Backwards Dinner

Me! Kind of rough looking....but it's okay, it's my blog =)

So the other day, I had received some less then stellar news. Being all Debbie Downer, for what feels like the millionth time in the last week, New Dude suggested we go do our backwards meal.

 

About 2 months ago New Dude and I had bet on something, what it is now I cannot remember, but he lost so had to take care of this meal. Done.

 

So we could try a new adventure and working on the smiling muscles while also ending the rumbling in our tummies we headed out.

 

We landed at an local chain restaurant. We had already agreed at the middle of the chain restaurants. One, we didn't want to break the bank to make this happen. Two, we wanted to make sure that if we were eating here we'd actually want to have these dishes normally. 

 

We were greeted and brought to our table. When our waiter wandered over, we explained to our waiter, who we're pretty sure what kind of high, what we were doing and he was super excited to help out.

 



First Course, Chocolate Silk Pie. 



 This course was pretty good. It kind of reminding me of eating like a thinker version of pudding but in a pie crust. We quickly enjoyed this pie.

 

We did cheat a little because our waiter dropped off the rolls.. which were super warm.. and we didn't say no.

 

Rolls!

 

 

So our waiter wandered back and we ordered dinner. I was having chicken, pasta, and broccoli and New Dude had steak with chicken tender, mashed potatoes and rice.

 

Second Course, Dinner!

This course was super yummy. However, I think the chocolate pie didn't agree with the tomatoes or something so I only ate about half before I boxed the rest for lunch the next day. New Dude was a champ and finished everything.

I also, and it could have been because of our probably high waiter, but ordered the dessert and the dinner at the same time as to avoid the long break between the two courses. To be fair, this was probably the first time he's been asked to do this and didn't put two and two together. It's okay, it was still good.

 

When asking for a box, I also ordered our last course, Fired Pickle Chips!



Third Course, Pickle Chips!

So this course was also super yummy! There was a good portion, great flavor, but unlike a sweet dessert, the pickles kind of left your mouth feeling kind of gross as a finial touch to the meal.

 

Conclusion, this meal was fun! It was fun to start with dessert and end with an appetizer. Would I do it again? Probably one more time to confirm the results. As a first gut reaction, I would like to think that appetizer to meal to dessert is in that order for a reason, and this experiment kind of proved it. The start of a sweet base to savory meal to kind of different appetizer kind of had my stomach upset and confused. However, New Dude had no issues. So it would totally be worth another go.

 

So next time you're out with someone you should try this and let me know how it goes for you!

Brain Waves

 

 

This weekend was a productive one with family visiting, having them help with some yard work, some good food and just great company.

 

Well New Dude was suppose to come meet some members he hadn't met before. However, because of work, classes, and him doing some sparing, well, he was delayed and didn't get in until everyone had gone to bed.

 

I was laying on the couch dozing and watching Saturday Night Live, when I hear the door.

 

He comes in and I'm excited to see him, but apparently not enough to get off the couch.

 

I ask if he is hungry, if so there is pizza (homemade) on the stove and to help himself. I was suppose to put it away but hadn't found the motivation.

 

So from the living room I start to hear drawers opening, the familiar sound of aluminum foil being pulled out and used. I'm pretty sure he is putting it on the pizza to be nice but I have to ask, "Hey babe, what are you doing?"

 

"Making a hat so the aliens cannot read my brain waves."

 

I giggle and say okay. More moving of stuff and then I hear him headed towards the living room. I hope my small little hope that he actually has a aluminum foil hat on.

 

New Dude didn't want to be a liar so he HAD to wear the hat. It was fantastic and made me laugh and smile.

 

Once pizza and TV time was over we went to our respective rooms and left the foil hat on a stuffed animal in the living room.

 

Suffice to say, by the time we got up, there was some explaining to be done. =)

Rough Tuesday

Have you ever had one of those days where you kind of wanted to hit the big Easy Button from Staples or maybe the Restart form Nintendo? That was my Tuesday morning.
 
It stated off with the typical running behind by about 5 minutes to leave for work. I had to go back into the house at least once for a forgotten item. Then I sat behind the wheel of my new car and turned the key.
 
Or should I say attempted to turn the key? Nothing was happened.
 
Excuse me? Isn't this the new car that you just got? Why thank you for asking, yes, yes it is.
 
I was sitting behind the wheel of my new car, one that is suppose to be better and more reliable than my last car and it was not starting.
 
I tried wiggling the key, switching keys, flipping them around, pulling it out and putting it back in. Shutting the car door(I don't know why, it was worth a shot right?), made sure the car was in park. Nothing. Nothing was happening.
 
