What is wrong with people?

Seriously, I'm asking, what is wrong with people?

Ok, I know I can be a stickler about some things...but we all have our ways. I took my car in this morning before work (yes, I actually got up EARLY!) to my local Firestone for an oil change, new fuel filter and tire rotation. I use the same store where I bought my tires earlier this year.

In conjunction with making sure they will perform all necessary pre-arranged services to my car, I specifically mention to the man that I have a cloth steering wheel cover that they need to be especially careful NOT to mar or dirty up with their black mechanic hands (not in those exact words but he got the point). He stated that they use steering wheel protective coverings to guard against this. Somehow I still wasn't convinced but somethings you have to trust.

He checks in my car, I walk 2 doors down to the Jack-In-The-Box to have breakfast and get started on my homework for my bible study. An hour and a half later (keep in mind, I was only getting 3 small services done) they call to inform me that I am ruining my tires by not getting an alignment. They keep pushing me to get the 'lifetime alignment' @ $150. Huh! I inform them that I have a source to get a free one when I need it. By the way, 2 other trusted mechanics I've spoken to makes it sound like alignments aren't as often needed as these guys make it out to be. "You could hit a pot hole and need another alignment!" Whatever.)

So I pack up my books and papers, refill my drink and walk back over. I check out and retrieve my keys. Once I am back in my car, I am instantly enraged! Guess what!? That's right a big permanent black mark on my beige colored cloth steering wheel cover! What the H man? Have they blown all their brains from between their ears by standing too close to the air tools? If they can't even do this right, after I made a *specific* request for them to be extra careful....and to top it off, they already supposedly have a system in place which would guard against such things.....hello! It's like they did it on purpose! Is this too much to ask now, to be careful when handling someone else's possessions?

So I called the guy and let him know I wasn't happy that I brought it to their attention specifically ahead of time so this wouldn't happen...the guy acted like it was a surprise to him because "they use covers so that wouldn't happen." I was like, "Well, I don't know what to tell you. This morning it wasn't there and now it is. Covers or not, now I have to stare at it forever. It's not the end of the world but I just wanted you to know it's there." He reluctantly offered to replace it at his expense, of course, but I said that's not the point. There's a principal here. It's something so simple. SO SIMPLE and they didn't get it right.

I am not sure I want them working on my car anymore.

Give a gift that gives to others!

There are many ways to give at this time of year. Working for an accounting firm, I can tell you that there are a lot of people and businesses trying to finalize their contributions before the end of the year for tax reporting purposes. That's great but maybe it's time to look beyond your cash assets and give in other ways. Perhaps car donations!

These days, you can give an old or unused car, boat, trailer, RV...you get the picture. If you have ever considered this kind of donation, may I suggest Car Angel? They are a non profit company that uses the donated vehicles and such to make videos for kids and teens! Here's one of their videos to give you an idea of the message they are trying to further:



It's so cute!!! Car Angel Ministries uses these videos and other literatures to help single mothers, homeless people, teen and adult rehab situations, food distribution and help to orphans as well as prison reform programs. They offer fast and free nation wide pick up of your donated vehicle and will give you all the documentation needed for the IRS requirements on you tax return deduction, if your tax situation enables you to itemize your deductions. So help them, help others!

Busy time of year: a reminder

This is a busy time of year for everyone. What with all the parties and family gatherings and shopping and food preparations, it's no wonder we keep 1/2 our sanity during these couple of months!

This post is just a reminder to make the time to reflect on the reasons why we go out of our way to celebrate this time of year. For me, it's all about the birth of Jesus!

So atleast once a week (or as needed) I like to take a few minutes and ponder this. Maybe I read Luke 2 or watch 'The Nativity Story' or something like that. Even looking at the lights on people's homes as I scurry about can be a reminder of the gift from God of Jesus, the Light of the World!

As we get older, they years and their holidays pass by with increasing speed. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to slow down and take it in! Enjoy your time with your family and not fret over all the little details! Trust me! And don't forget the peace of mind you'll get with travel insurance if you will be traveling this holiday season. No joke, I had it for my big vacation and it's a great stress reliever!

Hospital for the Holidays

Something we all dread: a loved one unexpectedly in the hospital during the holidays. I have not had the displeasure of this experience in many years, thank God!

My friend's mom was taken to the hospital with some issues yesterday and they are still sorting out what's going on and working out a treatment plan to get her back up on her feet and home where she belongs. I told her if she wanted some attention, there are better ways than this!

For all those people out there who wish they were at their homes or even an Orlando vacation home instead of a hospital room this holiday season, this is my post to let you know I am reminded of all the suffering and I will remember all of you in my prayers. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, if we are not in this situation. Remember that others are and pray for them!

This Just In: A newsflash

A dramatic scene played out across the street from my office today. I do not know all of the details, and I cannot reveal the source of my inside information. That being said, here's what's up:

A man started a not for profit type organization because his son has an illness. The main office of that organization is in the building across the street from my work. Somewhere along the way he went astray and embezzled lots of cash (over $300,000). He would supposedly do things like raffle off houses, of which 2 of them he won. Blah blah blah, there was a trial, things were going down. The jury is currently deliberating on the case. We heard many sirens this morning rushing to the building across the street.There were 8 police cars, 1 ambulance and 1 fire truck. We contacted our inside information contact and were only told that whatever it was, they were calling off the rescue units. Shortly we saw both the ambulance and the fire truck leave.

Then the informant called us back to say that the man had called his parole officer to tell him he was going to kill himself. Apparently he wrote many notes all over the walls of the offices saying he wasn't alone in the taking of the cash and gave names and amounts. He then went up on the roof and killed himself! I just heard on the radio that his brother went to his house to pick him up to go to court and he wasn't home. So he came to the office and then found him there.

Soon the crime scene unit arrived and next the coroner. People....if you do bad things, know you might get found out so then take your medicine! Don't wimp out and kill yourself! Wow....anyway, I've blocked out all the street signs and such to try and protect the innocent as much as I can. Just thought I'd share with you all, it's never a dull day, is it?

UPDATE: A news crew just came around asking questions...like did we hear the gunshot and stuff like that. I told the reporter that I had pictures if he wanted to buy them! He replied with, "Pictures of what???" Unfortunately, not much LOL Darn, I could have made some cash!!!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Wow, what a busy weekend! Saturday morning I went to pick up some items from my dear cousin for a party coming up soon. Details to follow, later. I then went to meet my friends for the annual trip to the pumpkin patch! I really love this event. Every year it's more and more fun for me, partially due to the fact that the kiddos are getting older and partially due to the fact that there are less adults than in previous years-less specific adults, ones that I'm fine not seeing, if you catch my drift.

Anyway, good times were had by all! Here are the boys (which I call 'nephews') gathering pumpkins to put in the wagon.

I always like going to Stuckmeyer's pumpkin patch in Arnold, MO. You can go right out in the field and pick your own or choose from the one's they've harvested and are for sale inside. This pumpkin patch offers a country store, snacks of all kinds, kettle corn, drinks, a free and/or inexpensive extras like bounce houses, animals, free character boards to stick your face in for photo ops, playgrounds, sand box, petting zoo, pony rides, hay rides, train rides and this year they even had an area set aside with music and tables to sit and eat or take a break!

While playing on the playground, my friend brought to my attention, the view of one of the ends of a bounce house type fun house for the kids. Here's what we saw:

What were they thinking? I'm almost sure someone could have benefited from a little bit of market research on this one. You've heard of a 'baby factory', well this one looks more like a 'toddler factory'!

Good night, I'm still not sure what they were thinking on this design. Anyway, it was a great time, the weather was even a bit warm! This was just Saturday morning, mind you. The afternoon brought another fun event, more details later!

Ebay or Yard Sale?

That is the question! Since I've been buying so many new clothes for my trip, now that I'm home, I loathe all my old clothes! The style of my new clothes better fits my personality now. Besides, there's no room in my closet for all the clothes at the same time. When I'm all caught up on laundry, my bedroom looks more like a wholesale clothing warehouse, what with all those white shirts I used to have, hanging everywhere! My closet throws up all over the room.

So the question is, should I try to ebay the clothes or throw them in a yard sale bag? I will offer some of them to my mom and some to my friends, but what to do with what's left? Some of the clothes are still in great condition! Some are just tired from being washed and worn.

I have to weigh all the factors: I stand to make more on ebay if I sell some as lots vs. $.50 each at a yard sale, but there's a lot more work involved with listing on ebay. The measuring and recording the tag info and taking photos of everything and typing it all out...

I guess I could always freecycle some too!

Heads or Tails #4 - 9/11/01 Memories

Today's Heads or Tails is all about September 11, 2001. We are on Tails this week, which means we are to talk exclusively about the topic. That's not hard to do with this one.

