Are You "Fake"?

Stepping on soapbox... So in my blog reading I noticed a theme where people were saying, "here's what I write but here's what's really going on." For instance, "I had a bad morning but it got better by the time I had lunch with my friends" could have been, "I woke up with stomach cramps, my dog threw up on my new duvet and my best friend was fired." Of course, crappy things happen to us. All of us. And some of us opt to list them out or dissect them via their blogs, while others choose to gloss over them or avoid mentioning them altogether. Each to their own.

I know I've been accused (which is a negative word, but oh well) of leaving out anything "bad" on my blog. Trust me, it's not because I want anyone to think that nothing bad happens to me, or that it's all roses and fairies over here. It's just because I choose to focus on happy things and the blog is my "happy place" in a way. I could tell you that in this year alone, my mom and stepdad filed for divorce. Or that a couple of months ago a designer on my team took his own life. Or that my father, who pretty much left when I was 10 but surfaces for major events, like my wedding, is supposedly coming to meet my nephew. We haven't really talked since my wedding in 2/08 despite my emailing him. I'm apprehensive about his visit. I'm worried about what's going to happen to my parents pending the divorce. I feel awful for my co-worker and his family and friends. Bad things happen to everyone. They just do. I could blog all day long about sadness and i'm sure you all could to. But that's just not what I want to be about or what I want to focus on. Those are things I deal with offline; online, I want to focus on things that make me happy - my family and friends, my puppers, cooking, working out, reading, etc. Call me shallow. Call me a liar. Call me "fake." What have you. But it's my blog damn it and I'll write what I wanna! :)

Note: Whether or not other people post about their problems, concerns, etc. - serious vs. non-serious - is completely up to them! I don't judge, get offended, etc., when I read the stories, or notice the lack of them. I appreciate when bloggers 'put themselves out there' and just truly feel that it's a personal choice what bloggers choose to post about.

Stepping Off Soapbox... Allrighty then, back to normal programming! :) Yesterday was a busy one for me! I woke up early (3 days in a row - woo!) and hit the gym. The goal? Run 2.5 miles at 6.3 mph. I did it! And sandwiched a quarter mile walk on each side bringing today's total to 3 miles in a little over 30 minutes (30.40). WOO! Afterwards I headed into work, had a great working lunch with a co-worker from my leadership program, worked more and then headed home to the fam! I got a new dresser, so of course this meant reorganizing my closet - bitter sweet indeed. (still need to take pics!) Sweet because I love organizing, but bitter because it's a lot of freaking work! haha Austin was a lot of help though, and it's so nice to have clothes now living outside of our closet! We also watched BBC's Sherlock. Our friend Jimmy told us about it and we're obsessed - it's basically Sherlock Holmes in modern-day London. Awesome!

Q: How do you store your clothes? All in the closet? Or some in dressers/chest of drawers or what?!

Q: Are you "Fake"? Do you post the good and the bad, or choose to focus more on the good?

New Tortellini Bake, My First Ramekin, Easy A, Karma works QUICK *#%@#

Thanks, invisible friends! Sounds like i'm not the only one who liked Going the Distance, or the one who hearts some sweet & sour chicken! It's so yummy but I refuse to order from a restaurant - so glad to have a recipe I can go to when I crave it! So my Monday was somewhat glorious! I slept in and woke up when my body wanted to. Which turned out to be 10 a.m. No judgment. I then cleaned up some recipes and found out their calories online, made a massive grocery list, played with my puppies and then headed out to Publix, Kroger and Petco for food for the whole family. I also hit up Crate & Barrel for some of these:

Um, this photo is close to scale. hehe Point being - mini quiches are ON - i'm so pumped to use these bad boys. I went ahead and got 4 of these and 2 glass ones to see which I like better. These are certainly prettier if you ask me. That counts for something, right? Anywho, after the stores and unpacking the car it was time to cook. I made two new recipes, here's one:

no - the picture doesn't do its taste justice. boo.

Chicken Tortellini Bake
Recipe adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Café
Makes 4 Servings

Nutritional Information: 462 calories, 41 carbs, 11 fat grams and 43 protein grams.

Here's the Recipe on Healthified Kitchen!

