New Location..?

I am going to keep this short & sweet, since I am posting from work, and don't have my Live Writer, and stuffs. I have been toying with the idea of moving my blog to Wordpress, as it seems to have some cool features not available here. Well, I did. The new address for this blog is www.dawtch.wordpress.com
I have exported all of my posts and comments from here to there - or at least that's what the thingy said it was going to do - but have yet to move my links & widgets, so bear with me while I get things arranged - and probably re-arranged, if I know me, lol.
I am also pretty well over the Puzzle challenge, as the thrill of competition kinda dulls when there are no competitiors....I am positive I will continue to DO the puzzles, but probably will not continue to post the results. I am also going to make a concerted effort to post on a more regular basis - and yes, I am fully aware I have left you all (all 2 of you...) hanging on the HH Gregg stuffs...I haven't forgotten, just haven't been able to do it lately. Sorry.
Any ways, I will try - no guarantees. I really like getting comments. It lets me know I'm not talking to myself...or writing to myself (?). I know you don't HAVe to post comments, but encouragement is, well...encouraging. I'm just saying...
Ok gotta go for now, just about done. Lemme know whatcha think of the new template & location. I'm considering moving my other blog, too, but I really, really, really like the template, and unless I can find it in wordpress format, I may keep it where it is for the time being (in plain english..? Until I get tired of that theme...but I don't see that happening soon
:( )
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...I found a cool new blog surfing site called Condron - it's essentially a slide show of blogs that you can start and stop at whim...go check it out, it's pretty cool!
*grin*

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Sharks in the Water
Puzzle Date: March 21, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:17
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Joining the Band
Puzzle Date: March 20, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:22
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Spy Game
Puzzle Date: March 19, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:09
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Give Me A Ring
Puzzle Date: March 20,  2009
Elapsed Time: 8:16
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Home Furnishings
Puzzle Date: March 17, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:56
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Money To Burn
Puzzle Date: March 16, 2009
Elapsed Time: 8:12
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

50 Random Things

Shamelessly stolen from The Vinyl Villager *grin*

 

1) Favorite object in your room?
My room..? I haven’t had “a room” since I moved out of my parents' house too many years ago to admit to…the favorite in my home – it’s a toss up between the dragon lamp on my desk and the “creepy” (as Hunny calls it) statue that to me is a representation of the Goddess (I’ll try to up a pic soon…)

2) Do you smoke?
I’ve been known to.

3) Do you own guns?
I used to

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Never been there

5) Do you get nervous at the doctors?
No, should I..?

6) What do you think of when you hear hot dogs?
What are they saying..?.

7) Favorite song?
Can’t pick just one…

8.) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Prefer..? what is there besides Coffee?

9) Can you do push ups?
Probably.

10) Can you do a chin up?
Probably

11) What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring

12) Your pet peeves are?
We don’t really have all day do we? But I tend to agree with Villager - I guess my biggest one is people who drive in the left lane for miles even when they are being passed on the right….oblivious to the fact that they ought to move over.

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
Yes

14) Do you like to work on your Birthday?
Like to..? No. Do I..? Usually

15) What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?
Hate takes entirely too much energy to maintain…

16) Are you named after anyone?
Not that I know of

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
Tired
Know I won’t sleep well :(
Tomorrow it all begins again

19) Name 3 drinks you drink regularly
water, coffee, and Coke

20)What’s your job?
Listening to stoopid people whine about problems that are entirely of their own making – and occasionally helping someone who truly has a legitimate problem not of their own making

21) Current hate right now?
See answer 15

23) Do your friend’s love you?
I think so

23) How did you bring in the New Year?
I’m pretty sure I was asleep – I had to be at work at 9 New Year’s Day

24) Where would you like to be right now?
Right where I am :)

25) Name three people who will complete this.
No idea.

26) Are you one of those people that thinks and talks about their life being unfair?
Nope! I am where I am because of the choices I made – just like everyone else. Quit sniveling, you did it to yourself, so get over it and go on. I have NO PATIENCE for “poor me”s

27) What shirt are you wearing?
blue sleep tank

28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
No, they slide off. You slide off. The pillows slide off.

29) Can you whistle?
Yes I can

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower.

33) Favorite girl’s name?
I don’t think I have a favorite girl…

34) Favorite boy’s name?
Well, I have several favorite boys – men…Hunny & my sons, so it’d be Tony, Mark & Shayne :)

35) What’s in your pocket?
no pockets in jammies

36) Last person that made you laugh?
Hunny

37) Best toy as a child?
The weeping willow in the front yard was pretty well even with the big oak on the side of the house, until we moved. Then it was the mulberry tree in the back yard

39) Do you love where you live?
Hmmmm, the house..? Pretty much, could be a little bigger. The location, better than the city, not as good as the boonies…

40) Do you give good advice?
I try.

41) Who is your loudest friend?
Ummmm, most of my “friends” are titty dancers – they’re all pretty loud

43) Does someone have a crush on you?
not that I’m aware of.

44) Favorite part about your weekend?
I work harder on the weekend than I do doing the week…

45) What are you gonna do for your next birthday?
Probably the same thing I did a month ago on my last one - SSDD

46) Favorite sports team?
I am sports challenged (by choice) and proud of it! Obviously, the person writing these questions didn’t know me.

48) Where is the next place you want to travel to?
Haven’t really given it any thought. No money for travel, and not much possibility of there being any anytime soon, so consideration of it is just depressing

49) What were you doing 12 AM this morning?
trying to sleep

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I can’t believe that boy isn’t up yet!

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: You Sound Different
Puzzle Date: March 15, 2009
Elapsed Time: 13:05
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: You Sound Different
Puzzle Date: March 15, 2009
Elapsed Time: 13:05
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Constellation Revelations
Puzzle Date: March 8, 2009
Elapsed Time: 11:38
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

My Blog – The Life & Times…….

