Political Head Shakers of the Day

Let me say first off this is going to be a political rant. And no I do not apologize for offending anyone. It's my blog my rules. And these were just some general observations that I think any intelligent human being would make. This new blog segment will be known as "Political Head Shakers of the Day". It will consists of political news that I heard which just makes me shake my head at the shear stupidity of it all. So without further ado I give you (in a big booming movie man type voice) "POLITICAL HEAD SHAKERS OF THE DAY"

A) Obama is sending his top official to deal with the oil leak crisis in the gulf. He’s sending the chief of the Department of Homeland Security. I mean honestly, what is he going to do? Shoot the oil spill with a rocket? Arrest it and hold it on terrorist charges? Waterboard it? Please.

B) Jennifer Granholm is going on the Oprah Winfrey show to announce that the no texting while driving law has gone into effect in Michigan. From one looney democrat to another I guess. (Disclaimer: Not all democrats are looney, that would be profiling, and profiling is WRONG) But who do you think is paying for this media blitz to announce one stupid new law? And why announce it at the Oprah show which is filmed and based in Chicago? Last I checked Chicago was not in Michigan. Take a geography lesson. Now I realize she is Canadian and may not know the geography of the United States well, but seriously? Even her mole knows where Michigan is. It's the Hand state people.

OK. I'm done. For now! MUHAHAHAHAHA (who doesn't love an evil laugh) HAPPY FRIDAY PEOPLE!

I am the LAHBSTAH

Notice the spelling and subsequent pronunciation of lobster. That was for you Jaime Van.

Lets start this blog off with a few disclaimers. First there will be no pictures of the following story because, well, it just wasn't pretty. And secondly, do not read if you have a weak stomach. Again, it was just not pretty. So here goes.............

Two weekends ago Jason was home, so I made seafood newburg. It has shrimp, scallops, lobster, crab, etc in a cream sauce over biscuits. It's a New England favorite that I fell in love with while visiting Jaime. Now I LOVE ME SOME SEAFOOD. Like seriously. Nine times out of ten, if we're out to eat, I'll be ordering sea food. I have eaten it my entire life in mass quantities. During deer season we even have "Lamy Seafood Extravaganza" where we gorge on shrimp and jumbo crab legs washed down with copious amounts of Miller Light (we stay classy that way). And never, up until about a week ago, have I had a problem with seafood. But now I have a new found allergy to SHELLFISH. I mean boo. Can there be a worse allergy to have as a seafood lover? Now I must say that I am allergic to tons of stuff. I have extremely sensitive skin and don't change detergent, lotions, shampoo, etc. EVER. I'm also allergic to coniferous trees, various types of wood and metal and so on. It's really manageable, I just don't touch stuff. But now I have a shellfish allergy which means I can't eat certain stuff. And just to state the obvious here, I love to eat. My new found shellfish allergy made my hands swell up and made the rest of my body turn bright red. Thus the lobster title. It was miserable. I went to the doctor and they congratulated me on strange case of the day. Go Me. It has been over a week, I've been through one pack of steroids and I am still itchy like crazy. At least no new red blotches have popped.

So living with a shellfish allergy is really not that big of a deal. Unless you go to Mongolian Bar-b-Que with your husband who loads his bowl up with shrimp and crab and scallops. I filled mine with steak and onions and mushrooms. Made me some fajitas that I did. Then you get up to the grill and you have to ask the guys to put up the food guards around your food so there isn't any cross contamination. And then they mock you. Because that's what the grill guys at Mongolian Bar-B-Que are paid to do. And then they ring the bell and announce to the whole restaurant that they have a customer with a 'sensitive stomach". Okay maybe none of that is true except for the food guard thing. By in my own neurosis of walking up to the grill that is what I envisioned. All was well except that Jason ate all the yummy seafood goodness in front of me.

We also went to our first Red Wings playoff game ever that weekend. And because I was already Red, I fit right in. The Joe was rocking until the wings started sucking. But hey, they picked it up in game 7 and whomped those yotes!

Buenos Dias people and stay away from the lahbstah!

On The Market

The house has officially been on the market for a couple of weeks and we haven't even had a bite! I mean see how fabulous it is!?

Not even a nibble! My realtor tells me to be patient. How can I be patient when my husband has moved out with my dogs and I'm all alone in the woods in this big old house!? The kitchen does look amazing though. Which is a consolation because I get to use it. But then again every time I use it I have to clean it like a mad woman just IN CASE we have a showing!

Honestly, living in a house that is on the market is not living at all. I've become quite neurotic about it actually. I get up in the morning, take off my PJ's and put them in a box in case we have a showing. I put Fluffy and Moose (yes, Jason is gone and I need snuggles) in that box as well. After I take my shower I hang up my wet towel over a bar in an empty wardrobe box to dry. You have to hide your life basically. I also have to prettily make the bed, fluff the comforter, arrange the throw pillows, etc. Then I take all my dirty clothes all the way to the basement and put them in the washer. You don't want to have a dirty clothes in a basket (like normal people) when you have strangers walking through your house. I have my cereal and coffee and promptly put those dirty dishes in the dishwasher. If the the dishwasher is full and clean and hasn't been emptied yet I hide them in the cupboard! :) Also I won't sit on my couch since it will smoosh down the cushions and pillows and I'll just have to re-fluff before I leave for work.
The very last thing I do before I leave is turn on the smell goodies and put my slippers in the closet. That's my routine. Jason and the dogs are coming home this weekend (YAY and WOOT WOOT) but I'm pretty sure I will be driving him nuts with my neurotic routine. You never know when someone might want to come through your house, better be prepared!

Spring in Northern Michigan

Spring in Northern Michigan can be a very temperamental thing. Which is why most people probably go on spring break. Jason and I generally do. But not this year. That picture is the view from the beach in front of our timeshare in Cancun. The one we won't be using this year. Thank you bad economy. And even if J wasn't laid-off, we probably still wouldn't have been able to go because my work load right now is unreal. I'm working 16 hr days. It's kind of crazy. Now is the time I need a vacation more than any.

The weather right now is the only reason I'm not too bitter about not having a spring break. It's been in the 70's the last couple of days and absolutely gorgeous. Yes I'm stuck in the office all day but every chance I get I pop my head outside just to smell the wonderfulness and bask in the sunlight. We'll see if this weather holds. As I previously noted, spring in northern Michigan can be a temperamental bastard.

The house is DONE! Except for a few minor things this weekend and some staging we are DONE. The house will go on the market tomorrow lets all keep our fingers and toes and whatever else you can cross, well crossed, that a buyer comes soon! It gorgeous inside, the carpet is installed the paint is done all the molding is finished, and yes I'll post some pics of it as soon as I get around to it. I'm honestly shocked by what the Van Family has accomplished in the last 5 weeks. And I mean Family. Mom, Dad, Grandparents, the works. Jason even got his brother to come over and dog sit yesterday while the carpet guys were here. Lowes requires you to have a 'responsible' adult there during installation. I'm not really sure if Chad counts (I know that I for one, do not). But It worked out well since I couldn't get away from work. I walked in the door at 9pm last nite and was just amazed.

It's exciting and sad at the same time. I, for one, am not going to know what to do with myself when I no longer have to work on the house every waking moment. But now that it's finally done inside, we're selling it and moving on. Well on to bigger and better adventures I suppose! Plus I won't really miss the fact that the dogs won't constantly have paint in their ears. Poor Bean looks like she's has highlights! But she is a fabulously fashionable critter so it's possible she did it on purpose.