Everyone remembers where they were when they began to hear the news of the morning's events. I was late for work, as per usual, and much like Barb over at Skittle's Place, the news came to me via a phone call from my mom. She was already at work and they had the tv on watching the attacks unfold. A plane had been hijacked and flown into the 1st tower. By the time I made it to the office, both towers were ablaze and rescue crews were frantically trying to evacuate the buildings. Both towers were still standing.

I was in complete awe of it all. At first, I was like, "Here? Really???" I felt so sick to my stomach when I saw those towers fall. It's certainly something I hope we don't soon forget. Alot of innocent people died, a lot of innocent kids lost their parents forever. Gone to never know how they grow up. Dead, in the rubble.

By then end of the day, the Pentagon had also been attacked and then there was Flight 93 that went down in a field in Pennsylvania. The more I learn about that flight, the louder I shout back, "Yeah, take that! We are a country of some who will lay down their own life for the sake of their neighbors! In your face!!"

I don't know how many volumes of sad stories this tragic act of extreme terrorism has inspired. It will always be a sad day in American history and a lesson to us all. Do not be naive to their motives. These terrorists have no inclination to come here and convert us to their religion or to take over our country. That's not what they want. They want us gone. They believe with a powerful faith, that we represent everything wrong and against their way of life. They are spiritually driven to carry out a mission bigger than themselves. We're not dealing with rational stable thinking here.
I could go on all day about thoughts and feelings surrounding this day. There are the heros, the orphans, the politics, and the many other aspects. But if I could only transmit one message, it is to express my acknowledgments that these are the types of events spoken of in the Bible as 'end times.' We live in a corrupt world that has an end. Study up, be vigil. Prepared yourself for more where that came from.

I heart St. Louis, MO

Warning, nostalgic feelings are a stirrin'!
Maybe it's because I'm about to leave my fair city of birth, maybe it's because on my way home tonight, I caught a distant view of the Arch, or maybe it's just 'that time' of the month, but I'm feeling the love for my hometown. I have lived within an 8 mile radius for basically my entire life. I grew up in South City St. Louis, MO. Once on the phone with a potential new client at my office, the guy breaks out with, "You are from south city aren't you?" I answered "Why, yes, how could you tell?" He said we have a distinct sound. Well, I don't know about that, but there are a few tell tale signs that you are from St. Louis:

• When you meet someone new, you always ask them "What high school did you go to?"
• You know where both Ted Drewes' are.
• You know what Ted Drewe's even is!
• For vacation, you ask, "Do you want to go to Branson Missouri or Lake of the Ozarks?
• You've had the pleasure of Hodak's chicken.
• You crank up KShe 95 (or KMOX)
  
• You are a die hard sports fan. I mean, hello, we have Pro Football, Major League Baseball and Pro Hockey!
• You've partied one too many times on the riverfront or have said before, "What happens on the 'East Side', stays on the East Side!"

There's just something about going away and coming home to be greeted by that big beautiful Arch! It's almost comforting, you really know you are home when you see it again. I think it's sorta majestic, actually. It can be seen from many points of the city and counties for miles away. It's odd really, because when you are downtown looking at the arch, it seems as though there are alot of buildings around it. But if you can catch a glimpse of it from around town, it almost always appears to be standing alone. Very cool! I heart St. Louis, MO!

Fabulous Fox Theatre presents (again) Wicked the Musical!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

Dec. 12, 2007 - Jan. 6, 2008

I saw this a couple of years ago. I had not (and still haven't & don't want to) read the book, but I wanted to see it. My boss pooled his birthday bonus and Christmas bonus for me together and paid for my ticket ($60, big bonuses, huh?) But I went, by myself and I loved it! I then received the soundtrack on CD from my cousin Misty for my birthday! She wanted to go with me, but our schedules just conflicted to the point that she didn't get to go at all.

Now it's here again, and we have already began to make arrangements to get our tickets early. I hope we can get great seats this time. The most expensive seats are only $70 & $75 depending on which night the performance is on.

The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time ever favorite movies EVER!!! So I was leery of what this musical would do to damage my love for that. I was really worried it would change my feelings about it, but honestly, it didn't! I mean, they are sort of related, but I think this could stand alone as it's own interesting performance and not need to influence the timeless movie at all! It definitely puts a twist on the ideas behind it, and frankly I think it's quite cunning!

