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January 20, 2009
And I Would Drive 100k Miles
Over the holiday break, my Jetta – the Jetta I've had since 2000, the Jetta that I inadvertently let roll down a hill and mess up the bumper in the first two weeks of having it, the Jetta that I foolishly decided to "buy" after leasing, the Jetta that has taken me to many places to and fro, the Jetta with an antenna that barely picks up AM stations, the Jetta that keeps falling apart from the inside out – rolled over 100,000 miles. And it was done while taking some dear friends down to meet their parents for their own Christmas break. There couldn't have been a better reason for driving the car at mile 100,000 than that.
I love and hate my car. If only because we have one out of necessity since this damn town can't get it's crap together to build us a sweet light rail system. Bah. Whatever. To the next 100k!
Posted by Seth at 05:54 PM | Comments (3)
January 15, 2009
Adios Simon
I received a sad phone call today with the news that good ole Simon had passed away in the night. For those of you that knew Simon, you'll be pleased to know that he was 100% asshole until he left the Earth. For those of you who never had the chance to meet him, you're probably lucky, because he was 100% asshole pretty much all of the time. But that was part of his charm.
My records say he was just over 8 years old. In cat years, that put him squarely in his middle age. In the past year it sounded like he was able to live outside and chase mice. I'm sure he loved that. The word is that the cold and maybe pneumonia got the best of him.
It's a sad day when one of your pets are gone for good. With Simon now amongst all the other missed pets, it's a sad day indeed.
See ya later Simon Bird, give 'em hell!
Posted by Seth at 01:04 PM | Comments (4)
January 08, 2009
See Who?
I hate going into gas stations. I find it very annoying. That's why I find that one of the best things about Credit/Debit cards is that you can pay for gas without ever going inside a gas station (though you have to be careful of skimmers). It's seriously one of the best uses, ever.
Even better is when gas stations realize that they don't need to hire anyone to stand behind a counter. Especially when there's no counter present. That's exactly what the-now Phillips 66 has set up in Kansas City at the corner of West Pennway and Pennsylvania.
It's really cool. You drive up. Put your card in. Get your gas. Take your receipt and go. No pre-paying. No having to lock your car while you're inside and in line. None of that. Just gas and go, every time.
Except the last time I went there. I got gas and paid for it like normal, except this time I was left standing at the pump waiting for my receipt (because I'm anal and like to track my purchases BEFORE the bank gets around to it several business days later). And then it happened, the monitor at the pump told me this:
See cashier for receipt.
See cashier for receipt? WHAT F'ING CASHIER!?! YOU'RE the damned cashier. Look around, computer, there's NO ONE else here. Just me, you and the gas. Well, maybe that bum that keeps needing a quarter for the bus (he's going on 5 years without having a bus ride somewhere). But jeez, if you're setting up a gas station with no bricks and morter, then maaaaaaybe you should program the pump to NOT be stupid.
I'm surprised it didn't ask me if I wanted a car wash, too.
Posted by Seth at 02:51 PM | Comments (1)
January 01, 2009
2009 = 2000 No (in German)
I really can't believe it's been over 10 years since we partied like it was 1999. But it has been 10 years. And I'm not so good at partying like that any longer. The healing afterwards is taking longer and longer to achieve. After being at some good friends' parties the past two years, this year Ashlee and I sat on the couch in our PJs, ate appetizers and watched the remaining episodes of Lost: Season Four. I've also been sick since Monday, which means there was no drinking. Just good company.
Today = our day of laziness. We have four movies (two joint movies and two single movies) and there's plenty o' football on television. But today is also when I should reflect on my resolutions from last year, and then set some new ones. So let's see how I did:
- Experience at least five cultural events in KC (First Fridays, Museums, Plays, etc.).
I'm pretty sure I accomplished this one, but there's a good chance I didn't. The good news is that our good friends Kati and Darren got us a membership to < href="http://www.nelson-atkins.org/">The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for 2009. I should be able to over compensate for 2008. - Get rid of my car (this doesn't mean I'll be without a car, just not the one I currently have).
Technically, I failed this one. If you remember, since moving in with each other, Ashlee and I consolidated our lives into one vehicle. As Scoot pointed out, that means I wouldn't be able to mark this resolution off my list. Thanks Scoot. Even though it was a good thing to do financially- and environmentally-wise, I guess you're right. - Pay off remaining credit card debt by mid-year.
Guess what!?! I did it!!! Then we got the hair-brained idea to buy a house and that trend reversed quite quickly. We've since consolidated our debt and have been working with a financial planner to get us beyond minor daily finance stuff. The debt will take a little longer than I'd like it to, but we'll be saving up money at the same time. It's a win-win. - Walk to work at least 100 times.
I think that while we lived downtown (until June), that I was doing a great job here. I was probably near halfway done by the time we moved. That all but stopped then. The nice thing is that we live 100 yards from a bus stop. The not-so-nice thing is that it costs me $1.25 each time I ride the bus and it doesn't really save me time from driving. Ho hum. - Exercise at least 100 times (gym, running, etc.).
On this one, I started off strong, then we signed up with a trainer and were really kicking this one's butt. And then we got lazy. But came back around pre-Thanksgiving. I'm going to say I didn't accomplish this one, but got pretty close. - Go through storage and purge.
Done –even though Ash would disagree. But that's what basements are for, right? - Eat more vegetables.
Sure did. - One fried food item per week.
Not so much.
So in terms of me accomplishing my 2008 resolutions, meh. There's always next, or this, year. Here's what I'm thinking:
- Pay off car and determine if driving it is worth our time and money.
- Stay within established budget parameters and still pay off half our credit card debt.
- Exercise at least 100 times (gym, running, etc.).
- Control portions!
- Complete at least seven home projects.
- Write more.
- Read more.
- Less television.
These are manageable, right? What are your resolutions? Oh, and happy new year!!!
Posted by Seth at 07:20 AM | Comments (2)