It's all about canned lights, right? Also, does anyone know why "free standing" ranges seem to start at $400 and "slide in" ranges seem to start at $900? The only difference is that little part that sticks up in the back, jeez louise!

Check out how much attention this post about painting the floors in your house got. I have a feeling the people who say not to do it are the same kind of people as my stupid neighbors who come over anytime I'm outside to tell me to put in a lawn so I can waste all of our city's water and pollute the air some more.

I really like this comment about painting a bathroom deep violet blue:

When I moved into my condo two and a half years ago the bathroom was in sorry shape and had not been updated for over 20 years. I didn't have a lot of money so I depended upon paint. The bathroom is a typical apartment one without a window and low ceiling. I painted the walls, ceiling, vanity cabinet and floor the same color of a deep saturated blue/purple (Pratt and Lambert Shaded Clematis). I then replaced the lighting fixture (turn it upside down so the light bounces off of the ceiling), faucet and a composite marble white vanity/sink countertop. New knobs, mirror, toilet paper holder, towel racks and toilet freshened the room even more. I then hung a floor to ceiling curtain over the shower curtain of the tub/shower combo. Finally I bought two very inexpensive fluffy white rugs for the floor. The floor was a busy strange patterned vinyl. I lightly sanded it by hand, applied a coat of latex kilz, two coats of the latex wall paint (semi-gloss), and lightly sponged on a contrasting color of red violet followed by two coats of clear latex poly acrylic sealer. The result is a dramatic little jewel. Everyone raves over it and several other owners in my building have copied it. Any blue color will "expand" the space. The bathroom seems much larger even though it's a dark color. The entire project cost only $500. I painted the countertop in the kitchen too! Also, painting wood is ok! Not all wood and finishes are pleasing and paint can really spruce surfaces up inexpensively. Posted by Joanie

I have decided to do a little remodeling on my kitchen this Spring and that I will do the plans for the permit myself, including the electrical and new gas line, and then all of the work with the help of friends and a couple of kickass pro-bono consultants. So basically I'm a crazy idiot, but I'm excited by the challenge of looking up code for all of the stuff I'm doing. To get the permit I have to get my plans approved, so I can't fuck it up too bad, right?

Does anyone know the phone number of Curly and Ray? I can't find their number and they haven't finished my yard and haven't been back.

Get love, make more, try to stay alive.
-Rilo Kiley

I can't even see the suburbs lately, all I see is tiny specs of pale green and white and pink flowers, oh and camellias. And I just discovered my neighbor's exuberant japanese quince hiding behind one of my disgusting 70's style shrubberies which is overgrown to look like a bald man with a combover. I feel very thankful for this Spring and all the love, remodeling, and brunches it will bring.

In case you are thinking about starting a compost pile, here's a great link from the coolest school in the universe: Project Compost. I just wonder why pulled weeds are considered "browns" instead of "greens?" It seems like they would be the same as grass clippings?

Oh, and also did you know that I'll be signing my refi papers tonight and tomorrow getting a haircut and a pedicure? The boringness on this blog has reached a new low.

I have nothing interesting to say. A certain someone's comments have led me to believe that a listing of the seeds, bulbs, and plants I've been ordering for the Spring would not be welcome. And while it's very fun to sit at home every free evening making out and watching videos on your gigantical tv, it's not really an activity that translates well to blog content. Let's just say hybernation season is in full effect boyee.

I do wish I had something to offer that would solicit this type of comment:

Dr. Johnny Fever said at 06:46PM, 02.16.2005:
Why don’t you post a pic of your ugly-ass self, badweebisis, and let us see how much you actually resemble a squirt of food poisoning diarrhea at the business end of some 10-year-old BVDs?

On Valentine's Day for my Special Valentine:

British term of the day: Fucktard

My results of the Fucktard quiz:
25% Fucktarded.You are pretty normal although you
do have your moments. Mainly you're just a
smartass and you have horrible luck. Hey, we're
all allowed to be a Fucktard sometimes!

How much of a FUCKTARD are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

meme from Lori O

1. Total amount of music files on your computer? about a dozen songs. I normally just download a cd's worth of songs off of links on largehearted boy, burn it, and then erase everything. Also I always make copies for people who never listen to them.

2. CD you last bought?
Oh, no! It was a Starbucks compilation CD: Sweetheart 2005 and it sucks except for a few songs.

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?
New Slang by the Shins, I'm obsessing over it.

4. 5 songs you often listen to, or which mean a lot to you?
a. clam crab cockle cowrie by Joanna Newsom because it reminds me of my valentine
b. perfect world by Liz Phair because I wasn't always this hot
c. earl had to die by the Dixie Chicks because maryanne flew in from atlanta on a red eye midnight flight
d. your belgian things by the Mountain Goats because it's hard with no one here to help me through it
e. making love out of nothing at all by Air Supply because it's the best song to sing while driving on the Bay Bridge

5. 3 you'll pass this on to & why:
nobody because if you want to do it, just do it!

Happy Valentine's day! Celebrate your Love!

Make cupcakes for Valentine's Day! I also really like the picture of saturday night cupcakes and the story about surprising strangers with cupcakes when they least expect it.

link via not martha

I am really good at step aerobics and I take pride in the fact even though it is not a skill that's useful in any other area of my life. Sometimes I think I would like to become an instructor when I have more time to work out. Sometimes while I am at step class and effortlessly following a particularly intricate pattern, I like to day dream about a Bring it On type scenario wherein I would be forced to practice step moves night and day to show my stuff in a high school gym thereby winning a national championship and the loving support of my quirky punk rock boyfriend. But without all of that "it's already been broughten" crap.

french kiss: I had a really good one last night, the kind you feel sort of dizzy after and think about the next day

three things I like on Apartment Therapy today:

1. painting the inside of your closet something colorful. Wouldn't it be cool in my magenta bedroom to have a cantaloupe or turquoise closet? Raped by color goes storagy

2. using a venetian mirror for your bathroom mirror. I know they're trendy right now, but they're so beautiful.

3. Making a design on a wood table top with copper nails hammered in. Mighty look sort of country, but it would be really cool for an indoor/outdoor room.

Apartment Therapy man, they're so cool but I have a love/hate relationship with their New York fixation.

I am refinancing my house and getting new and better car insurance. It's time for a drinking binge before I start talking annuities.

Again last night, the anorexic lady at the gym said I look like I've lost weight. I'm starting to think that's just her way of being friendly: it's the compliment she would most like to hear.

I bought a 32" tv today. Pretty big, huh? It's not fancy or anything but it should be an improvement over my old 17" tv. Now we can watch movies with subtitles if we want. (I had to take Hero back unwatched because it just wasn't going to work) I feel like such a grown up.

Licensing Class Update:

1. I have started a tally of the number of times our instructor mentions riding the bumper of a MAC truck down Highway 99. The tally sheet is bracketed for each hour we are in class. Today I was disappointed to discover that he only mentioned it seven times, peaking with four mentions in the 10 o'clock hour alone. Today's saving grace was that once he specifically wrote it on the white board and twice students adopted the euphemism.

2. During the afternoon break I discovered that a student sitting on the opposite side of class is also keeping a tally of the number of times our instructor mentions ornamenting the bumper of a MAC truck on 99. Our data concurred.

3. I drew a picture of a unicorn that was referred to as a my little pony and a llama and as having eaten too many raspberries.

4. A pen full of glitter is apparently a necessity for license preparation survival.