Remembering my life. Chronicling it. That’s why I started this. How sad that the chronicle of my life has become a daily recitation of the puzzle I do each morning…Nothing about the temper tantrums my son has taken to having, and how tired I am of listening to him & Hunny go at each other constantly – tired to the point of tears. Nothing about the insecurities that have begun to surface as each day passes. No commentary on the struggle to get “the ends” at least within sight of each other – meeting not even an option at this point. The inability to sleep for more than an hour or two without waking up, therefore never really sleeping. The fear that the “other shoe is going to fall” because I know that despite how stressed I am, and what a struggle every day is, we still truly have it good. Trust me, I’ve had it bad, and this isn’t even close.When’s it going to happen, because it will. I’m not sure exactly what “it”  is, but I’m fairly certain it will be about as far from pleasant as white is from black.

I tell myself “People don’t want to read that crap – they have their own problems!” But really? I started this for me. For us. To have a way to go back and say “Oh yeah! That happened then ! Now I remember!” because my mind is becoming a sieve. It’s scary. For a person who has always been able to remember every little detail about everything, this is a whole new world.

Nothing about the progression, the ebb and flow, of the “magical, musical pain” as I call it. How stress makes it hurt more. How the hurt makes the stress more. I intended this to be a diary of sorts, a place where I could “let it all hang out,” so to speak. I’m the “strong” one – always have been. I don’t need your sympathy, your help, your comfort, your approval. For over 30 years that has been the me that everyone – and I do mean everyone knows. No time to call and say “hey”? So what! Too busy to go to the parent/teacher conference, good deal. Can’t be bothered to remember my birthday..? Who cares? I don’t need these things from you – no matter who you are. I actually own a t-shirt that says “Fuck You! I have enough friends.” I’ll put up a pic if I can find it… But I digress.

I created this “place” so I could not be that person. So I could be insecure, and afraid, and lonely, and even occasionally needy. A place where I could be the one getting comfort instead of giving. Crying instead of embracing with support. I also wanted to record important, and not important things as they happened, so in my busy world, they didn’t get thrown into that horrid “someday” file that seems to be infinite in size, yet inaccessible when there are a few free moments to review the contents within. Yet my world seems to have become “someday.” At least, everything important has. Someday we’ll go to the zoo. Someday we’ll take a vacation, Someday…And I’m so afraid someday will never come, for one reason or another. Yet how do I change it? I don’t see a way around doing each day the way I’m doing it -  I can’t not work, we barely make the bills as it is – feast or famine. I can’t even change my hours because I’m being held hostage by a school bus.

If I see my husband an hour a day, I consider myself lucky – seeing him sleep really doesn’t count as “seeing” him. My boy is asleep when I get home. In the mornings, he’s acting like a teenager in a 6 year old body. When your child is smart enough to find a loophole in every situation, and has the attitude of a teen, what do you do? I can’t really respond as I would to a teen – while he is intelligent he’s still a six year old emotionally, and he still follows six year old logic – he just uses college level words to do it…

Wow, I don’t even know what I’m doing here…apparently sleep deprivation tends to make one ramble – because anyone who is familiar with me knows I always stick right to my subject, and never wander from it….

Ok, going to go lay down and not sleep soundly. G’night!

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! And oh yeah – I haven’t forgotten HH Gregg – I will get there, eventually….:)

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Bit of Uncertainty
Puzzle Date: March 7, 2009
Elapsed Time: 18:17
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Travel Guide
Puzzle Date: March 6, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:54
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Date Book
Puzzle Date: March 5, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:12
Hints Used: 0 Letters, 0 Words   

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Two In The Kitchen
Puzzle Date: March 4, 2009
Elapsed Time: 7:05
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Ties That Bind
Puzzle Date: March 3, 2009
Elapsed Time: 12:03
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Pleasant Bouquet
Puzzle Date: March, 2, 2009
Elapsed Time: 12:26
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Bent Out Of Shape
Puzzle Date: March 1, 2009
Elapsed Time: 8:24
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Feeling Ill
Puzzle Date: February 28, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:42
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Going, Going Gone
Puzzle Date: February 27, 2009
Elapsed Time: 8:18
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

In Praise of HH Gregg – Chapter 5

When last we checked in on our heroine, she was moving from the House of the Plants….LOL

Ok, We thought we had hit paydirt when we found the house we moved to. Nice neighborhood, out of Indy, good school district, close to friends, etc. And it was huge! 25600 sq. feet! What does a family of three need with 2600 sq feet? you ask. Well, somehow we have acquired a lot of “stuffs.” A lot. And you know, I’ve pared down with each move…

Oh wait – this is “In praise of HH Gregg” isn’t it? Remember I mentioned the dishwasher at the House of the Plants died..? Well after the first flood experience (I think we ended up with a total of 4 floods while there…) we decided that it would just be easier to use ours. It was new – well relatively new, we had bought it at the demon store (for you newcomers, that’s Best Buy) less than 2 months before we moved. So Hunny took the one that came with the house out to the huge shed, and put ours in. I was excited! I loaded ‘er up & turned ‘er on. 15 minutes later, I found water on the kitchen floor. A lot of it. (But not one of the aforementioned floods). The dishwasher was leaking. No biggie. Would be an inconvenience for a few days, maybe a week, but I had a warranty! 

I called the demon store, they referred me to the manufacturer. I called the manufacturer, they referred me to a repair company they use. I called the repair company & made a warranty appointment for someone to come look at/fix it. A week later the repair guy informs me the seal . is bad, no way to fix, will have to replace. Ok, so maybe it’ll be a little more inconvenient than I thought – but still not so bad…But here is where I had to go back to the demon store. I shouldn’t have had to, the repaid guy called his company, who called the manufacturer, who contacted the demon store to tell them to replace it. Per the manufacturer, all I had to do was call them to schedule a time for them to bring out & install the replacement. If only that had been the case.

Me: Hi, I was told by (mfg) to call and schedule a time for you to bring out a replacement dishwasher & hook it up.”
demon store employee:”Oh, ok, let me transfer you to the appliance dept. They would set that up.”
Me: “Ok.”

