Pity Party of One

This may be the most "poor me" post I've ever written.  You've been warned.

For the last two months I have been slacking in the running department.  Majorly.  I'm not really sure what happened except that the past few months have been stressful with school, working 10 hour days for months (and still), trying to sell our house, then selling our house, and now packing and finalizing everything with our house.  I've found that when I'm stressed, I tend to shut down.  I tend to sit myself down in front of the tv and veg.  So my running?  It went out the window.

I've been trying to pretend that I'm okay with that.  That this is just a season and I'll start running again once we move.  And to be honest, I KNOW I WILL.  But, that doesn't help with the right now.  The right now is, I feel fat, slow, unmotivated, and gross.  And FB isn't really helping that right now.  All of those people that I've somehow helped get into running are all posting about their glorious runs.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them and proud for them, but I'm also very jealous.  I want to be running, but right now life is in the way.  We move this weekend.  We close on Monday (God willing).

So for now, I whine.  Next week, I run.  :0)

My Life Lately

&

Crazy Train, Party of One

I'm trying to remain upbeat and calm, cool, and collected, but there are things that are stressing me out.  Let's make a list...

• Midterm on Wednesday over 7 chapters, 7 articles, and a case study.  Complete with 4 short answer questions, an essay, and 50 multiple choice....on material that all sounds the same to me.
• A work re-org that takes my dept and combines it with another dept.  Which means new schedules, new supervisors, new information, and a HUGE learning curve. 
• This house stuff.  We're toying with the idea of building.  But, we'd really like to know what month exactly our house would sell - HA!  I could go on and on with this subject....

So, with all that being said and the fact that I'm working on a Saturday.... This is convo took place last night after coming home for dinner.

Me:  Why is this rotting peach still on the counter?  Are you going to eat it?  If you're not going to eat it, throw it away.  Are you going to eat the peach??

Hubs:  Did you seriously just ask me if I was going to eat a rotting peach?!

Me:  Yes.  Well, are you?  If not, then throw it away.

Hubs:  No, I'm not going to eat the peach - it's rotten!!!

Me:  Fine, then I guess I'll throw it away if you're not going to eat it.

Hubs:  Um, it's rotten.

All aboard the crazy train....

Starbucks Saves The Day!

Once again, Starbucks has saved the day.  Seriously.  Skinny Caramel Macchiato, you're a life saver.

Let me set the scene....

• We've been working 10 hour days at work.  I hate overtime - except the paycheck.
• I have a group case study due tonight.  I'm in a group with 3 guys.  Need I say more????
• I've been taking 30 minute lunches due to the overtime... I need more time to RESET.
• And then lots of other random crap that I can't put out here.... *sigh*  {Not to worry, all is great on the home front.}

3 Things Thursday

1. I'm taking a week off on the weigh in challenge thing.  Last week we were "snowed in" which caused us to eat crap.  Sorry excuse, I know.  Then this weekend we're helping family move, I have a project due, and I'm back to working 10 hour days.  So, I'm taking this week off.  I'm still going to try to eat well and exercise, I'm just tired of worrying about it.  This morning I weighed in at 143.6, so I'm up .6 for the week.  Arg. 
2. It looks like the people who "forgot" to see our house earlier this week are coming back today.  Or maybe it's different people?  Who knows.  At any rate, I'm just happy people are coming to see it! 
3. It's been a very challenging week at work.   But, I need some good vibes sent please!  It's been causing me a good deal of BAD stress and if you add that in with the 5 page case study that is due next week....then you can just imagine how stressed out I am. 

Wow, this was a happy post, wasn't it?!  Sheesh!

Worst "Salon" Experience Ever

...this will be a long one, so grab a drink and some popcorn...

A little backstory...  I have a hair stylist that does a pretty good job on my hair.  I'm not picky and I don't really get anything dramatic ever done.  But, this stylist is 30 minutes away and when I make appointments with her, I always have to wait.  So, I hate making appointments and driving out there, blah blah blah...