After cooking and cleaning it was family movie night! We watched Easy A and thought it was hilarious! While some parts were a bit cringe-worthy, others were smart, cute and funny. We especially loved her family - her mother and father were so funny and it was nice to see how her personality made sense! I think Emma Stone is adorable and funny, and loved how the film poked fun at cliches. I also adored seeing Penn Badgley in the film - I think he's just a cute boy next door. All in all, i'd give this movie a 4/5. It probably would have been a 5 if her best friend had been less annoying, if Emma Stone had been a bit less of a pushover (at first it was nice then it was like okay chica it's okay to say no) and if there had been a little less mockery of religious peeps. Just sayin'.

Tuesday was pretty slow going - went to work (where it's DEAD), went to lunch with Stacy at P.F. Chang (great to catch up with her!), went straight home after work (no workouts - still sore from skiing but am totally going to get back to working out on Wednesday - no more excuses!), hung out with Austin and the pups and called it an early night. I WILL say that on the way home this went down: I'm waiting at a light to go right and when it turns green this car pulls out RIGHT in front of me (from an adjoining parking lot) and I almost hit it (as I'd probably only left 4 feet between me and the car in front of me). I lay on my horn and he flicks me off, turns around (to stare at me) and says 'F*CK YOU' while speeding off being an even bigger asshole and SLAMMING into the car in front of him. Karma much? Then, when I go to drive around him because, you know, he's stopped traffic with his wreck and all, he rolls his window down and says, "Thank you, you f*cking BITCH!" Merry Christmas, right? Geez! So being the classy lady that I am, I roll down MY window and say, "REALLY, you think this was MY fault, asshole?" And I drive off. Austin was on the phone the whole time. LOL Still can't believe that guy! And to answer any follow up questions, no, thankfully no one was hurt but yes, that guy will certainly have to pay at least his deductible as he sped into the car that was maybe 20 feet in front of him at approximately 25 mph. I kid you not - I've NEVER see karma work that fast.

Q: Have you seen Easy A? If so, did you like it? If not, do you want to see it?

Q: Have you ever cooked with a ramekin? If so, please, please, please drop a recipe link if you have one! :)

Q: Have you ever seen karma work that fast?

Dang Fibular Sesamoid! Dang Delayed Flight! Dang Car Battery! My Own Personal S*%# Storm

Thanks, friends! I REALLY had a blast there and am enjoying catching up on all of your blogs! And yes, I’m also enjoying my new coats and boots – SO fun. They’re going to come in SO much handy in Colorado. Can’t believe I’m going to be skiing in like TEN DAYS! We are going to have so much fun with Austin’s fam – they are a blast to travel with. Speaking of travel - here are another couple of pics from Chicago!

Outside the comedy club

With two fellow communicators Hannah and Kate

So let’s see. Wednesday I woke up in Chicago and my foot hurt. BAD. The foot that I hurt a couple of years ago (fun fact: the last time I visited Chicago in September 2008 I was in a medical boot due to said foot). Anywho, he diagnosed me with Bursitis, and found a fracture of the fibular sesamoid.

See the one labeled #15 – that’s the fibular sesamoid – mine was not a little kidney bean like in the photo, it was split in half (hence a fracture). After being in a boot, doing what I was supposed to, not wearing heels and even being more careful working out/running – all was good. Until now. Maybe it was the cold weather? Maybe because I’m not on a consistent running schedule my foot has reverted back to it’s old self? (bratty, uncooperative, weak) Who knows? All I knew was that I needed to stay off of it – so I did. I just went to Giordano’s for an insane slab of Chicago-style pizza and read my book. Then I walked a bit around town before calling it a day, heading to the airport, finding out my flight was delayed and then flying home… where I realized my car, which had been in the parking deck at the airport, had no juice. Yes, I had left my lights on. Enter a helpful courtesy staff who jumped me off and sent me on my way. WOW. Not my day you guys! I got home and went to bed.

Thursday I woke up – same deal. Pain in foot – down for the count. I DID hang with the fam, visit with the pups, catch up on work, etc., but I did not get to work out, cook or do anything I enjoy but read. Sigh. Thankfully, my co-worker’s dad is my podiatrist – so they got me in Monday. Wish me luck! I hope it’s nothing serious that will hinder my ability to ski!!!

