Birthdays and Bruises

While I've been working to finish our bedroom, lots of activities have been getting in the way. I turned 30 and spend about a week crying celebrating, then it was time for Dan's birthday and I spent about 4 days drinking cooking for that. Since we have a new lovely kitchen, I decided I would prepare the mother of all meals for his birthday. I even made a little menu:

I was chef, server and diner all in one night! It was great, but the prep/clean-up was a little more than I bargained for. During this culinary adventure, I managed to drop a very large/very heavy metal spoon on my foot. It was one of these:

It left me with a large bruise and a painful gait. Long story short, I'm feeling a little lazy about finishing projects these days . . .

Neighborhood Sales

The house at the end of our rowhouse strip (no idea what else to call this) had been vacant for years. The story is a few years ago a couple purchased it, gutted it, and ran out of money or whatever.  Now, it has been fully renovated (it's pretty lovely inside) and it got an addition of about 600 square feet, so it's about 30% bigger than our house now. But, here's the deal...it's selling for 45% more than what we paid for our house. While I think ours has a little ways to go to match this new renovation (our bathrooms need a make-over!), things are looking up for the value of homes in the neighborhood!

Anybody else gone through this shift?

My fued with Comcast

I think it's over. Well, at least Comcast corporate was attentive. They called me about 4 times (too bad I didn't have a phone then) and mailed a letter to my house. So, I e-mailed them back and. . .they credited my account for the install costs. Do I feel that was enought? Meh. . .I'm too exhausted for it not to be. Too bad I'm too lazy to switch services.

The Christmas Tree Shops

If you don't know about The Christmas Tree Shops, allow me to be your tour guide. First, it's not "shops", as the title might allude to  - it is one mega store. Think a bed bath and beyond size store - except at extremely deep discount. One just opened in Waldorf, and a few weeks ago I went.

Here are some of their treasures:

Do you recognize these glasses? Yup, they are the Calypso glasses from Crate and Barrel, and they are in stores right now! I know this, because I bought them in the store - for $4.95 a piece. So, you can save some dough be heading to The Christmas Tree Shops and buy them there.

I hope you enjoyed the tour, I know I did!

We're back in line!

Well, it terms of the phone that is. It magically seems to have fixed itself. For now. Last week it worked for one day (the day before Comcast was suppose to come back so I cancelled the appointment) - then *poof* it was out again. Seriously, I have dreams about this phone issue. But, it's back again.

What I didn't mention before was that right before the phone went out we sent out invitations for a family party and were the point people for RSVPs. Yeah, not cool. But, this gave us the opportunity to learn to check our voicemail remotely, which was pretty helpful actually.

In the meantime, I have been spackling like a maniac. hopefully the bedroom make-over will be done soon!

Then they broke our phone.

Well, the Comcast debaucle continues. Our phone doesn't work now. Another tech has to come out.

Good grief! If I have to talk to them one more time I am going to lose it!

Steal this look, for less: outdoor cafe chair

Potterybarn Andros Cafe Chair $129

IKEA Lacko Chair $29.99

In my dreams: Vintage Beach House

I'm always one season ahead. When spring rolled around this year I already began to think about summer. The beach. Margaritas. Lobster rolls. I saw a vintage fridge the other day and thought it would look fantastic in a beach cottage. Then, I began to think of other things I would want in a beach cottage: a farm table, jute rugs, vintage plates in different designs, colored dining chairs, soft throws.

What are your beach decor wishes?

Shower Curtain: Urban Outfitters
Fridge: Big Chill
Plates: Anthropologie
Farmhouse table: Unfinished Furniture Expo
Side Chairs: Crate and Barrel
Lamp: Crate and Barrel
Throw: Calypso
Rug: Potterybarn
Pillows: Restoration Hardware
Quilt: Anthropologie

More about the Comcast Horrorshow

Last we left off it was Saturday afternoon and another Comcast guy was leaving without doing any work.

I think I should let you know that when I originally made the appointment for this work it was discussed this would be done at an hourly rate of $38 an hour and would probably take 2-3 hours for all the work to be done. Fine. No problem there. An electrician costs about $150 just to come to the house, so this seemed like a cheaper option.

OK, back to the story. So, it's Monday morning and rain is pouring down. Since the line needed to be moved in the back, I was fearing hoping they would cancel and I just go to work and be on my merry way. So, at 8am I called Comcast:

Me: Hi, I'm just checking on my scheduled appointment between 8-11 this morning.


Comcast: OK, one momemt.


Comcast: Ma'am, I don't see an appointment here.

Me: WHAT?!

Comcast: There is no scheduled appointment for today.

Me: So, they are not coming back? I made the appointment with the guy who came out on Saturday so I don't know if it's in the system or not since I didn't call to make it.

Comcast: If there is no scheduled appointment, they don't come out.

Me: Okkkkkaaaaay, what do I do then?

Comcast: I can send an e-mail to the local office and ask them to check on it.

Me: Can't you just call them.

Comcast: No, we can only e-mail and they e-mail us back, and I can call you back. 

Me: They don't have a phone number?

Comcast: No, the local offices only take walk-ins, not calls.

Me: Well, I guess send the e-mail.


I'm sure you're shocked, but no one called me back.  So around 10am I began calling the tech's cell number he gave me - straight to voice mail. Then, I called Comcast back. This time, someone told me the notes on my account said they would be out today but nothing was officially scheduled.  At 10:30am I finally talked to the tech via his cell. He told me he was "getting his equipment together" and would leave for my house in 30 min. That was when he was suppose to be here, at the latest.

So, at 11:20am he arrived. With an annoyed tone he told me he could only do one of the three things I needed done today because of scheduling. The only thing he could do was the one I could have done myself. The two he couldn't" do just happened to be in the pouring rain. At this point, I didn't care.

After about an hour an a half he installed the cable upstairs, pulling it from downstairs through the wall (ie: a wallfish). During this process he stopped several times to ask me either to help him or if I had any of the materials he was "missing" like electrical tape, a flashlight, etc.

The moral of this story is: Comcast DOES do wallfish installations. However, do you yourself a favor and call an electrician if you need to.