The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. --Eleanor Roosevelt

Thursday, June 26, 2008

the hunt is on

For the past year I have lived in the same apartment and I am now officially ready to get OUT! I know you may be thinking, Staci- It's only been ONE year. In my defense I moved in a year ago with all intentions of only living there for 6 months. A year later, I'm bit tired of it.

Don't get me wrong I love my little "blast from the past" "straight from 70's" retro apartment, but I'm desperately in need of my own washer and dryer. The pay per load is not cutting it. My dirty laundry is just too tempting when I have no money or time to sit and wait for laundry to be done. I'm more the type that likes to grab the clean clothes out of the dryer while I'm getting dressed. Not too sure the management at my apartment would appreciate me running to the dryer half dressed to grab clothes out of the dryer.

And so my hunt for a house begins. I know big step from apartment to house. But I'm not looking to own, just rent. My boss tells me it's because of my commitment phobia, but I have my reasons and that's not it. I think renting would be the smarter thing for me right now. Next year may be a different story, but this is now and renting is the route.

So far I have looked at two houses. Well, one house and a duplex. Sadly I will not be returning phone calls to either of those numbers. The first house was in my favorite part of town, Historic Downtown, and it truly hurts to know I'm taking it off my list. The house to the right is amazing. The house to the left is beautiful. The house across the street is amazingly beautiful. Then you have the actual house (duplex). sigh. A great fixer upper, but I'm looking to rent not fix up. Scratch that off the list.

Then the second house... I actually liked the house just not the location. To describe the area nicely, the house had a fenced in backyard. A fence made from chicken wire. Really? The fact that the guy showing the house wouldn't turn his BMW off and stood outside the whole time on his phone was enough to make me want to run to car. And lock the doors. Scratch that one too.

And so the hunt continues. I've made a few more calls and have more prospectives. This should be fun. I'm not looking for anything too special. Something along the lines of...


Do you think the big guy is willing to relocate? I'm sure someone would do my laundry for me there! Who do I contact to find that out? smiles

I'll keep you updated on the hunt! Happy Hunting to me!

Monday, June 23, 2008

promised pictures...



ps... it's hard to find pictures taken at 120 mph without your face looking absolutely hideous!

checking off THE list

We all have a list. Some write it down. Some keep a running list in their mind. Personally I have mine written down and folded up and kept in my desk at work. This list is not the grocery list or the to do list of the day. Though it is a to do list of sorts. It's a daily reminder that there is a ton of stuff that I want to do during the dash of my life.

Some items on my list are: (not the complete list)
run with the bulls in Spain
be a guest judge in Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef America
eat at my favorite Food Network chefs' restaurants
make my own pottery
paint my own place setting for home
cycle through Ireland

You might wonder why I'm talking about my list this beautiful Monday morning. Well, one of the best things about lists is being able to mark things off of it and this weekend I was able to do just that. What did I do, you ask?

SKYDIVE!!!

What an experience! What a thrill! All my sister says about the dive is that I'm that girl. Let me explain...

Being the ultimate beginner that I am, I'm jumped tandem (the company would have it no other way). I show up in Lumberton (yes, Lumberton) for the appointment I placed almost a month ago with friends and family. There are five total jumping. After a little bout of rain, the sky clears and we report for our quick yet thorough 10 minute training. My brother-in-law and I are going on the first plane, so we suit up in a not so flattering jumper that makes you oddly aware of your butt. The videographer gets some footage of my being my natural self- silly. Then we board the plane. Thankfully I was placed with 'The Best' tandem master (or so the people working say, but I do agree). When we reached an altitude of 14,000 feet people start jumping. Okay right here is the second scariest part of the jump (the first is yet to come), looking over the edge of the plane, knowing you are about to jump out of a perfectly functioning plane just for fun. Scary or not, you have no choice. The guy strapped to your back is calling the shots here. I have to say plummeting to the earth at 120 mph for two miles is quite an experience and FAST (and addicting). Then with a graceful jolt, you are no longer laying flat but sitting up and peacefully sailing through the air.

Well not quite peacefully yet. The last thing you want to hear while skydiving is the professional that has your life in their hands cussing. Yes, cussing. And yes, this is what I heard. I heard cussing and felt tugging.

I try politely asking, "Is everything okay?".
No response, only cussing.

Worry.

Then he says, "Here we go".

What?! We've already gone! Suddenly we're in a flat position again with the sensation of free-falling. The only thing I'm thinking is I don't quite remember this in the training. Maybe I should start paying closer attention. Then we're upright again.