Q: Do you ever have foot problems? Mine didn't start until 2008 - it's been there ever since, lingering, but it's definitely prominent now! :(

Q: Any fun plans this weekend? I plan to chill! I have a birthday party and holiday party - but mostly i'm just going to chill with Austin and hopefully whip up some recipes and rest my fit - no running but I hope to walk a lot!

New Pup Update, The Mondays, And The New Pup's Name is...

Thank you all so much for the name advice and poll votes... the winner is Remy!!! Here's a pic of our new little Tiger!

(both the poll winner and the one we felt suited her best!) She really is the sweetest little thing and I think both names would suit her. (For those who asked in the comments, she is a malti-poo - maltese/poodle mix; Reuben is a shih-poo - shih tzu/poodle mix). I did feel awful last night though - we are kenneling her while we sleep until I trust her and Reuben to be alone together while we're sleeping. So she's in the kennel and she's crying. A lot. Like more than she did her first night. I tried to be stoic and not give in. This a.m. I went in to get the little bundle and she had gone #2 in there - poor thing! She was SO upset. You know pups hate to have to use it in their "den." So we cleaned it and now we'll just have to make SURE she's empty before bed time. Honestly, it could have been the shots - we thought she was empty! Anyway... it's all good in the hood!

So yesterday was just one of those days.

• We get up to RAIN. Like dark.... monsoon. This means the dogs can't go out and it will take me over an hour to get in.
• I have to stop at Publix on the way in for a birthday card for work... I have Austin's umbrella. It's huge. It opens but it won't close so i'm fighting it... it wins.
• I realize there is a spider on the umbrella. I've transported it from the garage to my CAR. Oh my.
• I get in... late... work sucks. People are stupid. I want to slap folks.
• My external copywriter of four years on a HUGE annual project I do ever year quits.

Other than the above, I skipped my lunchtime workout - needed a vent/chill sesh with Stacy instead at Uncle Julio's. After work I raced home, grabbed the new pup and we headed to the vet. Clean bill of health, and we did shots and then back home by 8:30 p.m. to pretty much chill with the pups and go to sleep. I was SO tired yesterday - blah. Definitely ready to get back to my routine today!!

Q: How was your Monday? I know, in perspective, mine wasn't bad, just annoying. LOL

Q: How do you feel when you get out of your workout routine? I haven't gotten to work out since Friday - I feel anxious, bloated and overall just blah.

P.S. I finished Undone today so i'll post a book review tomorrow, I have a new recipe to share - yum!, and I hope/plan to do a photo shoot tonight!

Book Review, 6 miles, Travel Diaries Part 2 of 2: Being Friendly in the Skies

Thanks you guys! It really was such a beautiful wedding and I was so happy to be a part of it and to spend time with some of my best friends!! As promised... Travel Diaries Part 2...
So... as you know I left my phone in my car - traumatic!! I get to the airport and barely make it on the plane. All is good. As i'm boarding a flight attendant tells me I have two personal items (a small laptop bag and a tiny coach purse). She's like put your purse in your other bag. I'm like okay I will.... trying to walk away (figure I can do it in the overhead bin). No go. She's like now. I'm like okay, I try to get off the plane to do it on the hallway-connect-to-the-airport-thingie. She's like no, do it here. I'm like here? (waving my hand in the 2'x2' area on the floor in front of first class) She's like YEAH, here. So, in a huff, I throw all my shiz down (coat, water bottle, rolling luggage), unzip my suitcase and put my purse in. And no, I can't get it zipped back up, yes, i'm sweating and of course, everyone is looking at me. I get up and she is staring at me and laughing with her co-worker. True story. I roll my eyes and go to my seat.

There I meet Rose, a nice lady, who's like what was that all about? I'm like oh, apparently a purse this size (indicated with hands) counts as a personal item and they wanted me to correct it right there on my hands and knees in front of everyone. We're chatting and that flight attendant comes back over and tells me to stop talking about it, it's federal law, etc. I'm like um, i'm talking to her, my new friend Rose, fellow passenger, NOT you, so you need to leave me alone now. She was like well you just need to let it go. I'm like again, I'm talking to her not you and she asked what happened and that was it. Did she let it go? No, she kept on going on about the law and I just stared her down until she left.

