It's been awhile... Things that might be happening in #602

So, it's been awhile guys! I was sitting around the other day and realized that year one is almost over. How time flies... Anyways it's time for the next installment of "Things that might be happening in #602". So, the other evening I'm relatively certain that a speed metal band was playing in his apartment. No, really, I'm relatively certain that there was a double bass drum kit and all...and I'd imagine it looked something like this:

Things that might be happening in 602

Coming soon

So, Amanda and I are excited to announce that we are in the initial stages of drafting a new web-comic called "Things that might explain the noise coming from Apartment #602".

Having lived below this gentleman for some time now, Amanda and I have had the unique opportunity to play make believe while attempting to identify the noises that emerge from above us.

We've decided to rule out the usual suspects, fighting, sexual intercourse and other things that grown ups do that might annoy their apartment dwelling neighbors and have resorted to more creative explanations... keep your eyes peeled over the next few days... :)

Zackmanda van Briehle (according to our subscription to Mental Floss)...

Nutrition

So, it's been awhile...

September found us busy with reception planning and the like, October brought Amanda's thirtieth birthday and our six month anniversary.  Our reception went fantastically, in case I forgot to mention and likewise with regard to Amanda's birthday. However, life wasn't all good:

Amanda and I also found ourselves eating out too often and drinking too much beer and other beverages and getting next to no exercise. 

When it was all over, we both found ourselves a little depressed with the results.

I've always struggled with having a healthy relationship with food.  In my youth, I was often depressed and used food as a comfort mechanism. Around the time I turned eighteen, I got tired of that, and with the help of an "accountabilibuddy" (thanks, Tim) dropped more than fifty pounds, in a very short amount of time.  Because of how quickly I dropped the weight, I found myself a victim of yo-yo syndrome, and over the next several years, I would regularly put on twenty pounds and then quickly drop it.  Most of the time, I'd get too busy with school or work, or whatever and revert to old, bad habits. 

Amanda went to the doctor the other day, and found herself frustrated.

Now, any good husband knows that your wife doesn't want you to  fix her problems, she just wants to know you care.  And I do, but I am a caretaker personality to some extent and I "just wanted to help".  So, I made a proposal that I take over kitchen duties for awhile.  Now: here's the thing, I'm a pretty good cook, I've learned how to make healthy meals that fill you up.  And I have also made many mistakes along the way as to "how to eat". 

So, I composed a menu which incorporates elements of what worked for me; Being many tiny meals throughout the day, smaller portion sizes and very few refined carbs, and a cheat meal every week. The good news is : we aren't depriving ourselves either.  In terms of hunger, though we both at times during this week felt hungry,  we got through it.  I have an insatiable sweet tooth.  Accordingly, when Amanda and I were planning our menu, we made sure that we put some fruit in it and even got some cocoa roast almonds, a much better alternative to the nightly ice cream cone I'd partake in prior. 

After a week, Amanda and I both find ourselves fitting in to our clothes a little better and generally just feeling better about life. 

Now a week in, tomorrow brings our first metrics.  Our first weigh in and measurements.  Oh, did I mention I really don't believe that weight is an accurate measure of health?  It's a metric that provides minimal data,  I much prefer measurements.  We'll let you know how that goes, until next time..that's all, folks!

the act of receiving, or the state of being received

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Amanda and I married on April 13^th of this year after I had proposed in October.  Shortly after the New Year, Amanda and I declared the date.  Unfortunately, due to the relatively short stretch of time in between our choosing of the date and the actual wedding, the thought of having a reception in April seemed insurmountable.  That said, Amanda and I shared the day with a small group of friends, and had an annotated reception with a promise of a more formal reception to come in the future.  After the wedding, we immediately began planning our reception.  We investigated a number of venues, and ultimately opted for the Hall at The German Central Foundation.  We booked for September 22, 2012 and the pandemonium began.  As you’ll recall, shortly before Amanda and I got married, I took a new job and financial panic ensued.  The original idea was we’d both allocate a fair amount of money towards the reception to make it happen; when I took the new job, that possibility flew out the window.  Amanda and our respective families worked hard to make the reception happen, and last night, the loving efforts of many came together, resulting in an event that we were so lucky to be able to share with our friends and family members.

