Tina Fey is – she’s the chick from 30 Rock who used to be the head writer and Weekend Update anchor on SNL; she’s damn funny. It appears she’s busting on Jonathan Stewart for his “comedy-come-politics” – she finds it patronizing. What it really comes across as is sour grapes; Tina Fey seems to be a Hillary supporter and Stewart may not be. In fact, Fey’s commentary on SNL last month (?) that coined the phrase “bitch is the new black” was genius. I think her take on Hillary Clinton was top-notch – and I think Clinton would be a great President – but Fey has fallen into the same behavior as Clinton: pissed at not getting the chance to step-up and take her place when the groundwork has been laid; call it the ‘my turn’ theory. But to impugn Stewart because his audience supports his comedic turn is a horribly shallow stance. Fey would be better to take Stewart’s niche that brings in the folk who are either too stupid or too lazy to realize that what we see on the news is both comical and horribly tragic. She’ll respond nicely – certainly better than this first shot – and give me the stuff that’s been her strength: funny, cutting, and true to her sense of comedy and the news. Shoot, comedy and the news are essentially the same thing.

I was off into D.C. this afternoon for a performance of The Hostage by the Keegan Theatre. Before that story, there’s this – D.C. actually has a fantastic number of theatres and companies but the prices are a bit heavy. I’ve discovered the little secret of the truly half-price ticket venue down on 7^Th St. NW. With that discovery came today’s ticket and three third-row seats for the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s History of America on Tuesday night. You ask of today’s show? Well, it was difficult to know ahead of time if the show was tragic, horrible or, in the words of the WaPo “a raucous musical”…or something like that. It’s a comedy, an Irish musical, and a blast. There’s nothing quite like sitting in a theatre swilling Irish beer and taking in a very enjoyable show. I would have taken X but some it was too difficult to figure out whether or not something called The Hostage would be a bit too political. She studied…the life of a soon-to-be-barred law student.

Laurel will be here in April for a long weekend of Smithsonian tourage. That girl has more S'sonian time that anyone who doesn't like in the greater D.C. area.

Forgot to mention this newsflash: tourists, everywhere!

t.

i shot a man....

During my rounds of Reno and greater Northern Nevada the whole real estate crisis become oh so clear. I'll get to that is a few minutes.

Here is the oath that every commissioned officer takes upon entering the military, I've added in a name for clarity:

"I, Ricardo S. Sanchez, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." (Note that the last sentence is not required to be said if the speaker has a personal or moral objection)

Seems clear enough, doesn’t it? The oath of enlistment is a bit different in that there’s allegiance to the President, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and the officers appointed over us/them/we. I only took it four times. Anyway, there are tons of people out there, Mr. Sanchez and various other retired generals, who apparently believe that stars on their shoulders, political expediency, and marching behind a President was part of their job description. It's either that, or he was too afraid to make a stand and tell the truth - I've no idea which is worse. He was no doubt afraid they'd treat him as that did Eric Shinseki when he testified by telling the truth. Somewhere in his mind he thinks that his belated confession (and future book) will somehow exonerate him from responsibility; even greater reason to doubt his sanity. I sure hope Sanchez sleeps well at night. Well done, General - keep up with the Japanese spiritual quotes.

On to Reno. When I moved there in 2003 the entire area was busting at the seams - real estate prices skyrocketing along with a severe housing shortage even with the eye-popping building of endless subdivisions. All of Nevada led the early 2000s boom, at least two or three years ahead of the rest of the country, and I got in just as things began to fever pitch. When I put my house on the market in the spring of 2005 I was about two months too late. It sat empty for a year and I had to lower the asking price by $40,000 and pay the buyer's closing costs just to sell - but I got out just in time. That was summer of 2006 and the market is far worse now than it was then. The city of Fernley is swapped with empty homes for sale and rent. Prices have plummeted – 2400 sq. ft homes are now selling for the 2006 price of my 1500 sq. ft house. Downtown Reno has empty condos and townhomes in beautiful new buildings on the river. It’s ugly. My real estate prediction is this: Reno is at least a year away from riding out the problem. Consider the collapse as starting in spring 2005 and I can see it will last until at least the fall of 2008: count that as a run of 3 ½ years. For the rest of the country; it didn’t get real bad until spring/summer 2007 so the end will be nearer the end of 2010. Those are the facts on the ground – don’t believe anything you read from economists and real estate associations.

Such light discussion today.

I’ll get off my rantings and railings…

T.

fine leaders

The House Resolution (H.R. 1591) and paired Senate Resolution 965 (S. 965) that are crashing down the halls of the capitol represent a excellent look into just how much hasn’t changed when considering the incompetency of our elected officials. The titles of the two resolutions, respectively, are: Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes and; An original bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. Such straight-forward titles for what should be a straight-forward bits of legislation. Both bills are allegedly supplemental spending allocations for Iraq (military and reconstruction funds) that were requested by the President. The total that came from the White House was just under $100 billion dollars – remember, this is supplemental spending, not part of any budget (gotta keep the money on the down low…). The house, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, added $40 billion dollars in spending to the resolution along with a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq; two sides of the same dirty political coin. The deadline will obviously force the President to veto the bill and the money (on the other, dirtier side) is simply to bribe Dems and ‘Pubs to at least initially support the bill…deadline and all. What may happen down the road when the President finds his “VETO” stamp (psst...it’s in the bottom drawer under the Christmas party pictures with Rove playing Santa) is a whole seperate issue. I don’t know if either the House or Senate has the votes to override a veto but we’ll certainly be in for some crappy political theatre. Here are a few things that will no doubt be said by the politicos across the river:

“The President vetoed the bill for more spending to support our troops in Iraq…hater!”

“The House, and the Democrat majority, submarined spending and support for our troops in Iraq by appending a deadline to withdrawal…traitors!”

Of course, support for the troops and the money needed to get that done is not the real issue; it’s the spending and bribing that gets done under the auspices of being patriotic. The spending amendments are merely buying off anyone needed to support the bill: for $50 million dollars to your state you’ll apparently vote for anything. If you look at the Senate resolution and the amendments that are proposed you’ll see the following sponsors:

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) x 2
Sen. Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)

You can read at CNN or MSNBC or Fox to get details of some of these amendments: insect research? Katrina relief? Tree saving? Milk? All a bunch of garbage that doesn’t belong in the bill. At least Sen. Cochran showed some onions – I can read the text of his amendment at the Library of Congress website prior to the vote: he wants to strike the deadline from the bill. Good for him. The other amendments are tagged as “Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.” Of course it will be…but I’ll have to dig through mountains of text to see just how much you’ve spent and just how much I despise your actions. And just so we can fully enjoy these ideals set forth by our representatives in Washington, bear in mind that each of these spending amendments ($283,000,000 for Milk Income Loss, $74,000,000 for Peanut Storage Costs, and Sen. Reid’s $20,000,000 for insect research, etc.) in the Senate resolution can be cited, under emergency designation, by using the bill’s title: U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. Nice.

I’ll bet that Hutchinson and Sessions will fall in line with Senate Democrats on the resolution vote…you think? The Dems will play it as Republicans breaking from the party in order to show solidarity with the Iraq withdrawal deadline. But what we really know is that Sens. Sessions and Hutchinson just want to get paid. Reid, Byrd, and Landrieu look worse on the day - they are simply taking money because they can.

No more politics.

T.