So I just found out my Dad's Hawaii house is back on the market AGAIN

I don't know what's going on here, but after my Dad's old house in Kailua-Kona sold for $1.3 million in August of 2024 (after being listed for nearly $1.6 million), last night I discovered that it went back on the market in December for just under $1.5 million. 

 

2024's drama:

 

 Surprise! It's baaaaack!

 

A couple weeks ago they reduced the price to $1.45 million, which means even if they get that, they make $150k profit? Is it worth flipping a house like this for that amount of money? It doesn't seem like it. And that doesn't take into consideration what they spent on it since August of 2024.

 

I had no idea it was purchased as a flip, but that's what it looks like. From the pictures, they made two major changes: they removed the carpet and replaced it with wood floors, and painted the interior a very blah shade of tan. I don't know who thought that was a good idea - if I bought the house, the first thing I'd do is paint the walls white again. This does the exact opposite of brightening the place up. I think the place looked a lot better when my Dad had it.

 

 

Bleah. Now to see what they manage to get for it. Kona House Watch 2026, baby!

 

Update 3/21/26: It's under contract (as opposed to sold). I wonder what the offer is. I also bet the neighbors are getting sick of the constant turnover. And I still can't get over how crappy the beigey floors and ceiling are. Someone actually thought that was a good idea. Ick.

 

Updated 5/6/26: Sold. $1,400,000. They made $100,000 after all the "upgrades" and a year and nine months of paying for it. Hope it was worth it. Hope it finally has owners who want to live in it, love it, and not flip it in another year and a half. Aloha.

 

Not gonna lie, this sounds tempting

 

I remember reading something where the question of why not convert abandoned malls into housing, and a lot of it had to do with plumbing not being in place, because the places were set up as stores, not homes with sinks, showers, and toilets.

 

Having said that, I still think this is a cool idea, especially with the classic films and food courts. I'd consider it.

 

Via Remembering the Goold Ole Days on FB.

 

Words of Wisdom: Homebody Edition

For the homebodies out there:

Collect things you love, that are authentic to you and your house. --Erin Flett

There's just a connection you have with your home. For me, it's a soul connection. --Brownie Evans

I live by the ocean. I find that whenever I need something more than what I have inside, that the ocean gives it to me. I walk to the stairs that lead down to the beach. I don’t even have to put my toes in the sand…I can just stand on the cliff….watch the waves lapping at the shore…the sunlight hitting the top of the crests…and there is something very energizing about it, something very calming….It renews my sense of wonder and renews my sense of spirit, and my sense of myself. (Jill Alman-Bernstein)

 

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. (Maya Angelou)

 

Someday I want to live by the ocean in an old cottage with a person I love. We can wake to the sound of waves and drift off to the sound of our laughter. (Thomas Ardavany)

 

Home is the kingdom in which we have the daily choice and power to make our tiny domain one of light or darkness. (Sally Clarkson)

 

This is how I feel about my home: A place you don’t ever want to leave. It’s something forever, a home for keeps. (Nancy Zoleta)

 

So, my Dad's Hawaii house is on the market

Yup, it's for sale again.

So here's the deal:

My Dad died in May 2011. We were warned that the housing market in Hawaii at that time was rough. More than one person had a story about someone they knew who had been trying to sell their house for 2-3 years. After the first realtor was unable to even get an offer, we got a new awesome realtor who listed it at $649,000, eventually dropping the price to $625,000, which is what it sold for in 2013. The buyers were from Northern California - a veteran turned college professor who had just retired from teaching, and his wife, a nurse who had secured a job at the hospital in Kona.

They sold the house in early 2018 for $845,000. Those are the buyers who listed it in April for $1,590,000. A little over six years after they bought it, they nearly doubled the price. 

There was a measly reduction to $1,491,000 in early June and there it has sat ever since. As nice of a house as it is, I think it's overpriced. I have no idea if they're desperate to move it - based on the price, I don't think so - or why they're selling. But I do check it every few days to see what's happening. Not much lately.

There were some changes made to the interior and it's weird seeing how hard it is to recognize certain parts of the house. But what really got me was this photo of the view from the lanai/backyard:

The house has absolutely spectacular sunset views and this picture reminded me so much of some of the pictures I took while I was there in 2011.

I hope whoever ends up with this house loves it as much as we did.

Updated 7/30/24: Yesterday the house's status changed from "For Sale" to "Accepting Backups", which means they're considering an offer, but are also accepting lower, backup offers. I wonder what the highest offer is, if it's anywhere near the asking price. I still think it's overpriced, but real estate is a crazy world and I guess we'll see what it eventually goes for. I also hope whoever buys it stays there for a long time. This will be the third time it's been sold since my Dad died. While it's not as big, grandiose, or resort-like as many of the other houses in the area, it's a nice house in a nice location. Someone should love it as much as we did.

Updated 8/30/24: The house just sold for $1.3 million. I still think whoever bought it overpaid, but on the other hand for that area, it's one of the less expensive homes. I wonder if the sellers were disappointed that they got almost $300,000 less than what they were asking. At least it didn't take long - the house was only on the market for four months. My Dad originally bought it (around 1997) for $475,000. I wonder what he'd think of what it just went for.

March Words of Wisdom

When a movie says, "No animals were harmed during the making of this film," why do we not have that same disclaimer for children? --Paul Petersen, former child actor

 

To sit alone in the lamplight with a good book spread out before you and hold intimate conversations with men of unseen generations - such is pleasure beyond compare.  --Yoshida Kenko

 

Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it. --Peter Walsh

The best revenge is none. Heal, move on, and don't become like those who hurt you. --Pamela Short

 

Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul. --Alice Walker

If you have the ability to love, love yourself first. --Charles Bukowski

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. --President Franklin D. Roosevelt

January Words of Wisdom

Home is the kingdom in which we have the daily choice and power to make our tiny domain one of light or darkness. --Sally Clarkson 

 

When I'm at home, I need to feel like I'm floating on a cloud. --Ralph Lauren 

 

The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely. --Louisa May Alcott

 

Let yourself be silently drawn by the pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. --Rumi

It's nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet. --Lucy Maud Montgomery

Nothing will work unless you do. --Maya Angelou

 

Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity. --Paul Goodman

 

Outer beauty turns the head,  but inner beauty turns the heart. --Helen J. Russell

I hate when people ask me, "Why are you so quiet?" Because I am. That's how I function. I don't ask of others, "Why are you so nosy? Why do you talk so much?" It's rude. --Rowan Atkinson

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who only dream by night. --Edgar Allan Poe

"Put your head up," he said, "For you are a lion. Don't forget that and neither will the sheep." --Atticus

 

If you want to give light to others, you have to glow yourself. --Thomas S. Monson 

We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are. --J.K. Rowling

What they hate in you is missing in them. Keep shining. --Unknown

I never lose. I win or I learn. --Nelson Mandela

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. --Abraham Lincoln

November Words of Wisdom: Homebody Edition

This is how I feel about my home: A place you don't ever want to leave. It's something forever, a home for keeps. --Nancy Zoleta

 

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. --Maya Angelou 

For more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the homes in which we dwell. --J.R. Miller

 

Our homes are a canvas for living, whether we live in the city, the country, at the beach, in a penthouse, or a cabin. Each is home and tells our story. And my goal is to bring a tradition of quality and good taste to all the places that we call home. --Ralph Lauren

 

People are usually the happiest at home. --William Shakespeare

 

October Words of Wisdom

Bedrooms are our sanctuary. They should evoke tranquility, calm, warmth, and beauty. It's where we greet each new day and close the day we leave behind. I find great value in simplicity of the room where we sleep. Subdued lighting and little distractions, our beds are our sacred place. I consider the bed in which we sleep one of the most considered and and valuable possessions. --Rachel Ashwell

 

Being at peace is the ultimate power play. --Unknown 

Life tried to crush her, but only succeeded in creating a diamond. --John Mark Green

 

Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn. --Albert Einstein 

 

When one door closes, another door opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the ones which open for us. --Alexander Graham Bell

 

I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape. --Charles Dickens

My silence doesn't mean I agree with you. It means your level of stupidity rendered me speechless. --Unknown

"I don't need anyone" is a statement made by those who at some point needed someone but no one showed up. --Sara Kuburic

 

Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution. --Albert Einstein 

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. --William Penn

 

Until then, paint it black. --Eddie Muller, The Czar of Noir

And just like that, it's October

This whole year has flown by, but September especially seemed to go so fast. It was supposed to start so well with the long-awaited San Diego Bouchercon, but that didn't exactly pan out the way I'd hoped. Then there was the fire that seriously scared the living daylights out of me. I'm still so grateful to have my home to come home to. 