            Now, for backgrounds sake, you should know: my sister in law worked for a long period of time as an event coordinator/florist for a local florist, her boyfriend is a professional chef and our families are both very excellent at making things happen that seem implausible.  Over a period of several months, Amanda, our families and myself met and coordinated last night’s reception.  We invited two hundred plus, gave a relatively short period of time to respond and about two weeks after the fact, we still had an insufficient amount of responses to accurately gauge who intended on attending our event.  Accordingly, we planned for one hundred fifty.  My sister-in-law jumped to action, contacting her employer and coordinated flora for the event.  My sister-in-law’s boyfriend jumped to action and immediately began menu planning and arranging for the procurement of food.  At our next meeting, David announced his menu and accordingly, jaws dropped.  Admittedly,  I was a bit nervous, but David reassured all that he was getting a crew together and that he would be able to make this happen.  We arranged for my cousin to play the role of DJ and things were “looking up”. 

            We delivered our final counts to David.  A few weeks before the reception, David learned that the crew he had put together to assist wouldn’t be able to make it due to another obligation.  David has this hilariously stoic demeanor when faced with adversity, and I believe he uttered, “We’ll adjust”.  Though I am well aware of David’s abilities as a chef, this prospect made the “crew” and me a bit nervous. 

            The reality of this event did not come to me until Friday when we began setting up.  We clothed tables, prepped arrangements and began our prep cooking, much to the dismay of the rental agent at the German Central Foundation.  On Saturday, Amanda and I normally pick up our CSA, so I met the rental agent at the venue, she and I engaged in a curt conversation, and she was on her way.  Shortly after, the troops arrived and we began the process of cooking.  Some stirred sauces and some dressed salads and others cut bread.  

            After a brief lunch, we finished up our cooking and before we knew it, guests began arriving.

            The reception went off without a hitch.  We danced, and had a wonderful time.  The most overwhelming thing was the outpouring of love and support from our family.  The cuisine was outstanding, and loved by all and life felt good. 

            We got to ten o’ clock at night or so, and it appeared that the night was winding to a close. 

            I’ve always been under the impression that receptions were meant to be easy for the bride and groom; any one who has had one or had part in one, I’m certain will advise you that this conception is ill informed.  After the reception, I headed to the kitchen, and began doing dishes.  Let me tell you: doing dishes for a meal prepared for one hundred and fifty people is grueling at best. But, I enjoyed doing them, because the love and the energy that we shared with our family and friends yesterday made it all worth it. 

Reception is defined as: the act of receiving, or the state of being received.  It is interesting to read the definition, because right in the definition, it dispels a notion that I had about them. I went in thinking that a reception was for others to simply receive you, as bride and groom; and perhaps that isn’t totally ill informed, as often times in our culture, that's how society treats them, but more importantly, receptions are for the newly eloped to receive their guests, to greet them as (and I’m sorry, but this is the best possible way I can think to express it) their new selves. 

            Amanda asked me today what my favorite part of last nights reception was.  I had to think for a minute, because every moment felt so joyful.  At one point last night, my lovely cousin Gracelyn came to me and asked me if she could have a flower.  I asked for a hug, and she gave it to me.  It’s been quite some time since I’ve been able to share much with that side of my family, I don’t know what barriers I encountered that made it seem so prohibited, but alas. I was so happy, after a moment, I thought about the fact that we had a few flowers left over, and so I escaped in to the back and grabbed them and gave them to Gracelyn.  The smile on her face made my night. 

            Last night reminded Amanda and I just how lucky we are to be able to share our lives with all of you.  And you, us.  Thank you.

            With that, I raise my flute to you, my friend and thank you for sharing this event with us.  Words seem wholly insufficient to express our thanks to those who helped make this event possible.  We’ll certainly pay it forward.  You are so loved, my friends and family.

WHY U NO WORK?

Okay, so, in case you haven't been able to tell, I got 99 problems and my financial situation has roots in 98 of the 99 problems I have.

Alright, well, it's certainly not a rap song, but I'm sure you can relate.


This week was gonna be cool. I discovered some "missed" money in my PayPal account-- A few months ago, I sold one of my phones.  I made a pretty decent amount off of it, despite it's age.  I guess at that point money wasn't important. After all, I was making a substantial amount more a year and it must have not been important at that time, so I did what any smart person would, I loaded my Starbucks card.  After all, a boys gotta have his vices, right?


Two weeks ago or so, I decided that I was tired of everything and decided I would move the whole living room around.  It resulted in a much nicer qi. For about a week or so, Amanda and I got along better and were closer and everything else.  So, anyways, this week, I got home one day and I decided that I wanted to jam out, so I switched my speakers on, only to discover that one was not working.   Curious, I investigated the situation.  In investigating the situation, I managed to break one of the speaker inputs.  If that weren't bad enough, after doing so, I pulled the subwoofer out, and along with it came part of the connector which powers the sub woofer.  Recalling that Klipsch makes most of their speaker systems repairable, I began investigating that, thinking that it might be cheaper than purchasing a new unit.  No such luck, the only part that is serviceable is the speaker pod.

