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Geezer Doorbell
Does anyone know anything about old doorbells like these?
This doorbell (more info if you click on the photo) is OLD. Like, two centuries ago old. Unfortunately, so is our front door. We just can’t have it open up itself like it seems apt to do lately, so this summer we will be replacing it. But I want to keep the doorbell and perhaps install it on our new door, but I have no idea if that’s possible.
Yes? No?
Kind of like those people who eat so many carrots that their skin turns orange, but instead I guess I eat too many oranges and it effects my hair. And yes, this is possibly the longest blog title ever, thank you for asking.
On Wednesday night, I decided on a whim to buy hair dye. I haven’t in two years, since I dyed my hair purple (the box claimed it was WARM AUBURN!) and waited two months (and many, many washings) for it to look like this.
While at Walmart, I purchased this:
(Sorry, I don’t have any mad photo taking/editing skills to make this look fabulous. I had to dig this back out of the trash, so deal with it.) (Oh, and me digging this out of the trash inspired my dog to dig into the trash and eat four eggshells. But that’s neither here or there.) I told Shane I wasn’t sure if I was picking the box because of the hair color or because I thought the woman was super fine. Shane said both (hair color and sexy woman) were good.
Here was my hair (which, um? really? did my hair look that drab and unexciting from the back?):
I applied the color by myself (Yeah…I don’t know what I was thinking, either.) and accidentally left it in 25 minutes longer than the directions suggested. As soon as I stepped out of the shower, I knew something was wrong when the hair by my ears was looking rather fruitilicious. Lo and behold, after letting it air dry:
ORANGE HAIR, PEEPS.
Shane, of course, assured me that my hair didn’t look orange at all; the flash on my camera just reflected the light weird. But it’s Shane! Shane who ONLY wore khaki pants and heather gray tee-shirts with black tennis shoes until I started dating him. Clearly, what does Shane know about color? NOTHING. He tried to butter me up by showing me a picture of my lady-crush, insisting that my hair looks just like hers in this photo.
***
So, let’s move on, shall we? I was thinking, seeing as my blog is really lame lately, of blogging the story of how I met Shane (online) and fell in love with him five months before we met in person. Would that suffice for the time being?
One more thing. My twitter friend Jackie has started a blog, after I pestered her endlessly insisted. Go give her some love will you?
I Demand That…
I don’t ask for much:
1. I wake up tomorrow and the universe tells me it’s Friday, there is no work to be done, and no parties to attend.
2. My dog get over the fascination of a litter box’s purposes.
3. Ramen noodles go low-fat, instead of 400 calories a package. My budget cannot allow more than a $1 lunch and my waistline cannot afford to gain any more inches of oodles of noodles.
4. I do not lose power tomorrow morning, because weather.com keeps sending me “SEVERE WEATHER ALERT” emails that hint of downed power lines.
5. Britney Spears do something for herself and for her family.
6. Victoria’s Secret dramatically reduce their prices. Mr. Mastercard and I have had several spats because of my love affair with Ms. Victoria lately.
7. I have an endless supply of yummy white wine in my fridge. Also? Plenty of nutella.
8. My car gets out of the sinkhole IMMEDIATELY.
9. The squirrels that are living within my walls LEAVE and stop trying to eat through the plaster.
10. My kitten learns that area rugs are not litterboxes. Especially the nice area rugs.
11. New England gets over it’s intense infatuation with snow storms.
12. Giada De Laurentiis makes me tonight’s dinner and asks to live in my basement and cook for me until my dying days. All with no monetary compensation.
Gah, I’m sorry for the boringness lately. I’ve had my hands full with projects and both jobs; I’ve had, on average, four hours of sleep every evening. I’m exhausted and pissy and really sick of winter.
The Great Interview Experiement – Barbetti Interviews The Loud Corral
Remember this? Well, it’s my turn to be the interviewer, again as part of Neil’s Great Interview Experience. I interviewed Laura from The Loud Corral and I have to say, she was most patient with me. Being the procrastinator I am, I promised her my questions within a few days, but it actually took me over a week. I emailed her many “I’m sorry!” emails, but she was so reassuring with me; she didn’t hate me after all. (Remember Numbers 85 & 87? Yeah, I don’t handle being late on anything very well.)
The following is my email interview with her.
