Our Furnace Tale of Woe

It started to get chilly last week, so we turned on the heat for the first time of the season. We heard a strange rumble and a click. The fan came on, but there was no heat. We have a gas furnace on the roof of our row house in DC. We just bought a new one soon after we moved into the house, so it is about 6 years old.

On Thursday morning, I used my trusty Angie's List to find a well-rated repairman and scheduled an appointment for Thursday afternoon. I talked with them later that day, and they pointed out it was raining, and since this involved electrical equipment, they couldn't work on it until it wasn't raining. I said fine, and made another appointment for Friday. It continued to rain. I made another appointment for Saturday. Guess what? Rain. Luckily, we have a gas fireplace we used to keep warm over the weekend.

The repairman finally came this morning (the fourth appointment scheduled). A fan motor needs to be replaced. The repair is going to cost at least $900 (including $20 off coupon) and he has to come back again once they get the part. This isn't the best time for this to happen, since we're in the process of buying a house in Florida. What can we do, though? We need heat. Waaaa!

Florida House Update

Here is a short slideshow of photos of the house we're buying in Punta Gorda, Florida.  We are set to close on the house on November 13, and we are planning on driving down for the week of Thanksgiving to start furnishing it and doing some repairs.  We hope to be able to fly down once a month or so for long weekends.  When we retire, we will use it to snowbird between Florida and Maine.   We can't wait!  

Today Marks 25 Years of Federal Service!

Today is my 25th anniversary of working in the Federal Government. I started working at the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory as a temporary GS-5 at Aberdeen Proving Grounds at Aberdeen, MD on October 15, 1984. I was an Editorial Assistant reading very dull technical reports all the live-long day. There were four of us in a room. My desk was opposite a girl that smoked like a chimney. We didn't have any computers. We had to make any edits using an eraser, white-out, and a typewriter.

I worked at BRL for 10 months before getting a permanent Government job at the U.S. Army Engineering Topographic Laboratories in Fort Belvoir, VA, as a clerk typist, GS-4. I was able to transfer into an Editor-Writer slot after a few months that was at the GS-5 level and became a GS-7 after a year and a GS-9 after another year. I mostly did "technology transfer," which is as boring as it sounds.

I stayed at ETL (later TEC) for 11 years and eventually became the acting supervisor of the office and a GS-12. That is where I found out one of my employees was exposing himself to little girls, so I had him arrested. That is also where I decided being a supervisor isn't my cup of tea.

I then got a position at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as a Public Affairs Specialist. This was a much more interesting job. I got to work with reporters, write consumer recall press releases, and play with recalled toys. I stayed there for 10 years and got my GS-13.

Now I'm at another agency that shall remain nameless. I've been here for more than 2 years and I mostly answer Congressional mail. It is a great job. I'm eligible to retire in 8 years. I may stick it out here, or who knows where I may go next?

We Got the Florida House!

We got it! The third time was a charm. I reported previously that we did not get this house. Someone else got the contract. On our train ride back from New York City (more than 2 weeks ago), we found out that contract had fallen through. We resubmitted another offer. We waited and waited and suffered greatly, only to find out this Saturday that we again did not get the house. Then yesterday we got another call saying those people also walked away. (What is wrong with this house?) Anyway, we just found out our offer was finally accepted. The house is in Punta Gorda, FL, just north of Fort Myers. This area was devastated by Hurricane Charley about 5 years ago, but it has been rebuilt better than before. We are unbelievably excited about getting this house. Look at that view!

Gay Marriage Coming to DC?

As announced previously, DC council member David Catania introduced a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia. It is being supported by a vast majority of the other council members (not Marion Barry though, boo!), so it looks like it will pass. Mayor Adrian Fenty says he will sign the bill, but Congress has 30 days to "review" the legislation.

God forbid the children of DC be allowed to make up their own laws. They might come up with something like this: If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the cheaters must be put to death.

That actually isn't a crazy law from the DC Council --That is one from the Bible -- Leviticus 20:10. Passing that law sure would make The Jerry Springer Show a lot more interesting.

However, the Washington Post reports there does not appear to be strong movement by Congress to block the DC gay marriage bill from becoming law in DC. Keep your fingers crossed. Any suggestions where I should register for gifts?

Why Would They Think Polanski Might Run?

Roman Polanski lost his plea Tuesday to be released from Swiss custody after his arrest stemming from a U.S. extradition order for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl. Apparently, there was some question of him being a flight risk. You flee one felony charge more than 30 years ago, and a fella gets a reputation.

