our new dining room furniture

Today we happened upon a new furniture store called Furniture Wholesalers. We went in and found a dining room set that we fell in love with. And we bought it. They have to order them and it will take about 4 to 6 weeks, but we can wait for what we like. We have been looking for a long time and thought we found one that we liked, but when we saw this, we just knew it was mean to be ours. They are from a company called Calligaris. Here are some pictures:

As you can tell from the photos I just posted, we are home. I'll write more later.


The arch.


Chris, Linda & Sarah (my sister-in-laws) at the top of the arch.


a very blurry picture of me & Chris.

Not my picture, but I just wanted to post one!

so, what's up with me lately?

On Monday, my husband's grandfather passed away. He died peacefully. And we are thankful that he is no longer in pain. So, I am writing this from St. Louis. We flew out here yesterday and the funeral was today. I really don't think that it's blog worthy subject, but I just wanted to bring y'all up to speed. We are going to be here until Saturday morning.
Moving on the a happier topic ... We are getting the chance to do some touristy things. This afternoon, me, Chris and my two sister in laws went to the arch! When in St. Louis, go to the arch. It was really cool. We rode in the capsules up to the top. I can't wait to get home and post the pictures.
And then tonight, we went to Creve Couer. It's a lake that has a natural spring that make a small waterfall. We also ate dinner at a restaurant called Ponticello's Italian Garden. It was a place that my father in law really loves and said that they have the best pizza. I guess a little back story is needed here. Both my in-laws and my husband were born here in the Lou. My husband lived here until he was 7 and my in-laws had lived here up until that point. So, they are all in the know about St. Louis. So, the pizza at this place was really good. It had thin crust and used some cheese that none of us had ever heard of. But it was very tasty.
This morning we also drove around and saw the house were they all used to live. That was neat to see. Chris was able to find the house without and directions. I can't believe that after 20 years he was able to just drive to it. But I guess you just start recognizing one thing and then another and then you just know where you are. It was neat.
And the weather... I am loving it. It's a little humid, but it's not 3 million degrees like we left Phoenix.
One strange observation about here - People randomly drive on the shoulder of the road. On the highway, on city streets. It's crazy. It must really be an issue, because tonight we saw a sign that said to not drive on the shoulder. If you need a sign every some many yards, people must do it all the time. That's crazy to me.
I am loving that I am getting to spend time with my sister-in-laws. They are awesome. They are 24 and 19 and we get along really well. They think I'm funny. I like people who think I'm funny.
Tomorrow we are going to Forest Park where they held the 1904 Worlds Fair. If you've seen Meet Me in St. Louis you would know about the Worlds Fair and all that. That's my only reference to it. Anyway, the zoo is there and so is the art museum. We are not sure yet what we are going to do there, but I hope it's the art museum. I need to go to bed. I am still really tired from the trip, plus sleeping in a hotel bed takes time to get used to.

how much does it suck to buy clothes for a funeral? real bad

Grandpa is still alive and we can only pray now. But we have been told that it is inevitable and it is only a matter of time. So, we went last night and bought Chris a new black suit. We wanted to just get him a new jacket, because he has plenty of nice black pants, but they didn't have any jackets to fit him that would go with what he has. So, we got him a new suit and some new black shoes. I then went today and bought myself a black dress. I love shopping, but not under these circumstances. I had been looking online for dresses at all the stores that I like to shop in and I finally found one this morning. I then went to the store (Fashion Bug) and hoped that they would have it in stock. They did. I was so happy and so relieved. I really did not want to have to keep looking for a dress. Especially this time of year. There are not many black things to choose from. So, here is the dress:

need some prayers

Chris found out today that his grandfather is in the hospital. He has had cancer for over two years now and they discovered this morning that it has moved into his brain. Apparently he has a DNR and Chris's aunt told Chris's father that it was only a matter of time until he passes away. With his DNR, they are not even giving any antibiotics or anything. Chris's parents are flying out to St. Louis tomorrow, but we are still not sure what we (or Chris) are going to do. My sister-in-laws are going to wait and I am too. But Chris hasn't decided if he is gonna go now or wait.
That sounds really bad, but it's now a reality and we have to deal with it. Chris is still trying to wrap his brain around it and he does not really want to make any decisions yet and I am trying to give him his space. He needs to deal with this in his own way and I know that. So, please just keep our grandpa in our prayers and I'll keep you posted.

