Lunching at the L.S. Ayres Tea Room

One of my favorite places to eat downtown is the L.S. Ayres Tea Room located within the Indiana State Museum. The history, the ambiance and, most importantly, the Chicken Velvet Soup! Matt had the day off yesterday and came downtown to take me out to lunch here - we made reservations ahead of time (which is recommended). I enjoyed my soup and dessert but wished I would have ordered the Chicken Pot Pie like Matthew had - my sandwich wasn't so hot. Oh! And the cherry cokes have actual cherries in them!

Word of warning though - the underground parking garage at the Indiana State Museum only accepts cash. Thankfully there is an ATM nearby otherwise we would still be there counting our pennies!

What To Do This Weekend

I was going to do a 'What To Do Wednesday' post - but, I forgot. So, without further ado, here's your outlook for the weekend - there is so much going on!




Friday, August 22nd
Concert on the Courthouse Lawn: The Messarounds 7:00 - 9:00pm
Hits from the 50's and 60's
Classic Car Cruise-in on N. Main Street at 5:00pm
Goonies @ the Artcraft Theatre 7:30pm
Sponsored by: Franklin United Methodist Community
www.discoverdowntownfranklin.com

Feast of Lanterns

The Near East Side Community Organization (NESCO) will celebrate its annual Feast of Lanterns on Saturday, August 23rd, and this year's festivities will again include an east-side Gong Show from 4 to 5pm. The Feast of Lanterns is a historic east-side celebration that neighbors revived six years ago. The celebration takes place in Spades Park from noon to 11pm. In addition to the Gong Show, events will include children's activities, food vendors, an art fair, and music (headlined by the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band). The festivities culminate with the lighting of hundreds of lanterns at dusk. Admission to the Feast is free. For more information, visit www.indyfeast.org.

Recipe Swap at Kira's Cottage
Sat. Aug 23 from 9-4
All you have to do is bring in a easy/quick recipe printed on a recipe card and you will get 25% off all purchases on Sat. Aug 23. You will also get a recipe from Kira and get to sample it on site! And, you will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Kira's Cottage!
Visit Kira's Cottage Website


Work Week Wine Down at The Villa
Thursday 5:30-6:30PM
As the week winds down stop by The Villa and enjoy some of the best things in life-and this night they are FREE. Free samplings of chair massage and invigorating wines. Stay for dinner after or enjoy a full spa treatment of your choice.
www.thevillainn.com



Parrots of the Caribbean
Saturday, August 23
Grab your beach balls and sunglasses and join the Parrots of the Caribbean as they turn Greenwood into an Island Paradise, Saturday, August 23, 7 p.m. The Parrots are the #1 Jimmy Buffett tribute act in the country. This is one party you won't want to miss.
www.greenwood.in.gov


IMA Summer Nights Films: Sholay
August 22 Film starts at dusk
Indianapolis Museum of Art
$8; $3 members


Marsh Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie
Friday, August 22, 2008, 8:00 PM.
Featuring the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Buddy Morrow, leader, Aug. 22-23 at 8 PM (no ISO performance at this show). Indiana's premier outdoor music series runs from June 20 to Aug. 31.
Visit website or call 317-639-4300
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Hamilton County


4th Annual Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival
Friday, August 22, 2008
Over 200 live theatre performances, fine arts, film festival, street performers and more. Aug. 22-31: Hours and shows vary daily.
Onsite Festival, Mass Ave Cultural District
http://www.indyfringe.org/

Groovin' In The Garden at Easley Winery - Greggae
Aug. 23, Sat. 2-5pm
Join us in the wine garden Tuesdays and Saturdays, May through September for free live music, enjoyed with wine and great food. Order carry-out from several local restaurants for delivery right to your wine garden table, including Bazbeaux, Santorini's greek food, Circle City Pizza, and a new addition this year: Fair Oaks Dairy offering fresh baked breads and artisan cheeses. Sit back, relax and enjoy your summer with us. Every week Easley Winery will offer a different wine special, such as Sangria, Reggae Jam, or other fun wine concoctions and discounts. Also new in '08 are Easley Kid Cups with sparkling grape juice, nuts, dried fruit, coloring book and crayons. Groovin' is a blast for the whole family!
http://www.easleywinery.com/groovin/


Miami Day @ Eiteljorg Museum
August 23, 2008 (All Day)
Meet the Indians of Indiana! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, August 23, join the museum in celebrating one of Indiana’s indigenous tribes—the Miami Indians of Indiana. Meet Miami people and learn their history, see demonstrations by Miami artists, hear the Miami drum Twigh Twee, participate in hands-on activities inspired by Miami culture and more. This event is free with general museum admission.
Event Website