**sitting on ignore, listening to bad music & even worse ads.

Next demon store employee: “Appliance dept, can I help you?”
Me: Hi, I was told by (mfg) to call and schedule a time for you to bring out a replacement dishwasher & hook it up.”
Employee: ”Ok, I just need to look up your warranty info.”
Me: ? Ummmm, I don’t really need warranty service. I already had service, and it’s been determined that it needs replaced. By the manufacturer.”
Employee: “Well, store policy says I have to follow these steps…I need your name, the item in question and the date of purchase.”
Me: “Oooooookaaaay…” and gave the requested info.,
Employee: “I show that was a (mfg) dishwasher,(model), that was purchased at this store, on (date), and taken the same day. We didn’t deliver or install it.”
Me: “Yes…”
Employee: “When would you like to bring in the bad one and pick up the replacement?”
Me: “Ummmm, according to (mfg) you guys are supposed to be bringing me a new one and installing it…”
Employee: “Oh no, unless we delivered and installed the original, we don’t do that. You’ll have to bring us the other one & pick up the replacement here.”
Me: “But (mfg) has told me that they are replacing it, and told me to schedule a time for you to bring it & hook it up..”

Do you see where this is going..?

Employee: “I’m sorry if there was a misunderstanding…”
Me: “What misunderstanding? (Mfg) said to me - ‘Call the store where you purchased the dishwasher and schedule a time for them to bring you a new one & install it. We are truly sorry you’ve had an issue with this one, but our policy is to make it right :)’ I’m not sure which part of that was misunderstood by me..? It seems pretty straightforward..”
Employee: “We’ll be happy to bring it out and install it for you -
    Finally! Wait – that was too easy…
There is a $50 delivery/installation fee. Do you want to pay that now with a credit card?”
Me: “Ummm, is there a manager there?”
Employee: “I can check that for you..”

**Back on ignore for 10 minutes.

Demon store Manager: “Hi. My name is (name) and I’m a manager here at Best Buy (really?) I understand you have some questions about our warranty replacement policy?”
Me: “Ummm, no, I don’t have any questions. (Mfg) has determined that the dishwasher you sold me two months ago needs replaced. The seal around the door is bad and can’t be replaced. So they are replacing the whole unit. They have told me to call you & schedule the replacement. Delivery & install. Your employee wants me to pay for the delivery/install portion of that.”
Manager: “Hmmm,well let’s look at the original purchase…”

***clicking of computer keys
Manager: “Ok, I show that it was a (mfg) dishwasher,(model), that was purchased at this store, and taken the same day. We didn’t deliver or install it.”
Me: “Yes, we’ve already determined that…”
Manager: “ Oh well, I apologize, but our policy is unless we delivered and installed the original, we don’t do that. You’ll have to bring us the other one & pick up the replacement here.”
Me: “Ok, guess I’ll just go back to (mfg) and get this straightened out…”

I called the mfg back to clarify what I was contacting the demon store about. They said I needed to schedule delivery & installation, on them. I explained what I had been through. The little gal apologized profusely, and contacted the demon store while I held. She informed me it was “all straightened out” and I could schedule that service now.

Do you see where this is going..? It took two more weeks and I-don’t-know-how-many more phone calls to get this accomplished. On one call, the mfg did a conference call, I heard them tell the demon store manager that they were  replacing the dishwasher, at their expense, including delivery of new unit, installation and removal of old unit, The manager “noted” it & referred me to the appliance dept to schedule. I had a repeat of the above conversation…Finally the mfg called and scheduled it, and about 4 weeks after it broke, I got my dishwasher replaced.

You see..? I always buy the warranty – and for good reason.

Damm! I’m outta time again, and haven’t even gotten moved yet…LOL. Oh well, such is life, and patience is a virtue! Gotta go get ready for work, again! So…to be continued!

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

         


  

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Capital Gains
Puzzle Date: February 26, 2009
Elapsed Time: 11:59
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Now Playing
Puzzle Date: February 25, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:13
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Get Going
Puzzle Date: February 23, 2009
Elapsed Time: 6:50
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Snap To It
Puzzle Date: February 22, 2009
Elapsed Time: 7:53
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Completely Satisfied
Puzzle Date: February 21, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:16
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Coming Out On Top
Puzzle Date: February 20, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:03
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

In Praise of HH Gregg – Continuation

Wow! This is turning into a book…lol

Ok, the last post ended with us moving. We found a nice(we thought)house. It was quite a bit smaller, but it did have a garage (kinda – I could get my car in it, but could not get out of the car, no room to open the doors…) and a huge storage shed out back, along with a big back yard with a privacy fence around it. The yard needed some work, the grass being kinda scraggly, but no biggie. All the carpeting was different colors, but despite less room total, the rooms themselves (except kitchen & dining room) were larger. We moved in May 1st.

On May 10th, at 11:30pm, I had a flood. It was Saturday night, the boy visiting at Stacey’s for the night (Thank Goddess!) and Hunny was at the race track. And when I say flood, I mean FLOOD! One of the main water lines in the wall between the kitchen and laundry room (ok, laundry closet – room for washer, dryer, hot water heater. period) broke. I had 2” of water throughout the hallway, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms, in a matter of about 3 minutes. I called the emergency number provided by the rental agency to get a recording directing me to call another number if I was calling about “an emergency.” I thought this qualified, so dialed the number. I was told by the nice lady(!) that answered that there wasn’t anyone available after 10 pm on weekends…