So, Tuesday I decided that I needed a hair cut and I needed it now.  I felt like Pocahontas.  Long, straight, brown hair.  So, I FB a friend and ask her about this place that she went to.  I call the place and ask if I have to have an appt and what time they closed.  She said they had an opening until 5:30.  I thought that was perfect and left work at 4 and was there by 4:30.  Well, I walk in and there are 2 hair dressers.  One is cutting a little girl's hair and the other is just standing there.  Well, long story short they told me to COME BACK in 30 minutes.  Which, was strange since the one girl wasn't doing anything and didn't have another appointment for 20 minutes... and usually places ask you to wait.  Well, I just got such an odd vibe that I left and went home.

So, on Wednesday, I get this bright idea to go to the JCPenney salon by work on my lunch hour.  Um, yeah, don't let me do that again.  So, I go into the salon and there is an asian women there immediately asking me what I needed.  I thought, great, it will be quick!  So I try to explain exactly what I wanted - about 1.5 inches off and layers in the front.  Then she says that I should frame my face so it doesn't look fat.  Um, I didn't think my face looked fat...but thought maybe I just misunderstood her since I could barely understand her english - hello, Shannon, get up and walk away!  Anyways, she goes on to tell me that I should get the back rounded to help slim me.... Um, no and again, I'm not fat!  So, we go and wash my hair - the most horrible shampoo I've ever had in my life AND she didn't use conditioner....  I mean seriously, that shampoo was awful and it hurt.  But, I kept reminding myself that I need this haircut and I'm running out of options before Christmas.  Plus, now my hair is wet and I have to go back to work in less than an hour.

So, we go on to start cutting my hair.  She spun me around so that I couldn't see the mirror and then kept pushing my forehead with her hand and pulling my  head in all different directions.  I swear, I wasn't moving.  I'm not 5, I was being still!  So, I remind myself that it's almost Christmas and I should just take it... and be nice.  She wasn't speaking to me, she wasn't asking me to look a certain way, she wasn't even pushing/pulling my head nicely - it was like I was a Barbie doll that she was mad at!!  Not only that, but she dropped her scissors on my head!  Well, 45 minutes later (yes 45 minutes!!!) she spins me around and I have SHORT hair.

I decide not to freak out since there wasn't anything that I could do about it then.  So she starts blowdrying my hair and then she decided to put this gel type stuff in my hair and starts to scrunch it.  Um, no.  I came in with straight hair, I'm leaving with straight hair.  So I finally just tell her to stop and give me my ponytail holder.  She knew I was upset.  I threw my hair in a ponytail and went up front to pay.  She then tells me it's going to be $37 instead of $32 because I had "medium length" hair.  Um, could you not see that when I came in?!  Frustrated, I just pay.  She asked if I wanted to add a tip in and I told her no.  LOL

I left, returned to my car, and just cried.  It looked awful.  I had short, poofy hair.  So, after returning to work with my poofy poodle hair, I called the manager of the salon and asked for a refund.  I picked up my refund after work and then this morning, I'm straightening my hair and notice that not only is it super short (it barely touches my shoulders), it's also all screwed up on one side.  Seriously, it's cut at an angle and not blended in at all.  She also decided to add layers to the back, so now it's flipped up halfway down my head.  I can't for the life of me get it to lay down.  Awesome.

So, as long as I put the hair behind my ears, it looks okay.  It doesn't look great, but atleast my hair grows fast....

I Need An Easy Button

Grades came out last night.  I got one A and one B.  That's my first B, so goodbye 4.0 gpa.  But hey, I'm good with that B.  :)

I wont go into details, but have you ever had a night that just slaps you across the face and you wonder how in the hell you got there?!  That's what happened last night.  I was SO happy yesterday and had such a great weekend, but then it all changed in a blink of an eye and it's still not right. 
Today is definitely a Starbucks day.  Maybe even a go out-to-lunch day.  Someone send me an easy button, please.

One Down...

And one more to go.

I had my HORRIBLE final last night.  Seriously, I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea it would be that bad.  I had an A going into the final and I really wanted to keep it, but I can promise you that I'm now struggling to keep a B.  Yes, it was that bad. 

I studied my tail off, too.  I studied as much as I could the week prior, then the night prior.  Then, I took off the entire day from work to study and my final was at 6pm.  Well, I walked out of that room at 8pm and I just wanted to cry.  Truth be known, there were some tears shed.  I'm just hoping and praying that I get a B in the class.  I'm borderline B/C now, because of that test.  It seriously sucks when one test can wreck your entire grade. 

