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April 27, 2005
What a Cute Kitty!
Have you ever seen such a cute kitten in your life? I found this picture in our basement in an envelope with other cool and interesting pictures of Don, Jessica and Nancy with their mom and grandmother.
Even though Hideous is my cat too, I still can't get over how cuddly he is! It's a far cry from Gabriel the Grump. Every morning, I have to take at least 5 minutes to cuddle with him before I begin my morning routine. If he doesn't come to me, he's eagerly waiting for me, purring on the couch. Admittedly, sometimes it's because his bowl is empty and he knows when I'm done cuddling, I'll fill it for him and perhaps give him a kitty treat. But he's always ready to flip himself on his back so I can rub his adorable buddha-belly.
I wish he didn't have so many years on him (I think he's about 12 now), so that I'd have even more years to spend cuddling with him. If we ever get another cat, I really want it to be a black one like Hideous!
Posted by Amy at 10:50 AM | Comments (5)
April 25, 2005
It's Not Fair
I got a copy of the police report from the other woman that was in the accident with me. She told me her insurance is putting her at fault (I think because of the stupid Michigan No-Fault law), which is total BS. It was the other guy's fault! The diagram on the report makes it look like he was already in our lane instead of jumping from the right lane which is what he did. I think he lied his ass off to get out of a ticket which apparently worked. Unbelievable!
I feel horrible and angry for the other woman because her car was totalled. She's a REALLY super-nice person and it shouldn't have happened to her! This will be costly for her and I could tell she's not a person of great means. At least she didn't get a ticket. (Neither did I, thankfully.)
I hope our insurance company will waive our deductible! It was only $250, but still.
Posted by Amy at 12:00 PM | Comments (6)
April 22, 2005
Mine Once Again
*Sigh* Oh! It's been 2 and a half weeks without my Jeep since the accident. BUT, I just called the dealer to see if they were done fixing my car and they said I could pick it up later today! Yay!! They were estimating it wouldn't be done until end of next week. And what great timing...today's the day I have to turn my rental back in. The insurance covered the cost, but only up to $500 which we reach today. I'm going after work to drop off the rental and hopefully, they'll give me a ride back to the dealer. I'll be so happy to be back in my Jeep again!
Posted by Amy at 02:00 PM | Comments (2)
April 20, 2005
WE GOT IT!!!
We got the house!!! YAAAAAYYYY!! Don called me just before he got home and told me that the owners accepted our offer. We just have to wait for them to fax it back to us tomorrow. Then, our realtor, Tom, has to fill out some form for Quicken Loans and give them the purchase agreement. I want to get it taken care of cause we got a really good rate and I want to get it locked in ASAP!
I was so anxious last night that I couldn't sleep. I didn't fall asleep till probably after 2am. Then when I got to work, I made a floor plan of the main floor so I could figure out where I want all the furniture.
Tom called me today to keep me updated on the situation and said that it looks like the owners have a place to go which means we'll probably be able to move in when we want to. We're supposed to close on or before May 31st. He also said that when he talked to the slimy selling agent, she was actually nice and did what she was supposed to, so she might not try to pull any tricks on us for this deal.
I'm not looking forward to the actual move. But once we do, I don't ever want to move again...at least not for SEVERAL years.
Posted by Amy at 09:15 PM | Comments (4)
April 19, 2005
We're Getting Warmer...
So it looks like Don and I will get the loan we want. For those of you who know what it is, we want to do an 80/20 which means I'm not going to be on the mortgage because they had a problem with my being unemployed for so long last year. But that's ok. This type of loan works out for us much better. Once we sell our house, we'll be able to pay off the 2nd mortgage, then our 1st mortgage payment will be even lower. YAAAYYYY!!!
The mortgage banker is supposed to be calling Don now to go over some numbers with him. Don and I want to make an offer on this house very soon, hopefully this week. I just hope that the people who live here aren't going to take too long to move out. I'd like to move in by June or July at the latest. This house is just too cool! 2 master bedrooms with walk-in closets, 2 1/2 baths, 2 car garage, completely finished basement (where we plan to have our main entertainment system and dojo), and deck in a really nice neighborhood! The only thing it doesn't have that I'd like is a fireplace. Oh well...guess you can't have it all.
