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

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