...check it out!
http://www.changingthepresent.org/
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Interesting...I learn something new every day
Found a website on susperstitions....this was the most interesting explanation I found.
Knock on Wood:
We knock on wood to keep something bad from happening when we think we might’ve jinxed ourselves. Why does wood have power over our fates? The druids, who lived in what’s now Great Britain (and built Stonehenge), worshipped trees, believing that spirits lived in all wood. Whenever the druids said something about good or bad fortune, they’d knock on the wood to perk up the spirits to work in their favor. So whether we want a good thing to keep going or want to stop a bad thing from happening, we can make our request to the wood spirits by rapping our knuckles on the nearest piece of wooden furniture.
Knock on Wood:
We knock on wood to keep something bad from happening when we think we might’ve jinxed ourselves. Why does wood have power over our fates? The druids, who lived in what’s now Great Britain (and built Stonehenge), worshipped trees, believing that spirits lived in all wood. Whenever the druids said something about good or bad fortune, they’d knock on the wood to perk up the spirits to work in their favor. So whether we want a good thing to keep going or want to stop a bad thing from happening, we can make our request to the wood spirits by rapping our knuckles on the nearest piece of wooden furniture.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
New Kitchen pictures
Finally completed the kitchen with all new appliances.
To cut down on the costs, we decided to install the new range hood by ourselves, as the installation fee was $130 and the salesman said that it was "really easy". We didn't take into account that we're really, really, really bad at home improvement projects and even jobs that are classified as "really easy" are taxing for us to do. Here's the hood -hole when we took the old white one off.
Joe's face says it all in this picture. This was an incredibly annoying job. We had to drill all new holes for the screws into the cabinets to hang this thing and guess what? They were just slightly off. Hooray.
We did get it to hang, and it works. But it's up there a bit precariously and we're both hesitant to use it. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having it. But at least it looks good, right? Right?
To cut down on the costs, we decided to install the new range hood by ourselves, as the installation fee was $130 and the salesman said that it was "really easy". We didn't take into account that we're really, really, really bad at home improvement projects and even jobs that are classified as "really easy" are taxing for us to do. Here's the hood -hole when we took the old white one off.
Joe's face says it all in this picture. This was an incredibly annoying job. We had to drill all new holes for the screws into the cabinets to hang this thing and guess what? They were just slightly off. Hooray.
We did get it to hang, and it works. But it's up there a bit precariously and we're both hesitant to use it. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having it. But at least it looks good, right? Right?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
New Fridge, less water leakage.
Got the new fridge today from Standard TV and Appliance. Not only did they deliver it next day for no extra cost, but they called in the morning to say that they would deliver sometime between 1-3, and then called later to say they could come early if that was ok. I'm not used to things being delivered on time, but early? I'm really impressed with that business. We're going to definitely be ordering the rest of the kitchen appliances from them.
Here's the shiny new fridge. I know I've grown up with a new fridge is totally exciting. It's a Frigidaire Gallery, and I think the rest of the kitchen appliances at some point this year are going to be replaced with the same brand/model. It's getting a lot less white in here, wheeee!
Here's the shiny new fridge. I know I've grown up with a new fridge is totally exciting. It's a Frigidaire Gallery, and I think the rest of the kitchen appliances at some point this year are going to be replaced with the same brand/model. It's getting a lot less white in here, wheeee!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Adventures in Home Improvement
Had some major changes to our house done over the past week. Changed the ancient carpet and vinyl flooring in the kitchen and dining room to hardwood floors that would (hopefully) match the existing ones in the living room.
Kitchen - Before. Someone REALLY liked white.....
Dining room - Before.
Hallway - Before. Lots of worn down, stained up carpet.
The before pictures were taken Sunday evening. The contractors were to show up and begin work on Monday. This is what we came home to after work on Monday evening.
Kitchen - During. You can see the darker spot that they did quickly to put the fridge back in. More on that lovely spot later.
Dining room -During. You can see that they moved the fridge around as they worked on the floors. There wasn't much flooring downstairs that wasn't being redone in some way so that they could stash the fridge while working, so supposedly they were going to put it out on the porch. Ominous blue towel under the fridge is hiding something....
Hallway - During. Looks better than that nasty carpet even before finishing.
Below are pictures of cracks in the boards that Joe didn't like. He didn't realize that there was a lot of sanding and filling left to do.
Came back on Friday afternoon after a few days out of the house to some pretty floors. A nasty surprise was waiting downstairs for us, however.
Kitchen - after. A little less white!
Dining room - after. Jingle's bed is already on the floor because she's so spoiled.
Hallway - after.