I talked to some other classmates and they all said the same thing.  That test had things on it that we're pretty certain we've never went over.  So, atleast I'm not the only one who did poorly.  That's what I keep telling myself. 

My next final is Thursday and then I'm done for the semester!!!!

The silver lining in this cloud is...
A) that class is over. 
B) my work will pay for the class as long as I make a C or higher.
C) I'll still have atleast a 3.0 (even if I get a C) and will be able to stay in the MBA program (you have to maintain a 3.0 GPA).

Honestly

I've just finished working on my research paper.  I worked on it all day today (I was off work today).  I'm dead tired and now that it's done, I don't want to proofread it again...

My straightener died on Tuesday.  DIED.  My hair looks um...lovely.

Finals are next week and we have lots of plans this weekend.  Not a good combo.

And Honestly....

Yes, we're still trying to conceive and no it's not going well.  I've had all of my hormone levels checked and they're all normal.  There are other steps we need to take, but we're not going to take them till the Spring sometime.  I honestly thought that this month was THE month.  Everything went perfectly.  The timing was actually normal this month - which my body is anything but normal.  So, yes, I had my hopes up.  Alot.  So, when Aunt Flow came this week, I was very disappointed.  Very.  It's hard to explain.  I didn't cry this time.  I just kind of said "to hell with it" and went back to working.  That's where I'm at right now.  I found out this week that a family member is pregnant with their 3 child and I'm thrilled for them, but I'm also slightly jealous that it seems to come easily for them.  I'm just in a mood and I can't seem to escape from it right now. 

I'm rambling now...

Moment of Silence

I found out this morning that a friend of ours passed away in a car accident early this morning.

He works with my husband.  He's in my Economics class.  I helped him study for our first test.  We joked around about my husband.  We were just talking about our test scores and how we had to do on the final.  We just joked around on Monday night and as we were walking out of the building, I told him that I'd see him next week.

I had no idea that the time I saw him "next week" it would be at his funeral.

Please, pray for his family, his friends, coworkers, and all of us. 

3rd Strike

You're out McDonald's!  OUT! 

So, we all remembered what happened last week right?  If not, go find last Friday's post...I'm too lazy to link it.  :)

Well, I decided to give McDonald's another chance.  As I'm driving up to the place, I notice the outside sign is not turned on.  That's not unusual since my McD's can't get it together most mornings and remember to turn on their light.  So, I drive up to the lit-up drive thru sign and sit.  And wait.  And wait.  3 minutes go by and nobody talks to me.  So, I drive off and come back around.  Why?  I have no idea.  But that's what I did.

Now, there are two vehicles in front of me.  Waiting.  And Waiting.  I check my clock again.  Yep, they should be open.  I get frustrated.  I get out of the drive thru line and I park.  I walk up to the doors.  They're locked.  Locked!  There are workers standing at the counter looking at me.  Pulling on the locked doors.  Locked.

So, I'm really ticked off by this point.  I hop in my Tahoe and drive over to Burger King (I know..but it's the only place near by...).  Their lights are OFF.  OFF.  They're suppose to be open by this point as well.  But, unlike McD's, there are NO people inside staring at the customer's driving off.  So, I decided that there must be something strange going on that I was unaware of and I decide to go to the McDonald's in the next town on my way into work.

I get off the interstate at the next town and their McDonald's is hoppin.  Great, atleast they're open and serving people!  So, I wait in their drive thru line FOREVER and finally order.  I make it to the 2nd window and I hear the guy scream back to his co-workers, "How do I make a Latte?!"  Great.  Wonderful.  Awesome.  I've driven all over hades for my Friday Latte and Breakfast Burritos (Yes, I'm doing what I want with capitalization.) and dude doesn't know how to make a latte.  Awesome.

So, as I sit and watch him (horrified) trying to make a Latte, I know at this point I'm gonna be late to work.  I'm NEVER late to work - EVER.  Awesome.  I get my Latte wannabe and ask the guy for some mild sauce.  He hands me ONE packet.  Um, can I have one more please.  Sure.  Awesome, I'm on the road. 

