One More Great Plate

While out running errands in the first snow we got earlier in the week (a 2" foundation to support the 3-6" we're supposed to get today), I saw the following license plate:

I H8 SNOW
I had the strongest urge to give the woman driving the car a big hug.

Craaaaaaaaap.

I had to pay $49.95 to get a warantee good for phone support for two weeks on the laptop that I knew had to be looked at by an actual person since the hard drive wasn't firing up (I wish the phone support guy could go off script for TWO SECONDS and listen to me vs. saying "your display is bad, please back up your hard drive..." Um, guy, I would if it weren't for the fact that more is wrong than just the display).

Long story longer, posting will be sparse over the next week or two. The up side is that my house might actually get organized between now and then. Either that or I will watch my weight in TiVo.

Also, It was snowing when we landed in Madison today (returning from trip to see family in SC--more on that later). See above.

An Open Letter to a Lazy Ass Contractor

Dear house renovation guy,

When you came to take a look at our place to give us a bid on how much the various insulation projects around the house would cost, you were a consummate professional: knew your stuff, didn't talk down to me just because I have a vagina, and we even connected on a have-lived-everywhere level. I dropped the hint that we had bigger renos in our future with the idea that if this project went well, there could be more $$ down the road.

But that was three weeks ago. THREE WEEKS and it's only getting colder here in Southern Canada and I would really like to have these projects at least STARTED before the snow falls.

When I called you last week (Wednesday? Thursday maybe?), you said that you were in the office and hoped to get the quote to me that day. I said that I'd look forward to reading it by the end of the week (wanted to give you a little cushion) and that was the last I heard from you.

Now, I know that I'm not your #1 priority, but it would at least be nice to get the sense that I'm at least in the queue for services. I mean, I thought that with the housing market (and really, the whole flipping economy) in the tank, all you guys were scrambling for work? No?

I'm starting to have the feeling I would get back in my dating days (aka The Dark Ages) when I would call a guy and he'd be all "yeah, we should do something, I'll call you when I know my schedule" and then he wouldn't call and I'd be all "BITCHCAKES!" and would curse the phone and eventually go out with my friends and get pissed at a local bar and then run into the guy as I was coming out of the mens' room (the ladies' was occupado, of course) and then have this totally awkward conversation since I had seen him flirting with a half dozen blondes earlier and had written something nasty about him on the chalkboard over the toilet.

So, I'm going to do as Jody has said and vote with my feet and if you do come crawling back, I will expect some courtesy discount for my trouble (10% should just about do it).

Sincerely,
Crankymouth

Weekend Update: Go Pack Go!

Saturday was spent watching college football (Woo Irish! Hooray Navy!) and Sunday was spent watching pro. Live. At Lambeau.

That's right, Jody, Vi and I made the pilgrimage to Green Bay at a relatively early hour yesterday to meet up with ND friend, fellow Cheeseconsinite, and once-upon-a-chegger Anne Marie, who not only hooked us up with tickets to the game against the Falcons but also took care of Vi while we were at the game!

Other than the distance covered (~2.5h with a touch of stop and go on the way in and out), it was the world's easiest process: Anne Marie gave us fantastic secret squirrel route directions, guided us to a residential neighborhood right on top of the stadium where the home owners were letting folks park on their lawns (and use their WCs, apparently).

We were able to find a house very close to the stadium (critical for just-in-case considering my "condition") that put us in a slot that was easy to get out of on the other end (without having to drive over the curb) and strolled on in.

The seats were fantastic--about half way up in the end zone with great neighbors all around--and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the stadium's pizza (DiGiorno, FWIW) since keeping veg in the home of the [meat] Packers is no small feat.

We only stayed until the end of the third quarter (of course that's the time they decided to rally)--partly to beat traffic, partly to relieve Anne Marie of her duties, and partly because my lower back isn't cut out for bleacher sitting these days-and make a hasty get away after retrieving our spawn and taking the back way to the high way past these ridiculously large new construction houses along the Fox River.

We were pretty pooped at the end of it all (picked up a pumpkin spice latte @ *$ on the way ome--I lurve fall), but it was great to be home by dinner time and have a few hours to power down before hitting the rack for the night.

Thank you, Anne Marie (and AM's folks)! We really had a terrific time and so apreciate your generosity. If there's ever the chance for us to repay your hospitality, please let us know!

In other news, I think I just knocked down my argument for getting a Dyson a bit as I just vacuumed all the nooks & crannies--high & low--in the basement. Those spiders were getting way too big for my taste.