Comment on a must-try....

I decided to go grocery shopping today for actual groceries with an actual list. You may wonder why this event needs to be announced, but when you realize that my usual grocery shopping begins with me going to Harmon's for bananas and ends with me walking out with $50 worth of stuff that doesn't amount to anything, well, you get the picture.

So my list and I went to Wal-Mart and I picked up these little gems (and yes, they were on the list):


Yes, pretzel M&M's. It's the best of both worlds-you get the crunchy salty pretzel covered with chocolate and a hard candy shell that melts in your mouth and not in your hands. Why doesn't it melt in your hands? Because you eat them so fast it doesn't have a chance.



I purchased the 30oz bag for $6.98 because it was a better deal than the 15oz bag, and lately I'm all about deals or something.

Also, it makes me feel better about myself to end the day knowing there's still some left in the bag. I don't think that would have been true if I had purchased the smaller bag.

I recommend you pick some up. So far we've only found these at Wal-Mart but I'm sure they'll start becoming available at more places as the word spreads.

As a side-note: these are perfect for slamming down when you're in the middle of yet another day of real estate negotiations over things like closing dates and replacing missing window screens. Is a window screen really that hard to not lose track of? And not just one window screen, but like 15 of them? Really people? Really??

Comment on how NOT to sell a house.....

So I've been shopping around for a place of living. In case you're wondering how I came to that decision, well, I thought hey-maybe I should see if I can afford to buy a condo/townhouse. Next thing I knew I found myself under contract. Sorry if that ruined the ending for you, but that's pretty much what's been happening.

Crazy, right?

Pretty much.

So in order to find a new residence to call my own I had to take the first step and get a realtor. I hate realtors. Not to offend any of the realtors out there who may be reading this blog but seriously-all I see is shmoozing and I hate that. Luckily I found one who doesn't shmooze and doesn't even wear suits. Perfect.

I took Lisa with me to look at some properties. I saw a lot of good things, and I saw a lot of bad things. Some places I wanted to love I hated. Some places I didn't even want to look at I'm buying. It happens.

So if you're thinking of selling your place I've got some advice for what not to do if you want to sell your home. It seems pretty simple, especially if you watch HGTV, but apparently some people don't have cable.

1. The master closet should have doors. Should not be smaller than the 2nd bedroom's closet. Should not face the bathroom mirror so that all you see in the mirror is your disorganized clothes.

Exhibit A.

2. If you say you're condo is "spotless" and "shows like new", make sure you a. clean up/paint over all of the scuffs on the walls, and b. dust your baseboards and the tops of your light switch panels-you don't think anyone would see those things? I saw and I left.

3. If you have a bedroom that's your child's and it's bright purple, repaint that action. The first thing someone thinks when they see that is "that's something I'm gonna have to repaint before I move in". But I guess since you'll have to repaint all of the walls because of the scuffs it doesn't matter.

4. If you have animals i.e. cats, and it's warm outside, open your windows to let some air in. When you walk in to see a place for the first time and you're smacked in the face by the smell of cat and you feel like you are walking over cat hair, then you see that awesome cat condo in one of the bedrooms, that's a definite turn-off.

5. Claiming the family room in the basement can be used as a 3rd bedroom. Um....let me think about this-there's no real privacy down there, there's also no bathroom. In fact, the nearest bathroom is 2 floors above the basement. Yes, that's right. 2 floors above. It's a family room and nobody in their right minds would use that as a bedroom. Nice try though.

6. Turning a bedroom into a den with a 3 foot wide glass-paned door that is the first thing you see when you walk into the place. It's unsightly and weird. Even if you switched out the door it's as if that room has no privacy. Pretty much killed that condo for me.

Exhibit B:

Well, I'm sure I had more thoughts but they've been crowded out with all the details of actually doing the negotiating. And that of course, will be another blog post for another day........

Comment on (not so) classic rock.....

The other night I downloaded the latest episode from Glee (an itunes season pass was a gift to myself from myself), fully enjoying myself and the latest in Glee remakes, when all of a sudden, Rachel refers to U2's song "One" as classic rock.

WHAT??????

If I remember correctly, and believe me I do, the song "One" comes from U2's Achtung Baby (an album which changed my life) circa 1991. 1991, not 1971. Put this together with another incident when I was listening to the classic rock station and they busted out a song from Pearl Jam's album, Ten. Then combine that with the newly revamped station 101.9 -GenX music (as opposed to 101.9 the end formerly 107.5 the end for all those who have moved from Utah) and I'm starting to feel a trend here.

Which begs the question: When does music actually fall into the 'classic' category?

To me, classic rock hails to us from the 70's. That's classic. The 90's were merely a decade ago. And what about the 80's? I've never heard INXS or Depeche Mode being referred to as classic rock. It's as if they've skipped the 'classic' genre altogether. I don't get it.

Maybe I'm a little touchy because I love 90's music. Give me some Alice In Chains or STP and a flannel shirt paired with some chucks and I'm good. Sarah Mclachlan? Her music defined me. Alannis Morissette? Turn it up and let me wail right along with her! U2? Can't live without 'em. Dave Matthews? I'll follow them anywhere.

Anywhere except a classic rock station.