Issues.

Life is a rollercoaster ride. Ups and downs all over the place. We are so excited to go to Chicago, but things aren't going so well. On our way back from visiting Nisi in the hospital (whole other story there), the transmission in my car died. We barely made it home. Then had to have it towed. Bad. But the extended warranty will cover most of it. Good. No car till Saturday. Bad. Rental coverage included in extended warranty. Good. Out of town until Sunday so we will have to pay for rental car for 1 1/2 days. Bad. It's a Chevy Aveo. Neutral. I also learned the since I have full coverage on my car I don't need to pay for extra coverage on the rental car, since full coverage will cover me driving another car. Which means that we didn't need to pay for it for the rental car that we have in Vegas either. And that was alot of money.

Oh well, can't wait to go to Chicago. Even if it will be in a Aveo. At least it should get good gas mileage.

Chicago

I am getting excited for our next trip/mini-vacation. We sure seem to be traveling alot this year. Up next is Wizard World in Chicago. We are going down on Wednesday evening, I think, and coming back Sunday at some point. I hope to hit Ikea and hopefully the zoo and aquarium while we are down there. I also have some old high school friends that live in Chicago and I am thinking of seeing if they want to go out for dinner or something, maybe when I get sick of the convention. Should be tons of fun.

Babies!

Well, Marc and Nisi had their latest baby 5:42pm July 22nd. Healthy baby boy, Mason Jay. 7 lbs 5 oz 19 1/2". It bit of a surprise I believe, getting here a few weeks early. That's really all the info I have so....Congratulations!! I'm sure when Nisi is feeling better we will all get a full detailed story. With pictures!

Matt and I had gone to my Grandparents for coffee Sunday morning and Kydra was there with my mom and found out that Nisi's water had broken at 4am. Typical time, middle of the night. Than Matt and I headed up to Silver Lake to the cabin that Matt's dad rents, which has very limited cell phone reception, especially for our ancient cell phones, 2+ years old. After dinner I walked out to a reception area and got the message a very tired sounding Marc had left me. I was good to know that everything worked out OK. With hopefully no complications.

We are hoping to head back up to Silver Lake on Friday, but I don't know if we will be able to. I would need to use a half day vacation, but my boss will be on vacation Friday too. Normally we are not both gone on the same day. Matt may go anyway, without me.

I Try So Hard...

Well I got kicked out of my band this morning. This bites. I had just started excepting my place in the band and telling people about it and I get kicked out. Just like last time. Matt says I can never tell anybody again if I get in a new band. :) Maybe that will work. Apparently I don't have a good enough voice to sing 80's hair band music. Like the great song by Poison - Talk Dirty to Me. Maybe this is a sign that I shouldn't sing 80's hair band music anymore. I also don't have all 20+ songs memorized completly, 100%. Even the ones we just added 2 weeks ago.

The only good thing is that the guitarist will probably be leaving too, and the bassist and drummer have no clue. He doesn't want to sing all 80's hair band music either.

I just wish they would have communicated their issues at some point before kicking me out. Some things they have issue with are easily fixed. Oh, well. I got some more experiance and learned some new things. This just makes me question if I should continue. Though I think I will, I did enjoy it while it lasted.

Party

It was a great party. Not as many people showed as I hoped would, but that happens every year. Sangria was great. I added some extra brandy this year for a little more kick. My mom had two glasses and was a little buzzed, and nice and red. Should have gotten a picture. Oh well. I also forgot to take a picture of all the food. I am told it was my best spread yet. I always try to improve. Oh, and I used my brother Marc's jello shot recipe and had some kick ass jello shots. Tasty. JD got trashed and started groping all the men and than starting wrestling. Our friend Tori got an interesting picture of Ted and JD getting pretty friendly. I got an interesting picture too. I kicked some ass in fooseball. People played some Wii. Catch Phrase started fights, especially with some newbie players. Can't wait for next year.





I posted most of my pictures on myspace, but you have to be my myspace friend to see them.

I'm Dutch.

About twice a year a get a hankering for rusk. I had grown up with rusk, now apparently labeled as 'dutch crispbakes' at the store. Matt thinks I am pretty weird for liking this. I eat it with a layer of butter-type spread and than a layer of jam. It is tasty. I bought some tonight, just for me.

