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It's a pretty good thing that hotshot simplyHired has got such easy job searches--I was able to find my perfect job! Just call me VP Stresser!

simplyHired [job search made simple]

If you find yourself daydreaming, why not pretend to stay a few weeks at the Burj al Arab? Oh, and don't worry--it will only cost you two bank accounts!

Well, I decided to find a reservation for my non-existent wife and I for a week at the place. Luckily, the "Standard Rate" for the two-bedroom suite is a deal. In fact, their giving me a special first-time discounted price for the first night. Only $3,000 for the first night! Thanks, guys!!

Well, considering the high price of a ticket to United Arab Estates, I looked for a local vacation--The Plaza in New York City! What a relief! The presidential suite at The Plaza Hotel is only $15,000 per night! Now that's a deal.

(And yes--the Plaza Hotel closed in April of '05 for some renevation, but it'll be back sometime next year. In fact, the presidential suite should double in cost by then!)

Now... I just need a partner for the trip.

How about Eloise?

TV REMINDERS

Bree is confronted with Orson's hidden past; Susan professes her love for Ian; and Carlos and Gaby try to kiss and make up.

Watch for it on my latest project: videostar

As part of my pledge to provide some of the best sites out there, I'll try to keep you updated on the latest and greatest online adventures.

Today I stumbled upon Jellyfish, a startup website whose premise is simple: they will share the profit of the money they make for referring you to a site. Here's what I mean:

1. You find a plama TV from Best Buy.
2. You click on their link to buy the TV.
3. You buy the TV at full price.
4. The store pays Jellyfish a certain specified percent of your purchase (as compensation for them referring you).
5. Jellyfish pays you back (via PayPal or check) a nice chunk of the money

It's a wonderful idea! As an example, I searched for, "leather sofa" and found a nice contemporary sofa for $845.13. Jellyfish told me:

• There was no tax.
• The shipping would be $9.95
• I would receive $7.5 percent back.
• The discount would be $63.38
• I end up paying only $791.70

You will love it, I promise...

Jellyfish [where stores compete to lower your price]

Look over to the left to see the living room colors. The wall is divded by a chair rail, which is a type of horizantal molding which was originally used to protect the walls from reclining chairs.

The top is Benjamin Moore Tawny Bisque. (Tawny is French-derived work meaning relating to an orange-brown or yellowish-brown color, and bisque is a light brown color.)

The bottom (seperated by the molding) is Benjamin moore California Red.

Click of the Week: MediaFire

Operation Renovation continued this week with the painting of our updated dining room and living room. In previous times, the living room had been attached to the dining room and the living room was attached to the kitchen. Well, something like that. The designed idea called for a swap: the living room became the dining room and vice versa.

The walls of our living room are divided into top and bottom sections (by molding). This provides an opportunity for a double-color wall, and the result is usually quite handsome. Unfortunately, mother was unhappy with the "circus" colors that she picked out.

Wasted Paint Cans as of Today: 6

The folks at Maher's paints helped her pick a new (yet similar) color scheme according to the fabrics we're using. The painter expected the room to be complete by today, but he has extended his stay until tomorrow. In my opinion, it's looking quite good! We just need some cool furniture.

UPDATE ON MY ROOM Downstairs is looking pretty good! We've picked out carpet, and I am pleased to report that my toes will be walking on Ivory Mist Nylon Carpet. It's nice, don't worry. It picks up the beige, black, and grey of the room. The carpet's expected arrival date is in about two weeks. Meanwhile, the custom furniture (see below) will be installed on Friday the 3rd, and the Ethan Allen couch will arrive on Tuesday (aka Halloween).

Custom furniture shall be composed of black laminate and will consist of:

computer workstation housing mini-fridge, 1 CPU, 1 Mac, shelving and drawers, ample leg room, and sized fit

bed board with creative shelving

TV/DVD storage for bedroom

Night stands

Oh, the stressful joy of remodeling :-)

Introducing the second update on "Project Ben's Room."

It's the last day of painting, and the room has really developed its personality. If you recall, the concept for the walls were a light grey, with one dark red accent wall. Well, that changed a bit. All of the walls are now Benjamin Moore HC-80 Bleeker Beige.

My original plan was to add some character to the bathroom by painting the toilet area dark red. Well.. that didn't really work. The paint didn't adhere correctly, and it made the room look tacky and awful. Luckily, the painter was able to scrape it off and repaint it as that same beige. I didn't get that bold statement I wanted, but at least I got some color in there. (The accent wall was a no-go as well.) The color palette is displayed at the right.

Most of you don't know that getting the painter this week was completely luck. When he came by to quote us, we were told that he had an opening for this week. Otherwise, he said, he wasn't free until next year. What a lucky find! It gets better, though. While going to every furniture store in the area, our Ethan Allen customer advisor contacted us as soon as possible when she saw the couch we had our eye on come in as a clearance item. Why? The Ethan Allen corporate office is in Danbury, and they were doing a catalog photo shoot. By policy, items used in the photo shoot must be discounted. In other words, not only did we get a deal, but we also didn't have to wait for that thing. The shipping usually takes 6-8 weeks, but not in our case!

So, the paint job is done. The couch is done. Still left: blinds, carpet, 8 lightbulbs, fix the laundry shelf, a new lightswitch plate, wait for the other furniture (6-8 weeks), decide on artwork, unpack clothes into closet, well... I think you get the idea.

Humph.

Welcome to the first post concerning "Project Ben's Room."

Today, the room was occupied by a painter and two electricians. The painter sealed every obsessive hole that he could find with some disgusting mold. (He didn't quite find it funny when I asked him if he would be sealing his buttocks.) It's quite interesting to observe a man wearing a surgical mask sanding down a window. I guess you had to be there.

Meanwhile, our electricians worked on problem solving the movement of my cable line. They were quite the team. I found it funny that in order to move cable from one side of a door to the other, they had to go through lights and ceilings and walls--all sorts of projects just to get Desperate Housewives to the right of the door.

Yesterday was spent emptying my sister's 10 years of shopping into plastic boxes that she will inevitably have to sort through. And thus, I am left with an empty room.

Well, minus those awesome holes.