Random Musings of a Curious Mind

Office Furniture

If you'll recall from my last post, I mentioned that we are short on floor space. What I didn't explain is that we are overrun by computer desk. This thing is huge!

A couple of nights ago, Mark crossed his legs and snapped the keyboard shelf out. He's got it fixed, but it tends to pop out rather easily now. So - you know me - I went shopping. (After all, we need to come up with a Christmas gift for the house, don't we?)

Personally, I love shopping for office furniture! There are so many great things in a wide range of styles and prices.

I'm thinking that a smallish desk, plus filing cabinet and wall-hung storage unit would give us the same size work area, but with a much smaller footprint. Just what we need. Not to mention, it would be wonderful to have a desk that the boys haven't torn apart.

Realistically . . . I'll probably just replace the keyboard tray. For now.



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God Bless!

Jules

Backyard Fire Pit

Well, since I'm house-hunting again, I might as well do a little decorating, too. The lighting hunt isn't going too well, so I think I'll do some outdoor shopping.

With an above-ground pool and 1.2 acres, the home near Wilmington just cries for some landscaping. And, of course, one of the first things I decided to look for were fire pits. You know - the citified version of a bonfire in the backyard?

It didn't take me long to find the perfect item, either. Almost 4' in diameter, accented with mosaic tile and wrought-iron legs - I can already imagine roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, after a day at the pool.

Eventually, I'll need to add a lawn and walkway (nobody loves a muddy yard), but not today!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Wilmington Real Estate

The housing / mortgage crunch notwithstanding, I can't help house-hunting. Some day we will be moving and it's important to know what's available and where and at what price.

With the kids gone, we have the luxury of looking everywhere and anywhere. Today, I found an interesting site for Wilmington NC real estate. I really liked some of the options.

For example, there is a small community north of Wilmington. The zip code only has about 4,000 people. Just what we've been looking for. And the housing prices are pretty nice, too.

For $112,000, we could get a 1,700+ square feet, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom on 1.2 acres. Now that's affordable!

Granted, we'd have to be closer to a VA hospital and the climate would be seriously hard on Mark's lungs. But I have to admit, it's a good start to the hunt.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

The Hunt for Lighting

For those of you who have been following my lighting battle - all I can say is . . . I'm still looking.

You would think that I could find something I like, given all of the online stores. But there are so many things to take into consideration.

The torchieres have to be sturdy - as well as attractive - because Paka-the-speed-demon loves to do laps through the living room. Even though he's feline, he's not all that graceful and has been known to run into / bounce off of the furniture. (Heck, he's even fallen off the shelf in front of the window. But that's a whole 'nother post.)

Oddly enough, it's not the living room lamps that are giving me the most trouble. That distinction goes to the bathroom fixture, over the sink. Either I am incredibly picky or my taste is so horribly outdated that there hasn't been anything I'd like on the market in 25 years.

Either way . . . I'm still looking.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

WooHoo! We Have a Chef in the Family!

We got the good news a couple of days ago. Our oldest is officially a prep cook for one of the local casinos. In fact, his first day was yesterday.

I haven't had a chance to talk to him, yet. And I know he'll probably be working all weekend, so it'll be a while until I can get all the details. I really hope he loves it!

Kinda takes me back to my first job - bussing tables at a local cafeteria in the (very) small town I grew up in. Definitely not as much fun as working in the kitchen, but much better than washing dishes.

Oh to be young again!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Hammock Chair Swing

I think I'm in love! Okay, I know I say that a lot, but - really - this is the coolest chair I've ever seen!

Right now we don't have a yard or garden, so I would have to hang the hammock chair indoors. Now - before you write me off as a loony - just think about it. A giant hook, suspended from the ceiling just outside one corner in the den, would hold it up as high as you like and let it recline perfectly.

Beyond that - I've been thinking about bedding for when our kids come down to visit. Why not put in some hooks, at each edge of the room, and suspend a couple of hammocks? They would be super comfortable, up off the floor, and we could take them down in a breeze!

I've been imagining all of the options, taking advantage of all that vertical space we have. Heaven knows, there's not much floor-space left. And I know the kids would just love the idea.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Indoor Lighting

Yes, I'm shopping for lighting again. Specifically - bathroom lighting - because I'm tired of spending 20 minutes on my makeup and, when I walk out of the apartment, looking like a clown. Actually, a really scary clown.

I have had a tough time finding indoor lighting that I like, that I can afford, and that effectively lights up the area where it's installed. Today, I found a couple of really nice options.

The one I liked the best is shaped like an elongated capsule, and takes a bulb in each end. But the whole length is frosted glass, to spread the light for the full 18 1/2".

Maybe I can find what I want!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Computer Memory

In the interest of my sanity, of which I have precious little, I have been doing some computer parts shopping. Rather than looking for a complete desktop system, it occured to me that we could simply replace the broken parts, find a monitor, and upgrade the memory for less than a brand new unit. Especially when most of the ones I've found are waaaay more than we really need.

Well, I've learned why I don't build computers for a living. Just looking at all of the computer memory options made my head spin. About the most I remember from the good-ol'-days, when I worked on my 386, is that the faster the CPU, the better the power system needs to be. (A couple of burned out units taught me that one - fast!)

I think I'll go back to pricing full systems and leave the rebuilding to those with better skills.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Mortgage Lenders

Before the wedding - which (again) was absolutely beautiful - we had been working on getting approved for a mortgage. This place is just too small and too expensive.

Now that all of the trip excitement is over, I thought it might be time to do a little more research. The industry is in such a state that finding reliable, honest mortgage lenders has become a challenge. Naturally, as first-time buyers, we don't want to get in over our heads.

There are a lot of places, with a lot of information. It's difficult to know where to turn. Although, I do like the sites that offer different mortgage calculators and explain the terms in detail.

Time to pull out the journal and start taking notes. Who knows? By the time I'm old enough to retire I might actually understand all of this.


Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

House Hunting

Just the other day, I saw a cute little house for sale. The location was perfect: within walking distance of several local stores, a heartbeat from Michael's school, and about 1/2 block from the freeway. It had a huge paved area in front, nice yard in back, and chain-link fence surrounding the property.

Before I even called the realtor, I was imagining teak patio furniture, desert landscaping, tearing off the hideous 'lean-to' on the south side, and getting a puppy for Michael and Mark. My imagination saw a huge kitchen with tons of counter space, 2 bedrooms, and - blissfully - 2 bathrooms. Then, I talked to the realtor.

Suffice it to say, the patio furniture and puppy are not in our immediate future and that is one delusional property owner.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Faucet

I have got to find out where our apartment complex buys their fixtures. We have had, at least, 4 different shower handles installed in the 4 years that we've lived in our unit. For a couple of reasons, they have to be buying really, really cheap.

First, the average price of a quality bathroom faucet would almost prohibit them from affording so many frequent replacements. Second, if they were buying quality, they wouldn't be doing so many replacements. Mike is tough on shower handles, but come on!




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules