I'm Back!

I was on vacation for a week. Did you notice? I sure did. The reason I didn’t tell you before is that I went home to California for Kristin’s baby shower and it was kind of a surprise and she reads the blog so I had to keep my mouth shut. It was hard.

I almost told her like ten times, not because I was so excited and I wanted to tell her (though that is true) but I really had to bite my tongue (or more specifically erase IMs before pressing send) because the following sentences actually got fully typed before I realized who I was talking to:

- “ugh, I can’t wait to go home next week, I really need a vacation”

- “I’m super excited for Beachside salmon!!” (her shower was at The Beachside)

- “ok I’m an idiot, so I made a list of all the things I needed to do before I leave and I totally didn’t put packing on the list.”

Pictures and more stories to come later but here is what I’ve done since returning to Texas.

1. Took my (ahem) boyfriend to Sonic for his birthday dinner because I am a super awesome girlfriend.

2. Killed two, yes TWO, wasps IN my apartment.

3. Called the Volkswagen dealership because my check engine light is on…again. I think they could hear the displeasure in my voice.

Strip Club

Did that get your attention? The other day my mom and dad told me that they thought they were getting an edited version of my blog well you aren't.

Ok ok, I did not go to the strip club but I do have to drive by one semi-regularly now since someone lives in north Austin, the land of strip clubs, pawn shops, and liquor stores. The Yellow Rose is apparently a famous strip club but what I like is the sign, the person in charge of it is quite creative. When I first started going up there it said "DANCES ARE CHEAPER THAN GAS" but now we have this...



gives whole new meaning to stimulus check ... ha ... ha ... ha. get it?

For the record (and don't tell Michael because I'll never live it down) I actually don't totally hate his neighborhood, it isn't quite as residential as mine but it isn't as bad as I make it seem above and it is near EVERYTHING as opposed to here where there isn't a whole lot to do within a 15 minute drive.

I Think I'm Behind on my YouTubing

You have probably seen this but Michael just showed it to me for the first time this weekend and I'm totally in love with it.

If you haven't seen it yet make sure you watch the whole thing and yes something does happen it just takes a minute.

Simon got a Haircut

It was time for a summer cut. Yes I realize that this isn't the most awesome of pictures but he will sit absolutely still right up until the moment the shutter is released so just getting one of him looking at the camera is a feat.



Also notable in this picture.... That is Michael's hand! :o) And yes, I know that is a cop out as far as pictures go but I hate just taking pictures. Someday the stars will align and I will be carrying my camera while we do something picture worthy.

Today I received the title on my car. I've been paying for it for five years and now it is truly 100% mine.

I'm not sure if this is her trying to rub all her problems in my face or her forgiving me. It could perhaps all be a coincidence that all these problems arose as I was making my final payment since technically she is an inanimate object but I highly doubt that.

Great. Thanks.

So, among other things, I took my car to the dealership yesterday to be fixed. I was told on the phone that it was going to take about 1.5 hours and (if that check engine light code is correct) cost about $300.

I spent the night at my (ahem) boyfriend's house because the dealership is about 2 minutes from his house and about 30 minutes from my house and this way I wouldn't have to get up as early, plus it was a good sleepover excuse. I drop off my car at 10:30am and think that I should be getting a call around 1pm to pick it up. They call at 11:30ish to tell me what we thought was wrong wasn't actually and really it is these other 2 things and oh yeah we should probably fix this thing while we're at it or you're just going to have to come back and it should be done by 4pm and your total is going to be $426.83. Great. Thanks. (those of your who don't know me as well, those last two words should be read with the utmost of sarcasm).

Later that afternoon I pick up my car at like 3:30 (yay for being done early) and my wonderful (ahem) boyfriend waits with me while it takes them like an hour to bring it around. Finally I'm on my way home. About 25 minutes into my 30 minute drive home my temperature light starts beeping and flashing at me. I call them, they say bring it back, probably just a bubble in the coolant line, we'll fill it up and you'll be on your way. Great. Thanks. (see above regarding these two words).

The following ensues when I arrive.

My Personal Service Advisor, Brant, pops the hood. "Yeah, you're almost out of coolant, let me grab some."
Pours in coolant, we watch the level drop back to nothing.
Brant: "hm, looks like you've got a leak in your coolant system."
Me: "there wasn't one there this morning." (as kindly as possible I swear)
Brant with flashlight: "yeah see it there pooling on your transmission"
Me: "mmhmm" but thinking - so that's where my transmission is, interesting.
Brant looks at me like he expects me to do something about it.
I look at Brant like what do you expect me to do about that?
Brant: "Ok, let me take it in the back and we'll see if it is something we can fix right up. Not sure though since we didn't touch your transmission or coolant system today. Have a seat in the lounge."

an hour later

Brant: "So your temperature sensor just popped off, we went ahead and fixed that right up for you and drove it around you are good to go." in a tone that implies they have done me a favor.
Me: "My temperature sensor popped off?"
Brant: "Yep" smiles.
Seems odd that this would randomly happen on the exact same day that I had my car worked on, wait a minute, where have I heard the words temperature sensor recently...
Me: "hang on."
I dig out my receipt from earlier
QTY: 1
DESC: tempsensor
PRICE: $25.87
Me: "do you mean that the temperature sensor that you installed earlier today 'popped off'?"
Brant (no longer smiling): "Ummmmm. yes."
Me: "ah. and now it isn't going to do that?"
Brant: "No. our shop foreman checked it all out."
Me: "Great. Thanks."

10 Reasons I Know I'm Not a Grown-Up

- I went to 3 stores and called 3 more to find the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Box set because I couldn't wait for it to ship from Amazon.com.

- I miss my mommy and daddy.

- I call them 'mommy' and 'daddy'.

- There is never a time when candy doesn't sound like a good idea.

- I want to be a secret agent when I grow up.

- There are more toys than books on my bookshelves.

- I choose my breakfast cereal by what is being given away.

- My socks have Tinkerbell and Mickey Mouse on them.

- I can and do skip semi-regularly.

- On every birthday I wonder if this is the year I get my magical powers.