Where In the World Is Shane?

Shane is on travel for work this week and this is a picture he took outside his hotel room.  Be the first to guess what city he is in or near, and you win a brand new car*!  Since this might be a tough one base the fact his hotel isn't realy close to the cityscape, here's another shot out anotuer window of his hotel below.  Good Luck!

*The stated prize of a new car may be substituted for another prize or no prize at all. 

Tweet of the Day--Crutnacker

Sarah Palin has issued a statement offering condolences to Sargent Shriver's family and praising his work on Gomer Pyle USMC. -- @crutnacker

Skating to Work 2 Hours Late

Sleet and freezing rain fell over DC last night, leaving a coat of
ice. The result was that the Federal Government opened 2 hours late.
Even with the delay, the sidewalks in DC were still quite icy this
morning. This is the walk near Eastern Market Metro Station at 8th
and Pennsylvania. I, fortunately, did not fall and break a hip.

Viral Video of Kid Doing "I'm Yours" on the Ukulele

I know this has been around for a while, but I am a bit slow about these things.  Isn't this the cutest thing without cats on the web?

Allison Road by the Gin Blossoms--Songs to Run To

The week before Christmas, we were in New York City and we happened upon a free concert the Gin Blossoms were taping on the a plaza outside NYC Fox News headquarters for a New Year's Eve show.  I love the Gin Blossoms, but hate Fox News, so I was conflicted.  This song is one of my favorites to run to. I was listening to it today as I ran 5 miles at the gym.

I hadn't run since Wednesday, which was the last day of my 10-day streak.  I weighed myself at the gym just after I ran last week and saw that I had gained 2 more pounds.  Granted, I have been eating horribly, but I thought running everyday would negate all the calories.  Wrong.  Anyway, I ran again today finally.

Below is a picture of the Gin Blossoms from last month in NYC.  We recorded the Fox News New Year's Eve show, since we were in Florida without cable when it actually aired.  You could see glimpses of Shane and I in the crowd.  Who would have thought we would ever be on Fox News?  Not me.

Three Pairs of Shoes for $68--Total!

On my way home from my mom's today, I stopped at some outlet stores at
Perryville, MD. They were having a sale--buy a pair of shoes and get
two pairs free. I needed some black shoes, so I bought two pairs of
black and one pair brown. They are all the same style. The retail
price for each pair was $109. They were also discounted and I had a
$5 coupon. My total was just under $68. I LOVE a good bargain!!!

A Blast from the Past

I came to visit my mom today and she had dug up this photo that we had professionally taken of my grandparent's grandchildren at the time.  This was taken around 1976, when leisure suits were high fashion--in my world at least.  I'm on the left side in the blue suit.  My mouth is closed to hide my braces.  I am 15 years old.  Next to me is my brother, Gary, and on the other side of him is my sister, Kathleen.  Everyone else is a cousin.   There are 26 offspring from the people above.

My brother, Gary, saw this photo had been published in a local magazine.  They were looking to figure out who the people were.  The picture was found among the collection of the photographer, who had died.  My mom went to the publication and identified all the people--her children and nieces and nephews--and they gave her a copy of the photo.  They took a photo of her identifying it and were waiting to see if they publish it in the next issue.

Tweets of the Day -- Crutnacker's Bad Restaurants

Nathan Lane's Hot Dogs #badrestaurants


Bob's Big Boil #badrestaurants


Waffle Hovel #badrestaurants


Westboro Baptist Church's Chicken #badrestaurants


Hairy Queen #badrestaurants


Manson Family Restaurants #badrestaurants


Benihaha's #badrestaurants


Howard's Johnson #badrestaurants


PF Chunks #badrestaurants


Jersey Shore Crab Shack #badrestaurants


Marie Choleras #badrestaurants

--@crutnacker

Bigredshark Richard Mallon 

 by crutnacker

Tavern on The Soylent Green #badrestaurants

Tweet of the Day -- The Cajun Boy

Brett Favre's sister arrested in meth lab bust. Suddenly, texting penis pics doesn't seem like such a stain on the family honor. -- @thecajunboy

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #271

Do not covet your neighbor's duck?