Meme: Good things happen in 3's

3 names you go by:
(besides my real name? there are so many...)
- LA
- Becky (see Dr.H's explanation of it)
- Ladybug
- Monk (or Monker)
- the wife
- dear

3 screennames you've had (besides blog pseudonym):
- LAJE
- DaisyDuke
- freakshow

3 physical things you like about yourself:
- my hair
- my teeth
- my toes

3 physical things you dislike about yourself:
- my rolls
- my stinky feet
- my boobs

3 parts of your heritage:
- German
- Irish
- Scottish

3 things you are wearing right now:
- Birks (duh.)
- denim capri's
- maroon shirt that looks like a jersey that says 'Sweet' across the front

3 favorite bands / musical artists:
- John Mayer
- Dave Matthews Band
- Alanis Morissette

3 favorite songs:
- "Lover Lay Down" by Dave Matthews Band
- "That I Would Be Good" by Alanis Morissette
- "Why Georgia" by John Mayer

3 things you want in a relationship:
- support
- understanding
- patience

3 physical things about the preferred sex that appeals to you:
- legs
- butt
- smile

3 of your favorite hobbies:
- surfing the web/blogging
- reading
- shopping

3 things you want to do really badly right now:
- go home
- go to the bathroom
- go to sleep
(in that order)

3 things that scare you:
- guns
- being alone
- ask my husband and he'd say every thing under the sun scares me

3 of your everyday essentials:
- Birkenstocks
- morning soda: Sierra Mist
- cell phone

3 careers you have considered or are considering:
- pop singer (really, who does not want to be one?)
- writer/poet
- mom

3 places you want to go on vacation:
- Paris
- Niagara Falls
- Delaware

3 kids' names you like:
- Katherine
- Benjamin
- Julianna

3 things you want to do before you die:
- have two babies
- go to Paris
- repair some broken relationships

3 ways you are stereotypically a boy:
- I went fishing with my dad
- I'm lazy
- I burp without saying 'excuse me'

3 ways you are stereotypically a chick:
- I love Hello Kitty and Care Bears
- I have big boobs
- I like to shop

3 celeb crushes:
(again, only 3?)
- John Clayton Mayer
- David John Matthews
- Matthew David McConaughey
- Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom
- Vincent Anthony Vaughn
For some reason I like to call boys by their full name. And no, I did not know them all. I only knew the middle name's of the first two. That's what google is for.

got a car?

So, the strangest thing happened yesterday. My father called me and said, "I was thinking about buying you a car." Um, WHAT?!?!?! He went on to tell me that someone from his work knew someone that was trying to sell this car that they inherited and he said he was going to see it that night and if it was in good condition he was going to buy it for me. How can you turn that down? Who in their right mind would? He called me again last night after going to see it and he said that he bought the car. He said that it was in really good condition for being a 1993. So long story short, we went this afternoon and the owner signed the title over to me and I have a "new to me" car. Crazy!
Here is my new car...
It's a Mercury Tracer with pimped out red interior. (It's not really pimped out. I just say that because it's red.)




After getting the title transferred, my dad then did a bunch of maintenance work on the car and totally hooked me up so that it would be good for me to be able to drive to work. It won't last forever (it is over 12 years old), but it was well maintained by the previous owner and it will help us out so much. No more carpooling to work for us. This has got to be one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. They bought me a car. I just can't get over it. But I love it and I am so happy that I can go and get all sorts of girlie Hello Kitty stuff and decorate MY car!
Edited to add: Dad ...

don't you hate it when...

you get little cuts on your knuckles and have no idea how it happened?
I am sitting here typing and I look at my index finger on my left hand and the damn knuckle is bleeding. Terrific.

Anyway, once I was able to function again yesterday, we accomplished many things. I went to Borders and get the new DMB cd and the new Laurie Notaro book (see side bar)! I was so happy to find it (the book), especially because the other book I went there to buy was no where to be found. We also went to a new Macayo's for us and went to Home Depot. The new Macayo's is worth mentioning, because we used to frequent another one when we lived in our apartment. We frequented it because it was practically across the street. We loved going there. They knew us. Well, it has been awhile since we've been to a Macayo's and then I found one - not nearly as close - but not too far either. And let me say this as my last comment about Macayo's for today... my body's defense system that it had built up for stomaching all that yummy mexican food must have died in the move. I was not a happy camper last night. Neat. TMI, I know.
We also went to Home Depot and picked out a grill. Since we decided not to buy a new oven, we are using the money we had for that to buy a BBQ. My parents are coming over on Saturday to deliver a piece of furniture and let us use my father's truck to pick up the grill. We decided that since my parents are gonna be on a time crunch, that we should pick out the grill first and just pick it up on Saturday. So that's what we did. This is the one we picked out. We also finally ordered our cook top. We had seen it at the Maytag store, but the sales lady there was a total freak, so we didn't want to buy it from her. Home Depot did not have it on display, but the boy had already decided it was the one he wanted and they said they could order it in for us and have it delivered. It does cost for delivery, but they are running a rebate on the delivery so we will get that money back. Way cool. It's being delivered next Friday. Sweet.

