Bird in the Chimney

On Friday, Juliano emailed me at work because he thought he heard something in our chimney. On Saturday, I went down to do laundry and I could hear something too. By the afternoon, we both heard noises quite a few times and decided to try to get it out. Juliano disassembled the entire vent for the water heater. We thought it was in the vent. With that completely off, we realized the critter was still in the chimney and it was indeed a very large Starling. We placed bread in the pipe venting the water heater and the bird quickly flew out of the chimeny and into our basement, carrying the bread it its beak! The poor bird flew around our basement for quite a while. I'd like to point out that initially Juliano was laying on the floor in a "tornado warning" pose. We turned out all the lights, propped open the side door and, after much chasing, the bird finally flew up the stairs and out the door.

City of Cleveland vs. Renee B.

Well, it's official. I have submitted my Notice of Appeal for my unjustiifed parking ticket of December 28. How can one place coins in a meter when the meter is malfunctioning and will not accept change? Yet, I'm supposed to pay a $25 ticket?

Today, I submitted my appeal with three notaized affidavits from my co-workers that witnessed my attempts to insert quarters and dimes into the meter. We even left a dime in the meter to show our intentions before going into a downtown buidling for less than 10 minutes. When we came out the meter maid was writing the ticket. We approached him and he acknowledged that the meter was not working. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WOULD NOT ACCEPT CHANGE. He also told us he would note that in the "system". Apparently the note was not made.

On January 10, I recieve a letter from the City stating that I must pay my outstanding $25 ticket. I decided to take it to court. Most would simply pay the ticket, but it's the priciple of it all. I would have much rather put my coins in the meter and not had it come to this.

I'll keep you posted with how this turns out. I should receive my court date in a few weeks.

Sad News

It is the end of an era. Join me in saying good bye to my 1994 Eagle Talon ES. It was a good little car for the first 10 years of its life. Within the last 2 it has turned into a devil, the doors won't lock, the gas tank leaks, there's oil all over the engine (wonder where that's coming from?), it sounds like a tank coming down the street, that is when it actually starts, it needs a battery, and our good friend in Cleveland Rust has come to see it more than a few times.

It's a sad day. Bye Bye General Talon...
P.S. If you know of anyone that may actually want to buy this car, please let me know!

Cleveland Orchestra Concert

In December, my friends Billy and Michelle gave me 2 tickets to attend a brass and organ holiday concert at Severance Hall. The concert helped get me into the Christmas season. My Mom and I really enjoyed the lights that accompanied each piece too. There were snowflakes dancing on the ceiling and walls.

Coffee Backpack

It's not easy to see in this photo, but below is a photo of my Mom receiving a cup of McDonald's coffee from a man wearing a backpack full of coffee! The Museum had an event in early November to kick off the holiday season and this man walked around the party filling coffee cups. It was so funny.