Nasty surprise downstairs, you ask? Oh, we just came in through the garage to find a nice big puddle of water dripping down from this light. Apparently, a hose under the fridge somewhere was severed and after the water was hooked up again, it leaked all through the brand new floorboards and down into the basement. We caught it before it got really bad, but we think that in the process of moving it on/off of the porch over the sliding door tracks something got ripped up. Here's a lovely picture of the leak.
The new flooring under the fridge is already buckled and ruined. The contractors are coming out again on Monday morning to take a look at the damage and see what can be done. We're fully prepared for the fact that they'll probably not want to take the blame on this one. Looks like we may have a fight on our hands. We're also getting a new fridge delivered tomorrow since it looks like the one we have is so old that it's not worth it to try and fix it at all. This has been a really expensive week!
Kitchen - Before. Someone REALLY liked white.....
Dining room - Before.
Hallway - Before. Lots of worn down, stained up carpet.
The before pictures were taken Sunday evening. The contractors were to show up and begin work on Monday. This is what we came home to after work on Monday evening.
Kitchen - During. You can see the darker spot that they did quickly to put the fridge back in. More on that lovely spot later.
Dining room -During. You can see that they moved the fridge around as they worked on the floors. There wasn't much flooring downstairs that wasn't being redone in some way so that they could stash the fridge while working, so supposedly they were going to put it out on the porch. Ominous blue towel under the fridge is hiding something....
Hallway - During. Looks better than that nasty carpet even before finishing.
Below are pictures of cracks in the boards that Joe didn't like. He didn't realize that there was a lot of sanding and filling left to do.
Came back on Friday afternoon after a few days out of the house to some pretty floors. A nasty surprise was waiting downstairs for us, however.
Kitchen - after. A little less white!
Dining room - after. Jingle's bed is already on the floor because she's so spoiled.
Hallway - after.
Nasty surprise downstairs, you ask? Oh, we just came in through the garage to find a nice big puddle of water dripping down from this light. Apparently, a hose under the fridge somewhere was severed and after the water was hooked up again, it leaked all through the brand new floorboards and down into the basement. We caught it before it got really bad, but we think that in the process of moving it on/off of the porch over the sliding door tracks something got ripped up. Here's a lovely picture of the leak.
The new flooring under the fridge is already buckled and ruined. The contractors are coming out again on Monday morning to take a look at the damage and see what can be done. We're fully prepared for the fact that they'll probably not want to take the blame on this one. Looks like we may have a fight on our hands. We're also getting a new fridge delivered tomorrow since it looks like the one we have is so old that it's not worth it to try and fix it at all. This has been a really expensive week!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Coraline!
Got a present from Laika earlier this week...what could this be?
Oh boy, Coraline is out on DVD! What are you waiting for? Go buy it!
Oh boy, Coraline is out on DVD! What are you waiting for? Go buy it!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Adventures in Pennsylvania
Went back to my childhood home last weekend to visit family. Here's just a few of the hundred photos I took.
Vinny. I think I startled him here....
Ava with her stylin' glasses.
Dan and Saffron. He just gives her a swig of brandy and she's out cold.
Justin in his sweet ride.
Vinny. I think I startled him here....
Ava with her stylin' glasses.
We took the kids to Idlewild park one day. They had a blast.
Dan and Saffron. He just gives her a swig of brandy and she's out cold.
The ol' Imp. His face is getting really white.
Peanut, the infamous 3-legged dog.
Atlas, The bulldog.
Dan and the Bullz in the hammock. I'm pretty sure putting this dog in there was exceeding the recommended weight limit.
Gramma gives Saffron a push.
Sisters!!!
Justin in his sweet ride.
Bye everyone!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
More evidence that PETA is crazy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31422688/ns/us_news-weird_news/?GT1=43001
This story made me laugh and laugh. And then laugh some more. The above picture had nothing to do with the story, but also amused me.
This story made me laugh and laugh. And then laugh some more. The above picture had nothing to do with the story, but also amused me.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This is what happens....
....when you try to make a grilled cheese sandwich while there's playoff hockey on TV. Oops.
This is the second one, done during the second intermission like I should have known to do in the first place.
The Pens forced a game 7 tonight! Go Pens!
This is the second one, done during the second intermission like I should have known to do in the first place.
The Pens forced a game 7 tonight! Go Pens!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Button Eyes
I knew I shouldn't have let Other Mother sew those buttons into my eyes.....
In more serious news, Coraline is in theaters as of this weekend! It's getting great reviews and got over $16 million in it's first weekend, which is a pretty strong showing. I'm extremely proud of the entire production and I hope it continues to do well in the theater. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Superbowl happiness
My hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Superbowl tonight! We invited fellow Pittsburgh fans Jenn and Gary over to watch the game and to celebrate with lots of good food. Here's their baby Logan all decked out for his team. As you can see, he's going cross-eyed with excitement.
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