I'm on a rampage.

Ok so I feel like everyone wants my money. I don't have enough to go around. Stand in line.

I bought a "new" car in September. Driving 70 miles a day round trip on my old car was not going to cut it.

So we bought a "new" car. We shopped around. Found a great 2001 Mazada Protege for $3000. Great, done, done. While we were "test driving" the car the dealer was chatting us up. He "mentioned" that if your check engine light ever comes on and the car is not running rough, you shouldn't be concerned.

Fast forward 2 weeks. Whatda know....the check engine light comes on. I took it to Autozone. The do free diagnostic checks. I got the code, was told it was the air/fuel metering thingy and that it needed to be serviced at the dealer. Knowing #1 the dealer's cost more & #2 that we have our cars serviced at Firestone, I took it to them first. I told them I have the code and wanted to make sure they couldn't fix it first. They OF COURSE can't use Auto Zone's code, they need to take my $95 and run a diagnostic. Ok, I pay for it. And whatda know, the SAME DAMN CODE. And, they can't fix it. I have to take it TO THE DEALER!! So basically you just took $95 to give me the same thing Autozone gave me for free?

I call the dealer...they want to do ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK...this time for $120. I haven't taken the car in yet. The PCM computer just needs to be reset...It'll have to wait.


NEXT! My two oldest got their school pictures taken in September. They have this lovely "pay online" option. So I did that. So now it's time for the pictures to come in. I get a paper that says "You didn't order these pictures." Uh, yeah, yeah I did. So I call. Wagner Portrait Group....DO NOT EVER USE THEM. They don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. I have sent 2 emails, talked to 4 different customer service reps and been told they will "call me back." I'm holding my breath waiting for the phone to ring. Still nothing. They have my money...I have no pictures.

NEXT! I get Bryana's pictures from a different studio, CRAPPY!! So I call the school to see what I do for picture retakes. Oh, they needed to be back Monday...I got them on Wed and the kids were off school on Friday. So I had to call the school Thursday and have them back the next day???? Now I'm stuck with $35 of crappy pictures for Bryana, no pictures of Tatiana and Cianah.

NEXT! Monday, Tatiana broke her glasses (for the 3rd time in 2 years.) Lenscrafters is supposed to have a deal that within a year you only have to pay 1/2 price for a new pair. So I take them back. The LOVELY person at Lenscrafters says "we don't carry this frame." Uh, well you did 9 months ago. I'm not paying for new lenses too. She didn't even take the time to look up Tatiana in the computer to see that the other 2 times I paid to replace the lenses and frames. Ugh, don't you think you've taken enough of my money? I walked out pissed.

So today, I called the car dealership and told them I think it's "funny" that he mentioned the check engine light...and wow it's on. I have a message from them to return in the morning.

I filed a complaint with the BBB on Wagner Portrait group. The school says they get the same response,

I logged on to Firestone and Lenscrafters websites and lodged a complaint there too. I heard back from Firestone, only that they forwarded the complaint to the district office. Nothing so far from Lenscrafters.

I feel much better. My check engine light is still on, I have no pictures, and Tati is still blind...but darn I got it all off my chest. :)

Tomorrow's another day and I'm bound and determined that it will be much better. I know that all these things will work out better than I ever planned.

Thanks for listening. :)

More Sisters!!!!

So Karl and his dad "reconnected" about 4 years ago. Which is great! We were starting to plan our wedding and since my dad is gone, I thought it was important to not let any more time pass. I called the only "Hobdy" I found in Michigan, since we knew his grandparents lived there. I asked for "George" and was told he passed away. UGH!!! My heart sank. After a few more questions to whom I found out was my Aunt, I realized that Karl's grandfather had passed, also George. To the family Karl's dad is Ray. Mixed emotions. Very sad that Karl's grandfather had passed, but joy that Karl still had time to reconnect with his father.

I hung up with Aunt Geri (sp?) after giving her our phone number. Not more than 5 minutes past...the phone rang...Karl's dad.

They were both so happy. Karl and his dad have maintained a constant relationship.

So we knew there were 3 sisters in NJ. Well surprise..there's 4. Elyssa was the first to start talking to Karl. He was more than excited!





Baby girl is 13. :)






Last week we heard from Adrianne and Davida. These two Karl remembers playing with when he was little.



Adrianne








Davida





Elizabeth was just a baby last time Karl saw her. Now she's all grown up.



This is Elizabeth with Elyssa at her 8th grade graduation.