The dashboard light up for about 20 seconds and then goes back away.
 
Well, maybe I left the light on? This is a new fancy car maybe the battery is dead. Pretty much when Eleanor didn't turn on it was because of the battery. I don't know about all these new lights and what they may or may not do. I'll admit that it didn't really make sense because the dome lights kept coming on when I got in and out of the door. As do some other random lights.
 
I called my sister, the one who helped me find this car and asked if there was any funny trick to getting it started. She said no, and was so sorry to hear about the car. I was like, me too.
 
After a few minutes I called AAA to see if they could help. I talked to them, told them I think my battery was dead and needed a jump. They told me someone should call me in a few minutes and here were the number if I don't hear from them.
 
I waited about 5 minutes.
 
No call and the car is still not starting. I send the, I'm going to be late text to the co-worker and the boss man. They say Oh no, and good luck.
 
I tired calling a friend, no answer.
 
That is about the time I start to cry. Just one of those self-pity, why is me cries. The tears are flowing, the breathing is erratic, the nose is dripping. Every doubt, frustration, and problem with this car and the possibility it was a bad decision comes rushing to the surface.
 
Every current flaw, frustration, problem, concern, tight pair of pants, long day, hour of missing sleep, lack of exercising, bad day, hot day, mean thought, worry, indecision, problem came flooding in, uninhibited.
 
For about 3 minutes.
 
And then I had to pull myself together. Crying isn't going to get me to work. Sitting in my car isn't going to get me closer to solving anything.
 

Remembrance Run

This past weekend my friend, a Hookie Alumni, went to the remembrance run.

It was a very interesting event.
 

It was to honor the 32 Hookies that lost their lives this day back in 2007.
 

Over all it was very well managed, organized, started on time, and was good event.
 

There were a few things like more bathrooms and the use of sound system or mega phones to direct the crowd that could have been better.
 

My friend and I, by accident, ended at the front. They kept telling people to move back behind a line that no one knew about. This mean the front part of the crowd basically just became super squished and no personal bubbles existed as we were smashed together. Insert mega phone here.
 

They had the moment of silence and then released the white balloons to let people know the race started. Then the crowd released their balloons as well and we were off.
 

Virginia Tech has some hills. I know they are in the mountains and we drove through them to get there but I was still shocked and surprised by what we ran over. It is a very pretty campus and we got to see a nice tour of it too.
 
Some of their music groups, like choir, came out and sang for the runners.
 
I saw the Hookie Bird, we just didn't pull out our camera fast enough for a picture.
 

We were able to run through the tunnel and on their football field which was really cool. They have a crazy nice stadium.
 

The oddest yet coolest thing about Hookies is that if anyone yells "Let's Go" they always get the response back of "Hookies!" It is engrained into their entire body.
 
Everyone does it. It didn't matter some one always said something in return. It was a crazy game of Marco Polo but no one was blind folded.
 

I was wearing my favorite running visor, Michigan University. Being in another schools campus I had a lot of bad looks, one "Michigan" filled with detest and one "Go Blue." At least I wasn't wearing UVA.
 

Here are some pictures below.
 

Take a moment in all the craziness that is happening in your day to think about all the people that aren't with us. For those who have died in tragedy's, wars, sickness, old age, or just in accidents. Take a moment and reflect on what you learned from them, what they mean to you, and how you can live your life to honor them.



Guys waiting to take picture



Release of white balloons after moment of silence.



Balloons!

Balloons!



Balloons!



Starting to run

Going into the tunnel

In the tunnel

Leaving the tunnel

On the filed.

Race is finished and the sun is bright apparently.

 

Walking towards the food and drinks(all water and Gatorade)

Filed where everyone was chilling and waiting for more runners/walkers to finish.

Puzzle

Completed puzzle

So this puzzle has been part of my house for the last few months.

 

It was started in November. I don't know where it came from or how i owned it but people started to work on it.

 

For the next few months it was worked on intermittently with a piece here and there. Then one day we had a good fill in day and got all of the dogs mostly together.

 

Fast forward a month and the puzzle was now 80% done  I went on run with my mom and friends and received a text that it was all complete.

 

Sweet!

 

Now what?

 

It has been sitting on my coffee table complete. I've been trying to decide what to do with it. Put it back in the box? Framing it? Gluing it? Burning it? I've had no idea so it had just been sitting there.

 

Until an adorable friends baby decided he didn't like it and no one was watching.

 

So now the puzzle question has been solved for me. Back in the box.

Meet .....?

I am please to introduce you to .... she is my newest car.

