Who wants to mow their lawn?

Well that would be me.

The place that we are currently renting has a yard so we (read that as I) are required to mow. The owners have left us a lawnmower on property that we can use to complete this task. So last night I started to mow and not very far into mowing the lawn mower died. So I checked the gas and it still had plenty in the tank. I then checked the oil and there was plenty of that too. At this point I tipped the lawnmower and I noticed that gas started to leak out of the air filter. I'm taking this as a bad sign. So I go in and get Isaac and he is able to start it up but then it also promptly dies on him too. He checks everything like I did but thinks the gas might be a bit low and he thinks it just needs more gas. So we get the gas and fill it up, at this point more gas is now coming out of the air filter. So we call his dad who says we should take it to a repair shop. I also ask Isaac to call the owners as it is their lawnmower.

Long story short much later the husband owner calls my phone and says that he only heard something about the lawnmower not working and to call him back. This totally ticks me off as we left him a detailed message about the lawnmower and what this issue was. He then proceeds to call Isaac's phone and say that the lawnmower is a gift and it's our issue. Which to me says that he understands the issue but doesn't want to pay for it.

So my dilemma is with the research I've done that this could be a rather inexpensive issue or it could become a chronic problem. The lawnmower is a Craftsman Eager-1 which seems to be a good lawnmower but at the same time I don't know how old it is and therefore if it would even be worth to fix. I also don't want to deal with the hassle of all the time and possible money it would take it fix it. I also hate having to get an extra supply of gas just for it. Also I need to mow the lawn. So my other solution is to buy a new lawn mower. I've always wanted a reel mower as I think they are really cool and the only power you use is propulsion. Isaac is against this but as I've pointed out, I mow the lawn. What we get (if we get one) should be my say as I'll be stuck with it. I also feel like every month any money that I could keep always has to go into something like this that just pops up and demands attention and money. I know, it's life, get used to it.

So this is what I've found, it's the Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

On an up note

Music I'm listening to right now:
Greg Laswell, OMG all Greg Laswell

Jack Savoretti

And Thunderstorms, I'm really missing them currently and our weather keeps looking like it will but it doesn't.

Tough All Over

I know I haven't posted lately but it's hard when I get stressed to not just, well, stress. Admittedly when we were asked to find a new home because Jim and Dee's niece was losing her house due to foreclosure I knew it would be tough. But I thought it would be doable. I also think I budgeted us to the last penny and I'm not used to ever doing that I'm used to having a cushion. And while admittedly our account has not hit zero or overdrawn it's gotten pretty low.
I knew we'd have to work hard, much harder than we were and I think the stress of that is getting to me too. I've also had to pull from our savings which is modest to begin with. We are also relying on Isaac's business to help us out and most months he can but I've had to use our saving when he hasn't been able to. I feel bad about it but it's the only way we are going to make it and I'm very lucky that I can work overtime to help us also in an economy like this. All I have to say is don't ever get a loan for 100,000 and have to absolutely pay it back in ten years while having to pay all other aspects of living. I know I'm pretty down in the mouth about all of this so it's time to say what I am grateful for and what's getting me through.
Namely, Isaac. He's such a great husband and he would do anything to help us/me. I am grateful daily to him for his love, help and commitment to seeing us through.Also there is a possibility for him to get a better job and while he has a lot of competition I know he has a really good chance. His interview is Thursday so please send good thoughts and keep your fingers crossed. And even if this other job doesn't pan out he has a really great job as is. And last but not least our five year wedding anniversary is this Friday. That seems pretty crazy but also really wonderful. I'm also thankful for all of you guys. My family and friends. I do have to make a disclaimer that I'm also overly emotional right now as it's oh, right about that time of the month.

P.S. Carrie I'm really moving on your socks. :)

I've finally found it.

So ever since I was a teenager I have wanted wings tattooed on my back. There are a few issues that have impeded me up to this point such as I've never found the right wings and as far as my profession goes tattoos are not common place. I do however, figure that if they're on my back it circumnavigates that issue it turns more into I am majorly and permanently altering my body and that's really hard for me to wrap my head around.

I think one thing that makes all this easier is that I have finally found the wings I want. I've been watching all the seasons of Battlestar Galactica lately for the first time and I'm right around season 2.5-3 and I have seen Kara's and Anders' arms. Holy s**t. That's amazing, I love it and I want it. For those of you that don't watch Battlestar Galactica or don't remember what it looks like I have pictures posted below. I would take out the constellation of Capricorn that they have split between the two and put the Sagittarius constellation in the middle of the ring. Everyone has three signs so I might put my other two where the split up Capricorn signs are. I really love this so here's to hoping I will actually do it.

Shirts on the way...

Yay!

Tulips, Dragons and Cleaning

So a couple of weeks ago Isaac and I went up to La Conner to look at the tulips. It was great there were very few people we stayed a while and I feel I got a lot of nice shots. The whole thing was very relaxed. So I asked Isaac if he would want to go up again and see what was in bloom this time and he agreed. We got up early on Sunday (who am I kidding, we always get up early) and went. This past weekend was the most heavily attended weekend of the Tulip Festival (don't ask me why) so it was nice that we got there early. Of course at any event that is heavily attended there are cops (duh). So we found a tulip field and pulled over on the side of the road behind a few other cars, got out and started taking pictures. By no means is this parking legal. I found out very quickly that Isaac thought it was because as we were approaching the field there were signs that said parking ahead and Isaac assumed when he saw the cars that that is where the parking was. So a cop pulls up and asks everyone to move their cars. Isaac wants to have a conversation (argument) with the cop because Isaac thinks we are parked legally (we were in between no parking signs). I was able to get him to stop talking to the cop and just move the car. At that point he realized we were parked illegally.
When we got home we went and saw "How to Train Your Dragon". It's a really cute movie and the main dragon looks a lot like Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. It was kind of distracting to me, see below.

And then it was home to cleaning galore (three loads of dishes), Battle Star Glactica and Brioche French toast for dinner.

So, um, yeah

So I've been putting off admitting this to anyone (it's not too terrible, don't get excited) :) but I haven't been in a weight room for about a month, I don't know why. I'm a girl that loves a good weight room, and by a good weight room I  mean free weights and the more character the better (you know as long as it's still safe and all). I have been doing my cardio but not up to usual specs either. I've been getting on myself about this but doing nothing else about it. Again, no idea why no motivation. Lifting weights is relaxing to me (yes, I get the oxymoron) and I guess to be a little sacrilege it's kind of like going to church for me. I can rock out to my music and get into my quiet me space (again, I get the oxymoron, I probably am one) and I always feel so much better when I'm done, sore but my spirits are lifted. I don't think I've ever left a weight room mad, sure I may get frustrated in the middle of a set that I can't continue but it rolls right off me because I know I'm doing my best. Well, I ended my streak of no weights on Tuesday and if I say so myself I think I over did it. It's also probably that it's been a while and I chose weights that were too heavy for me. I got exercises mixed up but over all I don't care because I'm sore in a way that I love. It pretty much hurts to move but not in an ouch I really screwed something up kinda way. I know how that feels too and it ain't pretty. I often come to the realization that I will probably spend more of my life being sore than not and finding that really hilarious because I like it. It's also so empowering to be the only girl walking past these guys in the free weight section and to know what I'm doing. Not having to ask for help but instead "when are you going to be done with that" or "can I rotate in?".

Now I just need to ramp up my cardio, too bad running is pretty much out.