And just to embarrass my sisters some more... Here's the last time they were all together (except Elyssa)

I really don't know why you are all so embarrassed. Karl looks like Arnold from different strokes. "Whatcho talking 'bout Willis."
:) (you may be too young to know who that is?)


Adrianne sporting the hot sunglasses.
Davida in the pink dress.
Elizabeth is the baby.

So we are all talking now. We're all reconnected. And this is for good. We are not giving this up! Adrianne and I decided. So the rest of you are stuck with us.

I know my girls are dying to meet the rest of their aunts.

Elyssa how does it feel to have a niece as old as you? :)

Oh yeah, and as a bonus....I have a niece and nephew. YEAH!!

The Next Generation







I can not wait until we all get together.

We need a family reunion.

My blog...My feelings

Apparently I should clarify my blog about Karl not being "very involved" with his family.

That was not to say he doesn't love them, that's just Karl. He'd spend his life as a hermit if it wasn't for me. He just doesn't go out of his way to do anything.

His mother and his sister are the only family he has (and now his dad is around.)

He does love them and would do anything for them.


His mother has never done anything but supported us, in every way. I have no problems with her, nor does he....at all.

His sister, and namely the way she treats his WIFE is the problem. She's a spiteful, snotty person to me (not to most people just for the record.)

She is VERY self absorbed, too much to see the problems she causes around her. It's all about Mallory. And that's fine.

Karl & I have been together for pushing seven years.
We have been through lots of ups and downs.
We've fought and made up with the best of them.
The bottom line is we are in this forever.
No one *NO ONE* will ever come between us. We are too close for that.

Karl and I are soul mates in the truest sense of the word. We balance each other completely. What I am get upset, he does not and is able to calm me down. What he gets upset about, I do not, and I can calm him down. (Ok sometimes...most times he's better at this than I am..)

So on holidays when I usually try to make sure we are all together, no more. If Susana wants to come over and watch the girls open presents and share a meal...GREAT!

Last year I learned where we rank with Mallory. We were fit in somewhere between Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with Sean's parents and Christmas Eve morning with John (Sean's friend.) I started calling weeks in advance. Oh and nothing on Thanksgiving at all. That was Sean's family, who don't even celebrate Thanksgiving.
All that even though this was the first year Susana celebrated either holiday. Nice!

My feeling is this.....
I've tried, really tried to be the person I would want some one to be to me. I have gone out of my way to make sure I am not letting my personal feelings affect how I treat some one.

I make *ALL* the effort to be decent to Mallory. Helpful beyond what a "normal" sister in law would be. And still I am treated with no regard. So I'm done. That is not my family. Never was, never will be.



Susana is my mother in law and I love her...She is there at the drop of a hat.




But short of a lot of things changing...I'm good not having Mallory in my life, ever.

Karl is free to spend whatever time he wants with her, and I will never object...but as for me and mine...no thanks.

I am blessed with multiple good friends that I KNOW would be there for me no matter what time of day or night. I do not need people in my life who treat me poorly.... Karma will handle that all on it's own.

Those are MY thoughts.....this is MY blog. I don't have to like everyone.

Forest Park Ballon Race

Carol planned a end of summer BBQ at her "lake" house in Goose Creek. Since most everyone had plans that weekend it turned out to be just she and I. So the Forest Park Balloon Race was this weekend...so we went.

This was actually Bob's idea but we did have to push him to go on the actual day.

Karl and I both woke up with bloody noses, some silly person (me) decided it was so nice that we should open the windows. Not a wise idea.

Then we went to buy a "new" car. My little red car was not going to hold out much longer traveling 70+ miles a day. $1500 for a car that made it nearly 2 years with minimal problems was well worth it.

So we were at the Car dealer for hours....I drove away in my new baby. 2001 Mazda Protege. Lovely car. Hail damage so I got it for a steal. This will transition to a car for Cianah when she turns 16. By then the Durango will be paid off (and hopefully still a wonderful car) and I can get a new car.

Anyway, tired and not feeling great I trudged to the Balloon Race.

The girls were at their dad's for the weekend and Cianah didn't want to go...so Carol, Bob, Danny, Bobby and I made our way.

All of us took our first trip on the metrolink. According to the Balloon Race website "a short 15 minute walk for the station." Yeah maybe if you aren't carting two babies in strollers up and down the hills of a golf course.

