The Daily Grind (the "ole poor me's")

This blog is composed on the heels of a terrible traffic jam I suffered through today.

Long story short, I am a 33, and finally finishing my undergraduate career.  It has been a long time coming. You see, I was on the 12 year plan for my AAS, and to think about a bachelors degree seemed ludicrous.  Alas, here I am, a history major with an art history minor, and a few quarters away from graduation (hopefully)

I have to leave for school 2-2 1/2 hours before class starts.  I spend the first hour driving to one of two Park and Ride's, where I catch a bus (which varies on the time) that takes me to campus.  Let me make clear, this is a one way commute.
Why so long?  The University charges $15 a day to park (It is prorated, but still costly).  There is street parking; however, it maxes out after 2 hours and not conducive to my schedule. In addition, the closest bridge that gets me to campus (there are two) is under construction and is now a toll bridge.  The cost is dependent upon traffic and can be as high as $6 to cross.  $21 a day to get to campus is too costly.  Alas!  With my tuition I get a free bus pass that is good on all forms of public transportation so long as school is in session.  Needless to say my commute is strategic.
To paint a picture of the worst of it.  Last summer I had a class that started every morning at 9:30am.  I woke up at 5am everyday and left my house at 7am.  It would take me 50 minutes to get to my Park and Ride, where I could catch an Express Bus (a faster bus with less stops, only runs every hour and at peak times only) to campus.  If I'm late, there is a city bus that runs every 20 minutes.  The downside is it make a lot of stops and takes over an hour to get to campus; it also never fails that I fall asleep on it too.  It works, but I want the Express bus.
Now the Park and Rides.  The best Park and Ride is in Issaquah, it is closer to my house, and off the expressway.  Also, when I can take the Express bus home,  I miss all the rush hour traffic by being on the bus (woohoo).  However, if the Express is not running when I need to leave campus, I have to park at a Park and Ride in Bellevue.  Oh boy, the Bellevue Park and Ride.  It abuts Bellevue College's campus (my alma mater).  Recently they started charging for parking and many student find that by parking at the Park and Ride and walking to campus they avoid the fee (yes, I have complained).  But for everyone else this means spaces are limited and parking garage etiquette is no longer existant.  Basically, I have to treat my commute as a game of strategy and endurance.
My commute is not all bad.  I have audiobooks, Howard Stern, and a lot of reading time (for homework mostly).  It is mundane, tiresome, and unavoidable.  I chuck it up as part of the all encompassing college experience. I have had the occasional hiccup in the past; stuck behind a bus, accident, slow and stupid people.  However, today I spent 2 hours alone going a distance that usually take me 20 minutes.  With a head cold forming and already missing my first class, I decided to give up and let "The Road" have one up on me.  Not feeling well I felt this is the world telling me to get some rest. Yet, my guilt for cutting is urging me to post this in an effort to feel productive.

I think I will plan Thanksgiving dinner.

Ciao

Where's the Cream Filling

This is just another blog stream dedicated to my cat, Gia.  We adopted her almost three years ago.  She had brought youth back into our house.  She is unique feline, in that she growls, plays fetch, and does this stretchy thing that is uber adorable.  Sorry cat lovers, but I do believe she is an amazing personality.

May I Introduce...Gia

Baby Gia

 In her bed

 Being Cute

 In the Window

Sleeping with Caesar

Filling out her Bed

A Portrait

Sleeping

This is the bedinging, of one of her many intro's:  "Where's the Cream Filling?"

Playing Fetch

Gia's Music Video

The DVR Vortex

I love the technology age.  I am are not as gadget savvy as my husband, but I do cherish a flare for the latest and greatest when I can rationalize the purchase.  Our DVR is one of these expenditures.  With our often hectic and unpredictable schedules, we depend on our digital recorder regularly to catch up on shows we both enjoy and miss.  Often pausing programs is an effort to predict the ending, or discuss the direction of plots.  As a result, we often enjoy a good chuckle when we pause a show at a particular moment when the picture is less than flattering for the subject.  This happens randomly enough, I wish to document these moments for my own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.  Salud!

Can't remember what show this is from.

This is a "Cartman" face from South Park. Meh!

Yeah, yeah, a weak intro (for a blog post)


More always to come...

Casa de Bailey

We decided on this particular house for the typical reasons; we liked the lay out, it had less stairs, and it was the perfect size.  Moreover, it was important for me to keep my oversized brown couch at all costs (moving it on the other hand).

So our journey begins...

Let me set the stage: After the paperwork was signed and dated, we had three weeks to demo, renovate, pack our current place, and move.  Once, we were allowed to occupy the house we went in and made a list of all the things that needed changing prior to us moving.

List:
Top to bottom paint (including painting the popcorn ceiling).
Remove/replace all molding and doors on the first and second floor.
Re-do the closets.
Tear out the carpet and replace it with Pergo.
Replace the previous, horribly done Pergo in the living room area.

I began tearing down the closets and Jon demo'd the carpet, moulding, door, and ceiling fixtures on the third floor.  It is hard to see in the pictures, but the big thing about this house was that it needed an upgrade.  Essentially, change the theme of the house.  Now this is where I would like to insert the previous theme of the house when we bought it.  I labeled it the "Under the Sea House" in reference to the Little Mermaid.  Why you ask?  Because, of the various 13 shade of green we discovered while demo-ing.  Including, and not limited to Spartan Green in the guest room, and Hunter Green and Gold in the bathroom, oh yeah!

Bottoms Up!

Under the Sea

*insert Sebastian*

Ah yes, the transition zone.  What you see is the whirlpool of green.  Including and not limited to a Pine  Green, Spartan Green, Mint-Pastelish Green, and Olive Green.  Not to mention the two other shades from the picture above

The Vantage Point - ?? shades of green

Live the almighty Spartan - green on green

The House

Center Stage

Before

During

After

Looking up

Looking Down

Looking Down - Lower Level 

After 2

 Guest Bathroom

Before

 

After 1

 

CLOSETS

Closet in Office/Bedroom 2

Before

After

Closet in Guest Room

Before 

(Note 2 more shades of green, and Spartan Green under that) 

During

After

Closet of the Master Bedroom

Before

After

Living/Dining Room

Living Room - Olive/Hunter Green

Before

Dining Room - Demo

During Demo

Painting

 

After Paint (and curtains)

Left Wall 

Right Wall 

 

Office

 Office - Before

After

Bedroom

Before

Demo

During

I know this may sound odd, but to post a picture of my finished bedroom is a little creepy

Basement

 Before

 After

Kitchen

Before

 During the demo

After

Battle Wounds

Post 13 hours of moving.

Before Painting

During

After

 

Finale

While taking on this sweet endeavor, we endured many "ouches", and many of "do'h".  We didn't always measure twice and cut once, but in the end we conquered.  Often times so deliriously tired, we suffered at the hand of exhaustion.  I personally endured a dislocated finger, a small fracture; and at one point had the wonderful experience of knocking myself so hard in the nose, I saw and tasted blood.  However he biggest pleasure of all was when I was given the complementary label of a "Spartan Wife" (thank you Allen, and to my husband for keeping the title alive).  I am extremely proud of our accomplishment, we acquired an everlasting skill set as a result.  Score!