(My commentary to her answers will look like this.)
*************
You seem pretty open on your blog. What is one thing the internet does not know about you?
Hmm, That is a toughy! Well, I was very open in my blog about my dislike of High school and how ready I was to leave. But, near the end of my senior year I was pretty close to maybe not graduating. I had a solid F in math. But, my teacher liked me so much and I worked really hard, so I got a C. I hate math. I also cut a lot and got, like, four truancy letters in two years. But, hey! I made it to college!
**
What have been your best and worst experiences in college?
My worst experience thus far was the beginning of the first semester. I lived in a triple, which means three girls in one room. They were awful, awful girls. I was so homesick and lonely and scared. Not a good time.
I have to say my best experience was moving. I live on a floor now with ONE roommate, and all of my friends. I also met a girl on my floor that has become my best friend here. We are so alike, that we are able to keep each other in line. Some of my best times have been us just sitting on my bed, laughing uncontrollably because someone else burped or something.
*I had horrific visions of my paltry wardrobe being stolen because girls are so mean- this is why I lived at home for college!
**
Speaking of college, why Chico?
Why Chico. Good question! It definitely was not my first choice. My first choice was San Diego State. I did not really have a back up plan, but I did apply to eight schools, so I had my choices. Well, I did not get in and had to re think my whole plan. I was so set on being in southern California, but I realized that maybe that might be a little too far for me.
Chico is three hours, 177 miles away from my home. It is far enough away so that I feel independent. I feel far away, I am not in the bay area. But it is close enough for a weekend home. I panic easily, I think being in Socal would be too far. The thing about Chico, too, is that it feels SO different than the bay area. I am used to living with wonderful, busy cities around me. Chico is surrounded by farm lands. It was a hard adjustment, but it is great for college life. It is a small college town, with an adorable downtown. Not to mention, great parties…
*That last part sold me. Make room for me!
**
All your talk of cupcakes makes me hungry. Any favorite recipes?
CUPCAKES! The love of my life! Well first off, my secret is to always start a cupcake recipe with a box cake mix. But the frosting is always homemade. I can’t stand store bought frosting.
My two favorite recipes are german chocolate cake with my creamy vanilla frosting. The frosting is a Magnolia bakery recipe. It is creamier than buttercream and not as sweet. My second favorite is chocolate raspberry cupcakes with raspberry buttercream made with real raspberries. The real raspberries give the buttercream a fresh finish. Oh how I miss having a kitchen.
*Mmm. Cupcakes.
**
I was born just outside of San Fransciso, but only lived there for a couple years. Can you enlighten me to what makes San Fran so flipping fantastic?
Oh my gosh. I grew up in a small town fifteen minutes from the city. So, while many of my peers were isolated from the city, my mom made sure I grew up with it in my life. By the age of ten I could take BART and the ferry by myself.
The city just feels so alive to me. Granted, I have never been to NYC, but it just feels so vibrant and diverse. I also love the ocean. I am a big ocean person, it is so soothing to me. So I feel like the city has the best of both worlds. You can go to dinner and a show and be in a packed downtown, but a short ten minute drive to the marina and you are surrounded by water.
I also got to know the city, because I nanny there sometimes in the summer. After I was done, I would just drive around different areas of the city.
I definitely think it is the diversity that makes it so great. Me and my mom can go to the mission district for my favorite tacos, or to China Town for the best chinese food. It doesn’t hurt that my favorite hotel is located there either..The St. Regis. I highly recommend it! Oh, the shopping too..oh the shopping…
**
I read in one of your posts that you’re a Journalism major. Why did you choose Journalism (and Public Relations)?
Well, my mom is a big influence in my life. She is a journalist, and I admire her so much. She is such a hard worker. She is so good at her job and is just so smart. Sometimes I think of her as a walking fact book.
Journalism has always interested me. I am a naturally curious person. Just last night a fire alarm was going off at the dorm across the way. My roommate could care less, but I was turning off the lights and opening the windows so I could see what the commotion was. I ended up going outside to ask some of the RA’s if there was a fire. There was not, much to my disappointment.
I think I chose public relations to go into the opposite end of my mom. To tell you the truth, I am not quite sure why I picked it. It has always interested me. I am pretty good at BSing, and I think that is a big part of it. I also like to write, so maybe those two talents combined will be helpful!