Okay, I knew she was being a bitch. I knew I was in no mood. But I saw her whispering, staring and pointing and was like shit, i'm going to get kicked off this flight. So about 10 minutes later I have to pee. I really do. In all of the stress I drank my entire camel bak. So I ask a different flight attendant if I can go, he says yes and i'm off. I'm about to close the door and there she is - DANG!

Her: "Mam, the fasten seatball sign is still lit, you're not to be about the cabin, it's federal law.

Me: "I'm sorry, I asked the guy and he said it was fine, I'm not trying to cause trouble... speaking of. I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I offended you earlier. I was stressed out, I lost my phone, I was running late, but those aren't excuses for me to have behaved the way I did. I overreacted and was a bit bratty and I apologize."

Her: (her WHOLE FACE changed along with her voice) "Sweetie, I'm sorry too!"

Love it. I pee, I go back to my seat and she comes out of no where (again!).

Her: "Honey, would you like a cocktail?"

Me: "No thank you."

Her: "It's on me."

Me: "Chardonnay."

Yes, I got free wine and upgraded first-class snacks on her. I thanked her, and when we landed and I left the plane, tipsy, she told me to have a great day and thanked me again for saying I was sorry.

Lesson learned: throw a mini tantrum while boarding + honest apology = free alcohol.

Backing up to Monday - we got up, had a quick turkey/swiss muffin for breakfast and got on the road to the airport with Megan and Clint. We reminisced, chatted and laughed, then got some gummy bears and boarded the plane! I had a much less memorable return flight - just finished Karin Slaughter's Fractured. Book Review: I give this one a 4/5. It was part of the Will Trent series. The story started out with a bang - a suburban mother coming home to her daughter being murdered - murderer STILL in the home. From there, it took lots of turns and twists and surprises - I flew this one - couldn't wait to see what happened and the mystery didn't disappoint! The only reason it's a 4/5 rather than a 5/5 was because somewhere in the middle it slowed down too much for me and I was just kind of over it. But then it picked up and I loved it. I'd recommend it, but suggest you read the series in order!

After finishing my book we got in town, went straight home and I fell asleep from 4 - 8 p.m. No joke! Great nap. I took some more medicine (throat on fire; stuffy nose; cough), got ready for work and went to sleep! Pretty slow Monday for sure.

Tuesday was just catch up at work, 4-mile walk during lunch, more catch up and then a 2-mile walk after work and this chest, tricep, shoulder workout with Stacy.

After our work out I raced home and had a mini cooking marathon with Austin! We made 6 servings of veggie breakfast casserole, 4 servings of Red Thai Curry (i'm on a Thai kick), 4 servings of Chicken & Mushroom pesto and prepped a few other meals (i.e. diced chicken, cooked noodles, diced veggies, etc.) Then it was time for reading and bed - i'm now reading another Karin Slaughter book - Undone. SO good!

Q: Have you ever had a "dismal and/or degrading airport experience"?

Q: Have you ever read Karin Slaughter books?

Travel Diaries Part 1 of 2: Are You Too Dependent Upon Technology? I am...

Ladies, ladies, and maybe a gentlemen or two. I did something I've never done before yesterday and my reaction surprised even me. So i'm going to the airport to go to Virginia. I park the car, walk up a hill, buy my marta pass (train), go down the landing, the train comes, I get on and WHERE IS MY CELL PHONE?! And by cell phone, I am of course referencing my means of talking to the outside world, my connection to my work and personal email accounts, my iPod for music, my navigation for a sense of direction, my TV for Sex and The City, and the list goes on. WHERE is it? It's in my car. Do I have time to get it? No. My choices:

A: Have your phone (YAY!) but miss your flight and your best friend's rehearsal dinner.

B: Be incommunicado. "Go dark" as Jack Bauer would say. Be scared, confused and alone because what in the eff did I do before I was attached to this device?