Member Appreciation Day @ Eiteljorg Museum
August 23 is also the museum’s Member Appreciation Day, when the museum’s supporters can enjoy exclusive tours, discounts and even a chance to win a $100 gas card or a basket of Eiteljorg-themed goodies from the museum’s gift store.
Learn More


Mallow Run Winery Pizza & Wine Night
Pizza & live music from 5 - 8 p.m
Relax and enjoy a summer evening at the winery with gourmet pizza from Bazbeaux Pizza!
http://www.bazbeaux.com Spread your blankets or chairs on the lawn and enjoy live music while enjoying the "Best Pizza in Indianapolis" according to Indianapolis Monthly.
http://www.mallowrun.com

Friday Foto Fiesta

I could spend the next 500 Fridays posting Lola pics we have so many! She loves to pose for the camera - even when she was just a pup. Here's a cute one from when we first got her - she weighed a whopping 2 lbs (no so any more)!

Funny that she isn't camera shy - she sure hates big bouquets of flowers (I think it's the crinkly plastic around them) and our new front loading washing machine...very skittish around both. :) But the camera...that she loves!

For more foto fun visit Candid Carrie!

Living Lean & Green

Well tonight was my second (the series' third) workshop on Living, Lean and Green. (I missed a session last week when I was out of town.) Our first homework assignment was to figure out our carbon footprint, which I did - but when I wrote it on my cut-out construction paper footprint I am pretty sure the facilitator didn't believe me - it was met with some pretty squinty eyes.

The typical American household's footprint is 54,600 lb.

Ours is 7,709lb according the online calculator. Pretty big difference I KNOW - but I AM and always have been a huge dork when it comes to recycling, composting, etc - just ask my coworkers and husband!

I attribute our great score to the following factors:

• We just bought a newer home last year that has excellent insulation and windows and almost all Energy Star appliances.
• I am cold blooded so I LOVE it when it is hot and tend to leave the air off most of the summer. In the winter we have a down comforter in addition to our duvet to sleep with at night.
• We compost and recycle so we only produce one bag of trash a week - IF that.
• My husband only drives 5 miles to work each day.
• I drive 4 when I ride the bus - which I normally do.
• We have newer cars that have pretty decent gas mileage.
  

Here's another pic from our class - Fred, here, is explaining how he showers...no really! :)

Today I got a free Energy Efficiency Kit from IPL which included two energy saving light bulbs, a night light, insulation strips, a shower head and a hot water gauge. I would have gotten a programmable thermostat but I am not a Citizen's Gas customer - boo!

Pretty excited to see if I can get our footprint even lower! Here are some things we will be working on:

• We are installing a new Energy Star Front Loading Washing Machine so that is a step
• Look at what our water heater is set
• Get a programmable thermostat so we can set it to turn off at certain times of the day. We are so busy we tend to forget to turn the air back to a lower setting when we leave the house.
• I want to get away from paper towels.
• Work on unplugging our chargers when we aren't using them as well.

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If you are interested in taking the Living, Lean & Green workshop - visit the Central Indiana Environmental Education Program online and see where and when the next presentation or workshop takes place! They are free you just need to sign-up and show up!

Web Find Wednesday!

Not much to report today - been busy, busy, busy AND tired....

But I do have this! A link I stumbled about all the off-the-wall things you can compost.

http://www.ecosalon.com/title/30_Unexpected_and_Unusual_Things_You_Can_Still_Put_in_the_Compost

Showbiz Versus Sprinkler

Fun little video we took last year of Showbiz battling it with the sprinkler. She also hates the vacuum, the broom, the iron when it steams among other household appliances that make noise. That and she has figured out how to drink from the sprinkler and hose - and apparently water tastes better that way. :)

Fair Oaks Farms: Absolutely Moo-valous!

Ok, now that last week and this past weekend is behind us let's get back to our regularly scheduled blog posts!

Last week I made it up to Blue Chip Casino in northern Indiana on business.

On the long drive back to central Indiana, I stopped off of I-65 to enjoy a bite to eat and quick looksey around at Fair Oaks Farms.

I had honestly never heard of the place, which is surprising having been from the area growing up. Upon further investigation though, it seems they did not start up their agritourism endeavors until about 3-4 years ago, which is about the time I fled the area (moved to Indianapolis for school and work). Let me tell you, this place is well worth the visit!