Posted by Amy at 02:00 PM | Comments (1)
On This Perfect Day...
It's been a great start to the week with the perfect weather we're having and I've been very fortunate to be able to get out and enjoy it. Yesterday, my team at work decided to have our 2 hour meeting at the nearby park. We went to Jimmy John's for sandwiches and ate them there. It was a very productive meeting and a warm, sunny day to boot!
And today, I went out to Boston Market and took my lunch back to that same park to enjoy the 82 degree weather we're having. Somehow, I'm not so jealous of Charly down in Ft. Myers, Florida anymore!
One of my team members was also there at the park and we sat and chatted while I ate. After she left (she was there earlier than me), I sat on the jungle gym rocking out to tunes by Boston (hmm, is there a theme here?) and watching the sun duck in and out from behind the clouds. There was a man riding a mower by the baseball diamond by the parking lot. He must have made 20 passes over the same track of lawn. I suspect he was trying to stretch out his time so he could enjoy the weather too. There were also people on the other side of the parking lot enjoying a game of golf. My admiration for them had nothing to do with their sport and everything to do with the fact that they weren't working and were enjoying the sun.
I also watched a pair of red-breasted robins. One seemed to be finding plenty of food in the ground while the other seemed intent on protecting his territory. I never realized robins could be territorial, seeing as they're migratory birds. But this one would make short dashes toward the other, almost as if to sneak up on him a little at a time until he was ready to attack. But when he got near, the other would just dash farther away and find more food, until he was chased away.
All in all, it was so very pleasant to be able to spend an hour here. I'm definitely going to try to bring my lunch here more often!
Posted by Amy at 02:00 PM | Comments (2)
April 17, 2005
Friday Night Party Night
Friday night was a fun night. My friend Mary was making a film for her film class and needed some friends to be extras in her movie. The plot was that a woman was at home alone while her family was gone for vacation or something. So she invites some friends over and has a party. But her family comes home early and she gets busted by her husband.
So we were at one of Mary's friends' house (which was really nice, by the way!). She had us dancing around in the living room, doing a conga line and trying to make it look like we were having a (somewhat) wild party. But I got winded pretty fast because I haven't danced for quite a few years. When I was in college, I could dance for hours on end without water and without a break.
Then, Mary's camera-man, Justin, found out that I do swing dancing. So Mary took the camera while Justin and I danced swing. It was really fun, but I was REALLY out of practice. He spun me so much, I literally got dizzy! But it was great cause we got it all on video. I can't wait till I get the footage from her! Next movie/barbecue we have at our house, I'll have to show it off. Her movie's only 2 1/2 minutes long, but I asked for some of the unedited footage, namely the swing dance.
And I told Justin that once I'm done with my Karate test, I'd try to make it over to the Union more often for swing dance nights on Wednesday nights and he and I can practice together. He's an awesome swing dancer and a great lead. In fact, when you have a great lead like him, he makes the girl look really good. Wheeeeee!! It's just too bad that Don doesn't know how to dance like that. Maybe one day, I'll get him into lessons!
Posted by Amy at 05:43 PM | Comments (2)
April 14, 2005
Things To Do Before I Die
There are several things I'd like to do before I die. One of them is the Songkran festival in Thailand. It's a massive water-fight that spans the entire country. The Songkran festival celebrates the Thai New Year on April 13 and lasts for 3 days. The water symbolizes the washing away of bad luck. It looks like a ton of fun and I understand that everyone is very respectful during the whole thing. If you're a tourist passing by, people will ask your permission before they douse you. But can you imagine? A water fight for the entire country!!
Some other things I'd love to do before I die: live in Australia, live in Hawaii, swim with dolphins, pet a tiger (at a zoo), own a BMW Z4, learn how to fight with a Japanese sword, win a million dollars.