On a separate note, we watched the new Harry Potter today. I thought it was great, having never read the book. Matt wished they included more. This is one of the reasons why I haven't read the books yet. I don't want to be disappointed when I watch the movie.

Sweet.

I am so going to by one of these as soon as it comes out.

I speak English

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Midland
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The South
North Central
The West
Boston
http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have">What American accent do you have? http://www.gotoquiz.com/">Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Planning

I am having a hard time party planning this year. Our annual summer party is only two weeks away and I don't have the menu all figured out yet. Also I really want to by our own copy of electronic Catch Phrase this year. Such a great party game. I hope lots of people show up too. I always have so much food left over, we eat it for days. Should be interesting. I invited 3 of the 4 other band members as well, though I have my doubts that any of them will show. Other plans and such. Our bass player's wife had a baby last week so he's pry out. Dummer's son's birthday. Guitarist works until 7 or 8 and he has a real life with friends and everything. The second guitarist hasn't made a practice in over a month, but his grandma just died and he had some things to deal with. I hadn't invited him yet. He may not be in the band much longer though. We'll see. I think I might invite some cousins too. And other random people who I don't see very often. But anyway, if you read this, know where I live and can make it to my house July 14 starting at 6pm, your invited.

Rambling

I do feel bad that I don't post more often, but again, I just don't think my life is that interesting. Most days I just want to move away. I am craving a change of life. New places, new people, new everything. (Except Matt and the cats, of course) Oh well. It will be years until we move I am pretty sure. Unless we have a change in cash flow, like winning the lottery. Hitting it big. Millions and millions of dollars. I can dream. Sigh. I keep telling Matt that he needs to finish his book so he can become famous and make lots of money. He's got the marketable talet. Though I am kinda, maybe, sorta thinking of trying out for American Idol. I don't know. I guess it can't hurt to try. Unless I really bomb it and end up on a horrible loop with all the bad singers. Like the ones in the promos. Eeek. Biggest fear right there. And signing my life away of course. The contracts just try out for those things are amazing. Anyways, off to bed for me. I try not to be up too late but looking at the 2:33am on the computer makes me realize I failed again.

Too Funny!

http://www.glumbert.com/media/laugh


I couldn't get the stupid video to post right. So you'll just have to follow the link.

Shouldn't it be a rule that everyone has to post on 6/4?

Anyway on this day of 6 and 4. Happy Birthday Marc!

Festival Days

Today is a Festival day. I really want to go but Matt really doesn't want to go. So I have a call in to my mom to see if she can go with me. Otherwise Matt may just have to deal with it and go with me later tonight or for lunch tomorrow. I love all the food booths with all the different options. And the people watching. It does get pretty hot though. And today is really humid.

Last year around this time we had our big summer party. 6/24 I believe. This year we are pushing it back a little. I am thinking maybe July 14. The trip to Vegas cost money and we need more money to throw a party that big. Though ever year about half as many people show up as say they will. Hopefully with Matt not working at Target anymore that won't be as big of a deal. Target people were really bad at the whole 'Oh we will so be there' and than not showing up.

We Bought A Wii

It's super cool.

Vegas Memories

I case anyone is wondering, I did not get a tattoo in Vegas like I wanted to. Matt and I did go to The Palms and stopped at Hart and Huntington, but they were charging 2 to 3 times the going rate for tattoo's. I expected them to be a little more expensive but that was more than we were planning on spending. We also stopped at a tattoo shop off the strip but the guy there didn't understand the look that I was going for. So I will wait. I still really should get my original tattoo touched up before I acquire any new ones. *Sigh*

Matt and I had gone to Star Trek: The Experience. I really enjoyed it. They had a time line for everything that happened in the TV Shows and Movies. I liked seeing how they all fit together. The "museum" was OK. Seeing all the props from different shows and such. The rides were only OK too. The Klingon one was a little better than the Borg one but both interesting. I feel bad for the actors though. They really had to commit to the parts. Being on spaceships and fighting the Borg. Trying to create a sense of urgentsy and follow along the timed scripts. The waiter at Quark restaurant was cool though and there was a Borg and Ferangie that were wandering around for atmosphere. The Borg was funny.



