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.

Tweet of the Day -- The Cajun Boy

Massage therapists sue Brett Favre for sexual harassment. It's just a hunch, but a lawsuit probably isn't the "happy ending" he was seeking. --@TheCajunBoy

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #270

Why the hell does the color of my parachute matter?

This is my submission for the the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #270.  Let me know if you come up with a caption too! Does anyone actually get this joke?  Trust me, if you did, it would be hilarious (or at least slightly humorous).

Just Bought Tickets for Angels in America in NYC

Angels In America - Signature Theatre Trailer from Signature Theatre Company on Vimeo.

We are going to see both parts, all 7 hours, on Saturday, March 26, in New York City. Can't wait.

Tweet of the Day -- SteveOnBroadway

I just asked noisy girls outside my hotel room to please be quiet. One said, "But it's New Year's Eve" I said, "Honey, that was last night." --@SteveOnBroadway

Riding in a Car with a Boy

Shane and I are driving home to DC today from Florida. It is about a
quarter past one and we're about halfway. We left at 6 am. Needless
to say, we didn't stay up last night. We're hoping to get home to
Maude around 9. The weather has been good, but it is starting to
sprinkle.

To kill time, we've been listening to Patti LuPone's autobiography.
She isn't afraid to insult people. She isn't much of a fan of Andrew
Lloyd Webber or the guy who played her husband on Life Goes On. It
kills time.

In the photo, I'm giving the evil eye to a pokey driver who we are
passing on the right cause the are clogging up the left lane. As you
can see, I'm traveling stylishly in my green cashmere sweater. So
far, Shane has driven the whole way, though I have offered to drive.
He'll want me to drive later, when it's dark, rainy, and I'm tired.
Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!

We are starting our drive back to DC today.  Nothing like starting the new year off cooped up in the car for hours on end.  Woo Hoo!  Bye Bye sunny Florida.  We'll be back.

Since I'll be riding in the car for hours, I suspect there will be many posts from the road.  Also, I love to play on the Twitter machine--follow "Bluespongerun" or see my posts in the sidebar here.

Tweet of the Day--John Fugelsang

Um, Barnes & Noble? If you look at the facts you'll see that Sarah Palin's book is a bit more than just '40% Off.'. -- @JohnFugelsang

Finally at the Beach

We arrived in Florida on Sunday, but today, our last full day in
Florida, is the first day nice enough to go to the beach. It has been
chilly and downright cold--below freezing cold, but it is in the 70s
today. Lots of people at the beach today too. Haven't seen anyone
swimming. Water temperture is just above ice.

Most people are shelling. You'd think these shells were filled with
gold the way people are searching. You can buy a big bag of nice
shells for $3. I guess it's not the same. There are lots of shells
here. Shane and I are not shelling. Just relaxing before our big
drive back, which we don't want to think about.

New Year's Resolutions for 2011

Even though I am not that good at achieving my resolutions (see yesterday's post), I still make them.  Here's my goals for 2011.  Along with the usual of eating better, exercising more, and reading a million books, here are my main goals for 2011.

1.  Run a marathon in less than 4 hours.  One of my goals in life is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  The fastest I've ever completed a marathon is just over 4 hours and 20 minutes.  At my age, in order to qualify for Boston I would have to run a marathon in 3 hours and 35 minutes.  I know that is not possible at the moment, but my goal for the year is to run a marathon in less than 4 hours.  Baby steps.

2.  Post a post on my website everyday.  Everyday.

3.  Get my Qrank on with the 365 day award and to score over 10,000.  Yes, I know what is important. @Qrank.

There are just the three this year.  Keep your fingers crossed.