Tuesday, September 8
Obama Hate is Off the Charts
Though there was lots of criticism of President Bush, it doesn't compare to what Obama has coming at him. On Sunday's New York Times Best Seller List for Nonfiction, four of the top 10 books listed were conservative trash (counting Bill O'Reilly's memoir). What is wrong with this country that we pay good money for this BS when you can get if for free 24 hours a day on Fox News?
I looked up the NYT Nonfiction list for Sunday, September 9, 2001, and guess how many ultra-liberal or anti-George W. Bush books made the list? Zilch. Zero. Null. The only thing remotely political was John Adams by David McCullough. I don't remember anywhere near this much hate thrown at Bush at this point is his presidency. That's because there wasn't. Sure, there was some criticism. The man was an idiot. How could there not be? But even GWB was not deluged with nearly this much scorn and abuse this early in his presidency.
I know the crazies are going to say it is because Obama is ruining us, but he is doing (mostly) what he said he would do. He did win the election. He gets to be president for now. Too bad for the crazies.
Monday, September 7
Back from Florida House Hunting
Both houses are in Punta Gorda, FL -- about 2 hours south of Tampa. The house in which we were first interested was in the Historic District of Punta Gorda. It was built in 1927 (or 1930) and was on a residential street about three blocks from Charlotte Harbor and a beautiful park with free tennis courts. The house is a Key West-style house with a fireplace, beautiful wood floors, a beautiful front lanai, and two "Florida Rooms" in the rear. It also has drop ceilings, a bouncy kitchen floor and a really ugly kitchen. We loved it mostly for the location. We could walk to great restaurants, galleries and that park with the tennis courts.
The House in Town
We were all set to make an offer on the in-town house, but the Realtors took us to another house. It is in another part of Punta Gorda, further south. I walked into the living room and saw the view out the lanai and said "Oh My God!"
We all but forgot about the other house and wanted to make an offer on this one with a salt water canal. The house is a foreclosure (more than $500K was owed on it). It was built in 1980 and is in pretty good shape. The bathrooms are nothing to write home about, but who cares with that view? The photo of the view above does not do it justice. It looks out over a mangrove (who doesn't love a mangrove?) that can never be built on. That view will always be there. The sun sets over the water behind the mangrove. It is a dream house nearly in our price range. The house is surround by big beautiful homes, many with pools. It is by far the worst house in the neighborhood.We would have been perfectly happy in the old house in town, but now this house has ruined it for us. We put an offer in, hoping against hope, but we know deep in our hearts it is a long shot. Though the listing price is relatively low and its only been on the market a few days, we know there are other offers already in. We put in the highest and best offer we could -- far more than we were planning on spending. We are half terrified that we'll lose this house and half terrified that our offer might be accepted.
Look at that view! How could we resist?
New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #207
The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #207. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.
Wednesday, September 2
Ben & Jerry's "Hubby Hubby" Ice Cream Celebrates Vermont Marriage Equality
Tuesday, September 1
New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #205 + #206
Thursday, August 27
Wednesday, August 26
Monday, August 24
Friday, August 21
Help Save Marriage in Maine
Though Maine is one of the States that reportedly allows same sex marriage, it hasn't happened yet. There is a referundum up for vote this fall that could take that right away before any same sex couples get married there. Much like Prop 8 in California, Referendum 1 can take the civil rights away from LGBT Mainers. Do what you can to help win this fight. Go to Protect Maine Equality and help if you can. If you live in Maine, vote NO on 1! Thanks.
Thursday, August 20
Police Ignite Wood with Taser
Tuesday, August 18
On the Bright Side
On the bright side, Shane is coming home from his business trip to Nashville tonight. He's only been gone since Sunday, but it sucks to have him away. On the not so bright side, he is going to grouchy we he finds out we don't have cable. (Actually, he got home as I was writing this and didn't care about the cable -- nix that.)
On the bright side, we only have three more days until we leave for our second week of our Maine vacation. We spent a rainy week in Maine in late June. On the not so bright side, it looks like it is going to be another rainy week and Hurricane Bill is headed that way.
On the bright side, our cactus is breaking out in a crazy amount of new blooms. The not so bright side is that we'll be out of town by the time it blooms.
On the bright side, Shane is home now!
Monday, August 17
Good Stuff Eatery--Suicide by Burger+Fries
They had lines out the door this past winter, but I had not eaten there until today. It was busy, but no long lines now. I'm not a big fan of the Food Network, but apparently Chef Spike Mendelsohn won the South Beach Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash (which was on the Food Network in February). Spike took home three top prizes -- People's Choice, Judges Award and the Best Dressed Burger -- with his Colletti Smokehouse Burger.
I had the basic Farmhouse burger with cheese and fries. The burger was very good, but the fries were soggy with grease. It's a bit more than McDonald's, ($9 for the meal), but I'd go back for the burger. I will also go back for a milkshake, which I saw others enjoying.
I hadn't had a hamburger in a long time. I was not eating meat for several month, until I decided I wasn't getting enough protein for running. Not being used to so much greasy food, my stomach is a little churney, but I think I'll be OK.
Interestingly, I have a heart screening tomorrow morning. I will have a blood test for cholesterol and other heart-related stuff... probably not the best night to eat this meal, huh?
We Didn't Want That House Anyway
We had our heart set on waking up and looking out over that canal. Our realtor said that he only sees houses on canals like that on the market twice or three times a year, and they go fast. We live in DC, which makes it difficult to run down to Florida at the last minute to look at a house. This was a forclosure and an amazing deal. We were just a day late.
I now understand why you don't announce you're going to have a baby until after the first trimester. I know this isn't really anything like losing a baby, but we feel a little like there was a bit of a miscarriage.
New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #204
The above is the cartoon for New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for week #204, along with my entry for the week. Let me know if you come up with a caption too. Click on the link above to enter. I realize my caption this week is juvenile, but I thought it was funny even though it doesn't really address why one of the businessmen in a rat. I like all their little hands.
Sunday, August 16
We've Made an Offer on a FL House
This is the view a few feet from the back of our house, looking down past our dock. Yes, it comes with a small dock. That metal contraption in the foreground is a hoist that lifts boats out and into the water.
Saturday, August 15
On the Short List
on our short list. We looked at about six houses yesterday and this
is the one we liked best so far. It is huge (2,000 square feet) and
in a nice area of North Port. We'd have to replace the carpeting, but
not much else. It is a foreclosure and listed for $114K. How can we
resist?