Baggage

2009 November 9
by Archie

On my way to work this morning, I trailed an older gentleman carrying a small duffel bag. The luggage tag hanging from the bag read: “Because all Lutherans have baggage.”

Ha. Don’t we all?

Shopping for Grown-Up Stuff

2009 November 7
by Archie

I’ve been trolling Craigslist for furniture since I closed on the condo a few weeks ago. I’ve decided that while I would like to graduate from dorm room bachelor to sophisticated urban hipster, I don’t quite have the cash to pull off an HGTV-worthy makeover.

But I did manage to finally find a chair for my desk (incidentally another Craigslist find for a bargain $85!). I didn’t want to get the usual mesh office chair from Staples; the last thing I’d want to be reminded of when I’m at home is work. I wanted something a little more sophisticated, something that says, “I’m 30, and I don’t need a chair that rolls across the floor, spins around, and makes squeaky noises like farts.”

After scouring Craigslist, Ikea, Macy’s, Marlo’s, and a whole number of generic furniture “outlets” that seem to be run by the same five people, I found this beauty for $99 at World Market. You can’t see it in the picture, but the dark wood of the desk and the chair pops against the celery ice walls. (Yes, the walls in the den are painted a cool green called “celery ice.”)

desk and chair

Next up: rugs! The Home Depot is having a 20% off sale on all their special order rugs. So I bought two. They’re supposed to get delivered in about a week. I’ll take pictures once they arrive.

Dog Bed

2009 November 6
by Archie

Brian has claimed a new dog bed.

Comfy

Fort Hood

2009 November 6
by Archie

Thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of all those hurt in the Fort Hood shootings. I’m with the President when he says: “It’s difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.”

I’m sure we’re only on the verge of a frenzied Media Firestorm™ on the motives of the alleged shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan. And I predict there’ll be plenty of “experts” who’ll be making bank on the news networks, debating whether this rampage was in any way linked to Islam.

But I do hope we resist our often isolationist, jingoistic kneejerk response to these types of incidents.

The last thing we need is to vilify an entire population because of the acts of a few.

Eyewear by SPE

2009 November 5
by Archie

Moment of Truth

2009 November 2
by Archie

My Realtor, Madeline, took a few photos of me at the settlement. This is me, agreeing to indentured servitude to Bank of America for 30 years. I don’t think the blur was on purpose, but it pretty accurately describes what that moment felt like.

Signing

Why yes, I'd like to be in debt for the rest of my life!

New Exercise Regime: Moving

2009 October 30
by Archie

Sooooo. Moving is a pain in the behind.

I resolved not to hire movers this time in order to save some money for the impending mortgage payments. (And to be fair, I really don’t have a lot of things to move. The girl who’s taking over my lease agreed to purchase most of my furniture, so really, I’m actually getting off pretty easily.)

But still, my four years in DC have resulted in a random accumulation of crap: textbooks, DVDs/Blu-Rays, old love letters, you name it. Thankfully, I had a pretty significant purge before the packing extravaganza began, so I’m mostly moving things that I either value or use regularly.

But the thing about moving isn’t so much the extremely heavy lifting as it is the frequent moderately heavy lifting. With the way I’m going, I won’t need to go to the gym for weeks. Weeks!

Fresh Puppy

2009 October 29
by Archie

Because a puppy has to look good for his new home. Of course.

Brian freshly coiffed

Oh, By the Way

2009 October 27
by Archie

I bought a house.
:)

More updates to come!

Brian Loves Sticks

2009 October 20
by Archie

The clip’s not that exciting, but damn, is my dog cute.