More "Ken's Rules to Live By"

Here are some new rules I've been jotting down on napkins and post-its:

56. Avoid luxury goods sold at retail outlets with the words "city", "world", or "zone" in the name. No "Perfume World", "Jewelry City" or "Fur Zone".

57. Steer clear of Comcast Cable if you have any other options. The meanest, most unhelpful people in the world work in their "customer service". I think it must be where airline ticket clerks go to die. Only Sprint rivals Comcast for creative ways to make using their service more miserable.

58. Always, always, always wipe down the equipment at the gym after you are done.

59. At Taco Bell, always upgrade up from the ground beef to the chicken or steak. Meat should not have a creamy consistency.

60. Always pull over for a funeral procession to pass. It isn't going to kill you (pardon the pun) to sit still for a few minutes and the family really appreciates the respect.

For the complete list of Ken's Rules to Live By, click here.

Home Improvement

Where have I been, you ask? Busy. Very busy.

I bought a condo in a "transitioning" neighborhood at a very good price. However, the previous owner was a terror with paint and tile, and the unit needed some updating. Seriously, people really should have to take some sort of licensing exam before being allowed to purchase paint. I think Home Depot has done great violence to residential interiors: people with no taste slopping gallons of paint on their walls, caking on layers and layers that future owners like me have to contend with. Your monitor does not need to be adjusted ... that is a hot pink bedroom.

I only had two weeks between the day I took possession and when I needed to move in, so the clock was ticking to get the big stuff completed like floors, drywall work, A/C replacement, etc. My contractor didn't show up some days, the delivery trucks couldn't get in through the front gate of the community, walls we took down were not so easy to put back, it snowed ... you name it.

Luckily, my dad came up with a friend who knows how to sheetrock and we worked very long days. Then they went home and I continued to work my butt off ... literally. I lost 15 lbs in three weeks, and most days I was so tired that I could barely crawl into bed. I was so glad to finally go back to work so I could sit at a desk.

So needless to say, blogging hasn't been a priority. But things are slowing down and tonight I'm blogging away while babysitting for friends. Yes, people actually trust me with children. Go figure. I'll do anything to get out of sanding, painting, and replacing light fixtures for a few hours.

The place is coming along nicely, but there is still a lot to do. "After" pictures are coming shortly.