Vacationing with the Griswolds ( Us)

Sometimes we feel like Ellen and Clark Griswold.  We have such high expectations of everything we do and rarely do we reach those expectations.

Expectation #1:  Purchase a new boat, after much research, and expect it to run properly.

We bought our boat in 2008 and it came highly recommended.  The first year, the console had to be replaced:  under warranty.  The 2nd year, we had another warranty job done on it.  Which brings me to this year.  We ALWAYS do all the maintenance work on everything we own.  So, after being checked out and de-winterized, we thought we were good to go.

Right before July 4th weekend, Larry and I took the boat out for a leisurely ride.  We were about 20 minutes from home when the boat quit running and would not start.  We had to be towed in , which took about an hour because you have to go slowly when towing.  I think it was about 94 outside with heat index of 105.  Nice...baking in the beautiful sun.

The mechanic determined the problem and only took 5 days to fix it....hahaha that is an eternity when you were expecting to use the boat.  So, once repaired, Keith and Aundrea and her family were able to use it and have alot of fun.

Larry and I went to Heber Springs this past weekend and decided to take the boat out as we hadn't driven it since the repairs.  This time we were 15 minutes in to our ride and it died again.  Same exact scenario....dead in the water.  Only this time a storm with lightning was coming.  We were towed AGAIN to the closest marina,  Mechanic met us there and told us this time it was the ignition coil.  Off to the shop the boat went.  Another week and it should be ready for our next trip this weekend. 

Expectation #2:  2 well kept Sea Doos should be in working order!

Right after the boat was hauled in to the marina, Larry was out on the Sea Doo and it messed up!  Fortunately, the hull protector was causing the problem.  So that was an easy fix. 

Expectation #3:  When you pay off all of your credit card (3) balances every month, you should never get declined at the check out.

We had a Visa denial in 3 different stores while in Heber Springs.  After calling and getting a human being, we found it was blocked due to suspicious activity.  Turned out that the suspicious activity was Larry buying worms from a vending machine!!!  Finally, that was all cleared up. 

So, the question is:  wanna go on a vacation trip with us?  Never a dull moment!

Here is me waiting at the Marina after being towed in.

Newly painted room

Hey friends,
Here is a virtual tour of my newly painted living room.  I need to place my piano somewhere but could use some advice.  All ideas are welcome.

Funny noises #1

I was standing in a store talking to my cousin, when we heard it!!!

A POOT!  

In mid sentence, I said...."Did someone just fart?"  She heard it too and then we got hysterical!

There was this lady leaning against the recycle bins at the exit and she pooted and it echoed off of the bins.  It was so loud and it made us laugh til we teared up! 

So...that store exit sound will forever be etched in my mind.

Bye Bye Exxon Credit Card

Oh my goodness!  I am so over Exxon.  We have missed 2 paymnents on this wonderful 'PAPERLESS BILLING SYSTEM".  A CITICARD message has been harrassing me daily with a message to call about our private Citicard account.

WE DON'T HAVE A CITICARD ACCOUNT!

Today, I finally listened to the message and called them back.  Guess what?   Citicard took over Exxon's billing.  Who knew?  Since we have never had a Citicard, all mail from them goes to the trash.  Any emails from them are promptly deleted.  So...somewhere in the mix, we missed 2 billing cycles and are now on the delinquent phone call list. 

Exxon should have sent something with their logo announcing the changeover.  The voice message should say "concerning your private Exxon account"  not concerning your private Citicard account.  I am not a mind reader....I can't deduce from that voice mail that it was really Exxon.

So...we will pay it off.  My goodness:  it is only $178.54 balance and that included 2 late fees.  I would think they could look at our 32 years of paying the balance off EVERY month and give us a personal courtesy call to see what is up.  I am really sure that there are BIGGER amounts that are outstanding in the Exxon billing department.

So visualize me cutting up the Exxon card and throwing away the speed pass keychain device.  After of course I express my feelings to a real person at Exxon or Citicard or whatever.

Where O Where is my Paint Estimate?

I seem to have the oddest things happen to me.  I am beginning to wonder if it is just me or, because of my OCD nature, I notice the odd things more.
Anyway.....here is the story.

I called a referred painter for an estimate on an indoor job.  I thought he would jump on a job like this with all of the hot weather.  I left a voice mail and heard nothing for 4 days.  Finally, he called me and told me his grandmother had died and that he was tied up with that.
I told him I totally understood and really appreciated him calling me back, especially during his time of loss.

We discussed the project and he was coming the following Friday to give me an estimate at 8:30 am.  I was excited about this forward progress.

