Yahoo's effort at free stuff

How funny:

In my most recent post, I rejoiced in the wonderfulness of finding Free Stuff. Well, not a week later Yahoo Finance shows even more opportunities for Free Stuff. Mind you, most of the offers listed in the article are not necessarily for me but, there is a way to get free chocolate. Free Chocolate. FREE CHOCOLATE!

For that alone, the writer is worth their weight in gold. The article was originally posted on September 28, 2011 but the offers are year-round. Sadly, as wonderful as it is to find another source for Free Stuff, I was disappointed that there were not more offers for ladies strappy sandals, high heeled suede boots in black, grey, burgundy, and camel, free dinners at local Italian or Mexican restaurants, plane tickets to New Orleans, New York or South America, golf lessons or all inclusive stays at 5-star resorts in the Mediterranean. Again I say, I guess in the end, you still have to pay quite a bit for certain comforts.

I must go now. I have a date with someone who posted on craigslist that is giving away chairs. Yes for free. But here’s the kicker… they match the ones Lenny repurposed from his old storage unit. Pretty cool, huh? So, there will now be a complete set of cushioned chairs on which we will SIT AROUND A FIRE!                   :~)

Fire, beer can chicken, cherry Coke and white wine

The end of  the day. Yay. Candle is burning and I'm in bed.

Lenny was very pleased with the fire pit. What I expected was for him to put his mark on it. What I got was, as he pulled a chair over to the pit, "Do you think it's too big?" Job well done. Again, I must pat myself on the back.  Not because Lenny approved. No, just because I'm awesome.

I laughed at his comment. As I pulled the giant spool over, I replied, "Nope." I put the 2nd chair on the other side of the spool so that we could eventually use it as the fireside table it was meant to be. Except, I sat on the spool instead. Sitting in that 2nd chair seemed so formal somehow.

For the next minute or so, we enjoyed the idea of a fire. But the reality was that I was parched and all I had to drink was white wine, the chicken (who was destined to have a beer  can shoved up his bum) still needed to thaw and we were supposed to take a walk around the park tonight.

I got out of my stunning cut-off sweatpants-with-boots ensemble and he prepped the bird & threw him in the oven. Then we headed to Target to pick up a few things and do some wishful-shopping. We bought bottled water, cherry Coke and wished we bought lights for the deck, birthday presents for the girls, lights for the themed Christmas tree, and a small flat screen tv for the master bedroom.

By the time we got back, all thoughts of a walk and a fire were gone. All either of us cared about was the bird. Eat. Must eat. I tend to forget to do that during the day and I know Lenny sometimes doesn't get around to it during the day. So, our evening: beer can chicken, green beans, cherry Coke and Moscato.

Started with the Brewer game but after Arizona's first home run, we had to turn the channel. Ended up watching American Horror Stories on FX. Totally creepy show. Loved it. Surprised that an actual tv series could be so creepy. Can't wait til next Wednesday.

Why I Blog

I know. I know. I'm on post overload. It's just that I've been cataloging Everything regarding the house search, the good, the old and the decrepit; the money pits, the foundation fiascoes, the pool-less in-ground pools. I've told stories, I've shared pictures and Lenny & I have lamented over many a property. Now, all I want to do is share, share, share. But even I (someone who loves to tell a tale) could use an assist. Someone to show the pix that go with a story; someone to remind me of the details (the oh, so minute details that no one probably even cares about anyway).

And since a special friend of mind got me blogging in the first place (about something totally unrelated), I figured this was the perfect venue for all my lovely tales. Consider yourselves soooo lucky to be here. <insert silly smirk here>

Diggin' a hole

Beautiful weather. Perfect day for a scooter ride but the last time I was on the scooter, it was 5pm and the people in a rush to get home from the office all thought I had a bull's eye on my back. So, nix the idea of fighting with them again. In the Jeep, sure. I'll show 'em all whose boss. But on the scooter, I lose a little of my gumption.

So, what to do with all this sunshine? Dig a hole, of course!

I took my boots, my two-foot level and a shovel and headed to the backyard. A four-foot circle: big enough for lots to sit around but small enough that it doesn't take up the whole yard. Oh, I'm speaking of the soon-to-be fire pit. No sooner than I measured my fire pit-to-be that I began sweating like... something that sweats a lot.

Going in the house, I realized I didn't have anything to cooler to change into. Let's see... there's a dark tee, a ribbed turtleneck sweater and an oversized tank top. Tank top it is. Now bottoms. The jeans I wore could only be substituted by sweats or cut-off sweats. Cut-off sweats it is. Shoes. Gym shoes are in the car. The car is at the hub waiting on Lenny to get off work. Guess I'm keeping the boots on. What a sight: hot pink, over sized tank top, black drawstring sweat cut-offs, brown boots. H. O. T. Yea, baby! Luckily, I only had my shovel to impress.

Back to work. Measure. Measure. Dig. Sweat. Dig. Finish. Lovely. A hole in the ground. Beautiful. Now to make a lip around the edge for the river rocks (acquiring the river rocks is a whole 'nother post). Next, connect the rocks.

Like a jigsaw puzzle, I tried to fit each rock next to another as if they were made to be that way. I think I did pretty good. I am quite impressed with myself. Please hold while I pat myself on the back....

Ok. Done. I have worked up quite a thirst but with no refrigerator and me still not trusting the water, I have to make do with what's on hand. Either that or walk over to Target. Hmmmm..... lemme see. What we have on hand is... room temperature tonic water, room temperature Riezling, & some new white wine I bought about two months ago which is <drum roll, please> in the cooler. Some new white wine sounds pretty good to me right now. The only other cool liquids in the house are the two bottles of caramel and chocolate ice cream topping.

O. M. G. Wine is straight from the gods! Seriously, thank you Dionysus. It's all I can do not to turn the bottle up and finish it off. And, yes. I am drinking straight from the bottle. It's just easier that way until everything is unpacked. I have to re-cork this before I do some serious damage. I was gonna scooter home, but the 4 ounces of Moscato I just drank says I should wait 'til later.

Until later, then.
Ciao, for now!

House House House ! ! ! !

Unpack. Move box. Unpack. Find silverware. Run water to get the rust out. Enjoy the sunlight from the east windows... north windows... west windows... south windows. Daydream from the upstairs window that looks out into the neighbor's tree. Green, gold, burgundy, yellow... so pretty.