The way there we got on at Shrewsbury, the 1st stop so no trouble getting a seat. On the way back however, not so nice. 1st we got on the "Lambert Line" and not the "Shrewsbury Line" so we had to get back off and wait for the next train. Only the next train was bursting at the seems so no way of getting on there. 20 minutes later we cram on. Danny's hungry and crying. Bobby is all coozied up with some little girls who allowed him to share their seat.

All in all, next time I think I'll drive. There was parking everywhere.

The Balloon Race itself was more about how much money the man could squeeze out of you than the actual balloons.

Bobby enjoyed the bounce house:

The Barrel Ride got marginal reviews.

Although we did sit him right behind the four wheeler pulling the barrels, so maybe the carbon fumes made him feel good?

Once the balloons started taking off, we sat in a nice shady spot...Danny had a great time with the sticks and grass.

There were too many people for my liking. I felt like I was at the VP Fair. (Or whatever they call it these days)

Here are a few of my favorite shots:

I think we all felt like Danny on the way home....a nap was just what we needed.

Mallory's wedding

Karl and I had a *busy* summer. Florida, Cape Cod. Well 2 weeks before Cape Cod and right after we came back from Florida, Mallory tells us she is getting married. She tells the girls what they are doing in the wedding, without asking us if they can be in it. Did I mention we took 2 trips this summer??? And it's August, where am I going to find dresses on this short notice without paying an arm and a leg? Oh and also the wedding is on August 30, at 8:30 in the evening. Um, my kids have school Thursday and Friday. who gets married on a Thursday night????

So before I even got to pack and such for my trip I am running myself ragged trying to find them dresses and shoes. Not an easy task.

Not to mention that even though I found and paid for her wedding dress, spent countless weekends helping her plan her wedding (months ago and it was called off because of money, we've all been there) and I am the one running myself ragged trying to make sure my girls can be in this wedding and all goes smoothly, I am not asked to take the pictures. She told Karl she didn't want the "negative energy."

Ok so I don't like her husband, no one does. People came up to Karl ***AT THE WEDDING**** and told him I love your sister, but I can't stand Sean. I still think it was wrong.

Have you ever met some one, and for no good reason not liked them? That's Sean. Everyone who meets him (except Mallory I guess) has the same reaction. I keep waiting for his face to come up on America's Most Wanted.

Anyway. I let the kids be in the wedding and attended, camera in tow.
The girls looked lovely. Karl looked handsome.


The wedding was very "Mallory."

I wish I was told that I would be standing for the entire ceremony and before, I wouldn't have wore heals. Other than that and the fact I thought her dress was going to go up in smoke...all went well.


She had a photography student shoot her wedding. Some one who obviously had never shot weddings before.
Her positioning during the ceremony, not the best.
Also the fact that it was a nighttime wedding and she didn't have a flash other than the on board flash with the camera, not a good sign.

Plus not to be stupid but dark people in a white dress...not a good combination. The light flashes off the dress and Mallory will appear headless.
And black gets grainy when you try to adjust the light in photoshop or some other editing program. So I am sure the pictures are marginal at best. Not my problem.



Here are the girls and Karl
























See how dark it is?
And I have a good flash.






























Look at that sunset in the background. That could have made for some great pictures.
Too bad they had an amatuer photographer.





In the dressing room.














Cianah had a stupid look on her face in all the pictures I took of the three of them.
(Can you tell where Karl's hair stops and the dark sky begins?)




And please let me explain the dress colors. The wedding invitation (that was handed to Karl) was green and yellow. I knew Mallory was adding amber beads to her dress so I figured the colors were green and amber. I bought Tati's dress.
Then I thought to ask Karl to call his sister to verify the colors. Blue and Brown. ??? So I bought Cianah a blue dress.

The flowers were purple and yellow???? And she gave them these almost orange flowers to wear???? (The girls do love the flowers and wear them often, well at least Tati)

I am confused by the whole thing. Since it started at 8:30 on a school night my kids didn't get to stay for the reception.

Sean had the nerve to say "It's very important to her that the girls be in the wedding." Really then maybe she would have not held it on Thursday night so they couldn't enjoy it.

Ah the joy of families. It's a good thing that if I don't make him, Karl is not very involved with his family.

Cape Cod Trip...MOST beautiful wedding EVER!!!

