Testing... 1, 2, 3...

Hiya... so I'm mostly here for a test. Playin around with RSS settings on My Yahoo. And since I don't have any recent posts within the last week, it's not showin anything up.

So I'll report on a few updates:

Officially on the move... soon

1) I got a call last Thursday from the duplex community I applied to last month... they just had a unit open up! Woo-hoo! I'm goin to check it out after work today. I told Mom, and since she's just as excited about it as I am, I invited her to come along if she so wished. Which she did. :) So I should be able to finalize paperwork on it tonight. My lease at my current apartment isn't up til June, but they'll hold onto the duplex for me until I can move in. Which is awesome.

New Furniture

2) It'd be nice to say that in preparation for the move, I went ahead and bought some new furniture. But it was more like wishful thinking... and grabbin it while it was still available. Just days before I heard from the duplex community, I discovered some absolutely adorable wicker-drawer tables and dressers at the grocery store. Which was strange, as I'd NEVER seen them stock any kind of furniture before... and it was disappearing fast. In anticipation of a hopeful move to a bigger place in the near future, I went ahead and stocked up on 2 larger 6-drawer units, 3 3-drawer units, and 3 single-drawer end tables.

Since they're in boxes waiting for assembly, most of them were stuffed into a closet. I put together one of the 3-drawer and one of the 6-drawer units, as I had places I could use them now. I have to say the larger unit works AWESOME in the kitchen, where I used to have a kind of catch-all table... now I've increased my kitchen drawer capacity by 6! Oh, I DO love getting organized. Okay... MORE organized. *grin*

Changing Tastes

One thing I realized is that I don't think I would have found these drawers/tables attractive just 3 or 4 years ago... they're kinda rustic lookin. But hey... tastes change. Or mebbe I'm just beginning to develop a particular taste in furniture. In the past, I've known what I particularly DON'T like... but never really had a taste for what I DID like. But I'm slowly but surely converting my home from hodge-podge hand-me-downs, to a style that's distinctly me.

Financial Freedom

I was talkin to IHOP Buddy this weekend, and discussing all the things that are on my list to spend money on. Which will take place equally slowly but surely over the next several years. We mutually agreed that it's a good thing I'm not havin kids anytime soon... I just enjoy spending my money on so many other things right now! After seeing many of my friends with kids struggle, I truly appreciate my financial freedom.

The Video Game Bug

3) And right now, some of that money is goin towards my Video Game Bug. I've been hangin out on e-bay for the last few weeks, huntin down deals for games on just about every platform I own... including the new GameCube I just bought. I'm gonna be busy for months! At least I already had Christmas money to work with, so I didn't have to load up a credit card unnecessarily. Of course, "necessary" is purely subjective... but it's MY card, so only MY subjective opinion counts, right? *grin*

Another Amber Alert

4) On a more somber note: another amber alert came out this week. I don't think I've even heard of any in the entire time I've been in Columbia, and now there's two within a few months. At least time it wasn't gruesome... a lady left her baby and 5-year old with a sitter, and when she came back, only the 5-year old was there. Doh! Still no news, yet, but I'll try to keep posted.

Tsunami Blues

5) Those tsunamis in Asia have now claimed over 150,000 lives in 12 countries. :( They're well past done, but the poorer countries are now fighting disease, homelessness, and unsterile conditions. I've been meaning to donate to the Red Cross... but recently heard that they're getting SO much money now, and are concerned that the initial outpouring of help will be short-lived and dry up soon. I think I may hold off for the next few waves... or even possibly set up a monthly donation. I'm still thinkin on it.

Elsewise, a LOT of the United Nations are sending over tons of help... some even forgiving outstanding debts and such. I just hope it will be enough to help pull these countries outta the muck. *sigh*

Local Violence

6) University sent out a Clery Release on the 8th regarding a car found burning in one of the University parking garages... and then a dead body in the trunk. *shakin head* That garage is simply cursed, that's all I can say. Some dood took a header off the roof of it just a few months ago, and there was another would-be jumper within the last year.

I honestly don't seem to recall hearing about so much... violent news 'round these parts. Guess I've gotten so acclimated to a mid-size town with mid-size crime that I've also become a li'l complacent. It was rather nice after the daily murders, rapes, rumbles, road-rage, etc. that permeated the news back home in San Diego. I'd become numb... now I can become shocked again. I suppose that's a good thing, in a roundabout sort of way.

Amway, that's about it for now. Gotta go set up for a large presentation in a few minutes.

Laters!