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
I got pre-approved for a home loan in March or April of 2008. I went through the process with the bank that houses my checking account, Bank of the Bear. I would like to say that the process was enjoyable, but as most of my interactions with that bank, it… Read More »The Ballad of House Buying: Part 3 – Re-Pre-Approval
I hate to go back to touch base with Christmas, but I should point out that I got many a sweet Christmas present. I don’t want to talk about any of them because I don’t wish to make any of you jealous, with one exception. My sister Teresa crocheted me… Read More »Sweet Christmas Present
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
The final picture of the 2009 Calendar. This is a picture of the Downtown First United Methodist Church in Des Moines. The picture was taken from the top of a parking ramp across the street.
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
November’s image. I also added about 20 pictures to the Flora Album: Flora INFORMATION BELOW IS NO LONGER VALID I should point out that because my galleries were victimized by spam, if you decide to register as a user because: A. You want to comment on an image. B. You… Read More »November
I got word on Friday that this week will be the last week of operation for the Varsity II Theater in Ames. The Cinemark Corporation had been wanting to close the theater down for quite some time, but they were stuck in a lease. Unfortunately for fans of thoughtful, intelligent… Read More »Goodbye, Old Friend
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
The day after Christmas we had a very Special Friday Night Supper Club. Robert was back in town from Wyoming and was having a hankering for a tenderloin from BK’s. Jay, Jesse, Willy, Monica, Robert, Jeff and I braved the extreme weather and made the trip to BK’s. I took… Read More »Foggy Night Supper Club