I reluctantly chose B. However, OMG - had to tell peeps what was going on! So I popped out the laptop + aircard and started frantically sending emails (only when the train was not in the tunnel - sigh). Within minutes Megan, Lindsey and Austin had sent me their cell phone numbers and I wrote them down circa 1995 AKA the last time I didn't have my own cell phone. By the way, yes, you read that right, I did not know my husband's cell phone number. And you know what, who does? I mean really. Your communication device stores all of that for you. Sigh.

So I get to the airport and you heard it here first, there are no clocks at Hartsfield-Jackson. Really? Of ALL the places to not have clocks, clocks and more clocks? So i'm asking people for the time. You would've thought I was asking them for their first born they were so taken aback. I get to the gate (finally, after whining about my phone to at least 4-5 "friends" I met in security and on the train) and I'm the last one on the plane. MADE IT!

Oh but not yet... I had to battle a flight attendant... More on that tomorrow. In the meantime, know that I'm safe and alive in Virginia with my besties and had a BLAST last night! Lindz is taking all the pics this weekend and hooker forgot her camera cord so I'm going to be a picture-less blogger until Monday. I know, true story. BUT, I'll post Travel Diaries Part 2 of 2 tomorrow, starting with the Airtran employee who messed with the wrong person yesterday.

I'll leave you with this someecard - notice the section it's in at the top left... hehe Bye for now!

Q: Are you dependent on technology? If no, have you ever been in a situation where you would discover that you are? If no, then you might be... :)

Q: Has this ever happened to you before?

Bottomless Pit, New Recipe, 5.5 Miles

Thanks you guys!! I'm so excited - can't believe i'm going to see them TONIGHT! I think they're beautiful girls, too! :) And they're all so sweet - I'm definitely the meanest out of the bunch. eek! So yesterday was weird. I woke up still feeling funky. I've been weird all week - sore throat, etc. But yesterday I was achey too. And TOM arrived. And it was just a rough day. I worked all day, during lunch I cooked a bit, and then worked more. And I was STARVING all day - ate so much but nothing was enough. Hate those I'm-a-bottomless-pit days. Finally around 6:30 I was like "I'm going to the gym; at least there I won't eat." Did I want to go to the gym? No. But I was so over feeling hungry when I knew I wasn't that I had to get out of the house! I read Karin Slaughter's Fractured while walking 5.5 miles (alternated incline between 4 and 0).

Felt SO much better afterwards. I got home around 8, watched a couple of Boardwalk Empires with Austin while packing and called it a night! I do have a new recipe to share though!

Chicken & Tortellini Soup
Adapted from Betty Crocker from my friend Monica
Makes 6 Servings

1 tbsp Olive oil
¼ cup onion, diced
2 cups chicken broth
¾ cup water
½ tbsp Italian seasoning
12 oz. chicken, diced
2 10-oz. boxes of of Green Giant Broccoli & Zesty Cheese Sauce
1 12-oz. pack Trader Joe’s cheese-filled tortellini
½ cup tomato, diced
12 tsp parmesan cheese

Cook tortellini al dente per package instructions. Heat oil in pan and add onion and chicken. Stir frequently until chicken is cooked. Add salt if desired. While chicken cooks, cook broccoli in microwave per instructions. When chicken is cooked, shred with two forks, then add in broth, seasoning, water and cooked tortellini. Heat until boiling, then turn down to medium and add broccoli. Stir together for 3-4 minutes over low heat. Stir in tomato. Cook for one minute. Remove from heat and divide into 6 servings. Top each serving with 2 tsp cheese.

Nutritional Information: 394 calories, 44 carbs, 12 fat grams and 25 protein grams.

Review: So we loved. However, the recipe above was not the way we cooked it - it's how I'll cook it next time. For instance, it had it more 'all cooking together' but I worried the broccoli was getting overcooked while the tortellini wasn't getting cooked enough. I also added more chicken, and a bit more broth and added water - want it to be a bit more "soupy" and less "pasta-y." So again, we loved it as it was, but I hope the modifications will make it even better next time. Thanks, Mon, for the recipe!!