 

But finally, September did end on a higher note than the rest of the month: I got to see what my apartment will look like after the upcoming renovations and holy moly, is it going to be gorgeous! The renovations have been in the works for almost ten years, and previous plans were not well received by residents, so we've been dreading it for ages. But the plans have been revised to make a lot more sense, and after a Zoom call and an open house of an already renovated unit, most of our fears have been eased. A few residents still have concerns, but for me personally pretty much all my issues have been resolved. Not only will the move-out/move-in be less disruptive than anticipated, I'm actually looking forward to getting it done while I had previously dreaded it. 

 

This is a huge complex and my building isn't in the first wave of renovations, but they'll get to me eventually. I think that possibly a year from now my apartment could be updated. Improvements include all wood floors, snazzy new cabinets and countertops, A/C and my favorite part, a washer and dryer in the unit. We're also losing our apartment-sized appliances and getting big stainless steel gas stoves (we currently have electric) and a huge, double-sided stainless steel fridge. I'm finally going to have the kitchen of my dreams that I've wanted since culinary school. 

Most importantly, it eases the dread of having to figure out where I would move next. I figured I'd either be priced out at some point (costs of apartments in the L.A. area continue to soar) but during the period I lived away from the beach this complex went under some kind of rent control and part of the agreement for the renovations includes not raising the rents for current tenants when our apartments are upgraded, and subsequent annual increases are limited. I got my first increase since moving back here earlier this year and it was much less than I was expecting. God knows what they'll charge new tenants for the fancy new apartments, but that won't affect me. I can probably count on living here indefinitely if not forever, which despite the downward trajectory Los Angeles has been on is still comforting for me. It's just easier for me than having to wonder where I'll go. I'm still dragging a bit on the writing thing, but I'm a huge homebody so knowing my home will be mine pretty much as long as I want is making me feel more positive than I've felt in a while.

Things we lost in the fire

I've been reluctant to blog this because it really was a traumatic experience that I've had no desire to relive, but this blog often serves as an online journal, so it really should be marked. Also, I think I have some valuable advice to offer at the end.

On Thursday, September 14, we had a fire at my apartment complex. It's a huge complex made up of many buildings. At around 3pm I was sitting at my desk watching something online (I think it was a YouTube video critiquing the ongoing WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes) when I heard a woman screaming outside my building at the top of her lungs. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but I got the impression that a couple was about to have a major fight out in the parking/common area, and I had a quick thought about how tacky that was. If only. I turned the volume down and heard her and a couple other people outside bellowing "FIRE!" and "GET OUT!" Before I could even process that, someone came running down my hallway pounding on doors and yelling the same thing: 'FIRE!!! GET OUT!!!

I hadn't planned on going out that day, so I hadn't even dressed. I was wearing a crappy t-shirt and pajama shorts. I hadn't taken a shower or put makeup on. I opened the door and couldn't see any smoke or flame, so I ran into my bedroom to change quickly. If I was only going to be left with the clothes on my back, I needed something substantial. Jeans, blouse, flip-flops. Then I had to see if I could get to Sophie; luckily she hadn't reacted to the fuss and was just curled up on her favorite chair. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and apparently I hit the exact right spot - she never moved. I ran back to where I store the cat carrier, pulled it out, and stuffed her into it.

 

The whole time this was going on I was shaking like crazy and trying to process that this was happening: my building was on fire. I might lose everything. I managed to grab my phone, my purse, and my keys. I didn't even stop to grab the laptop. Then I bolted out. 