And apparently playing poker with only three people isn't very fun. Matt, Zac, and Dan wanted more people to play, but nobody else really wanted to.

How Short?

Well I did it. I cut my hair. Now I know for some people that is not a big deal, but for me it is. I had gotten my last haircut 3 1/2 years ago. Ironicly right before I left for Las Vegas last time. I had been talking about cutting it for the last 6 months or so. It just starts to get in the way. I did get about a foot and half or so cut off. And I did save it to donate. Instead of Locks of Love I am going to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lenghts. They give their wigs to women with cancer instead of children with issues other than cancer. It feels more personal to me with all that we went through with Matt's mom.

Inked

So...I was thinking I might get a new tattoo in Vegas. Anyone else (that's going) interested? I want to go to Hart and Huntington in the Palms. That's where that TV show on A&E is shot. If no one else wants to go we will probably go when your not around. Any takers?

I Don't Know About That.....

So I was at practice last night and this came up again as a band name. "Apryl Cherry" Both the bassist and the drummer want to use it but I am more than a little nervous about it. I feel it is a little egotistical. I mean using my name as a band name is a little weird to me. What is you guys opinion?

Oh, and Happy Birthday Nisi!

Cross your fingers

I added my cover band to myspace. We will get a better website if/when things get rolling along and things actually start to happen. Feel free to make fun of me. :)

Alanis Morissette is the Devil

I like this parody but yet I don't. It is funny. That is for sure. I had never really understood what Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas were saying before.

I still really like Alanis Morissette.

Welcome!

A big blogger welcome for Tiffin's sister finally joining the technological age. You should all stop over and say hi! Just don't be mean yet (Dave), she's still new.

Also, Neil, come join my cover band. We are super cool and none of us smoke. Amazing I know, but true. Also there isn't 7 kids running around hitting each other and asking for food. You could be a guitarist and whatever else pops up. The only catch is we need a good background singer. Huh, Huh. Have I got your attention now?

Wow, that was quick.

So....technically I am in a new band. The bassist that I had brought in to audition at my last Dirty Sins practice decided to start a cover band. He contacted me and asked if I wanted to be the singer of his new band. I said sure and I was in. Pretty sweet. So we have a drummer, guitarist, bassist and singer. He wants a second guitarist too, but I think that may be more difficult than he thinks.

I also have been in contact with two originals bands before I was offically in this band and I may have two auditions for them, if I get invited into one of them I am not too sure what I will do, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Things are hopefully turning out well.

I'm Sad, and Angry :(

Well, they dropped me from the band. I'm just not the right fit. Not writing all the lyrics quick enough on my own and not hard enough rock. Whatever. I'll live. Onward and Upward. They changed the line-up all around too. They really don't know what they want. I am pretty sure I'll just join another band. But this is pretty discouraging. Losers.

I Just Heard What?

Overheard at work today:

"Hey, you know that guy we let go because he was drunk? Apparently he told the supervisor he had to start drinking more because he is trying to quit smoking weed."

My eavesdropping skills increase +1. Nisi don't let this get around. I really wasn't suppose to hear.

10 Things

Yes - That is a shark in the roof.


1. I have four cats and would probably have more if Matt didn't stop me.

2. I really like sliced pickled beets. I eat them right out of the jar.

3. I enjoy playing WoW. Right now I have a level 26 warlock. It's great.

4. I pick all the breading off deep fried foods. Especially mozzarella sticks.

5. I giggle maniacally, and randomly, for no good reason.

6. I can never make up my mind, do endless research and end up doing the first thing that I had originally thought of instead of all the other options I found.

7. I enjoy watching Matt play video games, I can watch him play for hours and never get bored.

8. I love to bake but rarely eat what I make. I bet at least 3/4 of the things I have made over the years I have never tasted. Not even a sample or eaten the batter off the spoon.

9. I keep up with the celebrity gossip as well, just like crazymom. I can almost always tell you what is going on in the gossip pages. It's dirty fun. I think celebrity's are initialed to their privacy, but if they really wanted it they could have it. There are plenty of celebrity's that are rarely in the news, but still are big stars. They just don't put themselves in the tabloid spotlight.