**
Will California float away from mainland U.S.A. as it’s own island one day?
Well, If California did float away, I think we would be just fine. So long as our governor is NOT the Terminator. I mean, we have Hollywood and Disneyland. What more does a state need?! I kid, I kid. But I really can’t see myself living anywhere besides California.
*What?! Who doesn’t love Ahhhhhnold?
**
I noticed that you often quote full song lyrics on your blog. Are there any lyrics that inspire you right now?
Ah, music. Music keeps me going. I love music. Well the song that kept me going when my boyfriend left for college was “Heard em’ Say” by Kanye West.
“And I heard ‘em say, nothin ever promised tomorrow today.
They say people in your life are seasons,
And anything that happen is for a reason”
Those words aren’t very deep or anything, but when I heard them they just kind of clicked. I just kept repeating them in my head, because I had to believe them.
The song I am currently listening to over and over is
“So here we are” by Bloc Party.
This is the part that keeps sticking with me:
“I really tried to do what you wanted
It all went wrong again”
Just because everything has gone south with my dad. We were starting to develop a relationship again and I was talking and opening up to him more, but he decided to vanish. So. There you go.
**
Have you always been so close to your mom?
Oh, mommy. Our start was a rocky one. I was an incredibly difficult child. To the point that people who knew me then say it is a miracle I am so normal now. So, as a child, we did not get along. I did not really like her all that much. I needed her and loved her, but really struggled with her.
When I was around thirteen, though we got really close. Truth be told I don’t know how it happened, but it did. She just gets me and gets everything. I can go to her for anything, whether it be friends or anything. While she is a parent, she is also a friend. I know she has my best interest in mind, so I can trust what she tells me.
She is an amazing woman. She raised two kids on her own, and has a career. She is so strong. I only hope to be as fierce as her. I call her my mamabear, because she would kill for her babies.
*I can relate, after referring to my mama as “Hurricane Candy” while Shane and I lived with her (her name is Candy, and we laugh about it now).
**
Who was your prom date?
Ah, prom. I was not going to go to senior ball. Then my friend convinced me to go. Then I was going to go dateless. Then she wanted her friend Sam to go, but he needed a date, because he didn’t go to our school. So I said fine, whatever. Then he decided not to go. So I went dateless, which is what I wanted in the first place! It was so fun, I am glad I went alone.
Junior year I went with a friend. He was lame, and got mad at me, because I did not stick with him THE WHOLE NIGHT. I danced with him some, so I don’t know what his problem was..
Freshman year I went with my then boyfriend to his prom. That was my favorite, because my dress was so beautiful and I got it for twenty nine dollars.
**
If you could talk to one person from your past that you’ve lost contact with, who would you talk to and what would you say?
I would like to catch up with eighth grade english and history teacher. He was so great. He was so fun and different. I remember he got even the most apathetic students working. He and his friend were the teachers that Bill O’Reilly bashed, because of their slave project. He had students simulate what slaves went through when they were transported to America. It was totally safe, but very eye opening. Apparently O’Reilly thought what they did was wrong or something, but the school stuck by them. I would love to talk to him again.
**
Thanks Laura!
Adventures at the Laundromat: Dirty Old Men & Lacy Panties
I’m currently at the laundromat, folding my underthings. You may think that people who fold their underwear are weird, and in this case you’re correct. But you know what’s even more weird? Older men who seem to be at the laundromat the exact day and time as you every week. That’s not weird you say? What if these older men were a little too fascinated with the way you fold your skanky underwear, who stand in front of your dryer seemingly anxious to catch your lacy negligee when it falls out of said dryer, while trying (desperately) to strike up a conversation about which dryer sheets smell best (which, hello? febreeze is the way to go.). I personally didn’t think it could get much weirder. But it did. After realizing that I must be crazy for not letting him paw my underwear, he offered me a swig of his Jim Beam (encased in the obligatory paper sack) to-I KID YOU NOT-”make my bad feelings disappear.”
Onto other news, the Hotfessional posted the interview with her commentary over here. Go see, friends.
Off to contemplate sharing a swig or three with this fellow who seems so keen with my underwear and me.