 

Once outside the building, I called The Brother and told his voice mail, "My building's on fire. Call me." Then I headed further into the complex, away from the fire. Here's what I could see at this point: No flames anywhere, but a huge, dark column of smoke belching up from an area that appeared to be the far end of my building (it's a rectangular shaped building, three stories with ten units on each floor, and I'm in an end unit furthest away from the street) although off to the side. I started to wonder if they could stop it before it got to my place, and if so would I be allowed to go inside and get some of my stuff - more clothes, my laptop, and other things I'd forgotten to grab. I had my phone but not the charger. I thought my credit cards were in my purse (I keep them in a separate RFID case, not in my wallet) but I'd signed up for a webinar earlier that day and I hadn't put them back in my purse. They were sitting on my desk. I also couldn't get to my car, since our parking garage is under the building. 

Eventually a boatload of fire trucks showed up. When I looked down the driveway I could see a ladder going up to the roof where my building connects via bridge to the building in front of us, the one that fronts the street. I couldn't tell if they were working on my building or the other one. 

I kept milling around with other tenants trying to get some info, and about an hour and a half to two hours after it started, I learned that the fire had actually been in the front building, not mine, that it was at the far end of that building furthest away from us, and that firefighters had managed to contain the fire to that building. That is miraculous in that the breeze was blowing back into the complex (the smoke and ash were so bad people had to put on masks) and there are multiple buildings adjacent to the one that burned. If embers had blown onto any of them we would have had a huge catastrophe. As it was, several units in the other building were total losses - those people lost everything - and the remaining tenants had to vacate. The Red Cross showed up and they were eventually put into a hotel down the street. The following day management began placing them in vacant units. I don't know if they're all settled or what's going on, but apparently they aren't going to be able to go back in that building any time soon. I did see a number of people over the past week bringing bags out of there and the other day they were taking out furniture. 

Later that evening everyone except the residents of the burned building were cleared to go home. We were told the gas had been shut off, but I didn't care. I was so grateful to have my home to go back to that I really don't care about any inconveniences. When I ran out of here that afternoon, I believed my building was in flames and that I really might be left with only what I'd grabbed before I left. I still think it's miraculous that only one building was damaged, but I feel sick for the tenants in that building. As traumatic as the experience was for me, it's a thousand times worse for them. We also haven't heard so far what caused the fire.

Minor inconveniences: The gas in my building didn't come back on until late Tuesday afternoon. Pretty much everything in the apartment is electric, so the only thing I was really missing was hot water, and again, after thinking my home was going to go up in smoke, it wasn't something I could get worked up about. We eventually got our cars out but they vacated the garage (which is under both my and the front building) but they parked me in the next building over, so it's not really any sort of inconvenience. We shared a bank of mailboxes with the other building, just outside their door, so we have to go to the post office in Venice to pick up our mail. With the area between our buildings taped off (with security guards) the elevator isn't available, although I think it's okay since it's technically in my building. And I just don't care about any of this. All I can think of is how different (and awful) the past week would have been had the fire really been in my building, or if it had spread. 

One of the things you always hear in a situation like this is that the important thing is getting people and pets out, which is true, and that everything else is just "stuff", which is partially true. There are things I could replace, and others I couldn't. It would suck to lose all my books, my cookbooks, my notes from culinary school. All my CDs and DVDs, all my kitchen and cooking stuff. All my clothes. I wouldn't even have a change of clothes. The idea of having to go out and rebuild a wardrobe, get all new bras, underwear, socks, shoes, coats, is daunting to think about. 

 

Then there are the items with sentimental value. I have my Grandmother's wedding ring and my Mom's wedding ring from when she and my Dad remarried. Items from their homes. And pictures - both of my parents are deceased. There aren't going to be any more pictures of them. Gifts from them that mean a lot to me. Some things really aren't replaceable. 

If there's one thing I learned from this experience is how unprepared I was for it. I have an emergency kit, but I'd always thought of it more in terms of having a major earthquake and having to go an extended period of time without electricity. I have canned goods, cat food, water, and a boatload of first aid and other emergency supplies that came with the earthquake kit I bought ages ago. Some of this stuff expired and I replaced it with current supplies. I have cash stashed in there in case I need to buy stuff and the electronic payment system is down. What I never thought about was having a bag ready to go if I had to leave immediately. In fact, I didn't even think of grabbing it on my way out. It didn't even occur to me. I was so terrified and rushed that I couldn't think straight. I had the cat and my phone and wallet, and that seemed sufficient at the time, because what I really didn't want to do was be stuck in a burning building because I was too busy getting my "stuff". There really is a surreal sense of disbelief that, "this is actually happening" and it's hard to know what to do.