Me: “Ummm, I have a bit of a flood going on here.”
Her: “I’m sorry, we don’t have anyone available after 10pm on weekends.”  
Me: “Ummmm, when I called the maintenance line given to me by the rental agency, it referred me here for after hours emergencies. Was that not accurate?”
Her: “Who’s your rental company?”
Me: **gave company name**
Her: “Yes, we are the after hours emergency service for them.”
Me: “Well, I think this qualifies as an emergency! My house has 2” of water throughout it”
Her: “But we don’t have anyone after 10 pm on weekends.”
Me: “Are you kidding me..? My house has 2 inches of water in it already & guess what? It’s still pouring out of the wall, and I have no idea how to shut it off!”
Her: “Well, I can see where that would be a problem.”
Me: “!?” :Ya think..?”
Her: “But I don’t have anyone…”
Me: “Yes, yes – you don’t have anyone available after 10 on the weekend. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Do you realize that water is quickly filling this house? Carpet is being ruined, walls are being ruined. Are already ruined? And the water is still flowing rapidly into the house..?”
Her: “I’m sorry, I don’t…
Me: “Yanno what..? That’s ok, it’s not MY property that’s being destroyed, and it won’t be my expense to fix it. Anything of mine that IS ruined will be replaced by YOUR company. I suggest you find SOMEONE available after 10 pm on a weekend, or there will be some major expense incurred, and I’m fairly certain that not only your boss, but the rental agency will be extremely unhappy when they find –oh I dunno, by tomorrow..? A FOOT of water throughout this house, all of my personal possessions in need of replacement, and that I did call to report it & got a runaround. I understand that as a rule people calling with emergencies tend to be exaggerating a bit, and that you really don’t want to wake your boss at 11:30 at night just to find someone freaked out over nothing. That is not the situation here. I have water pouring out of my wall at a rate of about 2” every five minutes. It’s been doing it for approximately 20 minutes now, there is standing water in the rooms that have carpeting to absorb it – three bedrooms, the hallway, the dining area & working on the living room carpets are fully saturated! But that’s ok, you don’t have anyone available after 10 pm on a weekend night, and I’ll be sure to let everyone who needs to know just how diligent you were about performing your job & giving me that information!”
Her; *silence*
Me: “Thanks for nothing, have a great night.” and I hung up. What other option did I have..?

I knew the water meter outside could stop the water to the house, but it was 11:30 at night, and a new home. I had no idea where outside it might be, or even if I could get to it if I found it. Meanwhile, water was still pouring out of the wall. I called Hunny and wonder of wonders he was actually on his way home – only about 5 minutes out. HE got the water off & the flood stopped. I also got a phone call from the “no-one-available-after-10pm-on-a-weekend on call person. Although by the time he called Hunny had the water off & was shopvac-ing the house. They sent someone from a flood restoration company out the next morning, who set up these huge fans throughout the house. They ran 24/7 for about a week. Wanna talk about relaxing..? Not.

We ended up having several more floods, mold growing in one of the closets & behind the formica in the kitchen, the kitchen center area broken & the counter pulled away from the wall. Mold under the sink. And I can’t prove it, but I’d almost guarantee mold under the carpets. Yeah, they never replaced them after all the flooding. At least not while we were there. IN addition to that, the wiring was all jacked up. If you ran the microwave & dishwasher at the same time, it flipped the breaker every time. Oh yeah, and their dishwasher died about a week after moving in so we had to use ours. Trying to get stuff fixed was a nightmare.

Now I’m sure many of you are familiar with my propensity to go on, and occasionally exaggerate a bit (what? I’m human – mostly) So, here are some visual props, to lessen your understandable doubts…

The hallway

My computer room – luckily I had that plastic floor/chair mat I could put everything on to get it out of the wet

    

Laundry area & Closet

The kitchen wall the formica & behind it on the wall

The kitchen island area

And this, my friends, was the final straw – this picture was taken in our bedroom when we moved out – yes, you’re seeing properly – that plant was growing out from between the wall & the baseboard…

So you see, no exaggeration this time! And did I mention the air conditioner that froze up in mid-July 100 degree heat..? And that we got all of this for the low, low cost of $850 a month..? Oh yeah – one more pic, our breaker box…

                 

Well, it’s outta time I am again. The old demon work calls, and I must answer.

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!

           

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Me Two
Puzzle Date: February 19, 2009
Elapsed Time: 8:45
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

In Praise of HH Gregg - Continuation

Alrighty then We’ve gotten through the cars. Now I will move on to get you closer to where I was going with this. Closer – not necessarily there. I was going on about my luck with thing electronic & mechanical…while we’re on the subject, let’s not forget to include Sprint & the cell phone, ‘cuz, yanno, it’s electronical. . .I won’t go back over all the ugly details again, if you didn’t get em the first time, just click the links, they’ll take you to relevant posts.

So…last year, we moved right about tax time. Now I know houses aren’t mechanical, or electronic, but my “luck” apparently runs to them, too. I don’t think I’ve touched too much on that before, so I will do so now.

We lived in the same house for almost 7 years. We initially got it on a “rent-to-buy” type set up – the payments came outta Hunny’s check each week and were split between “principle” & “interest”. It was set up as a series of 6, five years leases, at the end of which we would “purchase” the home for $1. We also had the option to purchase at any point if finances allowed. After about 5 years, they did, so we went the mortgage route. Life was good. Our payment went from about $700 a month to about $500 a month. It was a fixed 30 year term. That’s supposed to mean your payment doesn’t change. Note I said supposed to.

But apparently, somewhere along the line, the taxes weren’t figured properly, so the amount we escrowed for them wasn’t right. By a whole bunch. On top of that, our mortgage was “sold” by the initial issuer – you know the one with human employees? That you could actually talk to..?It was bought by the Demon Store’s (Best Buy for you late-comers) big brother – The Demon Lender aka Wells Fargo.

I received a notice saying our payment was increasing by approximately (‘cuz I don’t remember the exact amount – I’ve slept since then) $200 a month. $200 a month! That’s a big jump on a “fixed rate mortgage.” I did what I could, and actually managed for a few months, but then I made a payment late. I freely fess up – I made the payment late. About 3 weeks so. And because I had jumped into that vicious cycle, each payment after that was about 3 weeks late. And the phone calls started. I tried to make arrangements with them, to send an initial amount, by a certain date,then add to each following payment, and I did so. But they claimed the payment arrived about four days later than it needed to, and hence, I “broke the agreement.” More phone calls.