You come to this huge farm just off the interstate in the absolute middle-of-no-where and land smack dab in this amazing oasis of cheese, milk and ice cream! For being a Wednesday afternoon it was pretty packed with visiting families and their rambunctious brood. Don't worry though - lots of energy was being wisely spent bouncing on the Dairy-Air (hehe) and climbing the Glass Bottle - so despite the mass of tots and wee ones everyone seemed to be on their best behavior and focused their energy on those "fun zones" and managed to settled down when they needed to.




You needed to have paid your admission to actually watch a baby cow being born, but I managed to peek into an open door and catch this glimpse of the action. Didn't really know cows had their babies sitting down - always thought they stood up. Anyways, they have two mama cows set up on a glassed in stage and the paying crowd gets front row seats to the miracle of birth. Pretty amazing for the average child and family to see, huh?!




If watching cows give birth isn't your thing, that is ok, because there is PLENTY of other things to do at Fair Oaks Farms. Including watching cheese be made while you eat a lunch of soup, toasted cheese sandwiches and ice cream, strolling the grounds, walking through their museum and gift shop.



Admission fees include a tour of the farm, admission to the birthing barn and to their interactive museum! I can't wait to go back and take hubby along for the ride this time - this was an excellent Indiana find!

Top 10 Highlights & Lowlights of My Weekend

1. My husband's birthday was Friday. Wanted to buy him everything he wanted - but his wish list is a little pricey. (eastern Caribbean cruises, hot tubs, flat screen tvs - yeah, he dreams big!) Planned on getting him either an IU grill cover (sounds lame, but it was what he wanted dammit!), the overstuffed chair that goes with our living room set he has been wanting OR finally getting cable. But life had other plans apparently...though we are going to go on that cruise next year!

2. Our washing machine died. (so, yeah, my hubby got a washing machine for his bday - yay!) Stupid thing started making an awful sound....thought it was just because hubby was in the shower and was using the water supply. Upon further investigation found out that the agitator won't move....and the back of the dang machine won't come off and can't find any other way to get into the appliance to see what is wrong. But really, even if we could get inside the machine - we wouldn't have a clue what to look for or how to fix it. Had to stop the husband when I saw him go upstairs with a hammer and a crowbar - there was no way that was going to end well.

3. Husband lost his last pair of contacts. Could not get a new pair because his prescription expired. Set up eye appointments for both of us one the same day - his birthday - because we were both off from work. Same day the washer died, same day we had to go to the BMV....S.A.M.E. day. Puffs of air to the pupils don't exactly equal birthday fun.

4. Had to go the BMV to renew our plates. Yup, wanted to renew online but somehow August 15th snuck up on me and all of sudden our plates were expired. Tried to use the easy-peasy DIY kiosk. Yeah, didn't happen because of some sort of "binder" on my plate - something about our car insurance verification...so wasted all that time at the darn kiosk and ended up having to go inside anyways. Sigh.

5. Washing machines are expensive and cannot be delivered in a reasonable amount of time. Won't be here till Thursday. In the two days since it broke - one of our dogs has managed to both soil her crate which had a blanket in it AND puke on a towel - yay!!! Because, unless I make trip to the laundry mat - I gotta wait till Thursday to do a load of laundry. :( We opted for an Energy Star GE front loader model. (i.e. expensive)

6. Managed to have a great time with new friends who were kind enough to let us wash and dry the wet load of dirty clothes that were in the washing machine at the time of its demise (this was BEFORE the dog got sick). Ended up staying up till 2 in the morn (our host and hostess were whipping up some great drinks and convo) - though not good when you have an all day, two day conference to wake up for the next day. Blah! Was definitely a little blurry eyed and dehydrated the whole weekend.

7. Attended the blogIndiana Conference. Met and caught up with lots of great local Indiana bloggers including Kirsten from Middle West Meals and Casey from Moosh in Indy - among many others! Heard from great speakers including Douglas Karr, Krista Neher and Scott Abel - view the full list of all the wonderful speakers at the blogIndiana website! Now I just need a day or two process what all I learned and put it all to good use both towards my personal blogs and the blog we are building for one of our clients at work.

8. Added 3 more pairs of shoes to my collection! Sandals are on sale at Target everyone!! We are talking shoes for $7 - that is my kind of bargain! Wore all three pairs this weekend and none gave me blisters - hooray!