I was not happy to have to give up my beautiful and colorful Eleanor, however, she was making traveling anywhere that was not in the city, problematic. Also, her being my one and only vehicle and no real sure back up ideas besides leaning VERY heavy on all my friends, if something did happen, bit the bullet and got a new car.

This one came as both a fantastic opportunity and price. As you could tell from the last post, I was doing some research. The paperwork taking a bit longer then I had hoped, I didn't get to drive .... until this week.

When she did arrived, through the parents taking some time off to have her come bring her to me, she had something go wrong with a sensor or something.

Okay, to hear, hey here's you're car and where is the nearest care dealership, well it will hurt any one's feelings. I was a tad upset, I just received my "new" car and already sick? Is this a sign of things to come or just a freak accident?

In the end, does it really matter? I now have payments to make for a while, she is mine regardless, get her fix and move on. The only thing you can do.

So some things that make me giggle thus far in our relationship.

1. I bought a new 13.1 sticker and had to put it on the tuck because her bumpers, unlike Eleanor's, are plastic.

2. Sun roof, yeah, I have one, it is kind of awesome.

3. I am not used to the power or the breaking. Everything took longer with Eleanor, there is more jerking and less fluid then I'd liked to admit.

4. BUTTONS! Dude, there are buttons for everything! It is almost as much fun as the elevators in Vegas with how many random buttons she has.

5. While driving, I was like, man, what is with this seat? It is so overwhelming. Well, I'm just not use to a full seat all the way up my back. Eleanor's was a little low, non-adjustable, and went all the way across.

Even though she is not Eleanor am excited about this new chapter with my new car. Especially since she will be going to a good home. She is being adopted by a high school student who, loves her squishy interior and bigness. Plus, she isn't as ugly as her friends van, so she's doing well. =)

So even though there are some differences and had some unexpected problems, I am excited for my new car ...

If you haven't guessed it yet, my new car doesn't have a name! I still don't know her very well, but if you have any ideas or suggestions please leave a comment below or on the facebook page! Thanks and have a great day! 

Rockets Away!

How to be a great co-worker.

 

Step 1. Get a Glue Gun

Step 2. Paint two 2 Liter bottles silver/grey

Step 3. Get some card board and attach arm ring things

Step 4. Add Flames

Step 5. Glue Everything together

 

 

 

 

  Now let co-worker test

for fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whoosh! Win!

Finding a Car Loan

So typing those words make me a little sad, but Eleanor is getting...well a little scary right now. She isn't doing so well with the whole starting and all the little things I think are cute are apparently disheartening for those who don't own her.

Well, I have been looking for a loan for a possible new car. This is a very new process for me.

The thought of a new car sounds great until you start to do the numbers for one.  Not only the monthly payments but the insurance.

A brand new car just around $16,000 quickly went out of my budget. I also think my budget is small, but still, there is no point trying to get something that one cannot honestly afford.

Not only that but looking into interest rates are another big problem. If you have never bought a car before they automatically start you at a higher interest rate, even with great credit.

Being the curious person I am, I asked why. The answer, because it is the most sought after and most likely loan to not to be paid. It makes sense, but it hurts still.

So I've been looking at older cars, which even a 9 year old car is still WAY newer then my 25 year old beauty.

However, this started off as a very intimidating experience.

The first bank I went to, it was my normal bank, I walked in and had to wait like 30 minutes just to be seen. Then when I did get in there the lady started talking about rates anywhere from 5.95% up to 24%. The she told me the numbers that would probably apply to me. I thanked her for her time and walked out.

I was in shock, I had some information over load and was just like really?

The second bank I went to, I did so on the request of the parents. I filled out an application, send it in. The next day I received an e-mail asking for more information. I provided them with it, and then heard nothing.

After waiting two days I called to be told I did not qualify because I did not live in their service area. Alright, fine with me.

So that is when I really rolled up the sleeves and hit the trail. On one lunch break I stopped by 5 banks, was told everything from 3.99(the best I've even heard) all the way up to 13%, some start at 10% just because of the age of the car. It doesn't matter that I could be getting it a great price and am asking for less than what car is even worth, but everything was high and for very short terms.

After about bank 3 I was starting to have fun with it. Going in, sitting down, talking to someone for about 5 minutes and back out the door. No stress, no worry, all about the same story.

I was really impressed with the variety of the bank interiors. They were all different but all very nice as well. 

Only one banker tried to convert me from my current bank. They were nice, and small, but at the same time, the rates were just so high it would be hard to say yes.

The quest was completed by Friday. I still walked away a bit confused and slightly annoyed, but with a low payment and a longer term, I couldn't go wrong.

Now, for a home loan this has to be WAY scarier, but for my first car loan experience, with only a few people looking down on me, it was rather okay.