I am looking forward to all the songs, which by now I know by heart (sorry everyone who will be sitting around me!) I can't wait to see Glinda the 'good' witch "Toss, toss" her hair and Elphaba take flight for the first time! It's so powerful and moving and overall one of the most entertaining live shows I've ever seen! I can't wait to see it again!

Nasty crack

I was driving along on the highway last night when out of no where, well, not NO where, obviously it was kicked up from the road or maybe someone's tire....oh never mind, anyway, I was driving along when - KA-BLAMMO!

Instant crack-age. I mean, we are not talking about a tiny little ting or scratch in the tempered glass. This was an instant break which fingered off in like 2 or 3 directions. This morning I was greeted with the accompanying and every so inevitable split going off from it. I would suppose the split is aided by the humidity and heat extreme we are encountering here in the Midwest. Man this is gonna cost me, it's directly in front of my view starting from the top and going down right now about 8 or 9 inches.

These things happen I guess. I can't cry too much, for all I know, I've done the same to someone else unbeknown by me. If I have before, sorry!!! My turn for a payback I guess.

The Duggars - 17 kids and still going!

I have seen many television shows featuring this Arkansas family of 19 and counting. I always watch with amazement and delight to see the love they have for everyone in their family. I love that mom Michelle is their teacher, too. I can't think of a better way to run a huge family, they certainly have to stay organized to be able to keep things in any kind of order.

They use the buddy system which helps to insure the smaller kids can adjust as they go along. They are all assigned 'jurisdictions' which are chores. Until recently, they only had 1 washer and 1 dryer to try and keep up with the 10+ loads of laundry required per day.

They live a debt-free lifestyle. Yes, you heard me right. They feed then entire bunch for around $2,000 per month. About 3 years ago, they began and recently completed a 7,000 sq. foot steel frame house. They were all too ready to move in and get settled. With the help of a designer, they furnished the house and made the bedrooms into welcoming spaces for the kids as well as mom and dad. They were able to purchase an entire commercial kitchen set up for a fraction of the cost because it was used. They also have 8 commercial washer and dryers now!

I just really enjoy this family, I appreciate the way they share their faith in conjunction with their family story, what they do to stay together and how they take care of each other. I pray the Lord will continue to bless them and hope to see more tv specials in the future, so I can see those kiddo's grow up! Congrats, Duggar Family!!

Blogathon 2007

Today is the day for Blogathon 2007!


I just want to send out a 'Kudos' to all those blogging this year in the blogathon. You have chosen worthy charities and have been preparing and I'm sure you will be cranking out those great posts.

If you haven't yet supported a blogger, may I suggest you consider Patrick Says v2.0. This year he has chosen JDRF as his charity. Please see my prior post for all the info on sponsoring him.

Blogathon Posties: Keep on posting and you will make it through! I'll be checking on some of you!!!

Merry Christmas - in July

"It's the (2nd) most wonderful time, of the year!!!"


Quickly now, only 5 months left until Christmas.

Glutton for disappointment

So I say glutton for disappointment rather than punishment because we suffered only disappointment so far.


My mom and I were driving in my car when we realized we were hungry. What's close by? Not much. Just then, we passed by Phil's BBQ on Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO.

My mom said she had eaten there one time with my dad years ago and that she remembered not liking it much. I had the exact same story. But being hungry and giving the benefit of the doubt to the passing of time, we assumed it had to have gotten better over the years, since it was still open.

Nope. We were wrong. We walked out and established an new declaration by the time we reached the car, "Trust our original instincts in situations like these." We knew before we went in, we probably wouldn't like it but we went anyway!

Here's a review I left online for it:

The restaurant is tiny, out dated, not very clean. I had the pulled pork plate with 3 sides, fries, beans and corn. It was a big portion of pork, but seemed soupy in some kind of juice (not sauce). The only bbq sauce they had reminded me of a cheap red spaghetti sauce mixed with worcester sauce and vinegar - NOT GOOD. The sides were just ok, nothing to write home about. My mom had the catfish fillet which took 30 min. to cook. No kidding, they even warn you ahead of the wait. She had spaghetti as one of her sides and it was cold. When she told the waitress, she didn't even say, oh sorry. She just cleared the plates. Then as she brought back the credit card receipt, she stood there hovering while my mom completed the tip calculation. I won't be going back nor recommending it to anyone else.

A stormy repeat performance?

On this day July 19, 2006, St. Louis suffered a terrible summer storm. Thousands and thousands of people were without power for weeks. The damages from that storm can still be seen around the city. It was one of the worst I've ever seen. This video is a reminder of some of it's destruction.