At home, feeling bad, I bought a new pair of shoes...



And I also got these in the mail yesterday...

just say no

to 100 degree weather!
It's getting hot and I'm not happy. Check out this forcast.

it's a bad sign...

when you almost throw up while brushing your teeth.
That may be TMI. But when you have a headache like this, it's all you can think about. I put in to go home early, even though I am only here until noon. I didn't want to come in at all, but can't afford to attendance occurrence I would get for calling in sick.

got tickets?

I like that theme I got going with the titles.

Anywhooo. We had another big ol arguement about going to the Alanis show. So, I haven't bought the tickets, yet. The way I feel about it is... I know he doesn't like the music, but I think that he should go because it makes me happy. Go, simply because he loves me and wants to see me enjoy myself. Is that so wrong? But he feels like he does not want to be tortured for 3 hours and "waste" all the money. Seems like a nice little rock and a hard place we got going on. I want to go, but don't want the guilt of knowing that he's miserable. And he doesn't want to go at all, for nothing. He did say, the next day, that he was being an ass about it. But I guess I was being one too. But dammit, I REALLY want to go. I'll keep you posted on what ends up happening.

The onboarding crap is really starting to get on my nerves. There are people who were chosen to do it who get all power trippy about it. Then there are people who use it just to get off the phone and then screw around the whole time. There is this one girl who plugged her headset in to listen to calls with this guy, then she keeps getting up in the middle of the call and walking away to talk to people. Then I have to come over and help him because she is no where to be found. Now, I don't mind helping him, but if she is supposed to be listening to his calls, she needs to actually be doing that and be there to help him. I was helping 3 people at once because she disappeared. this sucks. Then she is standing across the room with her friends and laughing and being dumb. That just drives me nuts. This onboarding thing needs more structure. we are just supposed to stand around do nothing when they have no questions. There needs to be more assigned tasks. having us plug in and listen to the calls is a great idea, but those who are doing it just decided on their own to. no one told them to. There is no structure. augh! I just want to go home and not deal with these people any more. Thank god today is my last day with these people.

got books?

A funny thing happened last night. I was really tired, but I really just wanted to get in bed a read for a little while. Ever have nights like that? Well, all the books are still in boxes. I started to go through some knowing that I had a stack of books that I have not yet read and wanted to find one or the Augusten Burroughs book that I had put on hold for the move. Then I realized that I packed the books based on size and made piles that mixed the unread in with the read ones and it would take me forever to find one that I have not read. I just gave up and watched stupid shit on television with Chris. Then tonight we went to the grocery store and they had a display with best sellers and I noticed a new James Patterson that just came out last week (see side bar). I bought it. I started reading it tonight. I knew that it was coming out soon, but I have been so out of the loop on everything. I also know that another book came out in the beginning of April that I haven't bought yet either. And I haven't gotten the new Laurie Notaro book either! Damn. I think on Thursday I need to take a trip to the book store and get caught up, at least on purchasing. I never want to not have a book to read.

By the way, Luigi's Real Italian Ice is way yummy.

boo hiss

I just realized that I will be onboarding tomorrow night and working from 12:30 to 10:00pm. Why does this matter? THE FINALE OF AMAZING RACE IS TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!!
damn. I know I can tape it and believe me, I will. But I won't get to find out until after I get home and it's already over. That makes me mad and annoyed to no end.

"I guess if I have to go, I will."

...Chris's response to me telling him about the Alanis show.

