They're redoing Crazy Corner! They're redoing Crazy Corner!

So, I read in the AEN today that they're finally redoing Crazy Corner! I'm sure my little rant had... absolutely nothing to do with it. But, no matter, they're redoing Crazy Corner! Now, I heard that they were doing this back in 2007, along with adding a much needed turn lane on Arlington. The work was supposed to start in January... of 2008. Yeah, that never happened. But, there's actual plans drawn out so this is a good sign. Of course, since Arlington is also a state highway, the state has to approve them, which can take up to a year according to the paper. So, who knows when it will actually happen, but it's a move in the right direction.

Kitchen / Dining "Central Perk" Renovation, Day 2 & 3

KitchenDiningReno_28Mar2009_ 010
Originally uploaded by brad_holt

Before I started the long process of chiseling up lots of ceramic tile, I participated in a stress-reducing exercise you should all try. First, I wrote on the tiles the many things that annoy me. Then, I destroyed said tiles with an air-chisel. Revelation (after it took me about 30 minutes to remove one tile): Maybe my tile wasn't as ugly as I thought. But, things did get better and went a little faster, although something is wrong with the tool I'm using.

Day three I decided to move to cabinets and try to figure out what was wrong with the tool on Monday. Mom came up to help (thank goodness) and we got everything sanded. Revelation (after removing 19 cabinet doors): Maybe my cabinets weren't as ugly as I thought.

Photos over at Flickr if you want to take a look... http://www.flickr.com/photos/brad_holt/sets/72157616000984204/

Kitchen / Dining "Central Perk" Renovation

FriendsCentralPerk
Originally uploaded by brad_holt

I'm about to start my next house renovation project, and it's going to be the grand daddy of my renovations thus far: the kitchen and dining room. I kind of wanted a theme, but I wasn't sure what it would be. Then I decided to spin off my living room--which is kind of a "New York" theme and do a coffee house. And what better coffee house to do than... Central Perk! And, so, my obsession has begun. I have been searching eBay for cool Friends and coffee house item and recruited my grandma for look for things at garage sales. If anyone has any creative ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'll post my progress over at Flickr, starting with today-- which was just gathering ideas. This weekend I am going to start demo. The ugly white tile is going away and going to be replaced by a very nice "Brown Pearl" in a 20" format. It's going to be such a mess.

Photos over at Flickr... http://www.flickr.com/photos/brad_holt/sets/72157616000984204/

My Newest Favorite Thing

So, every once in a while I discover something new and it becomes my newest favorite thing. A couple of weeks ago, it was Internet on TV. Which, yes, has been around a while, but since I have a computer connected to my Plasma TV in the living room it opens up all new possibilities. And the quality has improved so much lately, it's kind of crazy. I missed an episode of Fringe due to bad weather knocking out the satellite signal, so I just pulled it up on Hulu and watched it in near HD-quality. Very cool.

Anyway, on to my newest favorite thing. I was using Google Maps today at work as I do often to map out customers addresses. I noticed, for the first time, "Street View" showing up on the results. And, I thought, no way has that made it to Ada. In case you're not familiar, Street View is something Google is working on where you can see images of houses, etc. just like your driving down the street. Not aerial imagery, actually the front of houses, businesses, etc. I had played with this a little a while back, but it was only available like in New York, etc. I figured it would be years and years before they got the smaller towns like Ada. But, sure enough, all of Ada is on there (that's a screenshot of my house above from the application). And Asher, mind you. It really will be a handy thing when you're trying to find a place you've never been before. Not only will you see the map, but you will actually be able to see the buildings in the area so you'll be a little familiar with the area when you actually go. And, imagine shopping for houses from another state. You can check out the whole neighborhood from your computer! And, as an added cool-factor, it all works from my iPhone too.

Checking into it further, there are a few people raising a fuss over privacy issues (houses, kids, etc. being online for all to see). It doesn't bother me any-- it was all taken from public streets--but what's your take on the issue?

50 States plus DC. How many have you been to? 20

50 States plus DC. How many have you been to? 20

Instructions:

The average is 8; how do you match up?

Put an X by the states you have been to. Since just putting a X is boring, also add something you remember about that state. Why did you go? If there's a state you want to go to, put an O and say why! When you're done, count up your X's, and post it after the subject. If you're on Facebook, tag any friends you'd like to take the survey!

* Alabama X Went there for this first time in July 08. My grandpa has a condo there on the beach. It was nice!
* Alaska
* Arizona O Would love to see the Grand Canyon.
* Arkansas X Went there several years ago to watch my cousin play ball in Fayetville (?)
* California
* Colorado X Went to Denver in HS to show my sheep in a National show. Went tubing.
* Connecticut
* Delaware X Drove through it from DC to PA.
* Florida X Went to Orlando in HS to Walt Disney World, Universal/MGM, and a few other things. Best ride: Twilight of Terror!
* Georgia X Been to Atlanta airport a few times. May go watch the Braves some day.
* Hawaii O Sure, why not. Ooooh, I could see where they shoot Lost!
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas X Just drove through on the way to CO.
* Kentucky X Just drove through on the way to NC.
* Louisiana X Went to Shreveport once.
* Maine
* Maryland X On the DC trip our resort was in Maryland.
* Massachusetts O I'd like to see Boston someday.
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi X Went to Biloxi once. Did not like it. We did see some interesting Civil War stuff though.
* Missouri X Been to Branson twice and St. Louis once, but just the airport.
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North CarolinaX Went to watch my cousin play ball.
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma X Lived here for oh, 28 years.
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania X Went to Philadelphia. Modern city: Yuck x2. Old town: Very interesting and enjoyable.
* Rhode Island
* South CarolinaX Went to Myrtle Beach on the NC trip. Very pretty beach.
* South Dakota O Would like to see Mount Rushmore, but probably wouldn't make that trip.
* Tennessee X Stopped at Graceland on the way to NC.
* Texas X Been there several times for different reasons. San Antonio was very cool. Seems like a busy state.
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia X Went to Arlington National Cem and Mt. Vernon (Washington's estate). Nice trip.
* Washington O Would like to see Seatle, just so I could say I have.
* Washington DC X Finally got to go after wanting to forever! Very cool, but will wear you out!
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

The Letter Game

Okay, here's a fun game you should play...
If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I'll assign you a letter. You post ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on. My friend Felicia assigned me the letter C, so here I go.

1. Computers! Yes, sometimes they can be absolute evil and the most frustrating part of the day, but think of life without them. No Flickr! No Wikipedia! No Solitaire sans actual cards!
2. Carrots! I so love them, however you wish to fix them for me.
   
3. Cell phone! I wouldn't have included this on my list before the iPhone, but now I couldn't live without it (figuratively speaking).
4. Christmas! Although not a good time last year, Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.
5. Conspiracy theories! They're just fun.
6. Consistency! How I love things being consistent.
7. Courtesy! We should all be nice to each other.
8. Credit cards! Such an easy way to pay for things, and I get cash back!
9. Creativity! It makes all things more interesting.
10. Cars! Because you can only walk so far.

In an update to my Crazy Corner post, I used my cell phone while going through the intersection the other day! I was like... oh my gosh, I can't do this! I couldn't get in a word in edgewise though to ask them to hold on a minute. Such a hypocrite!