My Panera Card!

It's here! It's here! Finally our Panera has the My Panera card! We got our card Friday night. As of today (Monday) we have received a free cookie and a free smoothie. I think I am really going to like this!

I must add that I am really enjoying their newest menu addition, steak chili with cornbread. YUM!

What time is it?

It is the quarterly neighborhood check! I know you are anxious to hear if we got a notice. Well, actually if you knew us, you would just be waiting to see which violations went unnoticed and not IF we got the notice.

We now have until August 2, 2010 to mow our backyard and to put up our missing shutter. Quite frankly, our backyard isn't even that bad. In fact, we had just cut it. Plus side: we now don't have to cut it until August 2nd. They finally noticed the shutter. So we will have to figure out how to get a matching one, in a matching color and then who is going to climb up there and install it. I vote Raven.

I am sure the color doesn't even exist anymore. So we shall see. I wouldn't mind a whole new look to our front. I never wanted shutters anyway. But I am sure that's an even bigger violation. So maybe another color. But the pre-approved colors are just as crappy. So ugly maroon, middle school uniform color, here we come!

And then sometimes...

Sometimes your neighbor does something wonderful for you and you will always be grateful.

What is the Number One Rule of Owning a Dog?

The number one rule of dog ownership is: DON'T LET YOUR DOG BARK ALL NIGHT! I don't understand why someone in the neighborhood thinks its appropriate to keep a dog outside all night, especially in 90 degree weather. An added bonus of this insanity is the dog's incessant barking. It has been two nights in a row, according to Brian. This brings me to rule number one of marriage, if your wife is able to sleep through the dog barking, DO NOT WAKE HER TO LET HER KNOW A DOG IS BARKING. I would think both of these would be common sense, but apparently not.

How do we fit in?

Sometimes I think our neighborhood consists of a bunch of people who do not care about themselves, let alone the neighborhood or their houses. So this is how we do our part to fit in:

Yes, that is a bunch of weeds in our front yard. Yes, those are dandelions that are reaching up to the bay window and might, in fact, be taller than Caedan. In our defense, they grew up over night and we had to purchase gardening gloves to remove them. Hence, why they were around longer than most would like. At least we pay our HOA fees, so maybe that's why the we didn't receive a notice about the weeds, or, perhaps, they fired the notice lady in order to conserve money.

If the Government thinks its true...

If the government thinks you live in the Projects, do you? I am pretty sure we live in a townhouse in the suburbs. I am certain we are paying a LARGE amount in mortgage each month. So why did my census get sent to 1234 1234 Mystreet, PROJECTS MD Myzip? There have been a lot of foreclosures lately.... Maybe I should look into it.

What do I love?

Bulk Trash Pick-up! Otherwise known as, leave your crap on the side of the road for days! It really makes the neighborhood look its best. It also allows you to see what the other neighbors are discarding and which neighbors are scavenging. I love my neighbors.

April Fool's?

The snow is gone and so is the community spirit. The snow brought a sense of community with it. Everyone spent their snow days outside shoveling and chatting. It almost reminded me of living in UMCP's dorms. But, alas, it couldn't last. Winter gives way to warmer weather and a return to the community's grouchy and odd residents.

Today is Brian's birthday. However, it also happens to be April Fool's Day. Therefore, one is always on guard about their interactions with other. This leaves me wondering if my neighbor was pranking us, or just thought it was a good idea.

We came home from a birthday lunch at il Forno, home of the best pizza you will ever have the pleasure of tasting, to find our neighbor in her front lawn. At first glance everything appeared normal. Well, almost normal, she is wearing pants, a long sleeve shirt and a hat on a day with highs near 80. Upon closer inspection, you notice that she is not actually using a rake to clean up the leaves in her yard. In fact, she is using a broom. It might have worked, but her grass is too long and she isn't really accomplishing anything. Well, she is probably working up a good sweat. But other than that, nothing. But kudos for keeping at it.

At least she doesn't have a large pacing dog barely tied down next to as she completes her yard work like our other neighbors. So I guess we should be thankful for the small things.

Life is strange...

Once you think you have some things set and figured out, a curve ball comes your way. These curve balls usually turn out for the better. However, do they ever keep you on your toes. Not to mention the sacrifices that go with them, both known and unknown.