Posted by Amy at 08:00 AM | Comments (6)
April 13, 2005
Stray Memories
Funny how, the longer the passage of time is, the fuzzier your memory gets. Yet, you can remember things you haven't thought about for years like they happened yesterday.
I'm not sure what made me think of this. It happened over 20 years ago (egad! Am I old enough to say that??) when I was in the hospital having surgery. I was put in a room with another girl my age—a somewhat heavy-set African-American girl whose foot had been amputated. I never asked why...I didn't want to pry into her ordeal. I don't even remember her name. Maybe it was Christine.
Anyway, I remember that when all my parents' friends sent me several boxes of fancy chocolates to raise my spirits (which needed no raising as you'll find out), Christine would beg me for some to the point where she was gobbling them down like there was no tomorrow. But I didn't care. For one thing, she didn't have nearly the amount of gifts I'd received. Not to mention she kept me laughing so hard the entire time we were roommates that she had my stomach aching, my cheeks hurting and tears streaming down my face. The nurses yelled at us several times each night to "Keep it down! Go to sleep!" Of course, that made us giggle harder. Besides, she lost her freaking foot!
She was one of the most wonderful and kind people I'd ever met because of her wonderful sense of humor. Those few days I spent with her were some of the happiest I can remember!
By the way, forgive my late night rambling. It happens every once in a while.
Posted by Amy at 12:45 AM | Comments (2)
April 11, 2005
Long Weekend
What a long weekend I had! Friday, I spent working at home. Not as fun as you might think. I had a lot of work to get done and did it at home because it's difficult sometimes to get stuff done at the office when you have other people interrupting you because there are other things that need to get done. But, at least I got to enjoy the sun a little bit. (Had to go to a doctor's appointment.) Then Friday night was the annual dojo banquet, though this year was only for instructors and certain privilaged members. We had a nice dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Emerald City. There was a lion dance, demonstrations, singing and dancing and good food and friends. Chris Solano did his Elvis thing and Dede yucked it up for us with his goofy dancing. FYI, for those of you associated with the dojo, we'll be making a video cd of it to pass around for your viewing amusement. Plus, we listened to Mr. Scott's and Dr. Wong's speeches about the martial arts. That's me with Mr. Scott and Dr. Jay in the picture.
Saturday, we decided to forego the annual dojo open house in favor of looking at some houses in the neighborhood behind the Target. The houses were new and being built and were nice, but not as nice as the ones we saw in Country French Estates on the west side. Plus, we weren't sure the neighborhood was all that great, being next to a large shopping plaza, some shady looking apartments and a trailer park. But it was a beautiful day to be out!
Sunday, Don and I spent four hours at the dojo for the annual Walter E. Todd Memorial Seminars. Dr. Wong (who is Mr. Scott's teacher) gives 4 one-hour seminars in which you really learn a lot. We learned elbow techniques, self-defense, arm locks/traps/switches, and throwing techniques. It was a lot of information all at once, so it's sort of a blur for me. But I was very fortunate to have been able to work with Don throughout the whole thing. He helped me a lot! The seminars were very informative, though it's exhausting to be working out for 4 hours at a time. I don't know how Don does it every Saturday! I'm beat!!!
Needlesss to say, it was a very productive weekend. Plus we got all our paperwork together for our loan at Quicken. WHEW!!
Oh yeah, the dojo powers that be have finally scheduled my brown belt exam, to which you're all invited. It'll (most likely) be May 20 at 5:30 (that's a Friday). If you can make it, I'll be most pleased!
Posted by Amy at 10:00 AM | Comments (1)
April 06, 2005
DAMMIT!DAMMIT!DAMMIT!
I've had that Jeep for ONLY 3 months and BANG! Car accident!
Thankfully, no one was hurt, including myself. But, boy, does it S-U-U-U-U-C-K! And now, the entire right side of my brand new Jeep is scraped up, torn up, and dented up. It doesn't look so bad in the picture, but it's bad enough.