I take a drink of my "Latte" and want to spit it out.  It's disgusting.  I have no idea what he gave me or what he made, but it wasn't a Latte.  Awesome.  I then go searching for my hashbrown - to get the yucky taste out of my mouth that the Latte left.  The hashbrown is BURNT beyond repair.  Awesome.

I get to work 10 minutes late, throw my "Latte" away and peel the stickers off for the Monopoly game.  I won an Angus wrap.  Awesome.  Except.  I think those are the most disgusting looking wraps on earth.  I've never tried one.  I never will.  So internet peeps, I have a sticker for a free Angus Wrap from McDonald's if you want one.  We all know that I'm done for McDonald's for a very long time.

This Morning Sucks

Catchy title, no?

Let me explain...

• Hubs work kept calling and calling last night/this morning. because servers kept going down.  Thus keeping him up and waking me up every time the phone rang (and I had class last night).
• I couldn't get the package of deli turkey opened.  The stupid package was not cooperating and I was running late.  So for lunch today, I'm having tomato soup and a melted cheese sandwich via the microwave. 
• Friday mornings are always McDonald's breakfast mornings.  I always get a Hazelnut Latte and 2 Sausage Burritos.  I look forward to Friday mornings because of this.  I get in the drive thru this morning to find that the credit card reader is down.  I have no cash.
• I drive to Burger King (ew for breakfast) and have to order crazy fast because there's a car behind me.  I go to pay with an American Express Gift Card that hubs gave me (he gets a ton of these as gifts from work, bc they work him like a dog.....) and it's declined.  Hubs gave me one he had already used.  No big deal - I pay with my bank card.
• I'm driving to work and take a drink of what's suppose to be my Diet Coke and it's Dr Pepper!!!  I HATE Dr Pepper!  It tastes disgusting to me!
• I get to work... 4 minutes late and with cold food that I really didn't want to begin with and no Latte - that I've been craving all week long!

Let's hope today gets better!  I know those are all little things, but it's totally throwing my Friday morning off!

Thank God For Trucks

Well, yesterday was one of THOSE days. Seriously.

I left work due to some personal issues.

Then later on that evening, hubs and I decide to drive over to the walking trails to have a little stroll. While sitting at a red light, I hear tires screeching on the pavement. I looked around to see who was about to get plowed...when we get hit. That's right, we were sitting in traffic at a stop light and got hit by a car that was going around 40 mph. We're fine and the other car occupants are fine.

I wont go into details nor show the pictures just yet. I'm going to wait till everything is over and complete. I will say that our 2010 Toyota Tundra took it like a champ and the only thing messed up is the back bumper. The Nissan Maxima that hit us - not so much. I'm pretty sure their vehicle is totaled - their air bags even deployed.

This morning hubs and I are just super sore. God was definitely protecting us yesterday.

I Can't Make This Stuff Up

Yesterday was awful. Understatement of the year..

• Woke up and could barely move my left shoulder. No idea what I did.
• Work was crazy. Crazzzzzy. I worked an escalation that took foe-eva.
• Right before leaving work, found out that we are going on mandatory 2 hours OT per day starting the next day. Nice.
• Drove hub's truck over a curb while leaving...
• Went the wrong way on the interstate... I was taking his truck to get the oil changed because I'm a nice wifey...
• After turning around and going the right way, I went the wrong way off the exit ramp. Nice again.
• After getting the oil changed, I wanted to get his truck washed, only to find out that the complimentary car wash was out of service. Booo.
• Then, I go to fill up his truck with gas (I am an awesome wife)... and while the gas is pumping, I decide to clean his truck out. While doing so, I hear liquid hit the pavement.
• Yes, the gas is GUSHING out of the truck onto the pavement. I say a dirty word and click the pump off. I remove the handle thingy and gas keeps pouring out of the truck and the pump... my shoes.. my hands.. covered. I go to wipe off the truck and my hands... had to HUNT for a paper towel.. GRRR
• Get home, call the husband. Have a minor breakdown...
• Check facebook and see that a co-worker got the job I interviewed for. FML.
• Then call husband and have yet another breakdown - this time not so minor.
• So... today, I get up at 3:40AM and get to work at 5:15... for the start of my 10 hour shift.

But... guess who saved my day this morning? Another co-worker who also interviewed for the job... brought me a Starbucks Hot Chocolate. Seriously, I wanted to hug her. So.. here's hoping that today and tomorrow go better.

