Snow, Cold, Stalled

There are not many times, and only one that I can really remember, that I've owned up to where I live.  Done partially to protect the very guilty (you know who you are) and partially to protect the others (ala me!).  But tonight, I am giving a very healthy and warranted "SHOUT OUT" to:

Inver Grove Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Minnesota.

Website is here:  http://invergrove.dealerconnection.com/?lang=en

Specifically, I want to mention the service department and Jerry, the "runner" for their help.  I owe them more, I hope they find the cookies I drop off tasty enough!

It is about 19 degrees here in Minneapolis.  The wind coming out of the west dips the windchill (that is what the air temp feels like for those of you in sunnier/warmer climates) to about -10 below zero.  It is bone chilling out, especially in the wind.  With the light snow blowing in, being stranded in a broken down vehicle was absolutely miserable.

The Minnesota Highway patrol passed me leading a semi tractor the opposite direction.  I hoped it would not be long until help arrived.  I was getting cold.  My blue satin pumps with strappy heals not quite keeping my feet warm, the black wool coat barely keeping my body heat in as the temperature sank in my truck.  Ten minutes passed.  I listened the radio, without heat, and watched the time.

6:12 PM

Another 10 minutes passed and the truck was getting colder.  I was a little nervous.  The cell phone not working, no heat in the car, no other blankets or mittens or boots to put on, I considered walking up the hill, on the interstate, crossing the interstate during rush house, walking another 1/2 mile to the gas station at the top of hill except that my gas gauge before the truck died said 1/4 tank... and then also realized, in dark blue pants, dark coat I would be a walking dead woman.

So, I waited.

6:25 PM a truck with flashing yellow lights showed up.  MN DoT supervisor on patrol, monitoring our highways during the ice "event" making sure traffic was moving and roads were driveable.

He couldn't help.  He called a first helper.

Sitting in my cold truck, now without radio, I wondered how much longer I'd be cold.

6:45 the first helper showed up.  That's what they call the helpers on the road here in Minnesota.

Getting out of his truck he looked at my gas portal and said without the funnel supplied with the vehicle, he could not help me either.  He looked in the back area, opened the hatch, and it was gone.  He asked what he could do to help at that point, I asked if we could call a dealership and ask them for a funnel.  The one I purchased my BRAND NEW vehicle from (actually Dad did for me), was 30 miles north.

First Helper gave me the State cell phone to call Inver Grove Ford-Lincoln-Mercury.  I was not optimistic, yet I was hopeful.  Maybe on this very cold night in the snow, they'd understand my plight and offer to help.  He let me stay warm in the truck.  I never told him my feet were numb and not warming up, I was thankful I was inside something with heat!

My shock when the dealership said they'd send Jerry.

I did not buy my truck there.

I do not service my truck there.

But you can believe, anyone and everyone that I know looking for a vehicle will get sent there now.

If they go that far out of their way to help someone who is not a customer, I cannot imagine how much they will do for one that is.

Too bad, I'm not able to buy one right now, or you know where I'd be...

http://invergrove.dealerconnection.com/?lang=en

And that, as Paul Harvey used to say, is the rest of the story!

Make yours a great day and a finer tomorrow!!!

My Dad

Thanksgiving was kind of fun this year at my parents' house in the small village along the meandering river.  Mom did a bang-up job of cooking, the chocolate pie that I stab my son to stay away from (I know, I should not admit that on a public forum but it is no longer considered child abuse to stab him when he leers at my slice), and of course, I'm completely stuffed.

Conversation roamed from Oprah (who cares) and how much money she gives away all the time (yeah, so what, I appreciate those who have less and give away more with NO PR), and then onto my dad's life.

Apparently, my dad needs new glasses and they cannot afford them or the visit to the eye doctor.  My dad is 80.

Apparently, my dad is also not hearing well and they cannot afford the hearing aid either altho, knowing my dad's stubbornness, he probably would not wear it anyway.

His doctor left the clinic last summer (same one I shadow) and while he doesn't know it, that doctor is not keen on elderly patients because he feels so helpless to help them.  Part of aging is losing the memory, is having shaky hands, is the loss of hearing and obviously, loss of sight.  I want to get him to a geriatric specialist and while I know of one, the word, "AWKWARD" does not sum it up quite well enough if I were to send my dad there ... despite that he is a phenomenal physician and specializes in the elderly.

But I think, my Christmas gift to my dad is going to be a vision certificate to somewhere I can get him new glasses and new sight.  He LOVES to read so I'm going to buy him a new book or two to use with those new glasses.  My contract starts soon and while I have no idea of its length, I know the warmth I will feel providing something so necessary for my dad who would do anything for me.  Glasses seem to pale in that light, eh?

This year I'm thankful I still have my dad.  If you scroll back to some of my first posts, I talk openly about this daughter's affection for the best father ever.  My dad is amazing... and maybe with a little help from me, he'll be able to see me better!  Of course, then maybe he'll wish he could go back to his other glasses and see me in more blurry haze.

Make it a great day - hope your Thanksgiving was just as filling and fulfilling as mine!

The Cave

I often refer to the house in which we live as "The Cave" even when giving people directions to it... fourth house on the right, reminds you of a cave.

Well, not really but in many ways yes: the drafty windows, the doors that don't shut tight to the outdoors, leaking basement replete with centipedes (house centipedes are very different far more disgusting than those you find in the garden; trust me on that). Yes, I wrote an email asking for repairs... won't go there.

Anyway, following a People story on David Arquette's drinking over the last weekend (and wondering why he is soooo stupid; seriously, married to Courtney and you act like "THAT?"), which brought me to his Twitter account and the pictures (seriously, he should engage Skankalina's PR reps NOW!!!), which brought me to a company that wants to build houses of the future.

Upscale. Ermm...

Caves.

Yes, you can read about it here,   http://blogs.forbes.com/kymmcnicholas/2010/11/19/names-you-need-to-know-in-2010-binishells/

and see the other conceptual designs for our future.

Won't you join me?  In the cave???

haha ~ Make it a great day, chase your dream!

Friday Night Delight

While my son played his video game, I watched old FRIENDS episodes on DVD. Had forgotten how really, really funny they are... gut busting, hilarity; enormously compassionate, and yes, I still love Rachel.

As the episodes went from one to the next, my son quit paying attention to his video game... and started watching. He was howling with me as Ross turned into a tanomaniac, or Joey tried to undo Rachel's bra, or ...

What great fun that show was! I'm reminded all the time how great television can be, and how great some of those actors are.



Jennifer Aniston does not get the credit she deserves. I read stories about her and can't help but think that inside Rachel was Jennifer's own heart and soul. As I watched last night in lines said to Joey (Matt LeBlanc), I wondered if she already knew what was going on during the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith... if she was method acting herself at that moment.

She, Jennifer, also carried herself with such high regard. No matter what smattering of lies came out in the press, or presumably behind closed doors, she moved ahead and said nothing. Her actions said it all... she would not get sucked into the mire that was created by those with big PR machines. She would be true to herself, and to her friends.

Back to the DVDs tonight (yes, I am THAT boring right now...)

Make it a great night and a better tomorrow!

I'd Go Back To September ...