Yes, I'm a Nerd

This has been a trying month for me, but it has now transmogrified into the best month ever. I now have the elusive Alabama state quarter from 2003. I've had dreams about this quarter. It came out the first part of 2003, ('03 had the lowest circulation of quarters since the program began) but until now I've been unable to get my hands on it in a natural manner. Yes, I could have bought it off eBay, or had one of the restaurant managers be on the look out for it, but that's not fair. So far the 5 state quarters that have come out every year since 1999 I have collected simply by having them fall into my hand as change.
Yes, these quarters I collect aren't the cool uncirculated ones. I must really enjoy the 1.3 seconds of anticipation while turning over George to find out what piece of the collection might be filled next. Other than that, I have no idea why I've been collecting these for the last 7.5 years. At face value the whole 50-state set will be worth a whopping $12.50. Nonetheless, I track my progress in a spreadsheet. I even sync'd the
spreadsheet to my nerd-machine for quick fact-checking on the go. I keep my collected quarters in a special velvet-lined jewelry box made from silver. I even keep them in a secure off-site location (uh, my office) so one of the kids doesn't accidentally use them for lunch money. I've got 2.5 years until the Hawaii quarter falls into my hands completing the 50-state collection while simultaneously marking a decade of my life gone by. What will I have to show for that decade of coin dedication? Again, $12.50.

I invested in a mule

Instead of buying quads for next Glamis season, we decided we'd like to get one of those Kawasaki Mule's (basically a 4x4 golf cart). They are fun, and after Mike's injury last Glamis visit last weekend, he feels it'll be a little more safe for him. Well, we just bought one, it's an Amana 5 ton 13 SEER. I know, you're thinking that sounds like specs for an air conditioner. You're right. We just spent $6500 on replacing the aging a/c in our house. Not 4 years ago we replaced the a/c in our old house, too. That one was called my $5k roof-mounted engagement ring. I hate spending money on replacing things I already have. I want new stuff! When I think about it longer than 5 seconds, that makes me feel very bratty and superficial. I'm sure I'll feel differently next month when I'm in my 72-degree living room opening my electricity bill that is only $220 (instead of $420). I think I'll snap a pic of myself in front of my mule tonight.

Educated Horses

This is the weirdest thing...a local radio station here 97.7 has been playing the same song (Pink "Get This Party Started) over and over (and over again) for at least the last 24 hours. WTF? How this could go on this long, I have no idea. I find myself checking every few hours to see if its still on, and sometimes I listen to it just for amusement. Maybe even weirder than Perpetual-Pink is that this station doesn't even play that song in its normal rotation. It's a pro-new wave 80's station. Another mystery to ponder instead of working.

That's Levitation, Holmes

Boo Hoo's:

• My mom was in the hospital for 10 days
• I had to take the adorable "stow-away" stray kitty to the shelter
• Luc Robitaille announcing his retirement from hockey in 4 minutes
  
• The C: drive in one of the restaurants went bad

Woo Hoo's:

• My mom does NOT have cancer
• I earned perfect scores in 2 of my classes last week
• I earned a 98% in the 3rd class
• It's spring - the desert is beautiful