Na Cho Average Night!

I volunteered for about 2 hours at Children's Hospital, with some coworkers yesterday. Our company puts on a Bingo game for the kids once a month and this was my 2nd time to participate. I had a blast the first time and was looking forward to it again once I knew that I would be able to go. But, I have to be honest, given the circumstances I was a little anxious to say the least. It was one week ago yesterday that I was in another hospital down the road a little ways with my Grammy. So, when I walked into another hospital, I felt a little overwhelmed with emotions, but I kept telling myself that it was for different reasons. So, I went up to the playroom with others and there were 2 cancer patients (among other patients). They reminded me so much of my Grammy - their little hairless heads. But, I held back the tears and put my happy face on and pushed through. I was there for them, after all. Turns out, I kinda knew one of the patients and her mother, who was also there. It was nice to chit chat with them. I ran with her mom in the beginning of the Half training. She's from my town and her and her husband works where hubs works. Not only that, but I've heard their story a few times and am friends with one of their friends. So, it was nice to put a face with the story. Good news is, that little girl is cancer free now. :) Praise the Lord.





Moving on... I was little emotional when I left and I called my stepmom and had a nice long chat with her. Grammy was her mom. It was good to get some of that out and talk to someone who understood where I was coming from. We also had a nice chat about my brother, whom I'm currently having a rather large disagreement with. So, to say that I was feeling all kinds of emotions is an understatement.





I get home and read my brother's email...and then get a text from hubs saying he wants something "good for dinner." In other words, he doesn't want me to cook dinner LOL. To be honest, I was totally fine with that because I'm an emotional eater and I was kinda emotional!! So, we went to OC. Remember a few months ago when I mentioned their awesome nachos?? Well, I took a picture for ya'll:




Note... there was more cheese and toppings on a few of those nachos... I ate a little before remembering to take a picture. :) Also to note... we may or may not have gotten a side of guac. Just saying. So yes, I ate horribly and may of had a half slice of pizza. But, I only ate a small-ish portion of those nachos. Actually, 90% of the pizza and 70% of the nachos are in the fridge as we "speak." So there, I didn't do awful and I ordered a water - still carbonated-drink free!!!

Anyways, I'm on the fence about what to do tonight. Spin again or try running for the first time in almost 3 weeks? I'm really thinking I'll go out for a run. The weather looks nice, although it might be a little chilly. But, I'm thinking 2 or 3 miles is on the agenda. Just something to get my legs moving again! What do you think?

3 Things Thursday

You know the drill...

• I'm thankful for my J O B. Yesterday our company laid off close to 400 employees. This hit too close to home. So, I'm very thankful for said job.
• I'm ready for this GMAT test to be over. I take the test next Friday and at this point, I have no idea how I'll score.
• I wish we were running more than 6 miles this Saturday. Our training calls for 6 and I really wish we were doing 9. Maybe I should just be happy with the 6?

In case you couldn't tell, I'm in a bad mood. Yesterday was just a very bad day and it somehow carried into today.

Also, my grandmother gets her scan results today to see if the cancer has spread. Thoughts and prayers are definitely appreciated. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed right now. Job stuff, GMAT, HM training, and family stuff...just a little too much for me to handle right now. Blah. I am, however, excited to post my last few runs and September stats {to compare with August's}. Maybe I'll get to that tonight.

M.I.A.

I was M.I.A yesterday, because I'm dead tired. Emotionally, mentally, & physically. Let's have a little recap.

• Studying every spare chance I get for the GMAT test. Anyone remember how to find the area of a triangle that's inside a circle, when given no values for that triangle?? Yeah... tell me about it.....
• Running in the evenings.
• Cooking dinner every day of the week.
• Doing other stupid household chores.
• Changes at work.
• Redoing/stressing over our budget so that we can save more money and move sometime soon.

Basically my schedule is as follows...

• 4am wake up
• 5am commute to work
• 6am at work
• 11-12 studying for GMAT while eating sandwich
• 3pm start commute home
• 3:45pm - 4pm Veg out in front of tv
• 4pm to 5pm Study for the GMAT
• 5pm begin cooking dinner, while doing kitchen chores
• 6pm eat with husband, if he's home yet, or go run, depending on day
• then eat dinner after run, shower and go to bed. It's 8:30 or 9 by this time.
• If I didn't go run, then I'm either doing laundry or cleaning the kitchen up.. and veg out in front of tv or study for GMAT. Btw, the weekdays I don't run are Wednesday and Friday.