So I'm in the process of putting together what I think of as a "bugout bag", something I can grab (in addition to what I did take). Here are some of the items on the list so far:

• A list of accounts, account numbers, usernames, passwords, phone numbers, contact info. Things like credit cards, insurance companies, any organization I deal with. I also forgot to grab the Day Timer that has all this info in it (I'm old and don't store this info on my phone.)
  
• Cash. It's coming out of the earthquake kit and into the bugout bag. As a rule I don't carry large amounts, and on the day of the fire I had all of $4 on me. And my ATM card was in the RFID case left on my desk along with the credit cards.
  
• An extra credit card. I have one that I use so rarely that I don't carry it. Guess where I'll be storing it now.
• A disposable catbox and catfood.
• Extra clothes, including socks and underwear. 
• Spare toothpaste, deodorant, and soap.
• A spare phone charger.
• A case that I can quickly load the laptop, mouse, and charging cord into.
  
• Scanned family photos on a jump drive. Backups of my writing projects on a jump drive in case I don't get to the laptop.
  
• Copies of important documents like my birth certificate and insurance policies (auto and renters); also my social security card and passport.

The fire alarm in my building has gone off a couple of times since the fire, only for a few seconds each time, but if they're testing them it would be nice if they'd warn us. It's really unnerving. I've noticed that seeing fire trucks and hearing sirens has the same distressing effect; I assume that will fade with time.

I couldn't bring myself to take pictures during the fire, but this was the view looking down my driveway from inside the complex (although you can see white smoke from the fire in the first pic):

Three delivery trucks - Fed Ex, Amazon, and USPS - were delivering at the time and got stuck inside for hours because the driveway was roped off due to all the fire department vehicles. I don't think they got out until 8-9pm.

And here's Sophie, a couple of hours into her ordeal behind bars:

She was actually okay when we got home, hungry but surprisingly little worse for wear.

Storm of the Century

So Hurricane Hilary, the first tropical storm to hit Los Angeles since 1939, has come and gone. In my part of town, the result was almost non-stop rain, heavy at times, for a period of about twenty-four hours. I didn't notice particularly high winds, although it was breezy at times but that's not unusual for us. I've seen higher winds just out shopping on a nice day. And by lunchtime Monday everything was bright and sunny again, the previous day's doom and gloom an old memory.

Unfortunately, not all areas were as lucky as mine. Palm Springs got hit hard. In fact, most of the really serious issues seem to be centered mostly in the desert area, although it turned out that cancelling their Sunday game in advance was a good move by the Dodgers, whose parking lot is an unorganized living hell after games on a good day. Overall, California got a lot of much-needed rain with no loss of life.

But because the most-hyped weather in years just wasn't enough, we also got an earthquake! I was laying on my bed reading and felt a soft jolt. For a second I thought Sophie had jumped onto the bed, but when I didn't see her I thought, "Was that an earthquake?" I got up and felt a couple seconds of swaying, which confirmed my suspicion. Other than that, that was it. It was very minor where I lived. The quake turned out to be a 5.1 centered in Ojai, in Ventura County. And (in addition to some social media "What's next, Sharknado? jokes) apparently it created a new word:

Leave it to The Babylon Bee to get into the act:

 

And now, back to our regularly scheduled August weather.

Yay or nay?

Oh lookie - it's a Jaws lamp! Could this be any more tempting? I think not.

Seriously, look at this thing! Especially lit up in the dark!

 

 

Hmmm....

Farewell Family Curio Cabinet

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my huge, beautiful curio cabinet earlier this week. It had been part of the family since my Dad bought it for his house in San Dimas in the 80's. It was a gorgeous piece (about six feet high) with glass on the front and sides, glass shelves, a mirrored back, and lights. My Dad never bought cheap or lightweight furniture and this thing was a beast. A big, beautiful beast.

 

When he moved to Hawaii in the 1990's the cabinet went with him. After he passed away in 2011 I brought it back to California when we cleaned out the Kona house, and there was a spot in my previous Marina del Rey apartment where it fit perfectly. Since then, it moved with me to Arcadia and then back to the beach last year. Although huge - it was bought for a large house - I'd always found ideal spots for it in the three apartments I had it in.