The conversation went something like this:
Me : There's a show that we need to go to.
Chris : Damn. Who is it this time?
Me : Jason Mraz and Alanis.
Chris : God dammit. No. Not that crap. We aren't even gonna see Moody Blues and you want me to see that crap?
Me : I want to go to Moody Blues. It was you who decided we shouldn't go.
Chris : Yeah, because it costs like $200 bucks. Find someone else to go with you so it only is half the cost.
Me : But I want to go with you. I think we should go to Mooody Blues too.
Chris : Where are you getting all the expendable income? A show is not an appliance.
Me : But we need to have some kind of a life.
Chris : You're gonna do it any way.
Me : I haven't bought the tickets yet.
Chris : I guess if I have to go, I will.

Neat. I'll order the tickets tomorrow. I wondered for about 2 seconds if it was worth listening to Chris complain about it for the next 2 months and the whole time we are there, but then I came to my senses.

does it look fixed to you?

I worked on the template tonight and fixed most of the broken links and pics. Leave me a comment and let me know if you still get broken pics along the side. I would appreciate it. We are having network issues and on my machine, the pics are still not loading, so that's why I need to know if they load for you. Thanks!

you hear it first

Gotta love VH1. They have the new DMB album on streaming audio before the album comes out on Tuesday. I listened to it all weekend. If you want to check it out, here you go.

ah, Mother's Day

I remember it like it was yesterday... Mother's Day, May 11, 1980. I was 2 1/2 years old. We were over at the neighbors house and me and the neighbor boy were riding on his rocking horse. One of those plastic kind with the metal frame all around it. Deadly. Next thing I know, we had fallen off and my leg was severely broken. I spent 19 days in the hospital in traction and was in a full leg cast for I can't remember how long. I am lying about remembering it like it was yesterday. I have very vague memories of it actually. But the memories I do have remind me of what a pain in the ass I was to my mom (and my dad too). I am bringing this up (even though we did talk about it last night) because I want to say thanks.
Thanks to my mom for putting up with me and always taking care of me.
I had written more but deleted it, because I can't sum it up any better than that.

I'm sick, but I'm pretty

Just found out something awesome! I have yet to discuss this with the boy, but as we all know, I tend to get my way. Alanis is coming! I am totally out of the loop. The show is July 16th at the Dodge Theatre. I checked and there are still really good seats available. He is not gonna want to go, especially since he talked himself out of going to see Moody Blues at the same venue because it is too expensive. But I am going, hell or high water. Even by myself, if I have to. I have not been to an Alanis show since 1999. She has not come around anywhere that I have lived since then. This is great news!

edited to add: Just found out the opening act is Jason Mraz! This just gets better and better!

review

Friday we went and saw Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I did not want to read any reviews before seeing the movie, because I knew that we would see it regardless. Chris is a big fan of the book and the radio show. He really wanted to see it, and he never wants to go to the movies. So, we went and it was cute. There was this really funny part where the went to this planet and every time anyone had a thought, something that looked like a paddle came out of ground and smacked them in the face. It was freaking hilarious. The rest of it was cute and I could follow it for the most part. I love Sam Rockwell and he was super cheesy in it and I dug it. Since seeing the film, I have read reviews and even saw Ebert and Roeper talk about it. What I have been hearing negatively about the movie is that if you are not a fan of the books, etc you cannot really follow it and you are left wondering about a lot of things. The funny thing about that is on the way home after the movie and said to Chris, "I like that they left in references that only fans would understand." They really could have dumbed it down and made it more universal, but they chose not to and for that I give it props. It might not make as much money because of that, but they made a movie that fans like. What is wrong with that? If you see it and are confused, all you need to do is see it with someone who is a fan and have them explain it to you. That's what I did.

bite me

finally

I wanted to add this, because I know I have been difficult for everyone to deal with lately...
I feel good and positive for the first time in a long time. This buying a house and moving and all this has really been getting me down. But now that we are done with the apartment and are making headway at the house, I feel happy and good about the direction in my life. I am glad that I took all this time off work to get settled, even though we won't be done packing by the time I go back to work on Tuesday. I am getting settled and calm and that's what I needed. There was so much turmoil and chaos and now most of that is over and I am able to deal better with what is left.
So, I am relieved and emotionally refreshed, if nothing else.

what a weekend!