9. Bought yet another pineapple themed item to our home decor. Found a lovely pineapple doormat from Home Depot for $9.99! Thank goodness pineapples are a symbol of hospitality and not something weird or crazy - because we have pineapple everything (doorbell, door mat, lamps, etc). We like them because they are tropical-esqe and we are pretty much not Hoosiers at heart though we were both born and raised here in Indiana. We need sand, sun and salt water to feel at home.

10. Got to eat DQ Ice Cream Blizzard cake for breakfast all weekend! Managed to buy hubby a birthday cake BEFORE all hell broke lose this weekend. Gotta love that fudgey crunchy center!

Friday Foto Fiesta

I love this blurry photo I took while on vacation with my father this year.
We went with friends to Isle of Palms and they were fluffing out the blanket to lie in the sand - and I was standing back and got this shot. I know it is blurry - but I love that about this photo...just seems so beachy - kinda like a painting or something. :)

View more Friday Foto Fun here!

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day August 2008

Seems like my blooms are starting to slow down this time of year.



All except for my hibiscus bushes though - they are gorgeous! Though I am having problem keeping the japanese beetles from feasting on them.



My lilac bush is blooming again - kinda crazy but I am enjoying it!



And my turf lily is doing well...



As is my lavender!

Day lilies (not pictured) are making a little comeback with a few blooms and my blanket flower is still growing strong.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Today is my husband's birthday!

He is 26 and already so accomplished in life.

Has a house. A wonderful fur-family and me! ;)
A management position in a great corporation.
Graduated with his BS and MBA before he was 25!

He's my husband.
My partner in crime.
My friend.

He is strong, brave, loving and kind.

He always supports my crazy ideas and always sings my praises. He lifts me up when I need a boost. He is there for me when everyone else turns away.

He is wonderful. I love you, Matthew!

Thursday Morning Madness

Well, my return to the office today was quite eventful - let me tell ya!

(Yup, I was out of town for two days - but you didn't know it did you?! - I was sneaky and SCHEDULED some posts ahead of time...ah, the joys of technology...will post about my business travel adventures soon - promise!)

Anyways, back to this morning. Woke up in a fairly chipper mood for as much driving I have done in the last two days. Drank my English Breakfast tea while walking barefoot out in the backyard looking at all our lovely plants and flowers. And found THESE little guys all over our fence...so THAT is what has been eating at our leaves on our plants!



Now we need to work on getting rid of them....saw some slug and snail control stuff at Lowes we may pick up - UNLESS you all have something better and more environmentally sound! Let me know!

Managed to get my behind on the bus on time and enjoyed some pleasant reading time and basked in a little attention I got my fellow bus riders and my favorite bus driver for having been missing for a few days. :) They noticed I wasn't around - aw!

Made it to my stop only to see billowing plumes of smoke rising up out of the skyline of Indianapolis. Yeah, a little scary!



Ended up being a car fire in the parking garage - but lots of excitement nonetheless.

Then dropped my bagel on the floor - AND ATE IT. Yup - that is how I started my morning! :)

Reflective Gardening

My garden - May 2008



Garden - June 2008



Garden - August 2008

Pretty cool to look back and watch how the garden has evolved...crazy peas, then crazy cucumbers and now one to crazy cherry tomatoes! Have I mentioned how I want two more boxes like this next year (one the same size and another half the size for lettuce and radishes and things).

Web Finds Wednesday!

Here are my latest finds - I am sure you were all holding onto your seats - right?! ;)

Momma Val posts some amazing uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Geek Sugar shares an awesome new way to use up your spare time - youCharades.com

Pet Sugar shows us how to make a cool new doggie treat your pooch is sure to love

And if you got 43 minutes to spare you GOTTA check this out - Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Hubby Hand Update

My hubby's new hand contraption to help stretch his tendons. He is having mobility issues after his surgery and may have to go back and have a second surgery to remove scar tissue and to check if the tendons healed properly. Doesn't look fun does it?

Sorry the blogging material is a little light lately...just feeling a little burnt out.

My Husband's Hardwork

Hubby was hard at work during his days off this past week! Replaced some bushes, spruced up the flower beds with a new layer of mulch, planted ornamental grasses and more bushes and widened our east flower bed by about two foot! Looks great doesn't it?!

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Haha! This movie looks cute - and having a chihuahua - I GOTTA see it! ;)

Fun in Franklin

Spent a cool August afternoon strolling the streets of historic downtown Franklin and stopped in all the little shops. I love shopping this area around Christmas time - you can find very unique gifts.