Ok so August was a much needed vacation without kids. Karl and I haven't been on a trip alone since Las Vegas in 2001. And then we were just "friends." OK we weren't but neither of us were ready to call it a relationship. :)

I was seriously mad at Karl before we left but decided not to ruin this trip. I told him on the plane, I am still very mad but I will suck it up so we can enjoy this trip. I'll blog later about his lovely family and why I was angry.

We arrive in Boston on Thursday. Uneventful flight and easy to find the rental car pickup. WE get this cure little Rabbit, which I've decided is my next car. I loved that car. Head out to the Cape to meet up with Steph and see if she needs anything done.

Karl's reading the directions, not very well I must say. We missed a turn and he didn't tell me for a good 15 miles. So turn around, miss it again (this is a theme on the way home we did this at least 4 or 5 times.) We turned around in a not so nice part of Boston.

Apparently in Boston they don't have the same rules of the road we do here in the Mid-West. I honked at some one and I think they thought I was crazy. :)

We get our connection on the 2nd pass and decide we should stop to eat. Karl wanted to try something we don't have here. So we past several McDonald's. About 40 minutes into the drive I was ready to eat the steering wheel. So I took the next exit. The sign at the exit said 2 restaurants, neither of which we ever found. Of course the exit I picked had construction and detours....great when you don't know where you are. We finally found a Chinese restaurant, at this point anything was fine. It was mediocre at best....but food. :)

That was the only "negative" thing about the whole trip. In my life I can tell you that is as close to perfect as it can get.

We drove to the Nones' house to meet up with Stephanie. We couldn't have timed it better, everything was done and they were ready for the beach. :) PERFECT!!!

The water was cold but it was the perfect

temperature

to sit on the beach and look at the view....what a view it was.

We took a walk on the jetty, that was amazing. Sitting there while the sun was starting to set

...breathtaking.

Then we headed back to the Nones' house for BBQ. YUM.

Good food, good drink, we had a good time. I was exhausted.

We were put up by some of the Nones', Charlie and Sue Dean. What a lovely house. Our view from our room.

Friday was a bit of a downer, it rained all day. However I will take rainy 75 over the 105 we were having back in St. Louis any day. The girls went to get mani/pedis while the boys were back at the house helping set up for the rehearsal dinner. (Poor Karl)

We met up for lunch and then headed to the Lighthouse Inn to check in.....this place was amazing. Right on the Ocean.

This was 30 paces or less from the front door of our Cottage.

Waking up to this every morning, I could get used to this.

The rehearsal Dinner was going to be in the Nones' beautiful backyard, the rain had other plans.

The basement of the rental house next door was fine. Lobster and steak, lots of wine and beer, what more can you ask for?

Karl tried his 1st lobster, not a hit. I was whining to him that I couldn't eat my steak because his lobster stunk. :) He didn't like it and got rid of it...steak it was.

After the rehearsal dinner we headed back to the lighthouse, where the whole wedding party was staying.

Notice all the girls have jackets with hoods. It was cold and rainy.

4 out of 7 guys swam in the ocean that night. I guess the alcohol was just the antifreeze they needed.

Saturday, the wedding day day...not a cloud in the sky. It could not have been more perfect if they planned it.

The boys played wiffle ball before the wedding

While Stephanie & I opted for the relaxation of a good book on the beach. :)

The beautiful bride and her father. :)

Since I was in the wedding I don't have many picture of the wedding. Karl snapped off a few and most of those contain the back of someones head.

Off to Paris for two weeks. I am so jealous.

Not alot of humor on to write about. My humor usually comes from stupid people or the craziness that is my life. This trip had neither. It was wonderful.

To see all 300 pictures of the trip:

http://hobdypix.smugmug.com/gallery/3304064/1/183629249#P-1-9

Sorry Crystal I didn't know any one read this crap.

So it's been almost 3 month since I blogged?

It's been an amazing summer.

First the family trip to Florida. We had a blast. Here's the run down

Mapquest said 16 hour drive, WRONG. I guess if you're in a hover craft and never need to stop for gas or to pee. It took us 18 hours to get down there. There was the Atlanta traffic (that we could have used the loop to avoid) and the torrential downpour once we crossed the FL border. So that could be some of the reason we lost time??

The drive down was fairly uneventful. I thought we'd never get out of Georgia. In Florida we were welcomed by a LARGE confederate flag. Not just a flag, I mean the size of a billboard. As if to say, "you can't miss this if you tried." Welcome we were.

