Don't ever buy the extended warranty

In 2001, I bought my first new car, which was a Ford Focus SE. I was involved with the ex-husband at the time, who had the backbone of a snail, so bargaining was not an option. On August 29, 2001 I paid around $17,000 for my vehicle, which by today's standards, was a rip-off. I should have seen the writing on the wall at Inver Grove Ford when the salesMAN spoke to the ex and not to me. I finally told him that I was the one purchasing the vehicle and if he wanted me to buy the vehicle, he had better start talking to me.

Since the ex was not car savvy, I thought it was a good idea at the time to purchase the extended warranty on the vehicle. I figured since I was buying a new car, I had better have all of my bases covered. I purchased it for almost $2K. When I bought it, I was told that I would receive a refund of the total cost if I never used it. The office manager made it sound so simple; famous last words.

It has been five years since I bought the Focus and I still own it. It is mine; bought and paid for. It has approximately 63K miles right now, which is very good for a 2001 vehicle. When the warranty was up, I immediately searched for my paperwork to "get the ball rolling" on my refund. I had no idea it was going to turn into such an ordeal.

I was just informed by the warranty company that the package I sent to them on the 20th was not received until the 25th and that it would take an additional 60 days before I would see any information on my refund.

What is the moral of my tale? Cars are built to last; don't buy the extended warranty.

Two sons; no daughters

Last week, I found out that I will be giving birth to another son. I have only told a few people the truth; I am sad that I will never know what it is like to have a daughter. My husband and I decided that after this pregnancy, I would not be having any more children. Since our odds of winning the Powerball are against us; we won't be having any more children. I am sad that I will never know what it is like to take my "daughter" to dance classes, talk to her about boys, cry with her through her emotional fits of hormonal rage. This really bothers me. I admit it. If one more person tells me that at least I will be able to reuse the clothes I have from my first son, I think I will vomit. For some reason I don't see how the ability to reuse clothing compares to having a female child.

Billowing puffs of fluffy television

Last summer while I was pregnant with my son, I was put on bed rest and needed a new way to pass my time. Since I couldn't go for walks or do anything that required moderate activity, I rented the first season DVDs of "Lost". I became immediately hooked. I couldn't get enough of it. As the summer passed, I waited with bated breath for the second season to start. When it did; I was disappointed. I found that it was difficult to keep up with what was "happening inside the hatch". I guess feeding my son his bottles took top priority.

Since then, I have found myself watching a lot of "fluff" on TV. I don't like all reality television shows, just a few: "Flavor of Love 2", "Dancing with the Stars", "Rockstar: Supernova", and "American Idol". With all the "dark" in the world during the day, I would rather not have my nights laden with murder and drugs as well.

I feel like I am sounding a bit like Guy's wife in "Fahrenheit 451", but at least I do not believe I am part of these television shows; as if the rest of the cast is waiting for me to speak my line in order for the program to carry on. I am not planning on a drug overdose either. Believe you me. Bring on the "fluff"! :)

Turn a light on the dark areas of your life

The reason why I started writing my blog was to have a way to vent my thoughts and ideas about enumerated things. I do not tend to go into any "dark areas" of thought with my blog because I believe that emphasis on the negative events that took place during my childhood are best left in the past. The only reason I am even discussing this is because I read someone else's blog today and it made me very sad for the person who wrote it. I do not want to go into details, but I empathized with her.

I could make a list on my blog of all the things that happened when I was a child; some of which would really drop a jaw or two. Why bother? I used to believe that my life would make such an interesting novel. As I have grown older, I no longer think so. My life is no more unique than anyone else's life. Each person has a set of interesting or noteworthy experiences that differ us from one another; that is all. I am not sure if I have been changed by time, motherhood, or other unexplained circumstances.

I like to read other blogs because I find other people interesting. I like to read about their thoughts, ideas and dreams. Perhaps I shouldn't be critical of that person's wish to blog about the "dark areas" of her childhood.

The most wonderful time of the year

Yesterday, as I was listening to people curse the cold while walking the sidewalks of the Cathedral Hill district of St. Paul, I was relishing it. I love autumn and the "smell" it has. I will try to explain what each season smells like...

Spring - An earthy aroma with hints of fresh grass and pure running water.
Summer - A coconut fragrance with traces of heated asphalt.
Autumn - An apple-dried leaf-pumpkin spice combination with traces of crisp wind.
Winter - An icicle-coated, evergreen tree scent with whisps of fresh linen.