I created a new agreement with “Haji” over the phone, and sent off more money on the date I agreed to. Again, it “arrived” late. WTF? I knew damn good & well I had sent it correctly. I‘m sure you can see the vicious cycle beginning here…? By this point, they want me to send them $800 “now” and $1000 a month to catch up. You see, every time I “broke” the agreement, there were additional fees…big surprise there, huh? For a minute, they almost convinced me I was the one fuc*ing up. Almost. I was very stressed, to say the least. But this time, I got smart. Rather than having my bank send it (something I rarely do, but it gave me an uninterested third party verification of when it was sent, so I had gone that way…) I decided I would send it Priority Mail, Signature Required. I got my receipt – with signature – back, and had verification that my payment had arrived two days before it needed to. But wonder of wonders, it didn’t post to my account until 5 days later. See where this is going..? Yep! Broke the agreement (and added hefty fees) again.This time they wanted another $1500  and $1200 a month…Not happening. My signature receipt..? Useless. As far as they were concerned, didn’t mean a thing. By this point, the combination of this & the fact that my car had burned to the ground was just too much for me. The stress was making me physically ill. Hunny and I decided we were done with them. But they had us screwed royally.

You see, they were reporting us 60 days out on the mortgage (we weren’t) and refused to revise it. On top of that, they were also the finance company on the Impala. The one that was now a burned out shell..? Now I know large companies tend to have large numbers of incompetent employees and poor communication, but what happened with the Impala borders on asinine. They were repoting us 90 days out on that car. The same car that my insurance company, and my GAP company had sent them payment in full for a month prior. (It gets better – a month after that they sent someone to our house to repo it!) Really!

What I was getting to was that not only were we screwed by them on our mortgage, we couldn’t refinance because we were screwed by them credit wise. Never mind every other account was reporting on time, consistent payments. Between the mortgage & car loan they were mis-reporting, no one would even look at a refinance…so we moved.

And I’m outta time :( So…..To Be Continued *grin*
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!         

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Animal Magnetism
Puzzle Date: February 18, 2009
Elapsed Time: 11:52
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Playing The Blues
Puzzle Date:February 17, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:36
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: LP Collection
Puzzle Date: February 16, 2009
Elapsed Time: 11:44
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Strike . . . Almost
Puzzle Date: February 15, 2009
Elapsed Time: 12:56
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Have A Heart
Puzzle Date: February 14, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:07
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

In Praise of HH Gregg - Continuation

OK, where was I..? Oh yeah, we’ve gotten through the Sunfire & The Monte…Next in line was the SUV I had for 3 days – Hunny said the payment was too high & it went back. So did the Pontiac Bonnevile, which he didn’t like. Don’t misunderstand, he didn’t MAKE me take them back, it was just easier than listening to him for the next I-dunno-how-many years. Since we’re talking about my luck with things mechanical, I’d like to add that the Bonneville, which I had for 4 days, had the gas tank replaced while in my possession…

the next vehicle was the Ford Explorer. That needed new shocks all the way around, and was a major gas hog. Since I drove from my house to drop the boy off at the baby sitter’s, 18 miles one way, then back to my house – okay 4 blocks from the house – to work, then back to get him & back home, that became an issue quickly…my babysitter, who I had also thought was a good friend, needed a vehicle, so I sold it to her on payments (no, I never learn…) That story will be included with the Firebird story…

I then bought a Malibu, Better gas mileage. Some old man ran a red light & t-boned me 6 months later. Probably the best car I’ve had recently was the one I traded the wrecked Malibu for. It was a 2001 Intrepid. I loved that car…handled like a Camaro, rode like a Cadillac. Someone in the parking garage ran into it & then took off, so I came out from work to find it wrecked. The Intrepid was traded for a Hyundai Sonata. That And the “buttons” quit working. I took it back to the dealership, and they essentially said “Unless they could reproduce the issue, as far as they were concerned, there wasn’t one…so I went down the road & traded it for my first brand new car.

I was so excited! It was a 2005 Impala. 13 miles on it. I had it for almost a year. During that time I had it in the shop 3 times for the gas mileage (my best mileage was 16 mpg highway…), and had the rear window replaced because the seal wasn’t seated around it properly. Then, Hunny was taking the older boy back home (about 50 miles away) on a cold, rainy night in December. About 30 minutes after they left, I got a phone call. So, at 11:00 at night, on a cold, rainy December night, I had to get my then three year old back up out of bed and go get Hunny & the older boy. The car caught on fire while driving down the interstate, in the rain.

 
The view when approached from the rear,

From the driver’s side, 

 
The remains of the interior.

 
From the front

Yeah, that’s what is left when a 2005 Impala catches on fire going down the road in the rain…The car I currently have is what I replaced the Impala with. I won’t go into all the gruesome details, I’ve already given most of the experiences I’ve had with it here, here, and here…

Ok, outta time for today, gotta go get ready for work. But, I will eventually get to the point, and actually get to the HH Gregg part, I promise! So, to be continued……

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

PS, did I mention we now have added a Beta fish to our growing menagerie..? I didn’t..? Oh, well consider it mentioned :)

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Drop Zone
Puzzle Date: February 13, 2009
Elapsed Time: 8:03
Hints Used:0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Can Do!
Puzzle Date: February 12, 1967
Elapsed Time: 12:33
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

In Praise of HH Gregg

Yes, I’m aware I’ve been woefully negligent regarding posting here. But really there haven’t been many blog worthy moments in my life lately. The notable exception was the breakage and (eventual) repair of my washer. I always buy the warranty. I know better than not to. . .my luck with things mechanical, expensive, or badly wanted before gotten is shall we say not the best..? Better yet, let’s just say it like it is – horrible. And this isn’t a new occurrence, it’s been going on for years…