10. I am so anal when putting up the blue painters tape, so that I can paint. It takes me forever and Matt can't even be around me when I do it. It drives me absolutely insane to have paint outside the designated area or on the woodwork. I redid the bedroom in our old house like 4 times (or more). The wood edging was warped and paint was getting everywhere. That is one reason why I paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. So much easier that having to tape it off and than touch it up later.

Post 64

I have actually not posted on purpose, for this is post 64. I did not want to post a bunch of drivel on such an important post number. Or all the bad things that happened. Too much of a downer.

Anyways, on to the exciting news/information that I have. As I was tooling around on the internet looking for good deals to stay in Las Vegas, it dawned on me. Let's rent a house! I found a really cool one that is one block from the Strip. I was thinking that Matt and I could rent it out for the 6 days that we are planning on staying in Vegas (May 9-15) and the AZ clan could come and stay with us. We wouldn't charge nearly as much as the casino's do and we could have alot more fun! Any thoughts?

Neeeiiiil

I have succeeded in getting Neil to join my band. How sweet is that!

Now all we need is a catchy name. One that I can tell family members about and not get more prayers for my soul to not go to hell.

I like The Secret of 64. But I don't think the others will.

On another note for Las Vegas in May, we might stay at the MGM Grand instead of the Luxor. I found a really great room for a really good rate. I will have to buy it soon though if I really want it.

Blizzard 2007

There sure is alot of snow out there right now. And we are expected to get another foot or so before the end of tomorrow. I don't rememeber anything this bad hitting West Michigan for a really long time. We went and visited Matt's mom at hospice today and almost had to turn back since we couldn't even see the walls of the entrance ramps to M-6. I actually had to stop in the middle of the highway because I could no longer see the road or anything except white all around me. Almost everybody was driving with their emergency flashers on just to be able to see each other. Right now we have almost 2 feet of snow on the ground at our house. And it was 50 degrees here like 2-3 weeks ago.

Rock Bands Rock

Well, it's offical. They invited me to join the band. I am so excited! A little good news in a sea of bad. I hope everything goes well. I didn't even have to do my second audition today because of the funeral. (Grandma Ladegast died 1/16/07) The other band mate just went by my crappy recording and Ricks word that I am super cool.:)

Ninja Warrior

I love Ninja Warrior. All those Japanese TV shows like this are great. Now I am off to watch it.

Holy Hell!

Well this weekend I went and did yet another audition to get into a band so that I can hopefully look back at my pitiful life and have done something interesting with my life. And they posted my crappy quick audition on myspace. Holy Hell! I am off timing on part of the songs and lose the key in other parts and they want feedback on this. OMG! Any way the guy I sang for really liked me and I am going back for a second auditon on Saturday. Cross your fingers. I guess you can check it out here, if you want.

Viva Las Vegas

We have pretty much decided that we are going to go to Vegas from 5/9 to 5/15 for a total of 6 nights. We were going to go 5/2 to 5/9 but I went to the Luxor website and found out how much cheaper it is to go one week later. So one week later it is.

Hopefully all the AZ resident can make it up for a night that Saturday. Even tall, red and angry and his SLF. Last time we went to Vegas we went to the Tournament of Kings and had a really great time and thought it would be a great thing to do again with some friends. Hopefully everyone can make it, even if it's only for a day trip.

2007

Wow. 2007 already. Time flies. I have never been big on New Year's Resolutions and I think I will keep it that way. It's always so dissapointing when you look back, especially since I never seem to accomplish anything. Anyway it doesn't look to be a very positive start to the year with all the things going on with Matt's family. 2007 may be a year that we want to forget.

Anyway, at least we are looking to go to Las Vegas in May. That should be sweet. I'm thinking we will stay at the Luxor. Matt loves the Egyptian theme and the rooms in the Tower are suppose to be really nice. I bought a book on Las Vegas and am really doing my research this time, we can't spend all our time playing blackjack. We go really broke.

Yeah Me!