Well, we are out of the apartment. Yesterday we finished all the cleaning that we felt like doing and turned in our keys. My sister asked me if I was sad to be leaving the apartment for good and my answer was, "No, not at all." I think that I separated myself from the apartment so long ago that leaving it yesterday was not a big deal. I was sad to be leaving a lot of the places we frequented like the Denny's and my nail place. I will also miss terribly our favorite pizza place, Rosati's. There is one not all that far from our house, but it is not across the street anymore. One funny thing about Rosati's... On the pizza boxes there are these coupons that you tear off and save and once you get 12 of them, you can get one pizza for 1/2 price. Well, we finally saved up enough and on our way out of Scottsdale yesterday, we stopped and got our favorite BBQ Special deep dish pizza for 1/2 price. That was more bittersweet then leaving the apartment. We also thought that we would miss the chinese place next to Rosati's that we frequented, but we found a new place on Friday night, on our new side of town. We just searched online to find a place close and just took our chances. We had it delivered. We mutually decided that we would not go and see the restaurant, even though it's close. We decided this because the food is good and cheap and we don't want to ruin it for ourselves. There are a lot of little family run restaurants in this part of town that are in run down buildings. We assume that this is from a place like that and if we see the place, we might not want to eat the food. So, we are not going to look for it and just enjoy the cheap chinese delivery.
Today was a busy day too. This morning, my dad came over and brought us the rest of the patio furniture that my parents are giving us. They bought themselves new furniture and had already brought over a couple of the chairs before. Today, he brought the rest and a shelving unit that Chris is going to use in the computer room. That was really cool of him to bring it all over. Plus, he brought my the address labels that my mom bought us. Every time either we or my sister move, my mother buys us new address labels with our new address on them. It's like a tradition or something. And with my frequent moves (lived in 4 places in 6 years) it means a lot to know that she will take care of that for me. Then Chris put up the rest of the blinds today. I say that and you assume it was a simple task. I assumed this also and had been giving him a hard time about not hanging them. But this was no simple task. See, our windows are metal framed instead of wood framed. Chris had to do all sorts of research and then buy special tools and drills bits to hang them. It took him all day (and three trips to the hardware store - Ace Hardware: 1 trip, Home Depot: 2 trips) to hang three sets of blinds. Now that they are all up, they look amazing. I had been giving Chris such a had time about the blinds. I had even said that he is spending more time thinking about how to hang them then actually hanging them. I wanted them to be up and I was tired of a drop cloth covering the window. But talking to my mom about it gave me a new perspective. Even though it took forever for him to figure out how to hang them, once it was done, it was done right and good. That is one very good thing about my husband and I am glad that my mom reminded me about that. So, while he was hanging the blinds, I was doing a little unpacking, some organizing (which involves moving boxes to the extra bedroom to be dealt with later) and I cleaned the guest bathroom. I had started cleaning the drawers and cabinets a few days ago, but stopped when I ran out of contact paper for the shelves. I finished all that today, plus cleaned the floor, shower and all that. I also put on a new toilet seat. And let me tell you one thing - when you move, the least you can do is clean the toilet. Apparently the freaks we bought this house from didn't think like that. There was this stain in the bottom of the toilet and I thought for sure that it would not come off and that I would have to use bleach or something to try to remove it. Nope not a stain, just hadn't been cleaned in god knows how long. Came right off with just regular toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush. Mind you, I am very happy that it came off. But I am just more and more disgusted by the way the people lived in this house. They were filthy. That's the best way I can describe it. That is why I had to clean every drawer and shelf and every last little crevice. Seriously. What was wrong with these people? Anyway. It's done and it looks like a brand new bathroom with a brand new toilet (well, a clean one with a new seat, at least). I still need to go to Target tomorrow and buy more contact paper so that I can fill in the big cabinet. There is this huge cabinet in that bathroom that I am going to use as my linen closet. I have all the linens ready to go inside and that'll get done tomorrow.
Last night, we finished putting together the last of the furniture that we got from IKEA. What we put together is very similar to this. Just imagine the unit without the smaller bookcase to the right of the tv stand and the two end bookshelves are open, meaning no glass or wood doors. Just all shelves. I like ours better than the one they put together. You could have bought that one as one unit, but we parts is parts ours and made it what we needed. I am waiting to load it up with books until we decided exactly where on the wall it will go. Meaning does it need to go more to left or to the right. We need to get rid of some other boxes before we can decide on that. So, it's just empty bookshelves for now. Oh, this is funny. Chris just came in here and told me that he found what is controlled by a switch on the wall in the living room. Apparently everything on the tv stand (tv, stereo, cable box, xbox) that is plugged into a power strip that is plugging into the outlet that is controlled by the switch. Neat. Guess we are moving that one.
Damn, it is getting late. I need to go to bed.