The Great Interview Experiment – The Hotfessional Interviews Moi
As part of Neil’s Great Interview Experiment (you should sign up!), I was super-duper lucky to be interviewed by Ree of Hotfessional fame. (Btw? Go read her blog. Not to whore her out to the internet or anything, but she’s awesome. And she said it would be okay for me to drink vodka while answering these questions. Really, can you ask for a better interviewer than that? The answer is no, you can’t.)
Now for the questions:
Favorite Middle-eastern food?
Arab baklava. But you have to say it the right way: BAWK-law-wah.
How many Kate Spade items do you have?
Not nearly enough, seeing as I break something new every week. On Super Bowl Sunday, a ceiling fan took my new sunglasses right off my head when I jumped a bit too high at the local bar.
How do you explain your auto-immune deficiency to others?
If it’s a new doctor, I smuggle in some tequila and say, “Oh, you are going to NEED this when I’m through.” Otherwise, I don’t really talk about it much. To be honest, I have some of the weirdest medical issues, so I feel strangely guilty bringing up another one to anyone other than family.
Are Kyle and Sona going to get back together?
I don’t know, Kyle’s off doing his own thing (read as: continuing on his mission to impregnate as many fifteen year olds as possible).
If you told me what Sona does in Quantico, would you have to kill me?
No, but Sona might. She is in the Marine Corps, training to be a translator. After that, she’s in the Middle East for a couple years. She’s originally from Iraq, you see, and she’s looking forward to kicking some insurgent ass.
Which arm did you break?
I basically shattered my carpals in my wrist. My school nurse told the ER doctor I broke my arm (elbow) so when I arrived with just a broken wrist, the doctor went ape-shit and bitched and moaned and shook my arm with annoyance/impatience. I remember, being nine years old and thinking, “You dickhead.” Thankfully, my mom said it for me.
How does anyone name their kid Brady Bunches?
His parents were bizarre (who sends their nine year old to school with Kahlua-filled chocolates for lunch?). The one time I met them, his dad started licking the school walls. Not gonna lie, it was a little awkward.
Can you tell me where your piercings are?
Both ears are double-pierced and my belly button is too.
What was the best word you ever made playing Scrabble?
I flubbed a lot of words, but the best one I ever played was quaxi. It’s not even a word, but everyone bought it because when I was a loner, I read the dictionary. I think I gave a definition as some arithmetic term. Anyway, I won like 8 bazillion points.
Who was your date for Prom?
Sona. I’m not obsessed with her, I promise. Or maybe I am. Just a little, though.
Where do you buy candles that smell like cleaning products?
At the Bump ‘N Dent. One of those food warehouses that sell expired food or products that didn’t really hit it on the market. For some crazy reason, people don’t like Clorox or Pine-Sol scented candles.
Thank you, Ree, for the fantastic, creative questions. If you were around here, I’d toast to you with vodka.
Heater & Whitney
This is my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Basically, to cut the hyphen crap, this is Shane’s sister, Heather. We call her Heater, because that’s what Washington State put as her name on her license.
She’s getting married in April to this guy. He’s kind of fruity, but I guess that’s her thing.
This photo was taken in April 2007 (she has a few more over there if you click on this photo) when she and brother Aaron visited New England and were basically snowed in. We drove an hour to a mall only to find out it that the snow had closed it down for the day. So we drove an hour back. And then I almost threw up, so they pulled over and Heater took this ultra-unflattering photo of me as I dug around for something to occupy my mind (so I wouldn’t throw up).
Speaking of crappy photos, this one is a horrible shot of both of us at the airport in Hartford. But it’s the only one we have together from that week she was here.
Really, there was no point in me posting this, but since I’ve been promising her all week that I would, I figured I should.
(Heater – hope you and Justin are having fun being snowed-in in Moscow!)
December 2007 056
Originally uploaded by barbetti
Let’s say a Christmas prayer over our chalupas.
Mouth Wide Open
I promise to get back to regular writing soon, but I had to note this.
As I went through my photo albums, I noticed something interesting:
Homecoming, 2002. I’m the second from the left.
Prom, 2004. I’m the left one. Noticing a trend?
And perhaps the MOST embarrassing of all:
8th Grade. I’m in the middle. Egads, I cannot look at that picture and not cringe.
I seem to want to catch flies with my mouth as soon as someone points a camera in my direction, no?
Flickr Photos
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Fight for Preemies