I like autumn and winter the best. I am sorry, but there is no better feeling than sitting in an overstuffed chair, looking out the window, drinking hot chocolate and watching the snow fall. I love the serenity of it all. There is something to be said about the look of fresh, untouched snow. I cannot wait for my son to experience snow for the first time this year. The joyous look on a child's face when he or she plays in the snow for the first time is priceless.

9/11

I always used to say that my generation would be the first to experience life without war. My great-grandparents had experienced WW I, my grandparents experienced WW II, my parents experienced the Vietnam War, which ultimately left a blank page for my generation. I said this statement back in the late 1980s (before the Persian Gulf War). Little did I know that all would change.

I am bringing this up today because it is the fifth anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, and I find it hard to believe that five years have passed already. So much has happened in five years. I have had four jobs, four places of residence, two husbands and one child. Wow! That is a lot to occur in five years. I don't think I have had such a run since childhood.

I remember September 11, 2001 vividly. I worked at 8 a.m. over off of 280 and University Ave., the business no longer exists, so it is not worth mentioning. Another co-worker and I were the only two people in our office when she shouted over her cubicle to me that a plane had flew into the World Trade Center. At first I thought it was just a terrible mistake; a pilot had misjudged or the plane had some sort of technical malfunction. The next few events proved my theory was incorrect.

Happy Birthday to my former fiancé

Today is the 33rd birthday of my first fiancé, Andrew. Although I have to spoken to him in over a year now, I still think about him. He was my first "real" love; that is something that no one can ever forget. If it was not for Andrew, I never would have met my first or my current husband. Isn't that interesting? Andrew was my prom date when I was a Junior in high school. Although we went as friends at the time, we soon became boyfriend/girlfriend. After we moved in together, we became fiancé/fiancée. After being engaged for about a year, we were no more. I knew the end was in sight when I was making wedding plans and he asked me if I could meet with the priest who was to marry us on my own. Needless to say, it was over.

I haven't seen Andrew since I married my first husband. Interesting. I don't like to talk about my first husband, or discuss my first marriage at any lengths. The interesting part about my first marriage ceremony was that Andrew, his parents, his grandmother and sister were all in attendance. Oh yes--and Andrew's fiancée, Lisa. I think the worst part about ending my relationship with Andrew was the end of my relationship with his family as well. I loved as I loved my own family members. It is too bad that I wasn't able to keep my relationship with them.

Happy Birthday, Andrew. Best wishes for another year of life.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

I have three stepsisters: Mary, Anna and Laurel. Laurel will be graduating from high school this coming spring 2007. Anna recently moved into an apartment with several friends of hers. Mary is an irresponsible individual who is self-centered and immature. Can you tell how I feel about her? Have I made my feelings known or am I being a bit cryptic? I think I will further explain why I feel the way I do about her.

In 1996, I lived with my grandmother, father, stepmother and stepsisters in Falcon Heights. It was something I had never done before that and I found it to be quite enjoyable--at least until I found out Mary was constantly stealing from me. She would steal packs of gum, money, cosmetics, etc. from my room. When I would notice items missing, I would approach her and ask her about it. She would always deny it--even though I found the evidence in her room.

Over the years, Mary has had her fair share of problems; all of course, brought on by herself. This last March, she gave birth to a baby girl who should have been put up for adoption immediately. The "father" of this child is a fine piece of work; he has three daughters with three different mothers and has admitted he hoped this child of Mary's would be "his boy". Since the birth of his fourth daughter, this fine gentleman has done nothing to better the life of his new family. He refuses to work and he refuses to watch my niece because he "cannot deal with it". I was recently told that he has checked himself into a "two-week treatment program", which is something I have never heard of.

Mary has an option right now that would be the best thing she could possibly do for her child. Her father, who lives in Iowa, is giving her an option to move to his house and live with the baby. Mary does not want to do this because it would be "breaking up her family"--meaning ditching the distingushed father-of-the-year. (Sorry for the use of sarcasm, but I cannot help it) I really wish she would reconsider what she is doing. I know I am not the best person to be dispensing advice because I am not a saint, but I know that if she moves, it would be the best thing she could ever do for her child--at least right now.

I really hope she reconsiders her decision to stay in Minnesota. No one can tell her what she should do because she knows what is best for her and her child. This is such a trite statement. I wish that every person who has said this at one time or another actually meant it. I know Mary does not.