It happened on M-14 between Newburgh and I-275. Turns out, this guy—this idiot—was in the right lane and stopped. He tried to enter the center lane but didn't accelerate fast enough, cutting off the woman in front of me. She couldn't stop in time and slammed into him.
I was looking to my left to see if I could change lanes, but couldn't because there was a car in my way. But when I turned back to look ahead, it was already too late. I tried to veer around her, but didn't have time to check if it was safe. I tried to steer around her hoping I'd just miss her, but I clipped her rear bumper.
We had to wait an HOUR before the state trooper finally showed up. But when he did, he was really nice (funny how they're nice when you're not at fault!), got us our claim number and sent us on our not-so-merry way. She and I were both a little shaken, but very glad to be unharmed and unticketed. Though, I'm sure the guy who caused the accident got a big ticket for this one. I could think of several offenses: wreckless driving, wreckless endangerment, changing lanes without taking the proper safety precautions, attempted homocide with a deadly weapon (his vehicle).....the list goes on.
The woman's car had to be towed and I felt bad for her, so I offered her a ride home, even though I was the one who hit her. But since my vehicle is still driveable, why shouldn't I have helped her? Turns out she lives in Ann Arbor too. So it wasn't any trouble for me.
*SIGH* I'll probably have to get a rental until mine's fixed.
Posted by Amy at 09:27 AM | Comments (3)
April 05, 2005
Tacotacotaco, Taco...Burritooo!
This is KP. He's the owner and manager of our favorite Mexican restaurant called Bandito's. He and his family used to own the Indian restaurant Raja Rani in Ann Arbor. Now they own Banditos. Isn't that funny? An Indian family that owns a Mexican restaurant?
And, might I say, it's the best Mexican Don and I have had anywhere in town. The chicken enchiladas are the best—tender, sweet chicken with lots of cheese sauce. Mmmmmm! Their tacos, burritos, and fajitas are pretty darn good too. We probably go to eat here once or twice a week. It's super convenient since it's only 2 doors down from the dojo, not to mention the prices are more than reasonable.
In the summer, he'll probably start having tables outside. Plus, they serve beer, wine and great margaritas now. That'll be great to enjoy the weather once it decides to stay nice.
Posted by Amy at 12:03 AM | Comments (2)
April 04, 2005
M-M-Mediterrano
This is one of my all-time favorite dishes: Rack of Lamb Dijon from Mediterrano Restaurant. It is fiendishly delicious! The meat is perfectly tender and juicy with just the right amount of dijon mustard seasoning and the meat is not too rich so it doesn't sit heavy in your stomach. I order this every time we go to Mediterrano. You can never go wrong with the lamb, if you love meat like I do.
To top off this delicious meal, I always order the Creme Brulee for dessert. Sounds very fancy, but it's wonderfully sweet, creamy, and light. It's topped with a load of ripe, fresh fruit: blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries and the sugar on top of the cream is perfectly carmelized to form a crispy, candy-like layer. Yummmmmy!
If you're ever in Ann Arbor, give Don and me a call and we'll take you there for dinner!
Posted by Amy at 10:25 AM | Comments (1)
April 02, 2005
My Last Wish
Amidst all the controversy surrounding Terri Schaivo, I have this to say:
As of this day when I am of complete sound mind and body, it is my express wish that if I am ever in a situation where I am in a coma, brain-dead, terminally ill, or in any such physical condition with no reasonable hope of having quality of life, let it be known that I do NOT wish to be kept on life support indefinitely or have any heroic measures be taken to sustain or resuscitate my body. If I am in a condition that does not allow me to verbally state my wishes, I give my husband, Don, full power and authority to make the final decision on what to do with me.
I wish to be allowed to die with my dignity intact and be let go in peace. That being said, I would like for my body to be cremated and and my ashes given to Don to do with as he pleases.
Amy
For anyone who is interested, I strongly urge everyone to make out a Power of Attorney form and a Living Will.
Posted by Amy at 07:00 AM | Comments (3)