Once the rain started we were behind a truck pulling a trailer. Not an 18 wheeler, just a trailer, like to carry a car or something. I'm not sure what he had on the trailer, but it broke loose and started flying at us. Hit the car (no damage) and freaked me out BAD!!! Karl's yelling just drive and the kids are yelling "my just hit somebody." I didn't but doesn't that show you how highly my kids think of me?

So we get to the hotel on Friday night unscathed. Saturday is a beach day. We decide to sleep in a bit so we don't have to rush back into the car. About 1:30 we hit Clearwater Beach (or the roads surrounding the beach) NO PARKING ANYWHERE. Not even if we walked 5 miles, none. We drive around a little more until we find a local "park" with a beach. They have meters and a change machine. Great, only none of us have cash. So I make Karl ask the park ranger where the nearest ATM is. Go to the ATM, Karl buys me a rose (probably more to pacify me and hope I don't flip out any further) but also to get change for the change machine. I mean who wants to walk around with $20 in quarters? Back to the park. As we are pulling up to the change machine, they close it. They're out of change! ARRGGGGG! So I'm telling Karl it's time to head back to St. Louis. He assures me he can find change. We drive back to the Pier on Clearwater. Surely there has to be a place to get change, right? I drop Karl off (because they have METERS and I can't park because I have not change) and drive around in circles. Until the most fabulous thing happened. I saw my smiling husband come out of the US Post Office with change!!!!!! We were going to make it to the beach after all. YEAH!!!

After a few hours at the beach we went to the hotel, shower and change. To John's Pass for dinner. Marsha want Seafood. We called the restaurant and they seat people until nine, perfect. Ok we start out going the wrong direction on the highway. Went a good 10 miles out of the way. UGH! What a day huh? It gets better. By the time we got to John's Pass most things are shut down. Cianah, Tati and I do not like Seafood, so we're going to find a place on the pier to eat and hang out while the others are eating smelly fish. Only nothings open. There was a pizza place and a few shops. So we're starving. :( I'm getting upset all over again. When will this end?? Well the restaurant that Marsha has been dying to eat at for 2 months, has a two hour wait. So I'm crabby, she's crabby. Poor Karl and Barry. We find another restaurant that serve seafood and other stuff and only a 30 minute wait. Hurray!

While we are waiting for our tables, Barry and Karl are discussing the next vacation. The one that they take without the crazy women. :)

We ate wonderful food. And were happy. Karl bought Barry a drink, he needed it.

I know so far it sounds like we didn't have fun. We did, just not the first day.

So the 2nd day we're off to Busch Gardens. Fun, fun. So much to do. Karl bought his Buschman hat and wore it everyday. He loves that hat. Rides, shows, animals. It was great fun.

Day 3 Sea World. We made a special trip to Sea World since Marianne screwed up out of the house with dolphins swimming in the "back yard."

Karl loves dolphins. Turns out the kids do too. I took so many picture I can put them up here.

My favorite part was the "shark tank." Not that the sharks we so great, they just swim above your head and you can't really see anything but their bellies. Walking through that underwater aquarium was so amazing. I also like the underwater dolphin viewing. Way cool. And I love Kraken, the rollercoaster there. Best ever.

Karl and the kids fed the dolphins! That was way cool too.

The worst part. It was SOOOOOO hot that day. I thought we were seriously going to die. Afternoon rain couldn't come soon enough. We walked in it. We didn't hide, we WANTED to be wet. Oh and even though these french braids *look* cute. It turns out your scalp can sunburn. It itched and flaked like crazy when we got home.

Day 4. Back to Busch Gardens. Rode more rides. Karl's favorite rollercoaster Shiekra. 90 feet straight down. Almost a free fall. It was cool, but too short so I like Kraken better.

Dinner at a Mexican place in our hotel. Hole in the wall but FABULOUS!!!

Day 5 - Back to the beach. This time Clearwater. Parked close. Spent the entire day. Got sunburned. Loved it anyway. I think Karl and the girls would have stayed several more hours if my sunburn wasn't starting to *kill*

Day 6 the trek back home. 17.5 hours on the way back. Rain in the mountains of Tennessee was scary.

The kids started cheering when we crossed the JB bridge, they knew they were almost home then.

We really did have a great time. Well worth all the stress and saving it took to get us there. If we go to Florida again, it'll be in March. Too hot in July.

If you want to see all the pictures of our vacation:

http://hobdypix.smugmug.com/Personal/351388

I'll blog some more tomorrow. I'm sleepy, and not as funny when I'm tired. :)