This is NOT About Trees Falling on My House

My first post about the new house can NOT be about the tree falling on it...so, I'm going to write about my neighbor instead.

We all have bad neighbors, crazy neighbors, WT neighbors, right?

Just because you have bad neighbors doesn't mean you hate your house, right?

I LOVE my house. Sure, there are a million things I want to change (or fix now that the tree fell on it), but my house is absolutely ME. It Sazzles. I have a fabulous office, beautiful hardwood floors, crown molding, curb appeal, plenty of storage, and gigantic fenced yard that Niko loves.

How bad could a neighbor really be?

Well...I think it would be a violation of some sort to post a picture, but one of my neighbors is on a list. Not only a list, but THE list.

Yes, friends, the Michigan Sex Offender list. And BOY is his picture creepy.

He has a creepy garage that I hear funny noises coming from, Niko doesn't like him (she likes everyone) and is always barking out the window, and my sister, Sarah, was creeped out by him one day while he carried his shovel. But, I digress.

I am choosing to love my house, and my neighborhood, through the good and the bad...but I am asking my cousin (city cop) to stop by every now and then in his cop car --- but he has to park where the dude can see him.

...and as a disclaimer...my other neighbors are SO fabulous. The husband plowed my driveway one day and the wife was my sister's teacher in school -- so I am still happy and safe and in love with where I am.

Through snow and rain and sleet and hail and trees falling on my house -- my house, Niko and I Sazzle, dear friends.

How to Celebrate?

This Saturday I'm celebrating the new job and buying my house -- I'm going out with one of my best friends, Kirsti. Her husband, Brandon, is going to be DD and comedic relief :)

So...here's my question. What should we do?

Obviously dinner and drinks are in order...I'm a huge fan of On the Border for both.

But, Blog Friends: What else should we do?

It's Official!

I moving back to my hometown of Fremont, Michigan.

The job is Call Center Supervisor for Gerber Life Insurance. I have 8 years of call center experience and over 4 years of managerial experience...so hopefully I can hit the ground running.

While I will have to deal with no Target, Starbucks or the mall, I am going to be living next to my family and Niko gets a super huge fenced yard to play and run and just be her.

I'm super excited and there will be a ton of updates -- so stay tuned!!!

Movie Night

Yesterday, Mom had to bring me...something. (Has to do with my secret so unfortunately I cannot disclose at this time) My brother, Kevin, and his girlfriend, Ashley, decided to come visit so we could all go out to dinner.

Since the weather was HORRIBLE with multiple accidents and pile-ups, Mom and I thought it was best that she didn't drive home. So what did we do? Bought booze and movies, of course!

Mom can make a STRONG drink :)

Mom is a huge sci-fi fan, so her movie selection was

Honestly, we really enjoyed it. Ash and Kev left after that, but Mom and I decided to watch my selection:

Unfortunately, mom was not a fan -- but I love these movies with a million famous stars.

While I'm trying to avoid sharing my secrets, that is all that Mom and I talked about. Niko was in heaven with visitors and I haven't had a movie night in a long time.

...now, if I can just get through the next 2 weeks...

Mysterious Ways...

Tomorrow I had planned on handing in my 2-week notice --- and I was called tonight and told my job has been eliminated.

TWO WEEK VACATION!!!!

And...the new job is still a secret...so shhhhhh

Not Another Boring Review of the Golden Globes...

...all I have to say is...

BEST.DRESS.EVER

Too bad she didn't win.

Oogy Read

I just finished a book. (No, I don't want a cookie)

Oogy is a story about a poor dog used as a bait dog for a dog fighting ring who was found, saved, and taken in by a family. Since I am a huge dog-lover and ASPCA commercials make me cry, I figured that this would be a real tear-jerker.

Wrong.

Yes, there were terrible parts of the book that brought tears to my eyes -- but there was nothing motivational or inspiring about this book and here are the reasons why I do not recommend it:

• You never read about anyone getting punished or caught for abusing the poor dog -- yet the beginning eludes to the fact that the owner tried to find out who did it
• There is no plot to the book -- the first chapter explains how he was rescued -- the rest of the book doesn't say a whole lot
• The writing is TERRIBLE. "I walked to the counter and poured myself coffee. Then, I put it in the microwave for 50 seconds. Then, I put laundry in the dryer. I looked at Oogy..." There was limited sentence variety and felt as though I was reading a text book

The BIGGEST reason why I hated this book is because the owner thinks he is the best man that ever walked the face of the earth. All 219 pages of this book are dedicated to what an amazing man the author is for taking this dog in, taking care of him and providing him necessary medical treatment.

Wait a minute -- isn't that what every pet owner does?

Here's the thing -- if you decide to take a pet in, you have to be willing to provide him/her ALL the necessary medical treatment and love that you would provide to a human being. Sure, some people chain their pets outside and ignore them -- but those people are not animal lovers -- they are animal abusers. That is my belief and I will stick to it.

So, while I wanted to love this book...and I really wanted to... I did not and it was a challenge to finish.

However, I hope Oogy has a wonderful life and I do love the fact that a family did take him in.