Robert Kotowski's Blog

Chicago Trip

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:08:42 -0400

Brie and I went to Chicago a weekend ago, so I could use my wedding gift from Brie. Which because everyone I have told we were going did not know, she got me tickets to the Chicago Fire. We got a hotel right off Michigan Ave, which was fun to drive to. Brie ran in to check in, and I drove around the block a couple of times, trying to find the parking structure associated with the Congress Plaza Hotel. It was just labeled Park 1 never did it mention Congress Plaza. People in Chicago love to honk, if you wait to long to turn right on red they honk at you. But an hour after getting into Chicago we parked and were in the hotel. We went out to dinner at an artist cafe just up the street. The ice cream sundae was excellent.

Saturday morning we got up and tried to get on the internet to see what was in the town to do, but when a hotel in Chicago says "internet available in room" it does not mean free internet. But we really needed to know what time things opened and what attractions were where, so we bought the bullet. We ended up going to the Planetarium first and seeing a show about stars narrated by Whoopie Goldberg. After the Planetarium we were going to the Aquarium to eat and see some fish, but the line outside was at least an hour long. So we ended up going to the natural history museum and had some lunch there. At 5 we went to the soccer game. Which was Fire vs the Revolution. New England ended up winning in the last 10 minutes but it was a pretty good game. Turns out Brie got me a double header the second game was morelia vs the pumas. We did not stay for much of that game the noise maker came out and were quite annoying. We stopped by a dance event when we got back into town that was just a forty foot by forty foot dance floor that was just packed. And after a 90 degree day, everyone smelled great. So we did not stay long at all.

On Sunday morning we went for a little jog. And then decided to go see a movie that was not playing in Michigan, The Kids Are All Right. It was a pretty good movie. It was well worth the mole and a half walk we had to go to see it. When we got out of the movie it was raining pretty hard so we ended up eating lunch right next to the movie theater. When we finished lunch the sun was back out, and we headed back to our car. And were on our way back home.

Wedding License

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:04:02 -0400

So apparently getting married is a lot like getting a gun. Their is a three day waiting period for either. Yesterday I went down to the county building to get my Marriage License, and it was a pretty painless process. Had to fill out some forms and raise my right hand and swear something about marriage being awesome. Then I find out I have to come back later because they have a waiting period. Just thought that seemed a little bit funny.

Another Dexter Ann Arbor Run

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:08:00 -0400

This year Brie and I decided to run the 10K in the Dexter Ann Arbor run. We were shooting for an hour and thirty minutes, and we were very happy when we finished with a time of one hour and seventeen minutes. We decided to run together so it was be more fun and would have someone to talk to and comment on the sometimes rediculous outfits people decided to run in. The weather was a big factor in our time because the humidity and the temperature had dropped drastically from the previous week. So it was quite pleasant to run in.

We were planning to go to taste of Ann Arbor after the run but then some very cold rain started up. So we decided to go out to breakfast with my father, who also ran in the Dexter Ann Arbor run, but in the 5K. We went to Uptown Coney Island and I had some waffles. It was a good day.

Welcome Back Blog

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:29:46 -0400

So according to Barney, Blogging is still cool. So I need to start up again. I have been busy with house stuff. I took down the trampoline and have gotten the hang of my lawn mower. Now I just need to get me a weed whacker. We had some flowers come in naturally and picture are here.

I also put up some picture of Tom and Abe birthday celebrations. Also for Tom's birthday we went out to dinner and Bridgit and Brie showed in just about the same outfit. A purple shirt and a white skirt. It was cute so it made picture of the month.

Fun With Switches

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:04:13 -0400

Whoever built our house had some fun with the light switches. For instance to turn the light on over the kitchen table, in the kitchen, you have to flip a switch in the living room. And if that is not bad enough, that same switch also controls the plugs in the living room. Because when I want the kitchen light on I obviously want the lights on in the living room. They just go hand in hand.

To turn on the lights in our entryway there is a switch in our garage or next to our bedroom door through the office. Now, if you turn on one of those switches the switch next to the entry door will work. But if you turn it off at that switch then of course the other two switches do nothing.

Also there is a switch to our basement that we have tried in every combination and it just does nothing. And it is in a very prime location that you would really think it should do something. But alas no it does not.

Lastly the switch for our outdoor lights is also in our garage and still just not where you would expect it. A little higher than you would really guess for the outside lights. So for the first two weeks that we lived in the house we thought that those lights were on our circuit breaker that has the short in it. But no they work just fine.

Long Long Time No Update

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:03:29 -0500

So it is actually official Brie and I did get the house!!!!!! Just a few days short of 10 Months after we put an offer on the house. So we closed on Monday February the 22nd at three in the afternoon. Drove to the house and surveyed our property. Than on Tuesday we had my parents, Will, Brie and I over to paint. Bridgit came over around 11 to take down some ugly wallpaper. By the end of the day we had the house looking great. Wednesday was basicly a day of rest. Thursday I worked from 7 till 11 and then the moving started. At first it was just me, Will, and his friend David. Around 3 or 4 my Father, Tom, Jenna, and Greg showed up for the final push. By 7 we were done and my dad showed up with some pizza. On Friday, which was Brie's birthday, We had the carpet people and the internet people over at the same time in the morning. All in all from purchase to house being liveable in only a week is just a little tiring, but awesome.

Very Happy House Update

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:22:09 -0500

So if you haven't heard yet, WE GOT OUR HOUSE. Well not exactly yet. We got third party approval. Which means there is now an actual timeline for us getting into our house. The end of February we will be in.

Yesterday we had our house inspection. It went pretty well. A couple of things wrong and a couple of things we will have to do in the next couple of years. There we some outlets that don't work, the fireplace in the master bedroom does not work either, and the sump pump does not pump. The furnace and air conditioner have another ten years in them, the dishwasher works fine, I think the hot water heater is an 81 gallon capacity, and best of all the garage door openers work great.

We cannot wait to move in.

Car Trouble

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:09:25 -0500

So this week I went over 70,000 miles in my car. This is still the lowest total miles on a car I have ever driven. I think I got the Escort at around 115,000, and the van don't even get me started. So this week caps off a couple of months of car repairs. I had to get another rim on my car because the original was corroded. This should hopefully fix my problem for splashy tires all the time. While they were at it they re-replaced the one I bought last March because it was already corroding. Which cant be a good sign if it is already going bad. Around Christmas I got my head gasket swapped out because apparently oil in your radiator is not a good idea. And then back in September I had my wheel speed sensor replaced so my car would stop telling me that I had low traction all the time.

Let's Kick This Pig

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:47:39 -0500

On Sunday I went to see the Jersey Boys at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. It was a gift from the Murphy's for Christmas. Jersey Boys was the story of the Four Seasons rise to fame. Which who knew that I like the Four Seasons that much. Just about every song I was singing along to.

So on the way home we got in the car and I used the line "Let's kick this pig." to signify I was ready to get going, and Brie and Maurella both told me that I had made that saying up and that I was crazy. Heather backed me up and said she thought she had heard of that saying. So I ask you, have you heard that? Or did I just make that up?

Christmas Shopping

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:54:23 -0500

Today I plan to finish up my Christmas shopping. This will be a record for me because it seems like I always have to go out on the last day, and wait hours in line to pick up one last item that I should have gotten weeks ago. But this year their will be none of that. Go Me....