Anyone wondering why I'm tired?? Because I either work, study, or run. The end. LOL
Did I mention that I put the dust pan in the fridge yesterday after sweeping the kitchen? What? You don't store your dust pan in the fridge?!?!
Other note worthy topics... Sister went to her first day of college yesterday (at my alma mater) and stepmother had a birthday yesterday as well.

Mid-Life Crisis

I'm having a mid-life crisis. I've always laughed at people who said they were going through a mid-life crisis, but now, I know what they were talking about.
I'm not exactly sure how it's happened. Maybe it's due to the recent event that I was turned down for a job that I really wanted. Maybe it's due to the annoying intern that recently left to go to Grad School in another state. Or maybe, I was just headed this way all along.
I'm bored with my current position. Just plain bored. I've been doing the same job for 3 years now. I know that's not a long time, but I'm one of those people who, if they're not learning something new or feel challenged, they're ready for something new.
So, I've been sitting here for the last week or so wondering what it is I want to do with the rest of my life. A few options have come up. I could go to Pharmacy School - which is a total career change for me. I've always wanted to do something in the medical field, but with my queezy stomach and fear of needles and blood, I knew this was not really an option.... Until I heard about Pharmacy School. Yes, they have to learn how to give shots and such, but for only about a week. I could handle that.
So, what would Pharmacy School take? I'd have to take 6 undergraduate classes (since my degree is a Bachelor of Business and not a Bachelor of Science). Then, I'd have to take test. And then, I'd have to entail 4 long years of going to school full time (18 & 19 hour semesters) and pay around $5,000 per semester. This means I wouldn't be able to work. While hubs said that this is still an option, I have veto'd it out. It's no longer an option.
Second... I could go back and get my Masters. Which, is something I've wanted to do for the past few years. It would only take 10 classes and I'd be done. Only problem with this is... What would I do with my Masters? It's not like that would automatically give me a new and exciting job. Plus, I'd still get bored after a certain amount of time, I'm sure.
So, that 2nd option is on the back burner. Option #3... Find a new job. Well, given the state of the economy, that's a tad difficult. Plus, I love the company I work for now. Only problem is, they don't have any openings. Also, why would I leave a secure job where I make a nice chunk of change at...and go to something that may be less secure? Yeah. Not a good option either.
So, I'm stuck. Plain and simple. Plus, add in there, the whole.. "I want to have a child before I turn 30" thing.. That makes things a little more difficult too, when you're thinking of going back to school. There's no way I could go to school full time, work full time, and raise a child. Or for that matter, go to school part time...
So.. anyone have any suggestions?

I Hate Ice.

I hate ice. I HATE IT. I used to love snow days when I was younger, because it meant we were out of school and had NO responsibilities. Now? We're not that lucky. My work does not close - like ever. We're an Internet Service Provider and well, people "have" to have their internet 24/7. So, that being said.... It iced today and I stayed home - working from home. Now, let me say that I didn't stay home due to the ice - I stayed home because my boss wanted a few of us to test out our laptops, etc.

BUT, tomorrow? Tomorrow may be a different story. Tomorrow it's suppose to hit us hard and well, I'm dreading it. Seriously. I don't know what "the plan" is yet for tomorrow, but if it involves me working from home another day, I just might cry. BUT, if it involves me driving on ice - I'll cry too. Why all the crying? I can't stand to sit in an empty house another day. #1, I've eaten everything in sight - an un-armed kitchen is not waist friendly. #2, I can't talk to the walls anymore - they don't answer back. and #3, I can't drive on ice. Especially in The Beast - I might just wreck the dang thing. I hate ice. Hate it.

So, as I sit here and stare at the clock for yet another hour and a half before being released from my duties....I have to ask you, please pray that the ice will go away - BEFORE I lose every drop of sanity that I have. Also, because of the ice that may or may not be out on the city streets - I've not been able to work out yesterday, today, or probably tomorrow. That bites. I was doing awesome last week and actually felt pretty dang good about myself!!! UGH!