 

A couple of days ago I knelt down to polish the base and realized the wood had begun separating at the front corners and along part of the front of the base. Not sure what caused it, but the thing was old and I decided it was time to retire it. Because of its size and how much of it was glass, I was concerned that if the base gave way and the cabinet collapsed, I was looking at a major catastrophe.

Here's where I plug the awesomeness of 1-800-Got-Junk. The Brother and I have used them numerous times (they come in handy when you have to clean out the home of a deceased relative, or if you just have a piece of furniture that has reached the end of the line). I was going to wait until after Christmas to deal with it, but my paranoia about the potential for collapse got the better of me. I was able to get them out the next day and they were in and out of here in about fifteen minutes. It was also cheaper than I was expecting (they charge you by the amount of room your stuff takes up in the truck, and because it was a tall slim piece, it actually had a pretty small footprint, so I made out there. 

 

Still, it was sad to see it go and yes I'm feeling nostalgic about an inanimate object. But there's a big empty space in my heart apartment where it once stood. After the New Year I'll be shopping for a replacement that's a little smaller and more manageable for the space and my needs. 

The damage:

Right corner. This scared the crap out of me when I discovered it.

Right side of front base. Starting to separate.

Left corner. Not as bad as the other side, but starting to separate...

Left side of base (which wasn't yet showing signs of damage) for comparison with the right.

After I got everything out of it...a sad, empty vessel:

 

 

And then...

It's been a couple days and I'm still sad about having to give it up. But you know what they say, nothing lasts forever. 

Delicious solitude

It's overcast and wonderfully quiet here today. Just the sound of the little creek outside the apartment. I love the sound of water.

 

And yes, I know the basil plant is dead and long gone. The squirrels like burying things in the dirt, so I've left it for them. I'll deal with it eventually.

Smart guy.

July Words of Wisdom

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle: one is a sense of humor, and the other is patience. --John Lyons

 

Create safe and beautiful space inside yourself, and grow there. --Dede Hawkins

 

My happy place is at home, in my little corner. In can wear my comfy PJ's, drink my coffee and have no interaction with negative, rude, and jealous people. --Unknown

 

And sometimes I have kept my feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in. --Jane Austen 

 

No matter what society says, it's okay to say, "Nah, that's not for me." --Unknown

The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of the state of your mind. --Dr. Wayne Dyer

 

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. --Epictetus 

 

We cannot live better than in seeking to become better. --Socrates

 

One drop of truth can outweigh an ocean of lies. --Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

 

I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong. --Frederick Douglas

Old age is no place for sissies. --Bette Davis

 

That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history. --Aldous Huxley 

Violence does not spring from a vacuum. It's born out of other men's violence. It gets nurtured and it grows in a soil of prejudice and of hate and of bigotry. --Rod Serling

Peace if possible. Truth at all costs. --Martin Luther

 

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. --Aristotle 

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is hard business. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. --Rudyard Kipling

As long as you know your heart and intentions are pure, don't explain yourself to anyone. --Unknown

OMG, speaking of awesome doormats...

How will I ever settle on one?

You can get this one from Shop PBS.

Here’s one way to separate true Monty Python fans from less extraordinary folks before they even step foot in your house. Devotees of The Holy Grail will burst out laughing while others may scratch their heads in befuddled confusion. Either way, this is a fun addition to your front step. Doormat is easy care, durable 100% olefin, and made in USA. Simply hose down to clean. 27" x 18".

 

Awesome!

So this exists, and it's hilarious

How's this for a door mat?

 

Alas, at my apartment building, we're inside of a building and not allowed to have door mats because they get in the way when maintenance comes in to vacuum the carpet in the hallways. But if I could have one, this would be tempting.

I also thought this was kind of funny:

I guess a simple "welcome" just doesn't hack it these days.

All is calm, all is bright

Merry Christmas and to all a good night!

 

Mantle of the Gods

I don't even know how you pull this off. It seems like a major feat of engineering keeping it up there.

H/T to English Country Shabby on FB. 

 

Beams of light

Snicked from various places on the internets.