On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, I officially became a homeowner. I arrived at the office of my Mortgage Broker and signed papers with a lawyer for about 30 minutes. I fully intended to count how many times I signed my name and put my initials on the bottom of other… Read More »The Adventure of Home Ownership Begins
Day 7 in Arizona was the final day of work. I spent most of the morning talking to a Native American Flute Artist by the name of Travis Terry. He both made and played flutes. I asked him how he learned to make flutes, expecting a story about his grandpa… Read More »Arizona Day 7
Day 6 in Arizona was more work. At the conclusion of the work day, we were bused out into the “middle of the desert” for a “western roundup” party. If you could get away from the cheeseball band that was lip syncing and playing to backing tracks, it was a… Read More »Arizona Day 6
At the end of Day 4 Jesse and I checked into the resort and begun the business of working. On Day 5 I put away my camera and did not do much of interest besides work. The resort we were staying at was on an Indian Reservation. The only attraction… Read More »Arizona Day 5
Jesse and I woke up in Coolidge, Arizona and made our way to a local diner for breakfast. This place was certainly McCain Country. We sat at the breakfast counter and listened to a couple locals complain about the governor for “being nice” to Obama. They agreed that the governor… Read More »Arizona Day 4
After we Del Taco, we returned to the park with the small mountain. A hole in the roof of the mini-mountain. Eric looking down on all that he rules after he ascended the peak of the mini-mountain. More Eric. The view from the mini-mountain. Lowell and Jesse Mini-mountain Lowell, Eric… Read More »Arizona Day 3 – Part B
Some pictures from Day 3 in Arizona. Peavy and Young The guy that I hope wins the #5 Starter Spot The new closer. Some Mariner Some Mariner Spring Training Home of the Cubs More Hohokam Image from the Road I’d never eaten at a Del Taco. I endorse it and… Read More »Arizona Day 3 – Part A
More than a bit behind. Some pictures from Day 2 in Arizona. The day mostly consisted of bumming around with Jesse’s family. We saw a few random Cubs. We had dinner with Colleen and Kirk.
As I sit here in Josh and Summer’s house waiting for Jesse to wake up, I might as well post a few pictures from yesterday. Jesse waiting for the flight to leave from Des Moines Denver Jesse in Denver Me in Denver Jesse on the people mover Organ Stop Pizza… Read More »Arizona Day 1
Negotiation isn’t the sharpest tool in my skillset. So after I had made the decision to make a move and try to buy the House with the Cute Backyard, I was a bit worried about the negotiation part of the process. To not bore you with the details of the… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 5 – The Art of Negotiation
On Sunday, January 10, I looked at the House with the Cute Backyard with Jason. I had seen the house with my Mom, Carla and Jay. Plus Teresa had seen it earlier. I wanted Jason’s far more practical perspective. Jesse also dropped by to look for a lead pipe. A… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 4 – A Closer Examination
In addition to being Lowell’s birthday, Saturday, January 10, 2009 was Symposium. It was also the Ames Jaycees Year End Banquet, where I apparently got an award that involved batteries, but I was not there. I had to make a choice. I chose Symposium. Well the truth is that I… Read More »The Great Snow Ordinance
Saturday was the day of the big Ottumwa Blitz. I made plans to see the houses on Saturday morning before Jay and I headed to Ottumwa. I had drove past the house on Union a couple of times and determined that the backyard might be a little bit too cutesy.… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 2: Initial Look
So I think I can be a little freer with the experience of house buying that I have been enduring. I guess the most important news is that I am officially going through the process of buying a house now. I would like to at least go through the process… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 1 The Surrogates
A few pictures from Nader and I’s final trip to the Varsity with Teresa. I don’t know if there is any thing else to say.
I had big plans this weekend of going down to Ottumwa to help Jen and Derrick get the house in Ottumwa in shape to go on the market, but unfortunately I had a little trouble on the way to work on Friday. That my friends, is a blown tire. I… Read More »Blitz
On New Year’s Day, between the Outback Bowl and the Rose Bowl, I went over to check out the ACTORS building in Ames with Becky, Terra and Geri. Geri is actually the President or Chairman of ACTORS. Some pictures. Geri Shoes Becky & Terra Rubber Chicken Ham Geri and I… Read More »Intermission
It is a New Year and soon enough, it will be too cold to go outside and you will need to do more while you are inside than just watching the Cyclones play basketball. May I suggest reading. In fact, while I’m suggesting I’m going to suggest a few websites… Read More »Reading for a New Year
I thought about waxing philosophical on how indifferent I am to New Year’s Eve and all of it trappings, but as it turns out I’m to apathetic to even write about it. However, I am now intrigued by the concept of waxing philosophical. I know this is an old timey… Read More »Philosopher’s Wax
On Sunday night we took Jesse out to Buffet City to celebrate his birthday. Ever since that night I have had the song The Crawdad Hole stuck in my head. You get a line and I’ll get a pole Honey! You get a line and I’ll get a pole Babe!… Read More »Thelma and Louise