Again I politely ask, "Is everything okay?"
A response this time, "Yeah we just had a slight malfunction."
"And now? Now, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, you're doing good."
Ahh, the peaceful drift to earth starts.

When I get to the ground, my friends and family run to me, "Are you okay?! Do you know what just happened?! Did you know your main chute was cut and you landed on the reserve?!"

What?! Are you kidding me?! That was the SLIGHT MALFUNCTION! The main chute didn't fully open? My sister then tells me, "You're that girl. You always hear about how it happens to that other person, but you're that person. You're that girl!"

This slight malfunction didn't keep the other three from jumping after me though (and I'm glad). Even with the slight stress that comes with a slight malfunction I had a blast! I recommend it to anyone!

Would I go again? Oh yeah! Just let me save for a while.

pictures are to come later promise promise

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

BINGO!

Yes, I said Bingo! No, I' m not referring to a dog of any sort either.

A new bingo facility has opened in Hattiesburg, and last night "the guy" and I decided to inspect. I've never played bingo outside of grammar school, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. I was actually expecting to be one of two under the age of 60 (the guy being two). Boy was I wrong. Quite a crowd for Tuesday night bingo. About 120 or so.

Big shocks for the night:
1- the crowd (already shared)
2- the money
both the amount you have to spend to play (around $30ish a person, if you play smart) and the payout! Grand prize of $1,199.99!!! Why an odd number like that? Once you win $1,200 you have to report it on taxes.
3- the amount of games
There were 42 games in all. We didn't play them all, but they all pay out.
4-the technology
You can pay a little extra and play on a computer. Which means, you can just type your bingo card numbers in and watch the computer fill you card up as the game goes. All you have to do is yell Bingo! when the time is right. We opted for the old fashion way.
5-the fact that I WON!
Don't get too excited I did not win the jackpot, sigh.

Here's a recount of the win:
Mid-way through a game, I was looking at my cards and got excited because I was one away from winning. I excitedly pointed at my card showing "the guy". He looks over asking, "What do you lack?" In my mind I'm crossing my fingers that my number will be called before someone else calls out Bingo! as I tell him B13. I notice he has this strange look on his face, then he replies "That's the wild, you should already have that marked!" I thought, "Crap!" but yelled, "BINGO!" with a big smile!
Pay out of $50... yes ma'am big winner over here :) All in all with the win we broke even :)

Did I have fun? You bet!
Will we return? of course! I feel a jackpot win coming on!

Friday, June 6, 2008

making a statement

Recently a friend and I were discussing the crazies of the world. He had been invited to a quite disturbing group on facebook. The group's title was something along the lines of, "Fight Gas Prices, Burn Down Gas Stations!".
Are you kidding me?!
That's a great answer to the problem of high gas prices. Don't worry about carpooling, walking, taking a bike, not going as often, just let 'em burn! CRAZY!
My friend and I decided to report the group. I've always seen that little button to report a group and thought... who does that? Well my friend did.
Done. It's over. Right? Not quite.
I heard a news story on the radio this morning and could only shake my head in disbelief. I got to work and just had to look up the story. In an effort to "Do Something About High Gas Prices" a woman in California set fire to not one but TWO gas stations and a Starbuck's! Well, I guess she solved the problem for herself. She probably won't be driving too much now that she faces arson charges.
I'm not saying that the facebook group led to her firey acts, but its just a little disturbing. She's not the only one who thought of it. Someone also made that group. Not to say they will act on it or follow the suggestion, but hundreds of facebookers have joined this group! A not-so-funny joke that is a little too serious.
Out. Of. Control.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

delightfully tacky, yet unrefined?

And no, I am not talking about Hooters... the restaurant. No, I just returned home from a party. This was no ordinary party though. This was a lingerie party.

Oh la la...

While typing I know I am breaking some sort of "chick rule", but I'm not exposing anything risque, so I'm safe. All I have to say is, I should have taken a pencil and paper to take notes for my way distant future hopefully one-day honeymoon (no, it is nowhere on the radar, but I'm sure these ideas and 'tips' will not go out of style).

The excuse for a bunch of girls to get together and talk about unmentionables is that my sweet friend is getting married this weekend. Amy Wade will soon Amy Knight. Excitement. I know you can feel it! She's tying the knot and I can't be more happier for her!

Congratulations my friend! I can't wait for Saturday!