Q: Do you ever have those days when no amount of food fills you up? I mean you guys, I had the tortellini soup, a sausage/egg/cheese croissant, red curry chicken with rice, a raspberry bluecheese/cranberry salad, frosted flakes/milk, 2 cups popcorn, iced oatmeal cookies AND a dove chocolate. Wowza. True story.

Q: Do you skip runs when you feel sick? I've felt run down and sickly this week so I haven't run. At all. I'm worried i'm going to pay for this decision next week when I (hopefully) start back!

K- off to catch up on blogs! And I'll have my laptop this weekend - the bride has built in "down time" (love her!) so I hope to blog/work out/etc. this weekend!

Learn from Everyone...Follow No One..Watch for Patterns...Work Like Hell

Head's up - this post is a bit different - I saw something that made me think, and thought I'd share... :)

When it comes to anything, I do my research. I’m just that way. I don’t buy one recipe book and make recipes, I go to 20+ blogs, multiple books and magazines, recipe sites and databases and more, and slowly build my own recipe book of favorites. If I find a recipe for slowcooker spaghetti, I try to find 4-5 different recipes and compare them, to see what would be the best mix for my palette. Before we got our puppy Reuben I needed to learn more. I watched training videos on Comcast on demand, borrowed a book from my sis, visited training websites, talked to pupper-having friends and made my own booklet and schedule that works for us, based on all of these sources. I’m not saying I was right or wrong to do things this way, or that I did anything groundbreaking or genius, it’s just how I do things. It’s how I planned my wedding (multiple books, chats with friends, websites, etc.), it’s how I began pre-cooking, and it’s how I’m slowly becoming a runner.

Where is all of this coming from? I watched this TED talk. I LOVE TED talks. This one struck me because of one of its core messages:

1. Learn from Everyone
2. Follow No One
3. Watch for Patterns
4. Work like Hell

While he was talking about comics in an incredibly interesting, visual way, these messages just leapt out and resonated with me so much.

• I feel like a lot of people start at #2. And it is probably my #1 pet peeve. Why not ask someone who’s been there before you? When I wanted a puppy, I called my sister, my friend Teresa, I talked to my mom. I researched online. When I needed to buy a new camera for work, I reached out to my bro-in-law, a photographer. Why not learn from other people? Drives me crazy.
• And those people who do #1- #3. They’re ready, they’ve planned it out; all that’s left is execution. Nope, they’ve tired out, and #4 goes by the wayside making #1 - #3 all for naught. (well not ALL for naught... but you know what I mean!)
• I also find it annoying when people do #1 and then #4. Like whoa – slow your roll, find something that works for YOU. Do the research. Find out what you believe. Avoid the magic bullet: take information and act. Get your own information and form your own opinions.

Where is all of this going? Well, as you can see and as I’ve always known, I’m a very process-oriented person. Do this, then that and voila you get this. I like this system because note that there is no #5. There is no ‘5. Realize Success.’ No one knows if “working like hell” will actually yield the results you’re looking for. But to me, when you do it “right” (i.e. follow the steps above) it increases the likelihood for success because you’re in it. You’re invested. And so you want to succeed so much more.

This is why I like blogging and this community. No two blogs are alike. No one is following the EXACT same exercise program, nutrition plan, etc. But we’re all learning from each other, doing our own thing, patterns are highly visible (themes include: health, cardio, strength training, etc.) and we’re all working our butts off and motivating each other to keep going. Do we reach success? Sometimes. But ultimately, I feel like we’re all enjoying the ride, evidenced by the fact that we blog our progress and congratulate each other’s small victories.

Q: What do you think of the four steps above?

Q: Are you a process-oriented person?

(stepping off soapbox)

Sorry friends! Felt passionate about that and had to share! On a lighter note, here's my day yesterday: work, 4-mile walk at 4 mph during lunch, work more and straight home for chill time with the family, a bit of cooking, a bit of TV and a bit of tidying up. Lovely Tuesday fo sho! Something that made me laugh: The Blonde Duck's blog post - I love when she addresses her readers as "invisible friends." hehe Something that made me smile: Your sweet comments about new pupper - I think she's a doll! Thanks again! On another note:

TRUE STORY! Sigh. Groan. Grrrrr.

