Sokolewicz Bailout Plan

Dear U.S. Government,

I was just watching the news & hear that you're considering "bailing out" the auto industry. This comes after, as we all know, you "bailed out" the banking industry with almost a Trillion dollars (so of which I'll be paying. Thanks.). I can semi-understand the banking bail out, but an auto industry bailout would be a little ridiculous. Don't ya think? Let me say that my first vote would be to scrap that plan & move forward with a somewhat related idea. It's called the Sokolewicz Bailout Plan. Here's how it works:

Write Josh & Kate Sokolewicz a check, tax-free, for $500 million.

It won't even cost you a Billion dollars! Hey, Christmas is coming up & I have some people near & dear to me with expensive taste. Times are slow & my dollars don't go as far as they used to, so I really could use a supplement to my income from you. The great thing about this $500 million check is that it will even last me past Christmas. My wife & I could buy a piece of the American Dream (a few times over) & take advantage of our new financial freedom to pursue our real career passions (snow cone stand on the beach, anyone?). I suffer enough mental strain & anguish on a daily basis in corporate America, & I know my wife does too. We've put in our time & now we need you to bail us out of the corporate rat race. We promise to re-invest the money back into real estate, automobiles, retail merchandise, travel & tourism, etc. So you see, by helping us you'll also be helping others.

I believe you have our address to send the check to. If you'd like to do a direct deposit I can make those arrangements too. I could possibly be willing to negotiate on the check amount, or discuss payment in installments, so please call me if you would like to discuss.

Thanks a million! Or should I say, thanks $500 million!

--Josh

my newest obsession...

ahhhh...beautiful...don't you think this would be perfect for a winter wedding?
-Kate

couch love

The below posting does not even begin to express Josh’s anger on Monday night. In the many years I have known Josh; I have never seen him this upset. Now that we have the couch and all the anger is behind us, I’d like to tell you the story of “Josh & Kate’s Couch Adventure” (I think it should be a movie).

Well, as Josh said, the delivery hours are 7am-10pm. We were both on-call all day at work, and we couldn’t even run errands or go vote in the evening because they were so late! 10 o’clock rolled around and they still weren’t there, so Josh and I decided to leave and run our errand. Actually, we were spooking. My office does “Secret Spooks” the week before Halloween, so we always go up there really late so we don’t get caught. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, the delivery guys called and said they were 10 minutes away. SO…we had to go all the way back home to meet them.

By this time it was 10:45pm and I was cranky. They were hauling the couch up the stairs and realized (after gouging huge holes in our walls) it wasn’t going to fit around the corner into the living room. So what were they going to do? Oh…well according to Trina, “she’s been working at Rooms to Go for 8 years and pulls couches over balconies all the time” – whatever. And by the way, who hires a WOMAN to deliver FURNITURE?! I’m not trying to be sexist (we all know I’ve done some pretty manly things in my life), but SERIOUSLY!? Anyways…so after Trina’s bold statement we were all back outside in the 32° temperature hauling this HUGE couch over the balcony.

Josh & Dante were on the ground and Trina and myself were on the 2nd floor balcony. You can imagine how this went. After many fearful minutes the couch was pulled over the balcony. There were a couple times, when the couch was teetering over the edge, when I really thought it was going back over.

After a good hour, the couch was placed exactly where I wanted it and we got to sit on it for like 5 minutes. Then it was back up to the office for spooking!

Even though it was a really late night, and we were both ready to curse Rooms to Go out; we are really enjoying our couch…and so is Mavy…

-Kate

What ever happened to serving the customer??

So I'm sitting here in our apartment in the only seat in the house. This is because last night we tossed the futon couch. Why did we do that? Because Friday we bought a couch. The couch is supposed to be delivered today, & it's 5:30. They deliver until 10. You would think that they would give us a timeframe for when it would be delivered, since we were so kind as to go into their store & spend $$$ on an item they sell. You'd think they would be happy to serve & eager to prove we were wise in buying from them, in an order to earn our business again. Well, it appears RTG doesn't care. The timeframe for delivery they gave us for delivery was 7 this morning until 10 tonight. I don't know if they call before they get here. I called the store at 5 & the girl couldn't give me an update as to where our couch is or when, if ever, it might be delivered. At this point I kinda feel like I gave them $$$ in the hope they remember that they're supposed o give us something in return. When I was on my way home from work I was at a red light & guess what passed in front of me going down the road? A RTG delivery truck. Salt in the wounds. I'm sure the couch will eventually show up. Maybe even today (tonight). IT just seems that RTG should be able to give us more info & a little more respect in delivering on their end of the deal. It just sucks when you're waiting & waiting & not getting any updates.