Well, last weekend I did my holiday baking for distubution to the masses. I made 8 kinds of cookies and seperated them all mostly equally onto 8 different plates. They were a pretty big hit. I love finding new recipes that I have never made before and trying them out on the unsuspecting. I did actually eat three cookies this year. In no particular order I made: Date-filled sandwiches, Fudge-filled Envelopes, Calypso Cups, Lemon-Cranberry Sandwiches, Chocolate Star Gingersnaps, Eggnog Snickerdoodles, Cherry Peanut Butter Balls, and Apple Drop Cookies.

Interesting...

So that's who I look like when I am totally trashed. Cool.

How Cute!

Winter is Here!

Winter is here for now. Yeah! Excecpt for the horrible driving conditions I rather like winter.


So I decided to make winter cupcakes. These are Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Mint Creamy Frosting with White Chocolate shavings on top. I meant to pick up some red star mints to crush on top, but I forgot.



Also today we brought the cats to the vet for there check-up and shots and Serenity got to go a day early to see if her bladder infections were back. She doesn't have one which means her peeing on the couchs standing up had become a behavoral problem. I order to retrain her she is going to need to be secluded for the next 6-8 weeks all by herself. Poor kitty.

Nothingness

I feel the need to post about nothing. There is nothing going on in my life that feels worth blogging about. I have not moved acrossed the country, I have not gotten a new job, I am not Dan, I got no kids. I mean all I have got going for me are the cats but if all I blogged about was them people might think I was crazy or some thing. Well Matt's around alot more now too, but he has his own blog. Even if it is now just for stick figures. We have big selling some collectibles on ebay, shocking I know. Unless I am missing something, that is about all that is going on.

Totally

I can so see the guys making a video like this.

Rocket Man

I get this stupid clip stuck in my head all the time.

Target Parties

Well, we had Tiffin's last Target party on Saturday. Which was fun, but as all Target parties only about half of the people we actually expected to come to the party, came to the party. And that's only like a tenth of the people that told him they would be coming. Those Target people are not very reliable at all. Even for free food. I bet if we had more free alcohol, more would have shown, but it gets expensive. Still fun. There was more food than that too, mini-corn dogs and such. We have so much left over.

Fall

I love fall. The changing weather, fires in the woodstove, warm kitties in the sunshine, all great things. It really makes me want to bake. Last week I made Raisin Spice Cookies (one of my personal favorites) and tonight I am making Spiderweb Pumpkin Cheesecake for Halloween tomorrow. Which also means that I will be making somthing else with pumpkin in it within the week to use up the rest of the can of pumpkin, not counting the 4 pumpkin pies that I am making for the Christmas party that I have on Saturday.

Still Funny

Pathetic

Here is Dave looking pathetic.






Because he couldn't eat the square root of the tacos.

Harvey the Wonder Hamster

Tiffin and I were at Village Inn with St. Mary's and Stemshul before they left and I was told they had never heard Weird Al's song Harvey the Wonder Hamster, which is one of my favorite Weird Al songs. So here it is.

That's life

Well, I really haven't had much of importance going on in my life so I haven't felt the need to post, though I feel bad about that. With people moving away and all the other issues in our life right now it would be nice to have some good news to share, but I don't. That's life though.

I ment to take some pictures of some really cool cupcakes that I made the other day but I forgot. I think I may post pictures of all the cupcakes and such that I make so that all you losers that keep moving away can wish you were here. Speaking of which, I can bring something to the going away party if there is a need/desire. I take suggestions, if something specific is wanted.

Castles are so cool

I know that we won't be able to do this but I can daydream about it. I found the absolutly coolest place to have as our bed and breakfast. If Tiffin and I could we would buy it today but we can't. Look at this.


Isn't that the coolest house you have ever seen? That is the best picture available for now but I asked for more. I don't think it is being used as a bed and breakfast currently but it was just built in 2003 and is being marketed as a potential B & B. If it is still around when Tiffin and I are ready we will do whatever possible to buy it. Including moving to Washington, where this is located.

Honestly!

I was just glancing at the MSN homepage when THIS caught my eye.





Don't ya think people may have gone alittle to far with the whole greeting card thing? I know lots of hairy people but honestly!

Crocs Rock!

I can't believe that Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, died yesterday. I kinda thought he would be around forever. I had planned on visiting Australia one day and had thought he would still be there teasing the crocodiles and just hanging around. At least he died doing what he loved.