Weekend Plans, Atlanta Luxury Motors: I Hate You

Thanks, friends! I'm glad i'm not the only one who has it rough when their partner isn't around! Although i'm sad to know that I wasn't the only one having a bad week - eek! Sounds like a lot of us were roughing it this week. :( Here's to a fabulous weekend!

Backing up right quick: Yesterday I was seriously stressed out and in frustration tears from dealing with this dealership. If you're interested, this is the review I plan to post about Atlanta Luxury Motors AKA the worst car dealer I've ever dealt with... I even made a picture - see how much I love you guys?!

I’m going to be honest - the prices are enticing. And, the car I was interested in, a Lexus RX400h, checked out a-okay at the lexus dealership. However, you just need to determine if the cost savings is worth your sanity as this place is poorly mismanaged to say the least. Examples:

1. You give them a typed list of things you want fixed on the car before you buy it. They tell you it's good to go. You arrive to buy the car... you wait 30 minutes. They can't find the keys. You go home. You come back again, after confirming that everything was done again. You arrive back and the car is still dirty and the things on the list haven't been completed. Repeat. Repeat. Anthony, salesperson, apologized but it was insane how many times we were back and forth to that dealership only to find that our "appointment" didn't really exist, that they hadn't done what they said they had done, and the list goes on.

2. Everything is good to go. You're finally going to buy the car. You're sitting down with Glenn, finance guy, and the total is $500 more than expected. They call this a shipping fee. Why? I don't know. But they say every dealership charges this fee.You look to your salesperson who says they "thought you knew." After a lot of back and forth and frustration on everyone's parts and Finance blaming Sales, etc., you buy the car. All agree that the dealership will handle the title on your transfer.

3. Two weeks later you think you're finally done dealing with the place. However, you'll have three different people hounding you down for a title they said they would handle (Anthony - dealer; Glen - finance and now a new player – John, service manager).

4. They'll tell you they didn't run the $500 security deposit on your credit card but there it is on your American Express bill. When you want your money back, the money they told you they didn't take, they'll tell you sure - we'll bring a check.... after three days of this empty promise they change their mind. Now, you can't have your $500 back until they have the title from your trade-in (the one they said they would handle 21 days prior). When you provide documentation that they said they would handle they tell you "the ball is back in your court." When you show them email correspondence that proves that you would have handled 21 days ago, but they said they would, then then say they can wait 10 days for it (which was unacceptable before). However, you now have to wait ANOTHER 10 days for money they never should have taken from you in the first place.

So seriously: They take $500. They tell you they didn’t. They tell you they’ll write you a check and “make it right”… they even set up dates/times to return it to you. Then when they don’t do what they’re supposed to and what they said they would do (i.e. get the title) now they’re going to keep YOUR money that they NEVER should have had in the first place. Then you talk to a 4th person (Richard) who confirms that they won’t give you your money back. So you tell them they’ve left you no choice but to dispute the charge and they can deal with American Express. Enter a call on your part to AMEX to dispute the charge… and NOW 21 days after you tried to do it, you get to start trying to get a title for them.

Finance blames sales. Sales blames "the back."The service manager blames sales AND finance. It is unorganized and beyond frustrating to deal with them. I will say that John tried his hardest to fix things and was available to help, but he kept having to break promises based on Sales and Finance not coming through. I wish I'd never gotten my car from there and would return it if I could.

Numbers 3 and 4 were the primary frustration yesterday. I'm still in shock that they would just keep money they never should have had. SHOCK. After all of that, I was just all worked up and spent the evening trying yet again to find my title to no avail. I'm just ANNOYED because I could have done the title stuff 21 days ago... but they INSISTED they would do it so now it's on me. Grrr.

Other than that - Austin got home - YAY!! So happy to see him, and so was Reuben! We had dinner and preceded to watch Up in the Air with George Clooney - loved it! Ended up being a great night which led up to a great weekend of doing NOTHING. Yes, we plan to do nothing and go nowhere this weekend if we can help it. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

Q: Have you seen Up in the Air?

Q: Would you be mad at a car dealer who did the above? grrrr.

Q: Do you love or hate weekends of nothingness? I rarely get them but am PUMPED to have one!

Stay tuned - plan to post some new recipes this weekend - YAY!!