Back in 1999, my Firebird got wrecked, again (neither time my doing, I’d like to add) and I decided it was time to replace her. She’d seen better days. I ended up selling her to my sister-in-law. I went to the dealership and found a nice little 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. Only two years old, and less than 30,000 miles! It was the newest car I had even owned. After a week, I noticed the stereo controls on the steering wheel were getting hot. VERY hot. Almost to the point of blistering you if you touched them. I took it to the dealer, found it need not just new steering controls, but a whole new stereo. Two weeks to order in parts, so into a rental car I went. When the kid showed up with the rental car, I think I may have frightened him a bit…I have been told that I am a bit intimidating on the best of days. That wasn’t a “best” day…I had worked 8 hours, had sat at the dealership for 2 more hours, waiting on a diagnosis for the car I had bought ONE WEEK ago – hadn’t even made the first payment on it! and the kid from Enterprise showed up in a roller skate. Yeah, you read the right, a roller skate -

I’ll leave the actual conversation to your imagination, suffice it to say, when the kid came back with a real car, he brought 3 others with him…

So, two weeks later I got my new car back. I drove all of 1/2 a block and found the front was wobbling & clunking. I turned around and went back to the dealership, just to have some redneck mechanic *****try to tell me that it was caused by tar on my tires. ?! Are you serious..? Now I know I have bumps in my shirt and so couldn’t possibly have any kind of mechanical knowledge, but really? TAR? On the TIRES? of a car that has been sitting at your dealership for the last two weeks? That wasn’t doing it when I left it..? Ok, for the sake possible, I took it home, let Hunny drive it. I checked the tires for possible tar…uhhhh, no tar. But definitely clunking & wobbling. The next day back to the dealership I went. To sit. And wait. Again.
And again I got the redneck-talking-slowly-to-a-person-with-bumps-in-the-shirt spiel about tar on the tires. Now I’m pretty tolerant (what..? I AM!) and pretty well blew it off the first time. However, not happening twice.

Redneck: Yeah, that there wobble would be from where you done run it over some freshly repaired road & picked up a little bit of tar on the tires.”
Me: “Really? You think that’s what it is..?”
Redneck: ”Oh yeah, I’m sure of it! See it all the time!”
Me: “Wow, that’s funny, because it’s been HERE for the last two weeks while you repaired the stereo.”
Redneck: “Well, you musta picked it up after you left.”
Me: “I went 1/2 mile down that road (pointing to the NOT RECENTLY REPAIRED six lane rod that runs in front of the shop), then brought it back because of this.”
Redneck:” Well there had to have been something out there..”
Me: “Well, let’s go for a ride and you can show me the new repairs…”
Redneck: *starting to look uncomfortable*“Nah, can’t do that, gotta stay at the shop.”
Me: “Okay, well then let’s walk over to the car, and you can show me where the tar is at, so I can remove it & make it drive correctly..”
Redneck: “Well, a lot of times, it gets stuck up on the inside of the wheels where you can’t get to it.”
Me: “?”
Redneck: *looking even more uncomfortable, and starting to realize the bumps didn’t affect the brain in this instance**“Well, it happens all the time…”
Me: “Where’s the manager..?”
Redneck: “Ahhhh, he’s not here today.”
Me: “Really..?”

So I took myself up front to the sales service department and asked for the garage manager – who btw WAS there. After a 15 minute conversation, during which I gave him the gist of the previous conversation, he went out to the shop and drove the car a short ways. When he returned he indicated they would need to keep it to determine the problem. And yes, there was a problem. Turns out, in addition to the stereo stuff, it also needed new brakes, rotors & the rack & pinion replaced. Another four week stay. Another four weeks in a rental car.

And so it goes. After about a year of owning this car, I decided once and for all that I don’t like little cars. Did I mention I was backing out of the garage and hit Hunny’s truck..? In my defense, I had three teen-agers in the car with me…insurance fixed it, but a friend that owned a body shop did it as cheaply as possible so I didn’t have to pay the deductible…

Anywho, I went back to the dealership & traded it in on a 1998 Monte Carlo. Much bigger, more comfortable, price about the same. Three months after the purchase it started knocking. Loudly. Essentially overnight. It was “chugging” rather than purring. Down to the dealership I go. It was something to do with the coil pack. Not covered by the warranty (yes, I bought it) as it was considered general maintenance, part of the tune up process. $500 to repair…

Ok, gotta go beat the boy (joking!) who has managed to lock himself OUT of his room, and get ready for work. I will be back – and it’ll be less than 2 months, I promise. so, to be continued…..

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzz

* **** Know you, I have nothing against rednecks in general – Hell, I am one, as is my Hunny, most of our friends, my older children, and the boy is a redneck-in-training. The redneck men around me know not to talk down to me just because I have bumps in my shirt…The ones who have to interact with me may underestimate me initially (an advantage for me!) but soon learn their mistake. Usually I blow it off, but occasionally, as in the above example, it rankles…

;)

Edit: Yes, I know, this has nothing to do with HH Gregg - I'll get there, eventually - LOL

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: A Bittersweet Puzzle
Puzzle Date: February 11, 2009
Elapsed Time:  : 12:16
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

For those who care, I am working on a post to put up here that isn’t puzzle related…stay tuned…

:)

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Water On The Brain
Puzzle Date: February 10, 2009 (yes I skipped Feb9, I had it almost completed, and hit something on the laptop and closed the thing – I figured it would be inaccurate to go back and complete it when I already knew most of the answers…)
Elapsed Time: 13:24 (maybe I should have…the time would be bound to be better!)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Questions In A Song
Puzzle Date: February 8, 2009
Elapsed Time: 14:34
Hints Used 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Wow! Apparently I really AM losing my mind! Not necessarily going insane (how can you go somewhere you’ve been for years..?) but rather, looking at my scores/times over the past few days, losing my . . . I dunno, something ‘cuz my times have been SUCKING!