In other news, we're doing good. Kate's job keeps here busy & mine is approaching the slow season. The next big event we have on the radar is Doug's wedding & then...........Thanksgiving!!!! Can't wait!

I can look out our front window & seethe old futon in the dumpster. Where's my new couch?

--Impatient Josh

Bob Marley won't get out of my head

So we're just about 3 months into this wonderful journey called marriage & what have we learned? It's wonderful living with my best friend & love of my life. We really are a team. Margaritas are good but too many can make a day disappear. Trips to Garden Ridge are inevitable. Date nights are important. The economy really sucks. Politicians suck worse. Altimas are nice. Weekends always end up busy. Jamaica is awesome & we need to visit more often. Compromise. I can't tell my wife enough how much I love her.

I didn't really have a plan for this blog. Life is going good & even in these times of economic struggle we have an optomistic outlook for out future & discuss plans for our future. It's fun hanging out together everyday & telling each other about our days, & then laughing at the things in life that are rediculous. But these are things you all already know. So, on to the holiday season! Our next vacation is being discussed & we're taking suggestions from our loyal fanbase. Keep the letters coming, & stay tuned. My lovely wife is home from work now, & I have to go.

--Josh

love to love to love ya!

Why, oh why, do the weekends go by so fast? I even had a 3 ½-day weekend and it still went by fast! I say 3 ½ because I got off early on Thursday to go to Austin to stand in my best friend’s wedding.

My best friend, Maggie, got married on Friday September 19th (our 2-month anniversary). The wedding was on Lake Travis at a gorgeously renovated home over-looking the lake. The views from the porch were breathtaking and the ceremony site was beautiful and shaded. I swear, its more stressful being a bridesmaid than a bride! I was so exhausted the entire weekend and SORE! Not really sure why? I guess it was also nice to be a bride and leave for a 9-day honeymoon…hmmm…Jamaica…

The weekend mostly consisted of wedding festivities. They had the rehearsal dinner at a restaurant on the lake. And when I say on the lake, I mean on the lake. Literally. The restaurant, The Pier, was actually on a marina dock (so cool).

Of course, all day Friday was spent getting glammed-out and then partying the night away.

Saturday we went to the bridal brunch at Taverna. They have $1 mimosas and killer breakfast. Josh got this yummy breakfast calzone stuffed with eggs, cheese, bacon – YUMM!! Saturday evening we met up with another of my best friends and watched the UT game. On Sunday we washed my new car (so much easier at my parents’ house) and then headed back to P-town.

I love weddings. Especially weddings between two people that truly love each other. Maggie and her husband, Josh (funny, huh?), have been together for 7 years! The 19th was actually their 7-year anniversary!! I wish them all the best, as they continue to grow and learn together. Nothing compares to being married and spending everyday with someone. I can only hope their love will last forever.

Now that we’re on the subject, I want to also thank my husband for being such a wonderful man. I have truly enjoyed the last 2-months and I can’t wait to make millions and millions of memories together.

"The best kind of love is the kind that awakens the soul, makes us reach for more, plants a fire in our hearts, and brings peace to our minds."

Love,
Kate

free jeans, anyone?

As much as I complain about my job, I must say...the perks are amazing. Free lunches, happy hours and goodie bags are a typical occurrence at my office. Having reps kiss your ass 5 days a week isn't always a bad thing. Especially when they take you to a little piece of heaven, better known as The Blues Jean Bar.

The store is setup like a pub - you walk up to the bar and pick from what they have on "tap".

Of course, mile-long legs are not optimal at places like this. Trying to find 36" inseams is like trying to find the Heart of the Ocean.

The rep that brought us to the BJB is one of our fabulous gay reps; he dresses better than me and his hair looks like something out of a magazine. He decided cocktails, hor'dourves and a free pair of jeans would be a perfect client appreciation event for an office full of women - he was right.

We, all 15 of us, spent 2 hours trying on TONS of jeans. Everyone found a pair except for me and the other 6-footer in the office. It was so depressing! We are both really tall and slender...how did we not find jeans?! Seriously! Finally, at the end of the night I was liquored-up and depressed. I think one of the teeny-SMU-sorority girl-employees noticed and she brought me a pair of Kasil jeans. The pair barely touched the floor, but had a 1-inch hem - so I'm thinking when I take out the hem it will be perfect. This is what they look like:

Anyways, all in all it was a wonderful night. The night ended with Josh's blog below. Uptown was a bummer, but nothing beats free jeans!

Much love,
-Kate