From Carnivore-land to Herbivore-ville

I'm going to Californ-i-a Sunday night to help bring spinach back to the masses. Yes my friends and strangers, I am a bonafide microbiologist and ONLY I contain the needed skills to make sure the spinach is clean. Well, I suppose there are others who could handle it, but I'm the one who gets to go, so pbblt?

My boss has been out there for a week already and has built a mobile lab. That's right, it moves. We were on the phone and he had to pull over to transfer samples. How insane is that?!? So I'm pretty stoked to check out the setup and to NOT be working around meat. Boss-man says it smells, but of salad, not rendering blood, fat, dead cows, or other things associated with a slaughter house. :)

I'll probably drop a line or two while I'm out there to let you, my captive audience, know how things are going. So in the meantime, eat arugula, redleaf and romaine. And have hope, spinach will be back soon. (Sorry kids.)

Ah, the home buying experience. Could it be any worse? I'm sure it could, but seriously! Oy.

I've been going back and forth wanting to buy, but I didn't think finances would allow for a home. But now...with my WWF neighbors who have installed a bowling alley (I'm just guessing), I think it's time.

So now I have to decide house or townhome or condo? New, semi-used, or rundown? HOAs or fix my own roof? Dog or cat? Well, that one's easy. Dog. One question down, dozens to go!

Finances is a whole other issue! If I don't have a downpayment, do I get an additional loan that increases the mortgage or go with the mortgage insurance option which also ups my mortgage payment? Should I marry the bum on my corner, make him get a job, and have a second income contributing to the mortgage? Or just get a roomate? Ay de mi.

So if you'd like to contribute to the "Colleen Wants a Home Fund" leave a comment, give a call. I'll let you know where to send the cash, money-order, bonds...

Have faith my rent-compelled friends. Happy Trails my homeowner friends.

;)

OK Go

I love this video. Don't know much about the band yet, but this video is pretty awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI&eurl=

Strike up the Band!

The Loveland Community Band had their first concert of the season last night. It was my first concert in THREE years!

Due to my hiatus of playing the clarinet, I'm hurting. I've been playing intermittently, but not enough to keep me in shape for two to three hour rehearsals and then what felt like a marathon of a concert. All the aches and pains were worth it though! It feels great to be back in a band:)

Normally, our concerts would be on Sundays, but this was a memorial concert for 9/11 Five Years Later. We played some great pieces and there was a slide show along with the music. Very moving.

God Bless America

mmm...Colorado...

This happy, Labor Day weekend is the "Taste of Colorado" located in Denver. Different restaurants from the area set up booths and "sell" either tastes or whole pieces of their specialties. Good food, crazy crowd! So MANY people. I wasn't expecting that:) I met up with some friends while down there and had a great afternoon.

I had Grilled Mahi with Shrimp and then a Berry Kabob for dessert. Yum! The strawberries of the kabob were amazing! I couldn't stop smiling. The skewers from the kabobs also came in handy as Hans started a sword fight with me. Finally! I was able to use my fencing skills:)