Modern Technology

Last night I made an amazing discovery.  While sitting on the couch with husband and puppy, just playing on the internet, I decided to say hi to my very best friend Lola in Florida on g-chat.  So I clicked on her name, the window popped up, and I noticed something.  There was a little green video camera next to her name.  And next to mine....hmmm...so I clicked on it and up she popped on my screen!!  Sitting at her dining table, just being her beautiful self!  So we chatted, and watched, and waved to husbands and laughed and talked so much and so quickly we were talking over each other - the way best friends do.  We are pretty good at keeping in touch across the 1,048 miles that separate us - we email, send photos, make fun of people on Facebook, call when babies/husbands/dogs/in-laws/life isn't in the way, and visit once a year.  But this.  This is a whole new world to me.  This makes those 1,048 miles seem not quite as intimidating.  This makes that adorable 20 mo old that she has seem so much closer.  This will make her not go from 4 months to 18 between me getting to see her! 

I know I'm a little behind the curve on this technology, with the Skype craze and the iPhone video capabilities and all.  But it's new to me, and I love it.  As I joked with her last night, I can see us attaching our laptops to our hips and video-g-chatting all the time!  What are you making for dinner?  See, doesn't it look good!  What are you drinking tonight, cheers!  What does the new house look like (she's in the process of building one)?  Now I understand what all the hype is about.  And I couldn't be happier to have finally joined the crowds.

We also joked that I should write my next blog post about how cool she is and how much I love her.  Little did she know I would actually do it!  We met in the halls of Alamance at Elon during spring orientation.  Through some convincing (of both the housing people on campus and L herself) we began our college career as suitemates, living in an all girl dorm on the south side of campus.  The days, weeks, months and years we spent together at Elon were some of the most memorable times of our lives.  We were suitemates, roommates, classmates, friends, and became the best of friends.  And honestly, I might even say we've become closer over the years since Elon.  I am truly blessed to have met LMPT that chilly rainy day in April, 2000 - I can't imagine my life without her!!

And now, using this amazing modern technology, I can video-chat with her :)

What will they think of next?! (or better yet, what else is out there that I'm missing out on??)

3 out of 4 ain't bad

What a weekend it has been!  We went into the weekend with ugly old white appliances and came out with 3 beautiful new stainless ones!  The oven and microwave were to be delivered on Friday...I say that because only one was actually delivered.  After hours of waiting around and another couple of hours on the phone on hold, it was evident that the stove would have to wait.  But the GE guys from Home Depot did bring the microwave!  They were wonderful, definitely the best delivery people of the weekend.

On top of appliance delivery, this weekend we had our contractor here building a new cabinet in the living room, as well as lots of other little projects around the house.  I am the proud owner of lots of stuff...including quite a platter and serving dish collection.  Now I have lots more storage for them all!





Before...

                                               and after!

Sunday started bright and early with a fridge clean up and out.  4 coolers later everything was packed, the photos were removed, and we were waiting.  Before 10am, we had the most beautiful fridge ever installed.  Because of the very small space we have, there were only 3 options of bottom freezer refrigerators - a GE, LG double door and Whirlpool.  Based on Consumer Reports reviews and ratings, we went with the Whirlpool model.  With a great pre-black Friday deal, we ordered it!  It's wonderful.  It opens to the left, which is something our old one didn't do.  It's shiny and clean and big (even at 18.5 cu ft) and has lots of magnetic space on the side for my babies and wedding announcements!!

Matt had to put the beer in first...look how big and pretty!

So.  The 1 of the 4 that didn't work out so well is the dishwasher.  The hardwoods were installed after the dishwasher, blocking it from being removed.  Matt, our neighbor, the contractor, and appliance delivery guys all said we could either cut the floor or remove the counters.  Luckily we're planning on doing the countertops in the spring, so the pretty new dishwasher will just have to wait.

But 3 out of 4 ain't bad!



Quick kitchen update

A few more updated pictures to share!  The dishwasher arrived early - husband picked it up (and somehow managed to carry it in the house himself!) on Monday.  It's now just hanging out in our dining room...

 

(also note the dishtowel we're hiding from the dog...she ate one a couple of weeks ago...)

And we sold the stove in about 8 hours!  We posted it in Craigslist yesterday for $50 and got about a dozen emails!  The guy came and got it last night...so dinner has been a little creative the last 2 nights.  Didn't imagine it would go so quickly! Here you can see the new paint color...

Anyone want to buy a microwave??

Kitchen! Stage 1

After years of living in our house with ugly white laminate countertops and awful white appliances, we've finally decided to make a change. 

Before:

It's now more of a blue color (called homestead green from Benjamin Moore)

I'm not sure what my contractor friend said to my husband last Sunday, but by that evening we were shopping for new appliances.  What great timing, too, with Black Friday just a week away!  Lots of internet shopping, trips to the usual places (Best Buy, Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, HH Gregg), comparing prices, models, measuring...and we've purchased all 4!  We have a tiny space for our fridge, so only had 3 choices with a bottom freezer - GE, LG, and Whirlpool.  Price and consumer reports made this an easy decision - we went with Whirlpool Gold from Sears.  Next was a dishwasher.  GE has a great clean front model that has recently been discountinued, so we got a great deal on this at Sears.  Then came the range.  After spending the day at my parents with their wonderful double ovens on Thanksgiving, that made the decision easy - double oven range it was!  Luckily for me (and our budget), HH Gregg had one on sale for Black Friday, several hundred dollars off!  Up at 315am, in line and in the door at 4am we had our oven!  We went with a Whirpool model - we figured it had to be a special Black Friday one because it was a great price.  The microwave went last - quick, easy GE with the express cook buttons - a must.  Now, we wait.  The dishwasher is in a box in my dining room, it came early...the others will be delivered this weekend.  Just in time for the holidays, especially perfect since we'll be hosting the family for Christmas for the first time!

Customer Service...or lack of

It amazes me how many people don't understand the concept of customer service. Or, rather, let their employees slip by without understanding it. A good friend of mine recently visited Sonoma, and I was thrilled to provide her a list of our favorite wineries. When she returned, I was completely disappointed to hear about her experience at one of our favorites! The person pouring their wine, the face of the winery to her family, was awful. She even found Yelp reviews of him afterwards, and discovered that they were not the only ones with this experience. So, from now on, she will forever have a bad feeling about this wonderful winery - she will not refer people to visit - even worse, she'll tell them to stay clear! She will not purchase the wine, nor will she ever return. All because of some punk kid.

This happens time and time again. We have had similar experiences in restaurants, wineries and stores - our friends have a wonderful time and recommend the place to us, and we have just the opposite occur. I have worked in retail and as a waitress, so I've been there. We all have bad days, sure, it happens. But when that bad day can have such a huge negative effect on your business and your reputation, maybe you should just call in sick...