So, I made my peace and decided that, for at least a while, I wouldn't be able to jam out nearly as hard.

On a weekly basis, I make it a point to plug my toothbrush and shaver in so that I don't have to worry about them crapping out during the week.  Well, yesterday, I decided to plug my shaver in.  It didn't start charging, so I thought, I'll clean the contacts.  I did that, still no charge, so I decided that the next best thing was to try locking it. 

And that was the last that anyone ever heard of the shaver. It's now locked. Won't unlock. Acts like it's charging, but after 15 hours on the charger, it still acts as though it has no power.  So I made my peace.  I will likely wrestle grizzly bears until Friday when I get paid again. 

Now. I'm mad.

:D

Budget Bar - Introducing the Hobo Mimosa

Zack and I are in our mid to late twenties (his mid and my late) and the main form of entertainment among people who don't have kids in our age group seems to be going out to bars to have a few drinks and to socialize.  Admittedly, we don't do that very often.  It's more like, "Hm, do we want to spend $50.00 on a night out or do we want to save it and use it towards a downpayment on a house or on paying down our credit cards..."  This isn't to say that our bar-going friends are fiscally irresponsible.  I'm basically just saying that we're tightwads.  That being said, we still like to cut loose a little bit on weekends.

There are a lot of ways around having to spend a lot of money.  The main one is to invite your friends over for a dance party at your house.  Or, when that fails, to have a dance party with the cats.  Another really important thing to do is NOT spend too much money on fancy beverages.  There are some perfectly good options on the market and I've been getting into trying out different malt liquor beverages.  My favorite is the Mike's Mango Punch.  Not so disgusting that it will make you sick (it's actually pretty tasty), but not so expensive that you're going to regret buying one (or two) the next morning.

There is, of course, a fine line between intelligent frugality and doing something gross for the sake of being cheap.  I crossed that line this weekend.

On the way home from work, we decided to stop at the BP by our house.  Usually, we go to the Speedway across the street and that's where I get my Mike's Mango Punch.  At the BP, they didn't have it, so I started searching for the next best thing and I thought I had found it in a 24 ounce can of Blueberry Pomegranate Blast .... by Colt 45.  I remember a few weeks ago that Zack had bought a can of regular Colt 45 and I tasted some of it and described as tasting like pennies and ass.  I'm not sure why I thought this would be a much different experience, but I bought it anyways.  See that horse butt right under the logo?  I don't think it's there by accident.  Regardless, I got this thing home, cracked it open and took a big old sip.  It was, as you can imagine, utterly disgusting.  So disgusting, in fact, that I ended up pouring it down the sink, despite my strong dislike for wasting anything.  I didn't pour it down the sink before suggesting that Zack try it as well.

So there it is, folks.  Go cheap, but don't go this  cheap.

Now that I've sufficiently explained what not to do with your adult beverage money, I would like to clue you into a lovely beverage that I would like to believe that my college friends and I invented (maybe we didn't, who knows):  The Hobo Mimosa.

The hobo mimosa is perfect for when you'd like a lot of beverage at once, but you don't want to pay a lot for it.  Ever hear of a brass monkey?  Where you drink a Mickey's down to the label and then fill it back up with orange juice?  It's a lot like that only using a King Cobra.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to find a King Cobra, so we used the Champagne of Beers instead (figuring it would make it more mimosa-like).  For your enjoyment, here is a brief picture tutorial on how to make a Hobo Mimosa.

1.  Obtain a 40 oz of some sort of very cheap, light beer or of some sort of malt liquor.  Obtain a smaller  amount of orange juice as well.  We would strongly suggest going the pulp-free route, as pulp in a 40 is pretty gross.

2.  Drink it down to where the label on a bottle of King Cobra would be (unless you are using King Cobra, in which case drink it down to the label.  As you can see in this photo, the "label area" on the ol' Champagne of Beers is slightly above where the actual label is.  Use your discretion, I guess.  Once you've gotten the level of cheap beer or malt liquor to the correct spot, start filling the empty space with orange juice.

3.  The resulting concoction should look something like this.  It's perfect for summer, serves at least one person (for the entire evening, usually) and costs only about $5.00 start to finish.

I know what you may be thinking, internet.  "That's not very classy."  Well, it's not supposed to be that classy.  It's supposed to get the job done with a minimum amount of collateral damage.  Besides, it only becomes seriously un-classy when you're wandering around the parking lot of the post office and yelling at cars.*



*we did not do either of these things.