We did make it down to the Taste of Downtown but were a tad tuckered out to takes pics or spend much time there and no visit to the canal. :(



Isn't it just charming?



Almost walked out with these colorful little bowls.



Of course I would love these lovely letters found in one of the antique shops!




A glimpse inside the amazing Imagination Station! We always stop here for birthday and Christmas presents for all our nieces and nephews!




Charming storefronts.

What To Do Today?!

Can't decide what do this Saturday.

There's the 5th Annual Taste of Downtown Street Festival at Easley Winery
Great food from local restaurants, a full selection of Easley wines, and live music by Tastes Like Chicken, Toy Factory and The Tides. Free admission. 12-8 PM. Info: See Web site below or call 317-636-4516.
Location: Easley Winery, 205 North College Avenue, Indianapolis, Marion County.
www.easleywinery.com/taste_of_downtown/

But that doesn't start till 4pm according to their website (though the info above stays noon...hmm?) So before we head out to downtown - we might stroll the streets of downtown Franklin Indiana. I love the dreamy atmosphere, it's small town charm, historic homes and lovely shops. Plus we need to pick up a present for our nephew and what better place to go for all kinds of marvelous toys than to the Imagination Station! And I need to stop by Kira's Cottage - she posted on her blog that there is a new little nook to sit in and I am excited to check it out and, of course, I will have to stop by Clementine's Dry Goods to drool on some fabric and yarn!

Also been in the mood the walk the White River Canal with the pups and maybe stop by Buggs Temple for a bite to eat.

Greenwood Summer Concert Series Presents Chocolate Jazz
This is a Free Public Concert Underwritten by The First Baptist Church of Greenwood Celebrating 170 years in ministry to the Greenwood community
In the event of rain the concert will be held at the First Baptist Church
99 W. Main Street (visit event website)
Saturday August 9th - 7:00pm
Greenwod Amphitheatre, 100 Surina Way, Greenwood, IN

Oh! Might try to go to this tonight if I can rope some friends into going with me! ;)

Introducing Mister Frog

Matt insisted he saw a frog out in the garden a few weeks ago. I shrugged it off as an over-sized grasshopper (we have tons of them). But he found his proof and waited till I got home to show me our new resident!



Consoling our freaked out frog.



We put him back under the garden bed where he and at least one other frog live. Very cool! I had no idea we had them. :)

CoverGirl & Crest Wetslicks

Hmmm...new product from Crest and Covergirl. Wetslicks - lipgloss AND breath mint in one! Might just have to try this!

Friday Foto Fiesta

Sand, sun, hammocks, palm trees and cruise ships...sigh!

We have been planning our vacation for next year - hopefully a cruise to the eastern Caribbean! The picture above is from our honeymoon cruise to the western Caribbean - oh it was glorious!

LOLDogs - Finally!

I have throughly enjoyed the website LOLcats: icanhascheeseburger.com and always hoped a dog version would pop up! Well, that day has come and oh, how sweet it is! :)

Visit LOLdogs: ihasahotdog.com


see more dog pictures

What's Your Carbon Footprint?

We calculated our carbon footprint today! It was the "homework" I am supposed to do for the "Living Lean & Green" series of classes I am taking with a friend at a local library. I had never actually done the calculations before so I didn't know what to expect really. So, I sat down tonight and logged on to our accounts at our electric and gas company - found our average usage for a year and answered a few other questions from the Low Carbon Diet Calculator and wahla!

Our total emissions are only 7,709 lbs!

(The average American household's emissions are 54,600 lbs)

We are at a level 9 out of 10! Pretty snazzy!

I caulk it up to our recycling, composting, keeping the house at 75 degrees in the summer, my riding the bus and my husband only working 6 miles from home - makes a huge difference apparently!

What's your carbon footprint? Lower or higher than you though it would be?

Web Find Wednesday!

This is great - you gotta check it out!

(hint) Click on the link above and scroll over the little letters and numbers at the bottom of the screen.

What Chases the Grrs Away

Cuddles with a fuzzy pup! :)

The Ugly Bill Blues

Sigh. There is nothing like a bill you thought you paid but didn't to bring ya down - its like a good old kick in the chest. Already exhausted after work and just ready to kick back and relax and I get this call from a funny number. Ah, I knew something was up.

And remember that little week-long drop-of-the-hat vacation I just took. Yeah. It was right before this bill was due or I got back right after or something. But I swear I paid it. But they said I didn't - having hubby look into it now to make sure we don't double pay.