This is my submission for the the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #271.  Let me know if you come up with a caption too! 

Refinance Nightmare Par for the Course

We went to closing to refinance our house today.  I wish I could say it went well, but whenever we go to any type of closing it rarely goes smoothly.

We got a really good rate for a 20 year refi, 4.125 percent fixed for 20 years, down from the 6 percent fixed rate we got 8 years ago for 30 years.  Also, we're saving 2 years of financing.  We have really good credit ratings and equity in the house.  You'd think this would be smooth sailing, huh?

Our first indication that this was going to be bad was we got a phone call on the way to the closing from the title company letting us know that we needed money for closing.  What?  We were on the way and that's when they thought it was a good time to bring it up?  I was told the only out-of-pocket expense would be the home appraisal, which I paid weeks ago.  Then, on the way they tell us we are going to need more than $3,000!  It didn't really seem like this refinance was actually going to happen.

Anyway, we arrived at the credit union anyway, and after lots of back and forth, redoing the paperwork and a lunch break, we finally did get the papers signed without the out-of-pocket expenses.

We've had worse closings.  When we bought a house in Maryland once, the owner hadn't finished moving out and threatened to not sell.  We had all of our furniture on a truck ready to move in.  That was stressful.

Sunday Dinner -- Popovers Pop

We went over to our friend, Elaine's, last night to finally celebrate Christmas with her.  One of the gifts she gave me was a popover pan.  I put it to good use today and made these wonderful, if I do say so myself, popovers.  They would give Jordon's Pond House, a restaurant in Acadia National Park (Maine), a run for their money.  I found the recipe online and it was amazingly simple.  Two eggs, a cup of flour and a cup of milk lightly beaten and they turned into the above.  Soaking them in butter and raspberry jam also helped.  Yummmmm!

Dog Whisperer Shane and Patient

Our friend Elaine's Yorkie, Winston, is a bit high strung with visitors--except he seems to love us! Shane works with him to ease his stress.

Tweet of the Day -- Kathy Griffin

Watching the news? Congresswoman in AZ, who is ON Sarah Palin's crosshairs map was SHOT in the head 2day. Happy now Sarah?  -- @kathygriffin










Here is the map to which she is referring:

The Beginning of a New Streak?

I ran everyday this week--5 days in a row of running 3 miles.  I actually ran 4 miles on Wednesday.  Last year I ran a minimum of 3 miles a day for 25 days in a row--my longest streak ever.  How long will this one last?

Time for Chiristmas to Be Over

A neighbor is still decorated. I say that Christmas should be over,
but we're going to our friend, Elaine's, tomorrow to exchange gifts.

Less Ambitious Books -- My Top 10 List

Greg from A Life in the Day blog got me started on this when I saw him do one on the Twitter Machine.  The idea is to come up with the title of a book that is less ambitious than the original.  I don't know... I think I might rather read the less ambitious versions.

1. The Five People You Meet in Cleveland
2. Interview with an Umpire
3. Bridget Jones's Diarrhea
4. The Wit and Wisdom of Sarah Palin (Sorry, that is for the short book list)
5. A Farewell to Hands
6. To Slap a Mockingbird 
7. Scents and Sensibility 
8. Gone with the Breeze
9. The World According to Carp 
10. The Girl with the Butterfly Tattoo  

Tweet of the Day -- Sticker of da Week

Repubs will read the Constitution on the House floor, because some of the new members really need things read aloud to them.  -- @stickerofdaweek

Miss New York Supports Beauty of Equality

Vote for her here!!!

Maude On Her Altar

Maude loves to lay on the pillows of our bed, especially when we are laying in bed.  Shane often looks like he is wearing a cat hat.  Maude also likes to lick the tops of our heads.  That takes some getting used to.