Hump Day Art -- Abstracts in the White House

"I think I'll..." 1983, Ed Ruscha

"Sky Light" 1973, by Alma Thomas

"Watusi (Hard Edge)," by Alma Thomas

Here's some examples of the art decorating the private areas of the White House. For complete details, click here to read the Associated Press article.

DC Councilman to Introduce Marriage Bill

DC Council member David Cantania plans to introduce a same-sex marriage bill at Tuesday's DC council meeting, according to a story in today's Washington Post. It is expected to pass at some point, but then it has to clear Congress, which can overturn DC legislation under Home Rule. Who knows if that will actually happen? Hopefully, all those closeted Republicans will stay in their wide stances in airport restrooms long enough to let the bill pass.

YouTube Top 100 in 4 Minutes

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #210

Hey dude, wanna play Yahtzee?

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #210. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

NYC Highlights Part 2

This is Aaron Tveit (rhymes with eight) and Alice Ripley, two of the stars of Next to Normal, which we saw again this weekend. This is the first time we saw the show with the original cast. When we saw it in July, Tveit was not in the show. He returned in September, so we had to come back. There were a lot of young girl fans from Gossip Girl to see him. He plays Nate’s very wealthy cousin, Tripp Vanderbilt, on that show, though I've never seen it. He was good, but I thought the guy who played Gabe in Next to Normal in July was just as good. Alice Ripley won the Tony for her part in the show and the score beat out Billy Elliot (which is also amazing, but this is much easier to get tickets to). N2N really is an amazing show. Go see it if you're in NYC! The TKTS had tickets for 40% off.

NYC Highlights Part 1

Shane and I went to New York this weekend. We had tickets to see Next to Normal on Saturday night, but we got tickets to see Carrie Fisher in her one-woman show, "Wishful Drinking" at the Studio 54 Theater. It was not our first choice. We wanted to se "Rock of Ages," but they only had single seats. Carrie was funny, though. This is a taste of what we saw.

Choo Choo Charlie is Taking Us to NYC

Shane and I are going to New York City on the train tonight. I was talking about taking the train with a much younger co-worker today and I started singing the Choo Choo Charlie jingle. She looked at me like I was crazy. She never heard of it. This clip says it is from the 50s, but I remember it from the 60s. I'm not that old.

Blame Kindle for My Blog-Fading

I haven't been posting nearly as much on my blog lately and I blame my Kindle. I got it for my birthday last month (thanks again Shane) and I have been loving it. I have downloaded about 50 books or first chapters of books to read. I love that you get a free sample of the first chapter to read of books before you have to buy them. I also love that there are LOTS of free books to download. I have downloaded a bunch of classics, such as Pride and Prejudice, The Age of Innocence, Treasure Island, A Room with a View, and many others. I have purchased several books also. Right now, I'm reading Kathy Griffins new memoir, Official Book Club Selection. I'm loving it. She is hilarious.

At any rate. Sorry about the neglect of the blog. I'll try and do better.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #209

She's a hottie, but she says her husband is crazy jealous -- a real whacko!

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #209. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #208

I really think this is going to be the best

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang production ever!

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #208. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Grand Central Station" -- 9/11 Tribute

On her album, Between Here and Gone, Mary Chapin Carpenter sings about one man's pilgrimage to Grand Central Terminal in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Carpenter was inspired to write the song "Grand Central Station" after hearing an interview with an iron worker on the first anniversary of the attacks. The man, one of the first at the scene after the towers fell, worked at Ground Zero for days afterward. The iron worker said that at the end of each shift, he felt impelled to go to the train station so the souls of the victims could follow him.

"He'd find himself just going to Grand Central Station and standing on the platform and thinking whoever wanted to go home could catch the train home," says Carpenter.

I listened to this song for years before Shane pointed out to me that it was about 9/11. I'm not always very bright.

Florida House Not in the Cards

We got word tonight that our offer to by the house in Punta Gorda, FL, was not accepted. Apparently, someone with far more money decided to offer "substantially more" than us. Not to be a sore loser, but the people who stole our house are jerks (so much for the high road).

We've decided to take a break from Florida house hunting for a bit. We're not cut out to be real estate tycoons after all. We're extremely disappointed. Extremely.

Name the Book by its First Sentence

"Monday, 5 August, 1918 -- The day started in a downpour of rain."

OK... I have to admit this might be a tough one. The first person that figures it out and can name the book based on the above first line wins everyone's respect and admiration, especially mine. Here's a hint -- Not everything I read is found in the LGBT section, but this one is and is one of my favorites.

Outside Shane's Window -- Little Rock

Shane had to go to Little Rock, AR, on business today. This is the
view out his hotel window. Luckily, it is just for one night.

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