Puzzle Title: Give Em Some L
Puzzle Date: February 7, 2009
Time Elapsed: 18:11 – Do you see that. .? 18 minutes! pathetic!
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Sight Unseen
Puzzle Date: February 6, 2009
Time Elapsed: (I’m so embarassed…) 20:20 Oh alright! Sheesh! 20:20 – yeah you read that right – 20 minutes and 20 seconds…
Hints Used: 0letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Wet Blankets
Puzzle Date: February 5, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:08
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Solving for How Long?
Puzzle Date: February 4, 2009
Elapsed Time: 12:19
Mints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Squealing For Fun
Puzzle Date: February 3, 2009 (The 21st anniversary of my 21st birthday!)
Elapsed Time: 14:53 (in my defense, today & yesterday were done on the laptop, which is way different than doing on the desktop…and which I’m not yet accustomed to)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Family Matters
Puzzle Date: February 2, 2009
Elapsed Time: 12:56 OK, OK, it’s 12:56 – Sheesh* I was trying to save face…
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Child’s Hide & Seek
Puzzle Date: February 1, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:41 (man I am SUCKING….)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Travel Guide
Puzzle Date: January 31, 2009
Elapsed Time: 13:54 (bad, bad, bad – embarrassed to post…)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: On Broadway
Puzzle Date: January 30, 2009
Elapsed Time: 6:49 (woohoo! That kinda makes up for the last couple…)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Say What?
Puzzle Date: January 29, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:25 (yuck!)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

New Laptop! ! ! !

Woohoooooo! Welcome to the first post from my new laptop! Yep, that’s right, Mama got the lion’s share of the tax check this year, and I got a laptop for my birthday, which is kinda fitting, since I haven’t really gotten a birthday present in years. Well, that’s not wholly true…last year, I got a Superbowl party at my house in my birthday. And the year before that I got to go to a hockey game…Have I mentioned that I’m sports challenged? By choice..? For those who aren’t good at reading between the lines – NOT A SPORTS FAN!

Anyways, this makes up for those birthdays. Just wanted to share…hopefully I’ll now be able to post more. At least that’s the plan…ok, gonna go play, see ya soon!

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Snack Pack – apparently you now have to watch a commercial before the puzzle will load. This is new today…
Puzzle Date: January 28
Elapsed Time: 11:43 (Wow, that sux!)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Who’s The Boss
Puzzle Date: January 27, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:33
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 Words

In an effort to make the puzzles more easily accessible, from today forward, the title will link to the day’s puzzle :)

Jodi

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Flap In The Breeze
Puzzle Date: January 26. 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:59 (Ewwwwwwwww)
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: For Petite Solvers Only
Puzzle Date: January 25
Elapsed Time: 9:40
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 Words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Playing With Frankenstein
Puzzle Date: January 24, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:44
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Found at Home
Puzzle Date: January 23, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:33
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Deciding The Easy Way
Puzzle Date: January 22, 2009
Elapsed Time: 9:10”
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Reading is Fundamental
Puzzle Date: January 21, 2009
Elapsed Time: 10:46
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

 

Puzzle Date: January 20
Puzzle Title: Warm & Toasty
Elapsed Time: 10:38
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words
 

Today’s Puzzle

Yes, I know, I didn’t get yesterday’s puzzle up. But I didn’t do it. On Saturdays I have to be at work at9, which means leaving by 8. Which is just not good for me….I tried to do it at work, but our phones have been pretty well non-stop since the first of the year- no clue why, doesn’t seem to be any one particular issue, just everyone & their half-wit uncle-brother feels a need to call us, most of them without good reason. And they want to bitch about having to hold for 30 min before someone answers. Now tell me, how do I (or we, as a company) have any control over how many people call at any given time? We don’t. Therefore, if you call at the same time as 100 other people, you’re going to hold, and there isn’t anything we can do about it. There are plenty of people answering the lines, but when you call me to snivel that your cable isn’t working, and it turns out after 15 minutes of troubleshooting that you don’t have it connected/turned on, that’s 3-5 people who had to hold because you weren’t smart enough to check the cord & power buttons. So essentially, YOU’RE the reason for the long hold.

Ahem….sorry, mini-rant there. Ok onward and upward!

Puzzle Title: Good Thinking
Puzzle Date: January 19
Elapsed Time: 7:54
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

bb

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Cheer Up

Puzzle Date January 17, 2009

Elapsed Time: 9:14

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Date: January 16, 2009

Puzzle Title: Hollywood Cities

Elapsed Time 10:08 (ewwwwwwww)

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Brotherly Love

Puzzle Date: January 15, 2009

Elapsed Time: 9:36

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Formally Speaking

Puzzle Date: January 14

Elapsed Time: 10:47

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Night Night

Puzzle Date: January 13, 2009

Elapsed Time: 9:48

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

I Think I’ll Live & Today’s Puzzle

Hey All, (Some of you may have already seen a post very similar to this…)

Sorry to drop off the face of the planet, so to speak, but I have been one sick witch! Since Sunday I have been under the weather (slight understatement...), but finally, Thursday after 4 complete bedding changes, literally having to change my sweat soaked sleepwear roughly every 30 minutes or so, unable to sleep, yet not really awake either - kinda in what I call lala land, and living on orange juice & alka-seltzer plus, I finally took myself to the prompt care at the hospital down the road. Where they "promptly" shooed me to the ER due to a BP reading of 198/126. (That was apparently caused by driving there while so sick...) Four hours, a shot of morphine (for the mega headache & lower back pain) and a bag of saline run into me later, Hunny took me home. I am finally starting to think I might live...not 100% yet, but considering I was functioning at maybe 15%, a definite improvement!

Thursday night was the first night since Sunday I didn’t have to get up every 30-45 minutes to change my sweat soaked jammies (only one change that night! woohoo!), I slept almost all night (morphine, maybe..?) and this morning I was able to assess my house (OMG! can we say TRASHED!?!) and actually make some headway towards making it a home again. My Hunny did his best to take care of me, bless his heart, he even went to the store. No biggie you think..? This is the man who hates to shop so much that when he needed an axe, I was the one to go to Lowes for it, LOL! And he went several times...