Ok, I'm done whining for now. :O) Thanks for making it through that.

P.S. I felt so good last week that I took a self portrait. LOL I might just post it later.

Smart Buy, My Butt!!!

It's a long one...

Back in September of 2005, I got divorced. I also bought a new car, which ended up being a big, big mistake. Here's the deal. Because my current car (that I hated & never wanted) was financed in both mine and my ex's name, I had to either refinance or buy a different car. Well, I chose to buy a different car. I had been waiting for quite a while for the 2006 Pontiac G6 to come out (the 2 door version) - I had LOVED GrandAm's and this was the replacement....

So, in September of '05, the 2 door G6 came out. I was divorced and had 30 days to refinance or find something else. The day before my birthday - Sept 19th - I signed on a 2006 G6. I was ecstatic. Something was finally going right for once (or so I thought). Well, I had many, many issues with the sunroof leaking SEVERAL times and ruining my carpet...which I had to beg and file a complaint before GM would replace it. During all these "issues" with the car, I dealt with one dealership and one dealership only - the place where I had bought the car. Their sales people were great (I thought that ONCE anyways) but their service people suck.it.up big time.

Moving on, I had many temper tantrums at said dealership... I was treated poorly and I'm just not a fan of being talked to/treated like I'm an idiot. It's just my thing - treat me with respect or I'll lose my temper, in a hurry. Anywho...I've wanted to get rid of this vehicle for quite some time now. I went to the dealership about a year ago and was told that I had bought under a "Smart Buy Program" - also known as a lease. Yes, a lease. How in the world did I not know this? I have no idea. But with said lease, there is a mileage restriction of 48,000 miles in 4 years. Now...I'm a commuter. I drive a total of 60 miles a day to and from work. You do the math. I'm now at 60,000 miles. Yes, 12,000 miles over my allowance.

So, let me just say that I've tried to get out of this "Smart Buy" for quite some time. I called yesterday (on a whim) to see if I qualified for their "Pull Ahead Program" - which lets me end my contract, return the vehicle, pay an awful amount, then pay my mileage crap. Well, I was told by 2 ladies yesterday that I DID qualify for the program, so hubs and I decided to hit the ground running and look for another vehicle. Let me just say we were thrilled that we would finally be getting rid of this vehicle.

Well, we went to a dealership last night who then called GMAC and found out that I do NOT qualify for said program. That, actually, I'm 3 days short of qualifying.. What does that mean? It means I have to wait till the next program start date - of April 1st - and that they can't even promise me that they will have another program... Seriously.

The kicker in all of this is... They say my contract ends on Oct 3rd. That's the day I'll return the car and pay mileage stuff or pay a huge balloon payment and keep the POS. Well, the program qualifying contract date (did you follow that?) is Sept 30th. Meaning, if my contracted ended Sept 30th or before, I'd be okay... Now, remember how I said I bought my car on Sept 19th - one day before my birthday? That's the day I signed all of the papers. That's the day that - legally and all that jazz - I bought my car. So tell me, why in the world does my contract start Oct 3rd? Well, because GMAC says so. That's why. Is that the date I made my first payment? According to them, no (and it's really not). So, why oh why is my contract date Oct 3rd and not Sept 19th? I dunno. But you can bet that I'll be calling them a 4th time and speaking to someone higher on the food chain.

Also, side note... I was quite embarrassed and didn't want to go back to the purchasing dealership (because of all the temper tantrums I had thrown) so we went to another dealership in town first...The sales guy said, "Don't I know you from somewhere?"... Me - "No...." ... Him - "Oh yeah, I know you from Crain." That's when I turned a shade of red and wanted to hide. This guy knew me from the other dealership...from my fits. Great. And then when we went back to "Crain" - everyone in that dealership looked at me and wouldn't make eye contact.

Also note, that this is not the first car I've bought. It's actually the 3rd AND my dad had even been there for part of the negotiations, but then left for me to take care of the rest.... Because the salesman called him "Un-American" for saying that maybe I should purchase a Honda... Boy, I wished I would've listened to my dad. I'll keep ya'll updated on the Car Woes and I'll try to keep my temper under control. I've already hung up on one GMAC rep today.