Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget yet too small to be their own post.

Work has been SOOO busy.  I'm really trying to keep a balance between my work and personal life but it isn't easy.  I could easily work 7 days a week, including the days I'm trying to be off.

A friend posted this article on facebook that I found fascinating.  Its about twin brothers, 1 of whom is caucasion and straight, and 1 of whom is black and gay.  How does THAT happen?  Read the article.

A friend sent me this which gave me a good chuckle.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Cocktail hours

Tonight was 1 of those perfect nights... a cocktail party followed by drinks and dinner with a friend!

This evening my real estate team hosted a cocktail party at a restaurant/lounge 5-7pm for the other Realtors who had sold our listings in 2011.  Its a way of saying 'Thank you' to those agents with whom we worked.  

 

There was plenty of cocktail food and an open bar.  I enjoyed 2 tasty Cosmos, my cocktail of choice.  Several friends of mine who are Realtors were there, as were my colleagues, and we had fun talking about clients, properties, and challenges of our industry.  There was also a drawing for a weekend get-away which my good friend Deb won!

Promptly at 7pm I drove home, changed into more casual attire, picked up Spouse and we headed to Saketumi at 7:30.  Our great friend Joe P returned to town after being away for 3 months so we commemorated his return with cocktails and dinner at his favorite place, Saketumi. We enjoyed Cosmos, sushi, and shared a desert.

It was a perfect night!

Time flies

Tonight we had dinner plans with our favorite foodies Deb & Greer and Bob & Michael at 6:30.  Earlier in the day though I agreed to meet up with a client after hours (which is very rare) so they could sign the offer I'd written for them.  Since our dinner plans were at 6:30 I scheduled the client meeting for 8:30 at my office.  No problem.

We met up with our friends and enjoyed lively conversation and tasty food and drink.  With my appointment in mind I glanced at my phone to check the time.  7:35, no worries - back to eating, drinking, talking, and laughing.

With our entrees complete we toyed with the idea of sharing some deserts and coffee.  The selections were too tempting to pass up so we ordered 3 deserts and 6 forks.  As we discussed the merits of each desert we tasted, our conversations volleyed between food and local happenings.

Then I thought I'd better check the time again to see if I needed prepare to leave.  8:40 - WHAT?!?!

I looked at Spouse and said "We gotta go.  Now."

"What's the matter?" he asked.  "I was supposed to meet my client 10 minutes ago.  I've got to drive you home, grab my computer, and meet him at my office."

"Oh..." was his simple response.  I simply explained to our dining companions that I'd lost track of time and was very late as we ran out the door.  Spouse agreed to drive us home so I could call my client on the way.  

Fortunately he is a very laid back type of person and didn't seem to be upset by my being 1/2 hour late.  I explained that I'd lost track of the time and apologized profusely.  He said he understood and that it wasn't a big deal.  He signed the offer and I'll present it tomorrow.

Just because

Weekend work

Work, work, work.

Our busy spring season has started early.  Maybe its because we've had so many unseasonably warm days.  I'm not sure, but I know I've been really busy and I worked the whole weekend.

But its been worth it.  I've written 5 accepted contracts this month!

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget yet too small to be their own post.

A friend sent me this cool video of flowers blooming.  I thought it was so interesting!

Work has been super-busy and I've not been keeping track of things for my Friday fragments posts.  Hopefully I'll do better in the future.

Here's wishing everyone a great weekend!

Its a date

So Spouse & I have set a date for our civil union and finalized our guest list.  More progress!

Its always been my dream to have our civil union ceremony and reception on our actual anniversary, May 26th.  However, in talking about doing so we decided it just isn't practical.  May 26th is always right around Memorial Day weekend, which brings tons of people to this beach resort area.  Plus my work will get really busy around that time as well, so it doesn't make sense to try and plan an event (even an intimate one) at that time.

That plus our desire to minimize the amount of time before I can join Spouse's insurance plan lead us to select April 28th.  

We've talked about our options and preferences, weighed them against each other, and compromised where necessary.  Plans are really starting to come together.

Stoopid lyrics

Here is another installment of my blog feature "Stoopid lyrics" where I share with you a well-known song with lyrics that don't make sense.

Keep in mind this doesn't mean the song is stoopid or that I don't like the song. In fact, this song has a catchy beat and I've hummed along to it in the car, I'm sure.  But the lyrics don't make sense. 

For your inspection...

As Long As You Love Me

performed by Backstreet Boys

Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I'm leavin' my life in your hands
People say I'm crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance
And how you got me blind is still a mystery
I can't get you out of my head
Don't care what is written in your history
As long as you're here with me

I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me

Every little thing that you have said and done
Feels like it's deep within me
Doesn't really matter if you're on the run
It seems like we're meant to be

I don't care who you are  

Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me

I've tried to hide it so that no one knows
But I guess it shows
When you look into my eyes
What you did and where you're comin from
I don't care, as long as you love me, baby

I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
As long as you love me
Who you are
As long as you love me
What you did
As long as you love me 

Just because

Weekend highlights

As usual I worked on Sat and then Spouse & I had dinner with Steven & Thad.

Sun morning we had breakfast at the Crystal with Steven & Thad and Jason & Kevin who were in town this weekend.  I needed to go into the office for about 2 hours, then Spouse & I went for a drive in Big Ella.  