I have been off work most of a week (if you remember, I tried to work Monday, but that didn't last beyond 2 or 3 hours), and according to the doc will remain off until this coming Monday. I have been off of EVERYTHING. . .I didn't even look at my computer until Friday night, so I am going to try to get thru the 124 emails in my inbox (most of them digest form...) and hopefully get caught up on the news, comics, and various other things I’ve missed.. My plan includes this a.m. resuming the horoscopes, and I am going to try to respond to anything that had been pointed in my direction *grin*

Alrighty, here is today’s puzzle stats, then I’m off to dive into the mailbox, and hopefully not drown :) Oh yeah, someone asked me if I shouldn’t be giving the number of letters as part of the daily puzzle stats (hi Tom! *waving*). That isn’t one of the pieces of info provided as part of the puzzle completion info. I know I could probably go count the letters, but since I am essentially LAZY, that’s not happening any time soon….

I was also asked for the location of the puzzle instructions…just take yourself to the site, and there is a “Help” link. If you click that it’ll take you to instructions :)

bb

Puzzle Title: Weekly Reader

Puzzle Date: January 12, 2009

Elapsed Time: 8:40 (not too shabby, all things considered…)

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! ! ! !                          

Today’s Puzzle

Oh my Goddess, I feel MISERABLE! Apparently my body’s thermostat is broken, and now only offers two temperatures – sweating & goose bumps, often at the same time…I had to get up and change my pajamas 3 times last night, because they were sweat soaked.  I slept 9 hours, minus the times I woke up, which as usual were many, and I’m fairly certain I could crawl back in the bed and continue to toss & turn & drift for the rest of the day and tonight, too.  Ughhhhhhhh. And, I volunteered to work today. Whether I make it the whole day remains to be seen…

Anywho, here’s today’s info:

Puzzle Name: Director’s Cut

Puzzle Date: January 11

Elapsed Time: 9:15

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Ughhhhhhhhhh

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Date: January 5, 2009

Puzzle Title: The Fish Are Jumping

Elapsed Time: 11:20

Hints Used: 0 letters, ) words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Sharon Petersen ( I have a cousin who used to have that name – almost…)

Puzzle Date: January 4, 2009

Elapsed Time: 9:29 ( I was NOT ready to get up yet…)

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

I’m starting to think I’m talking to myself, here. Or at least have issued an empty challenge – although I did get one response, I haven’t seen any indication of participation yet. Oh well. I will continue to do my puzzles each morning. Goddess knows, I have enough problems with remembering shit as it is, I can’t imagine how it would go down hill if I quit exercising my brain…

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: On The Level

Puzzle Date: January 3, 2009

Elapsed Time: 8:34

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Title: Finding Closure

Puzzle Date: January 1, 2009

Elapsed Time: 6:37 (ahhhhh, that’s more like it – I was starting to worry bout myself for a few…)

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle Date: December 31

Puzzle Title: Solid Foundations

Elapsed Time: 8:37 (much better!)

Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

Today’s Puzzle

…And yes, I know, these posts don’t really count as posts, and I intend to get a real one up soon….I am actually considering creating a blog just for the puzzle  stuffs, but not sure I’m that energetic. 

Anyways, here’s today’s:

Puzzle: I’m OK

Elapsed Time: 13:39 (still pretty ewwww…)

Hunts Used: 9 letters, 0 words

Ok, gotta git, boy needs dressed, prescriptions need filled, eye doctor need seen & works awaits…

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! ! ! !             

Today’s Puzzle

Puzzle: Here’s Tool You

Elapsed Time: 14:38 (pathetic!)

Hints Used: 0 words, 0 letters

Today’s Puzzle

Get Up
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words
Elapsed Time: 11:22

How’d you do..?

See ya laterzzzzzzzz!

Puzzles

Good Morning – if there is such a thing as a good  morning…Anyone who visits regularly (yes, all two of you) know that I don’t wake well. Part of my morning routine everyday, to get myself functional & awake, is a crossword puzzle.
“Crossword puzzle in the morning?” you say.
”Yes, crossword puzzle…let me explain. Your brain is much like any other muscle in your body – the more you “work” it the “stronger” it is. When I wake up, all of my muscles or tight, achy, and not wanting to respond to the commands I send them. Coffee – oh sweet coffee! – helps the physical things start working, slowly but surely. But that is pretty much useless if my brain is still foggy and fuzzy. When you do a crossword puzzle, you force your brain to start “working” – thinking. Just like trivia (another morning routine) does. When I start the puzzle, a lot of times the clues really don’t make sense. But as I progress through it, it gets easier & easier. By the time I’m done, my brain is “awake”  and ready to go for the day. The puzzle does for my mind what the coffee does for my body.
”I hate crosswords! They’re too hard” you say.
”Really? Doesn’t that bother you..?” I ask. Every time you do one, you put your brain into high gear, you learn a little better not to take things at face value, and you increase you vocabulary & knowledge. Aren’t those things you’d like to do?
Anywho, my point is, I am going to start recording my times here, so I can look back and see how I’m doing…and I challenge you to see if you can catch up – or even pass my time! Let me also say, if you accept the challenge to do this daily, and you aren’t a regular “puzzler” don’t get discouraged and quit after 3 days of high times. You have to allow your brain time to adapt & adjust, and get itself into the proper mode to do this. After a short time, you’ll notice an increase in your “brain activity,” as well as increased alertness & awareness of the things & people around you. It’s your choice, if you prefer to stay in a fog & use as little of your mind as possible, by all means do so. If you want to join me in this here’s what to do:

Go to The Puzzle Society.
When you get there, under “Archive” you’ll see a drop down menu, click on it and choose “January 7” then click on the word “click” under it.
When the puzzle loads, chose “Options”
You’ll want check marks next to “show clock” in the first row, and “regular” under Skill Level. Then click OK
When you get back to the main page, click “Play Now” and start solving. It will automatically track your time,  number of clues solved, and number of hints used (you’ll see the hints option when you open the puzzle itself).
When you’ve finished, you’ll get a screen that looks like this:

There you have your stats! Ok, here’s mine for today, to start things off:

Puzzle: January 7th “Sauce Sample”
Elapsed Time: 8:49
Hints Used: 0 letters, 0 words

I’d love to hear from others who decide to do this – how long did it take you to get into the “rhythm?” Did you get frustrated? Did you get over it *grin*?

Ok gotta go for now.
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! ! !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you have your stats!