Friday came and I was ready.  I had kept my morning clear just for this appointment.  You see, I take these things very seriously.  So, at 9:00, I had not seen him.  I gave him a call and he promptly answered and assured me he was coming.  He said a tree had fallen over the road so traffic had been re-routed.  He said he would be there in 15- 20 minutes.  I said great.

Now...my question is:  during his re-route....why couldn't he just give me a quick call and let me know he was running late?  And....I knew where he was streetwise and knew that from that point, he should only take 9 minutes to get to my house.

9:30 he finally pulled up!   This dude was an hour late!  When he came in he said that he had been pulled over in Germantown for not wearing his seatbelt!  He said he was coming straight to my house....so I guess he decided to make a Germantown run and got a seatbelt violation.  This guy is a target.

He came in and looked everything over, took notes, eye-ball measured (red flag!) and then said he would give me an estimate that day within an hour and a half. 

That was on June 17 and I am still holding me breath for the estimate????  Not really.  I sent him a text on Sat (the next day) asking about the estimate.  Nothing!

So, I went online and booked a Monday appt with another company that I had used before.  They came on Monday, emailed a contract, we signed it and returned it and are next in line on his rotation. 

I haven't heard a thing from the other guy and it will be 2 weeks this coming Friday.  You know...if he didn't want the job...I can take it...I am a big girl.  I just wish he would have called me and communicated SOMETHING with me. 

All I ask is that people just communicate!  He has an i phone and my number, for crying out loud.  He could even just shoot a text saying:  NOT INTERESTED. 

Oh well....maybe the other painters will do a much better job than he would have done!

My Dad-isms

I am sure every daddy's girl has a list of sayings that their dad always used.    Here are some that I remember.
1.  Turn out the lights.....you're burning kilowatts
2.  Close the door!  Were you born in a barn?
3.  Don't stand there with the door open:  we are not air conditioning the neighborhood.
4.  Do as I say not as I do.
5.  Think!
6.  Don't think:  just do it!
7.  Do you want a spanking?   ( I secretly wanted to say yes just to see what would happen)
8.  Hold still:   let me kill that fly ( the one that had landed on my arm!  EEEwww)
9.  One bite!   ( his bites were half of the hot dog or sandwich)
10.  If I break it, I will buy you a dozen!
11.  Money doesn't grow on trees!
12.  Clean up this pig sty! 

For all of those commands....he did have a ton of good qualities that super ceded his barks!  When I was little, I had breathing issues as a baby and he would sit up and rock me all night and I would sleep on his chest.   I couldn't breathe lying down...until I had my tonsils and adenoids removed.  Not sure how much sleep he got....but he made sure that I slept well.

When I was older, he would take me shopping to get my birthday gift:  a component stereo set/ 10 speed purple bike/etc.   He surprised me at Christmas with my first drum set.  He would take me on little daddy-daughter dates and we would eat and shop and just enjoy being together. 

I was such a tomboy but he always made me feel pretty and special, even though I was his fat little butterball.  He taught me how to play sports and gave me a love for competition.  He taught me how to ride a bike, mow the lawn, change a flat tire and keep up with my oil changes. 

Most of all....he loved my mom and always set  a good example of PDA.   Not a day went by that we didn't see my dad kiss and hug my mom...numerous times.  He taught me the value of responsibility and accountability.  He made sure I went to church and brought me up to love Jesus. 

This is for you Dad....I love you and am proud to be your daughter.  I am the first one that caused you to be a father and you will always by my Daddy.  I hope that I have made you proud to be my dad and I will love you forever.
Your "Lucy"
Debbie

Random thoughts I have

Today is a day to put down the weird, off the wall thoughts that rush through my brain at different times.

1.  When leaving Walmart with a cart full of groceries, I was asked if I wanted info on the bank there.  I looked at my shopping list:  nope !  Shopping for a bank wasn't on the list today....esp at Walmart!

2.  Why do people with expenseive vehicles not understand how to park BETWEEN 2 yellow lines in a parking lot?  If I owned a Lexus....I would take an extra 30 seconds to back out and pull in straight...instead of being crooked/one tire over the line/ tail sticking out....etc.

3.  Why do we have lane changing signals when no one hardly uses them?   Our policemen do not even set a good example.  I just figure....people had to shell out alot of money and really couldn't afford to add the extra option of the turn signal. 

4.  When I order at a drive through window, I ALWAYS say "and that's all" when I have finished ordering everything I wanted.  Why does the person wearing the headset say:  "Will that be all?" 

5.  Many times, I go to McDonald's and only get 1 drink:  a diet coke.  I don't see the need to say whether it is dine in or carry out, when they hand you the cup either way!  If I stay and sit at a table....they hand me a cup to fill it myself.  If I am not planning to stay, they hand me the cup to fill myself.  So....what difference does it make whether I am dining in or carrying out?

HAPPY FRIDAY!