Still looking for a roofer...

So I absolutely hate the "manly-men" type that figure I don't know squat on topics like tools, football, what it takes to do repairs, car stuff, fair prices on cars, etc. They belong in a pretty low level of hell, too.

I don't know how many roof guys I've had who try to tell me that lifetime warranty architectural shingles cost 3 times more than the 30 year architectural shingles (I went to Lowe's, priced out the Owens-Corning ones for the 30 and the 50. Each bundle costs about a dollar more for the 5o year/lifetime shingle than the 30 year shingle. BUT you also need to consider that the 30 year architectural shingles are 3 bundles to a square while the 50 year/lifetime shingles are 4 bundles to a square. So for a hypothetical 10 square roof and a hypothetical $20 per bundle for the 30 year is (20*3*10) or $600. Same roof using the 50 year/lifetime shingle at $21 per bundle is (21*4*10) or $840. A difference of $240. If you are generous with your rounding, we'll round up and call that an extra $300, which is only 50% more expensive. (It's actually 40% more if we don't round, but that makes this guy look more like an idiot.)

I'm quickly eliminating the contractors who figure I don't know what I'm talking about, the ones who don't walk the roof for themselves, and the ones that try to sell me more than what I want. I can appreciate a suggestion, but when I either turn you down flat or ask for it priced separately, you better leave it at that and stop pushing.

So we have two guys who priced the whole roof without listening to what we wanted and didn't come when we were home, the too-low-for-comfort price, the too high to be real price, the "this sounds good" price who's no longer registered in RI and has all kinds of complaints with the BBB, the guy who doesn't speak enough English, the kids my age who are pretty darn pricey themselves, the guy who 'employs' his dog, and the guy who wanted to re-roof every structure on the street. I don't like any of them. Tomorrow is Mr. "I will probably be the most expensive quote you get" who didn't call me back until the 4th time I called his company and name dropped.

Freezing

Okay - so it's freezing at work and my chili isn't keeping me warm. I used a cubanelle, jalapeno and habanero in it too, so it does have some heat. Borderline too much for people who don't like the heat, but fairly mild for me. I could use a little more - maybe half to a whole additional habanero. I don't find the jalapenos to have enough heat unless you really load them into the chili.

Work is the usual - not requiring much brain function - which continues to drive me insane. I spend much of my extra brain-time contemplating food and recipes. *(see allysfoodieblog.blogspot.com for additional food-related thoughts)

Waiting on pricing to replace half of the roof on our house and also getting rough ballparks on vinyl siding. I prefer the kind that resembles stained cedar shingles, but don't know if that would be a realistic choice. Hopefully the guy gets back to us and we will be ready to make our decision on the roof soon... and figure out if we're saving towards traditional or cedar-shingle look siding.

So full

I am so full after my "holiday luncheon", I want to nap. Seriously.

But we did a sort of gag gift or regifting swap. I originally ended up with a plate of cookies, but swapped after we left the restaurant for one of those funny clock things that has a stick with little lights on it that swings back and forth really fast to display a clock and date and messages, complete with different transitions. I already have it programmed to say "Welcome To The Nut House!" and "Go PATRIOTS!" on a daily basis, and "Happy Birthday" on my birthday. Since it has the date and time, it knows to display Happy Holidays right now and either Good Afternoon or Good Morning depending on the time of day.

Okay - time to go fix a problem at work - and I don't mean fixing the tired problem by taking a nap. (I wish)

hypothetical question for anyone who knows anything about me

Let's say we work together in a department of about 15 people or so. Let's say you're not really into sports and going to live outdoor sporting events. Let's say you have a vendor you work with who's ready to give you two LUXURY BOX TICKETS for the Pats vs Jets on the 16th.

Who do you ask? Department-Head types who are so-so interested in it? Some chick like me who walks into work with a Patriots cheerleader-style jacket, Pats earrings *THREE KINDS*, who talks incessantly about the games both past and upcoming, who couldn't afford tickets even if they were available?

Please, dear God, let this be a sign and grant me the serenity to let this roll off my back.

Tuesday, Frozen feet

Although for the most part I don't get quite so cold quite so fast anymore, when my feet get cold, it still takes FOREVER for them to warm up.

I'm alternating which foot to perch on while I have a heater going to try to keep the other one semi-defrosted, but so far, no luck! (But time to switch feet)

Finally got one new ringtone for my phone - "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Twisted Sister... but only because Bryan sent it to me. One of these days I'm going to get back to setting them up myself and I'll also finish the myriad of projects I've started.... like the carved death star for the top of the Christmas tree and a photo album that I've been working on since July. Grrrrrr THIS WEEK I hope... yeah right. actually if I finish this weekend I might hit my timing.

Friday we're going "out for drinks" after work which means Coke with Lime for me. But I don't usually pass up the opportunity to pick brains off hours. At least for an hour or three.

So this Saturday is coctail party food class.... I'm SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY CONTAIN MYSELF. Food. I live for it.

And I followed up with LaSalle Academy yesterday and it looks like a three week time frame... That brings us to either the week before Christmas, or the week of Christmas. And that timing could be good. Time for research, time for thinking and phrasing, time for strategic alignment and holiday bonuses. And I can live with that.

I'm busy right now enjoying the peacefulness that is fleeting around here - especially at this time of year, and contemplating one last Christmas gift. I think I'm going to go with the initial personalized Dunkin card even though they charge 5 to personalize the card... vs WalMart's 88 cents. WAIT A MINUTE.... BRAINSTORM! I'll be back later. Must act on results of storm before the idea is washed away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOO!

new truffle flavor

YAY!!!! Came up with a new truffle flavor last night! And it's my favorite one to make by far. :)

I can't say yet what the flavor is, so I don't have the possibility of voiding a mini-pseudo-focus group thingie I want to do, but MMMMMM mmmmmm! They're good!

And don't ask me how my day is...

It only takes a moment

Well, it only took a second or two from the time I logged onto my computer this morning and my first "I'm gonna KILL someone" impulse.

I know this seems as though it's a non-sequitor, but it's not. I hate two faced people. They belong in one of the lowest levels of hell. I think I need to re-read the Inferno. If only for shits and giggles, but I think it might be cathartic.

Thankfully I have TechRepublic emails with great photo galleries and interesting Geek Trivia to get me through this week. And a very select group (MAYBE two people) here at work with whom I can sneak a 5 minute venting session.