Post 35: Laurie Peacock (our photographer) is a genius!

Laurie met with us not once, but twice to finish up the engagement pictures. She is pretty awesome.

And, yes, I know, we got engaged a year and more ago - so it's been a long time coming.

BUT...

check out her pictures HERE!

Post 34: 25 Random Notes about Diran (as seen of Facebook)

1. The 3rd world isn’t nearly as “ghetto” as the south side of Chicago.
2. I’m having a bad sports year – The Australian Cricket team is taking a beating and the Fed-Express is as lost as UPS.
3. At the age of 28 years, 7 months and 15 days exactly, I will no longer be listed as “unmarried”.
4. I experienced snow for the first time in 2000, at Granville, OH.
5. Junior year of college, my room was the furthest away from the academic quad than any other in the whole college (I went to an all-residential college).
6. My current Audi is the 5th car I’ve owned since 1998.
7. I consider myself capable of fixing almost any electronic device – but don’t own a solder.
8. I have owned an Xbox since 2004 – and have only played 8 games (including Halo 1, Halo 2 and Halo 3). I have never bought a game for my PS3.
9. I am a stickler for spelling, punctuation & grammar - and will often correct you.
10. I believe in the saying, “If you’re drowning in shit, don’t open your mouth”.
11. I’ve had “salad” as a meal once in my life.
12. I did not drink alcohol until January of 2001 – but I am a certified bartender and have worked in 3 bars (including a gay bar).
13. I have known my best friend for 21 years.
14. My brother is 10 years younger than me, but 6 inches taller.
15. My grandmother is the toughest person I know.
16. My grandfather is world-famous.
17. Both my parents are vocalists/musicians.
18. I’ve been on TV twice – and flicked off my debating opponent in a live telecast.
19. My favorite cologne is a combination of Lacoste, Issey Miyake, Acqua Di Gio & Dior Homme Sport.
20. I still collect graphic novels, and the JLA books are still my sentimental favorites.
21. I have been told my omelets are to die-for (yes, I cook).
22. My fiancé is the smartest/hardest-working person I know - who also makes the best chicken soup, lasagna & meatballs.
23. I prefer to have low-key nights surrounded by friends, playing the Wii or board-games.
24. We have lived in our condo for 15 months – and completely renovated the kitchen and guest-bathroom.
25. I have always wanted to be a doctor – and keep up with medical/medicinal research.

Live Results - The Day The World Stood Still

Post 32. And now it's a threesome...

Yep, we've got a new member of the family and she's going to be living with us.

We haven't come up with a name for her yet, but stay tuned for that in the near future.

In the meantime, enjoy some pics and 3rd party reviews...







A Soundless Visual 360: CLICK HERE

Cars.com review: CLICK HERE

Post 31. Crin and I.

As the post says, this is my favorite C&D picture.

Post 30. Requiem.

It's been a while since I posted anything. Sorry. Been busy with the new job and everything.

I was prompted to post today, however, because of a "random" friend request I received on Facebook today. You know the type, someone you don't know adds you as a friend, and you're not sure why or who they are..

Well, so this 'tard adds me, and I was like.. umm, your name might be familiar, but I'm not sure - so I sent him a message. The conversation below is what transpired.

Diran Hafiz

Today at 4:32pm

Subject: Do I know you?

Between Md.Ashraf Hussain Shaon and You

Md.Ashraf Hussain Shaon

Today at 4:51pm

no perhaps.wanna khow me?

Diran Hafiz

Today at 4:58pm

no.

Md.Ashraf Hussain Shaon

Today at 5:03pm

why no?

Diran Hafiz

Today at 5:15pm

what possible reason is there for me to get to "know" you?

1. this is facebook - "virtual friendships" mean nothing.
2. you sound like you're propositioning me when you ask "wanna".
3. you type and spell terribly, indicative of low-creed.
4. you look like you need more culture and education - fyi, people with sense and sensibility don't pose like that on pictures.

all of which leads me to conclude that you're just another typical, bangladeshi flunky who's just discovered the so-called wonders of staying awake all night and making "friends" online since you don't have any in real life, in order to gloat to your fellow retards the next day.

blocked.

Md.Ashraf Hussain Shaon

Today at 5:33pm

Report Message

your words sound bad.i think i am not in the 4 possible types.i like chatting and knowing peoples.is that my bad habit of meeting unknown person?

yeah. really. this happened. i'm scarred. freak. sigh. i need coffee.

Post 29. Kitchen's Done!

Whew - it's been a while coming, yeah? At least we think so. We're finally done with the kitchen renovation, and it looks great! We didn't get to replace the couches in the living room yet, but we will... sometime. The 2nd bathroom was also touched on - we redid the floor and took out the old vanity/sink and replaced it with a much nicer unit and a vessel bowl. I also replaced the old toilet with a pressure-assisted tank - which means no matter how large a deposit you make, it's not going to clog the pipe! Have at it, me hearties! You should hear the sound it makes - it's like those super toilets on an airplane... you know, the ones where you think it'll be fun to clog it up mid-flight, so you dump a whole roll of TP - but it doesn't even slow it down... what? You've never done that? Umm. Oh. Well, you should try it. Maybe you'll be able to make the toilet on the plane overflow mid-flight and win a prize or something. Enjoy the pics!

Picture of the island, pantry, bar and half of the living room...


Living room and new/improved kitchen!

Pantry/Bar (with fruits on it ... that'll change, no worries).

Kitchen again, with Crina's mom doing what she does best - Cook!

Another shot of the kitchen...

Close-up of the island (it's Quartz!)... too bad you can't see the backsplash - my favorite feature of the kitchen.

From the other side... I love the custom look.


And another... rotating left. TV/Fireplace.


That's where a lot of my attention is focused...


The art piece mom made for us. It's funky and metal...


And finally, the 2nd bathroom! It's still unfinished as you can tell - the walls need to be plastered and painted, and the marble needs to be put up behind the tub (you can't see it), but everything works and the vanity/vessel bowl is awesome!