Finally, a Bruce Update

After a week of screaming and running around like I little girl, I evacuated Bruce from my house.  Many of you heard about it first on Facebook, but here is Bruce and the tools used for removal.  Pyrex and USPS, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Bruce was freaking out the entire time he was in the bowl, so I was worried he would attack me when I set him down.  He was good though.  He didn't move for about 20 minutes.....more afraid than his captor.  I am so glad this fiasco is over....wwhheeww.

Is My House in Gotham City?

Recently I have had a couple of visitors in my home and the they really freak me out.  The only thing that I remember running from in my life, were dogs until I definitely taller than they were.  Since then, nature and I have been on good terms.  I finally found something that freaks me out.  About a week ago at 10:30 at night I had a little visitor in my room.  He was flying like crazy around my room.  I was not certain if it was a bat or a bird. I really wasn't sure until a few days later (I had a few days without a visit). On Thursday morning at 5:30 I was awoken my a bad bat.  It freaked me out as the thing went full speed from wall to wall.  My mom has named him "Bruce." After I got a new roof, I thought that I might not see the little guy.  I was wrong.  I came home from work at 9:30 pm and found two bats.  One flying around the front room, dive bombing me, and another I could see hanging over the front door. I can tell you that I ran right out the door.
Needless to say, I slept at someone else's house.  I had the pest control at my house the next day.  They told me it might take another night to be bat free.  It was true.  Once again, I had a bat going crazy in my house, so I had another night on someone else's floor.  Bruce had me in tears and freaking out once again.  It's true...I have a fear of crazy, dive bombing bats who could be carrying rabies.  I am praying I don't see Bruce again, or his friend Robin.

Alligator House Anyone?

As I was reading the blogs I frequent I came across this little ditty:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/outdoor/theres-always-one-crazy-house-on-the-block-flickr-find-148784

 Now I am not certain that every neighborhood has one of these homes because I have driven through many neighborhoods and have not been able to appreciate a single home with absurd decor.  Although, I know that my neighborhood growing up it was the "alligator house".  It was always exciting to see what they were going to be up to next.  In this article you could tell that this family was not going for the norm.  The sad thing about the alligator house was that you got the idea that the family in our neighborhood thought that they were improving the decor and bringing a bit of class to the neigborhood.

It all started on day with a water fountain.  This fountain really just looked like someone had driven up with a truck of rocks and plopped them right in front of the house.  Then to make it look even more amazing they placed to large alligators on top of the pile.  It was such a sight to see.  The house was planted on a major road for everyone to enjoy this spectacle.

As the owners of this home had more and more improvement ideas, we were able to relish with amazement in the tackiness of it all.  Next came the spray-painted driveway, which was supposed to give you the feeling of bricks....which in my mind was unsuccessful.  Then came the lions.  Now I can't remember clearly if the alligators disappeared, but I think that Noah's ark may have just arrived unannounced.  Next thing I know I was seeing a metal giraffe poking it's head over the fence.  As I would frequently walk by on an early morning walk (which I think my mother was with me), we had to see what was going on in the backyard.  It was like a zoo.  The animals were strategically placed, where someone might think that it would look good, but somehow it just didn't hit the spot.

After years of pure enjoyment I can certainly say that I don't care if this home decreases the property values of its neighbors.  It has delighted me for years.  Perhaps I should mail them some pink flamingos to help with their motif?

Branch Issues

I bought my house and realized afterwards that there was a random, very large branch hanging in my tree.  Unfortunately, I have been told it costs between $640-$1000 to trim and take care of one tree.  I was trying to decide what I was going to do with this branch and what it would do if I came out of my tree.

The day of the recent tornado here in the Minneapolis, the wind took my branch right out of my tree.  Here it is hanging in my tree.  It is taller than my house.

It came down like a spear into the ground.

Some Things Just Make Me Smile.

I am pretty much certain that I might have to eat here because the food is good and peaceful.

A Room No Child Could Resist (or Maybe Even an Adult)

This sign was on the door of the bedroom, which should have given me a hint to the "AmaZingness" inside.

I opened the door and on the ceiling was this elaborate village on the ceiling, created with plaster and dried plant, and other crazy stuff.

I was hoping I might find a thoughtful spot for me.

I was too bad the house was on a terrible street and needed much more work than I was willing to put in.  Although, just being able to witness the work of this creative mind made my house-hunting day worthwhile.

Crafts

Recently I have had a lot of time at home, which gives me the opportunity to get bored and need some preoccupation.  In my life many people have called me "crafty" and unfortunately experiences in my life have caused me to associate craftiness with toll painting, macrame plant holders, friendship bracelets, boondoggle and other items that one might just throw away.  I prefer to think of myself as creative, artistic, and persistent.
While I was in Nepal there was a girl who was selling necklaces made by women in Uganda.  I looked at them and thought, I can make those.  I have plenty of magazines around my apartment, why not turn them into jewelry.  Now, as a close friend of mine has pointed that instead of giving to the poor, starving people of the world I am now being selfish.  I did come to realize that the hours that it took to make this necklace did make them worth the $20.00 the Ugandans wanted.  So, above you can see the outcome of my hours of work.
Next up....coasters.

Santa Cows

I just wanted to announce that I am an adult now.  I have my own copy of the family traditional story.  I am reading it at the ward Christmas party this evening.

Shout Out to Ann

Would you prefer to buy your furniture in Baltimore if the store salesman sang like this?

Delayed Photo Tag

After reading Sarah and Will's blog I remembered that I had been tagged, so I immediately took some photos before heading to work. Not the clearest photos, but hey the apartment was not too messy.Kitchen Sink.
Clean bathroom sink.
The half made every morning bed.

A blurry living room.

One Sad Christmas

Last night I came home and saw this sobering display of Christmas spirit out of my window. It looks so sad and lowly that I suddenly felt extremely poor. Why? (Sorry it is not snow you are seeing, just old dusty windows. Still snow free!)

Breathing is a Luxury Not a Necessity

Tonight I have come to the realization that breathing is a luxury not a necessity. Why you ask? Well, once again I have caught some Minnesota bug. This time it has taken residence in my nasal passages and is making breathing an impossibility. I went to the store and bought a decongestant with a hope of draining some crud out and improving aeration through though my canals. Nope. All that it did was create a combination of free flowing fluids which was flowing around that dam within. Sometime I wonder what Heavenly Father was thinking when he created this secret weapon against mankind. All I can say is that he has some sense of humor...he must laugh all night while I I toss and turn with my plugged nose and sore throat.

Grass

This morning it smells wonderful outside. I was looking out the kitchen window when I had a sudden realization. They never cut the grass here. How weird? I love the smell of fresh cut grass. Perhaps I will have to go home just to cut my parents grass. For now I will just enjoy the freedom of not having to mow the lawn daily.

The Goblet

Over the past couple of years living at my parents I was introduced to the goblet. My dad has a belief that milk tastes better when it is drunk from a goblet. I think have not really found that to be true in my life, but when confronted with which type of glass should be purchased for my home I was overtaken by the goblet. My little sister gave me some brown tumblers for Christmas which I was unable to find a match, but I did find something that matched in color. Beauty! I don't know about milk, but I have realized that it does make water taste that much better.

Pho

Prior to moving to Minneapolis I had been exposed to many different ethnic foods, but I had never had Vietnamese. First day here I had a run in with Pho, which is a rice noodle soup and I found love. I now get cravings. The best part is that if I walk two blocks over I have at least four different options of where to get it....mmmm. I had some tonight. Total Satisfaction!