Anyways, this particular bill drives me nuts because there is no autopay option unless you print out this sheet of paper and fill it out and take it to your bank to sign and then mail it in - ya ok - not going to happen that is just one too many steps. I want to set up an auto pay so it is easier to pay my bill not so I can jump through even more hoops. Granted, I have been paying it for 4 years now (car payment) and only been late one other time when (again) I swore I paid it but it was around finals time in college and it just slipped my mind.

Get with the program Chrysler and let your customers setup a freaking autopay system and this would NEVER have happened and my evening wouldn't be ruined!! ARG!

Nothing like talking to an animated machine about a late bill and logging on to pay the said bill and finding an Internal 500 Server Error to make your eyelids feel like lead.

Thankfully it is now paid and hubby is home to make things good again. He is good at that.

P.S. Wow, I am having quite a few "grr" moments this week.

Toally Random (soggy) Tuesday

Arg! Today is a soggy day. Woke up to lightening, thunder and lots and lots of rain. Not that I am unhappy about the rain - my yard was getting rather crunchy so I know we needed it. I just like it much better when it storms at night - when I can curl up on the couch and read a book and listen to the storm - not be out in it.

And Tuesdays are the day that I give my parking pass to my intern. She comes in on Tuesdays now but not until the afternoon after her classes and since I ride the bus we broke a deal - she drives in after her class and uses my parking pass but she has to drive me back to my car at the end of the day (we live on the same side of town). Works out most days - except that today was horribly rainy and I would have rather just drove in to begin with and avoid getting soaked.

And of course I could not find my gosh darn umbrella . And OF COURSE it starts pouring as soon as I pull up to the bus this morning. So, here I am fumbling around my car trying to find the umbrella - which I swore was in the back of the car which requires getting out and opening the back hatch and guess what? It wasn't back there - it was in the back seat the whole time - I didn't have to get out to get it - but I did and I got soaked.

And the AC was definitely working on the bus this morning so I was frozen....

I am now drinking hot chocolate complete with marshmallows - in August. :)

Weekend In Review

Had a marvelous weekend out on the town with the husband and pups in tow!

First we stopped by the Dogs Days of Summer at Mallow Run Winery where we dropped off our donation (a warm fuzzy dog bed and a fun chew toy) sure to bring joy and comfort to a dog in need and sipped some wine in the hot summer sun while the mutts panted in the shade. All dogs were on their best behavior - we even got to meet a few adorable, adoptable puppies - like little Porsche pictured below. Isn't she precious?!



And Sunday we took a stroll downtown to check out Chakaia Booker's Mass Transit exhibit - which was very cool and rested up at Alcatraz for a beer and a bite to eat.

Arg, ants!

So, we've got ants.

The first step to overcoming a problem is admitting it right?

Now what?!

I called Terminix but am skeptical. For one, they want to discuss everything over the phone and sign me up for a service plan before they even come out and assess the situation. I had requested what I THOUGHT was an in-home consultation - what I got was some smart ass calling me up at 7:15 in the evening. I was, in no-way-shape-or-form going to merely let some sales guy smoosh me over the phone into some service agreement.

When I asked if someone was going to come out, he kept insisting that we could discuss it all over the phone. At one point, the snarky man said, "You know you got a problem, that is why you called so why do you want someone to come out and SAY you have a problem?"

O.K. [enter expletive here] (yup I am almost getting R-rated here) I know NOTHING about ants. If I am going to shell out money for a service I want someone to come out and look at the actual insect and tell me what kind of ant it is, how it got into my home and how they plan on removing it from my home. Is it a carpenter ant that is eating my wood, is it a pharoah ant...come on here. I am not going to shell out hundreds of dollars to let you do your thing without giving me some information or peace of mind. Ass.

I AM NOT going to give you my bank account number and give you permission to waltz into my home with your sprays, baits, powders and poisons and just start shooting away.

For one - I have pets in the house. So we are going to need to discuss the process. I want to know what you are doing and how you are doing it. And I need to know that whatever you do won't harm my pets.

For two - how do I know that what you are going to do isn't any different than what I can do on my own? Yeah, got ya there don't I? That is the REAL issue isn't it?

Well, forget you. I'm going to Lowes and baiting up!

Readers, do you have any ant elimination tips I should take into consideration? Let me know!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

Here's Friday's Foto! We took it at Krohn's Conservatory in Cincinnati - isn't this plant magnificent? Just gorgeous!

For more foto fun visit Candid Carrie!