lowtalk

come again some other day

as a homeowner, there are a few things that you will learn in the first two years of owning your home.  the first thing you will learn is that the words that break your heart the very most are not: "i just don't love you anymore," but in fact: "no, that is not covered.  read your contract." 

you will learn that all of your vacation time will not be spent sunning it up in hawaii, but waiting on plumbers and contractors and other people who feel that "12-4" is actually a specific time.  and then they will actually show up at 10. 

you will learn that your attitude is the most valuable thing you own.

you will learn that if it holds, carries, contains, touches, or looks at water, it will leak.  and it will leak only when you are not paying attention.  only when your back is turned.  it will leak.

but not to worry, because you will also learn that carpet can be pulled up! (and next week i will let you know if it can subsequently be put back down.) wooden tiles? these too can be pried up! all it takes is a hammer.

you will learn that there are 6, 9, and 12-year water heaters.  and the warranty company will always give you the 6-year.  just expect it.

you will learn that warranty companies do flag your files according to your attitude.  because when you are rude to them at 11 a.m., and then you call to make another claim around 9 p.m., they will pick up right where you left off and (ok, deservedly!) treat you like a jerk.  no matter the kind of day that you have clearly had.

you will learn that you should never think so highly of yourself as to believe that you can play plumber and stop the dripping in your bathtub.  because that will only break things more.

you will learn that if your house was constructed around the time that Jesus was born, none of the material you read will apply to your situation.  because back then, people believed that soldering was in fact, Jesus.

you will learn that no, it is not strange at all to spend the evening taking turns showering in the basement while your partner monitors the speed of the drip upstairs.  in fact, it is just a regular 'ol tuesday night!

and you will learn that although that sounds kind of funny when you write it down, it is really about as funny as "no, that is not covered.  read your contract."   

yes, indeed, you will learn so many things by being a homeowner, but maybe the greatest lesson of all comes when you realize that you will learn more about yourself when you have your head in a crawl space and all of your savings is wet and dripping onto your face than you ever will in a classroom or behind a desk.

because then, you will turn to your partner, and he will stand there dumbfounded, and say something like, "oh. i totally forgot that we had a shower downstairs." and somehow you will find a way to laugh about it, no matter how much rain is forecasted in your home office. 

home sweet home!

this weekend my sister pseudo-formally renounced her singledom and we celebrated this right of passage with the obligatory bachelorette party.  the evening turned out to be quite the cultural experience for me, even though it was my very own culture. 

after an extraordinarily long wait for dinner, we made our way over to the local saloon for dancing.  did i say saloon? i mean club.  this club was divided into two parts.  one part any city, usa standard dance club, and the other part...well, saloon.  there was a black door that divided the two worlds, and from the dance club side, the door reads "COUNTRY" in big red letters, as if warning..."no, really, i mean it.  this side is CUN-TREE.  enter at your own risk."

enter we did.  and what a sight to behold! a live country music band, slide guitar and all, lots of cowboys, and what is this on the dance floor? what is this coordinated dancing? and that over there? well, that is a bull! and over yonder, that just happens to be a spittoon. 

i had purchased my sister a cowboy hat that read "bride to be," hoping to make her stand out a little in the crowd.  well, boy did i have egg on my face when i realized that i was the one who stood out, not wearing a cowboy hat at all! in fact, one fine gentleman even asked my sister if it was her birthday.  so i guess she stood out somewhat...somehow.

the highlight of the night, however, was most definitely a fine young cowboy that took a likin' to one of our friends.  a handsome lad he was, dressed in the finest attire for the club-tight jeans, cowboy boots, a belt buckle the size of my drink, a long sleeve button up shirt, a cowboy hat...and yes, oh yes, a handkerchief around his neck.  my friend and i were talking to a man from chicago, who actually turned to me and said, "is that REALLY a handkerchief around his neck?!?" confirmed.

the cowboy was a handsome and colorful character.  i told the woman he was interested in that i thought she should pursue him.  i believe him to be date-able.  my reason? well, his vernacular! he really and truly managed to work in the word "longhorn" within ten minutes of  natural conversation.  then again, he did use the word "learnt" later on in the evening, so you never really know...our friend also believed him to be date-able.  her reason? well, he takes his hat off and places it on the table when he is talking to a lady.  personally, i can't think of a better testament to a man's character.

all in all it was an amazing night for me.  even though i am the big dumb transplant who fell for the sign stating that you had to have the state's driver's license to enter the club, i stood there studying the line dancing, and all of the sudden, i shouted out, "they're doing the bocefus!!!"  and i ran in, got into step, and realized that although i had forgotten a lot about my home, there are some things that will just always be a part of you.  some things, once learnt, can never be unlearnt.

and who would want to?

2008 miles of hope

read the legend here (see post dated 1/7/08).
and then donate money here.

firsts

it was his first 5 mile run.
it was his first 10k.
it was his first 10 mile run.
it was his first half marathon.
and it was a BEAST of a course.
kudos to b.

and this weekend too...

can't wait to recap this one.