That evening Spouse made roast beef with potatoes, carrots and onions and Steven & Thad came over for dinner.

It was a nice weekend.

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their post.

A friend sent me this video of an amazing car accident!  I dare you to only watch this once.

Work has gotten super busy!  I've been showing homes like crazy and writing contracts too.  Its very exciting but I'm more tired when I get home which is making it harder to keep up with chores and blogging.  But the commission checks will be great!

My friend Jared sent me this which gave me a good chuckle.

This sweet video about dogs welcoming their owners home from deployment just makes your heart melt.  Enjoy!

Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend.

Let them eat (cup)cakes

Spouse and I have been talking a lot and have made some progress on the civil union.

Although I've been planning this event in my head for the last 20 years, I'm only 1/2 of this couple so I am aware that I need to compromise since Spouse and I have such different feelings about this.

I was sort of looking forward to a simple but elegant cake with 2 grooms on top.  But Spouse had the idea that it might be fun to have decorated cupcakes from a gourmet cupcake bakery instead of a traditional cake.  I offered to check out his idea, figuring cupcakes would be way more expensive and he'd say it wasn't worth it.  But to my surprise the cost wasn't bad at all and the nice lady on the phone convinced me to schedule a tasting!

Spouse & I went to the bakery after work tonight for our private tasting.  We got to taste 5 different cupcake flavors and 4 different frosting flavors.  I have to admit how impressed I was the tastes.

We've all been to a wedding or 25th anniversary party or going away party with a big decorated cake that LOOKED nice but TASTED yucky.  Dry, crumbly cake and sickeningly sweet shortening-based frosting.  Not what we had in mind.

Turns out this gourmet cupcake bakery makes their frostings from butter and sugar, not shortening and sugar.  And the cream cheese frosting was smooth and delicious.  So we are seriously considering an assortment of beautifully decorated cupcakes (arranged on a stand) instead of a cake.  

Who knew?!?!

Ides of March

Just because

What I didn't do this weekend

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.

I saw this on facebook and had to repost it here.

Let's face it: Democrats are more sexy and more fun than Republicans!!

This coming weekend is Daylight Savings Time.

Have a great weekend!

Making it legal

You may recall that civil unions went into effect in DE on Jan 1, yet I haven't written about any thoughts of plans for such.

Spouse & I are prime candidates for a civil union since he is a State employee and I am self-employed.  A civil union would allow me to get his 'Cadillac' health benefits, vision benefits, and dental benefits at a bargain price.  I currently have private, basic health insurance and pay nearly $200. per month for it.

So why haven't we gotten hitched already?

Well, Spouse & I have very different feelings about it.  I remember attending many weddings over the years that were joyful and fun.  I believe in marriage.  I've been waiting my whole life to be formally pronounced someone's husband.  But Spouse feels marriage is basically an outdated cultural custom that has no relevance to our life... even though we live EXACTLY like a traditional married couple.  He has absolutely no desire to get married, yet we've been wearing gold bands on our wedding ring fingers for 15 years.

So recently we have been talking a lot more about it.  Financially and legally it makes a lot of sense.  We just have to figure out how to do it in a way that both of us come out the other side happy.

Constitution

I can't tell you how much I love this...

Just because

Weekend highlights

Sat I worked.  When I got home Spouse suggested we try a new restaurant that just opened called Pizza Palace.  I got 6 buffalo wings and 2 slices of pepperoni pizza!

Sun I was supposed to go with Spouse to VA to see his mom, but Sat evening an important client asked if I could show him and his fiancee a few homes on Sun.  I was prepared to tell him I wasn't available because I thought Spouse would be upset if I didn't go with him to see his mom.  But to my surprise he said I should make the appointment with the client and not worry about going with him.

Sun morning I met Steven for breakfast (Thad had also gone to see his mom again).  Afterward I did some cardio at the gym, showered, and met up with my clients.  I showed them a few more houses and they wrote an offer on 1.  Spouse came home at about 4:30, which was about 10 minutes after I got home.  

Steven & Thad invited us to join them for dinner at Agave.  They have amazing varieties of guacamole so I decided instead of ordering an entree, I'd just order the guacamole sampler.  It allows you to choose 3 guacamoles and endless chips.  I ordered guac with goat cheese and pine nuts, guac with roasted pumpkin seeds and aged gouda, and guac with Gala apples and midnight moon cheese.  

It was absolutely delicious and I left absolutely stuffed.  We had a great dinner and a fun time with our friends.

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.  

Spouse's mom's test showed no blockage, which was both good news and bad news.  It was good news in that she didn't need bypass surgery, but it was bad news because they had to do more tests to figure out what was wrong.  Apparently a virus has weakened her heart and caused the shortness of breath.  She was released from the hospital on Tues (and Spouse came home that night) and they're now treating her with medication.  She's already getting back to her routine of senior citizen activities.

I saw this article and it warmed my heart.  A smart guy figured out a way to change his life and the life of 30 other people.  Can you imagine how awesome that must feel?

I saw this on facebook and had to share it.

Same with this.

And this.

I don't ask much of you dear readers, just an occasional comment and your undying loyalty.  But at this time I feel compelled to ask you to watch a fascinating series called "United States of Tara".  Its a Showtime original series but you can get it on Netflix.  It is so f'ing good I just want everyone to see it.  Really.  Watch it, then you can thank me.

Have a great weekend!

Perception

So true.