Maui, I've Got A Feeling We Aren't in Wyoming Anymore

As the weather turns colder and the sun shines fewer and fewer minutes every day I am becoming more safety conscious. H and I spend a lot of time walking the mean streets of Baltimore, between our walks to work and taking care of lil MauMau, safety is becoming a huge concern. 

Today, at work I received (yet another) "Security Alert" from the Security Department reporting that an assailant robbed a fellow colleague. A "teenager" grabbed her iPhone out of her hand and sprinted away while she was on her way to work. These occurrences happen almost biweekly. 

Then on my way home from work I passed another colleague standing by her SUV with her husband/boyfriend, a police officer, and shards of broken glass at their feet. Her driver's side window had been shattered and she was listing objects that she noticed missing. "...Oh, and my EZ Pass too." 

Photo Credit

After I was home for about an hour I heard some noise in our street. The commotion was coming a few houses down. An ambulance, police car, and a lot of shouting were what I observed. I tried to apply investigative techniques (err, sitting on the floor hunched down with my ear to a cracked window) to gain a better perspective of what was happening. I do believe I missed the majority of the action and I wish I had more details to share. All that  I gathered was it seemed like some sort of domestic dispute had occurred.

Those events occurring all within a few hours of one another plus the usual hum of the Ghetto Birds flying around the city was enough for me to spend the remainder of the night looking up personal safety devices and tips.

Photo Credit

I have an old key chain sprayer from college but, it may not be good anymore. We also have bear spray (duh, I'm from Wyoming!) which, I will probably start toting around until I purchase something more easily concealed. 

I found this Mace Pepper Gun. It seems to be a happy median between the key chain pepper spray and the full on, huge a** can of bear spray. 

Photo Credit

It even comes in Black, Blue, Silver, Navy, and Pink. If anyone is thinking of sending me a, hmmm... Halloween (?) gift this may or may not be on my wish list.

Here is the video that accompanies the Mace Gun.

Looks kind of spiffy right?!

To recap, here is a list of things I learned or were reenforced today: 

• Electronic theft is on the rise
• Victims are being targeted as they talk, text, or use other features on their phone while not paying attention to their surroundings
• Keep your phone or other valuables secure and out of view 
• Always pay attention to your surroundings while out and about
• If you are robbed: stay calm, listen and observe, give up your property, and report the crime ASAP. (do not chase the suspect as apparently, my colleague did today)
• Keep the interior of your care clean. Don't keep expensive or important items inside but, if you do make sure they are well hidden. Remember my car break in?
• Don't play with (some of) our neighbors. 

For more Charm City safety tips go here:

Tying Up The Loose Ends

It's been a while since I've talked about the house so, you probably think that chapter of this book is closed. But, there are still some loose ends around here that need to be tied up before the house is 100% completed.

We're still having the issue with the power as you read about here. 

We currently have one out of two signatures needed in order for our neighbors to grant us an easement to run the power lines over their property. The problem being that none of the residents in the homes on our side of the street are the owners. So, getting ahold of the property owner is proving quite complicated. Getting them to sign this d*mn piece of paper is even harder. 

What is a priority to us is not to these people. 

Those wires hanging off of the side of our house...

... need to be hooked up to this utility pole.

Once that final signature has been obtained then the local power company, BGE, can come hook up our "for real" power. Currently, we are using some "not for real" power -huh? Yeah, I'm not sure either. All I know is that Mr. C suggested for us not to run every appliance at once while every light is on for an extended period of time.

Some of the other things that needed to be completed include:

• Install our address on the transom above the front door. (so, none of you get lost trying to find our house when you come visit) 

• Install the remaining light fixtures; the bathrooms have temporary lights. This is because our permanent fixtures weren't on site yet and we needed to pass an inspection to live here.

• Ensure Charm City converts our property from 2 to 1. (so we only pay taxes on ONE!)
• Appraisal
• Convert to our permanent loan

Things once happened so quickly around here, now they seem to be moving much slowwwer. We're hoping to be finished with this whole shebang by the end of the month. But, I am losing that faith as this month seems to be flying by. Maybe November will bring us a little luck. 

Regardless, my fingers are crossed that it's soon!


Despite this frustrating last leg of the project, we still love this sweet lil brick row house of ours.

Grocery list

Pantry's may be abundant in country homes but, in a city dwelling, they are about as common as finding a kid at school in summer. The fact that we have a pantry in our home is just another sweet bonus to this city home. It's just lovely.

One night, I had a brain storm and decided to jazz up these pantry doors. Well, maybe not jazz up so much as give them a dual purpose. This white door was just screaming for a little something chalky. Hmmmm, doesn't "chalky" mean 'white'? Wait for it... 

For a while now, I have been trying to find some fun uses for this can of chalk board paint I bought at one of the home improvement stores.

 

I taped off the upper, inside panels of the door.

And got to painting.

Believe me, I am well aware that this is not some huge transformation but, the usefulness of a little back side grocery list is pretty handy. 

What ever we realize we are out of, or if our little stomachs are craving something special, we write down on the new "chalk board". 

We then, can close the door to keep all of our dirty little secrets hidden from the rest of the world. 

The best thing is, before heading out to the market,  I will take a picture with my iphone and vwala our grocery list is in my hot little hand.

Off to stalk up now! Whole Foods or Harris Teeter? H doesn't use "hippie" soap so, guess it's the Teeter tonight. 

Oh Happy (Birth-) Day

Dad, may you always feel as young as you did when this photo was taken. 

Sending you love from 2k+ miles away!

xox

Chowda

A couple of weekends ago H, Maui, and I headed up to the Jersey shore. This is not the kind of dirty, slooty, diseased "Jersey Shore" you're probably thinking of. This is a beautiful place with long, white, sandy beaches and sprinkled with sweet teenie towns and lots of beachy (not bitchy) enthusiasm. 

My family and I have visited Long Beach Island my entire life. The amount of fond memories spent here with family are countless. LBI has also grown on H like a barnacle to a sunken ship. He particularly enjoys those moments spent (mostly drifting) on the surf board. Maui likes anything that involves swimming so, we had a pretty happy crew.

On LBI, after a long summer, once the crowds have died down, and when the kids have gone back to school this particular part of the shore celebrates the CLAM. 

Yes, I said "clam", not "ham", my brother does not know the difference.

In early October, LBI hosts the annual Chowderfest. Where they hoist two large white tents donned with red and white flags to signify which chowder competition is going on in which tent. If you look beyond the adorable clammy beauties you can see the "red" tent behind us. 

Here is my Aunt Julie getting ready to taste the winning white chowder. 

I do not know the boy in blue but, I do know he really, really likes chowder. He slurped down about a dozen cups in the two minutes I was standing in this spot. 

I actually think he may be lost, he was probably looking for crabs at the other "Jersey Shore" when he stumbled upon the clams at this one. (I kid, I kid)

Besides the chowda (and the beer) the best part about that weekend was seeing my family. Not only are they cute but, they are all a pretty darn good time. My brother, Christopher, even to flew out from Wyoming for the festivities. 

Chowderfest sure does bring out the best in everybody. Here's my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Julie showing off their double fisting abilities.

I already can't wait until next year. And...

In honor of Miss Caitlin's bday (today)... Happiest wishes to you my lovely!