If I accept that Samuel Hoyt married Catherine Fellers, then the family tree is already traced back to the 1490's to England. There's a WHOLE mess of Hoyt's and other relatives who lived in Stamford and some from Hartford CT. I'm guessing that's all pretty close around there.

So did you accept it?

...so last week I'm driving to work and get a flat tire. After all the drama of putting the donut tire on I contact my friends who own a garage (Christians) and ask them to get me a new tire. Then I call back and realizing that it's been a couple years and these are probably the original tires, winter's coming, yada yada, I decide to get two. So I go after work and while they're changing the tire I am chit chatting with my friend Jennifer (the wife) and I get a wave and a "hey embie, wanna take a look at this?" So I know this can't be good.

Well, the back driver's side tire is balder than bald and the passenger's side has a nail in it. Mike (the husband) then goes on to tell me that the car needs an alignment really bad and that's what wrecked the front tire. So I pay for the two tires and the day's work and make an appointment for this week to do the rest.

Well... I bring the car in on Wednesday and proceed to shop while they're working on the car Then comes phone call number one...while the car is up in the air, we find out it needs new links on each side, (something to do with stabilizing) do I want to put them on. Yes. Continue shopping. Go to the salon to get a hair cut, phone call number two... "You have a headlight out and you're past due for your oil change"... UGH! Just do it...Back to shopping. Found some great bargains and a buy one get one free sale on new dish sets...Gorgeous square plates, 4 pc place settings, hand painted, beautiful...in the cart...

Phone call number three... "These cars are really tough to get at when doing the alignment" (Mike farms this work out). The guy wants to know if you want him to continue... Well how much more is it going to cost, I ask? Ummmm.... double (maybe) hard to tell Oh, Okkkkkay.... Dishes go back on the shelf, new sheets go back on the shelf, embie goes back in her loaner car and proceeds to go to another store to pick up something her mom asked for.

Phone call number 4... Now I don't even want to answer. "Did you buy this car new?" noooooo, why? Well, you need to change your timing belt, this car has one of those engines where if it breaks it will damage valves, and while I've got the motor apart, you really should change your water pump, cos if that goes a short time later, I have to take the whole motor apart again...

At this point I was losing phone service and my mind, so I just hung up the phone while he was still talking.

I got back to the garage and viewed the current bill and the estimate for what was yet to come. So far my one flat tire has cost me $563 and I can look forward to about another $450-500 in expenses...

Imagine how much sushi I could have bought with that money???

hmmm... not sure about those "what if's" - I guess it would depend on how long you planned to keep it. Those things may go wrong and they may not, if there's not a history of those cars falling apart and you weren't currently having issues with it... I'd be tempted to wait and see. Not like you wouldn't know if it did need changing.

Next year around now will be the first time in my licensed life that I will not have a car payment. This vehicle has GOT to last me so I can get ahead of these tuition bills. Oh, and I forgot the fact that my windshield wiper motor broke and the intermittent part doesn't work and I have to time the sweep so I can shut the blades off in the park position...

I think the issue is, how much will it cost if you wait until there's actually a reason to do it? Most cars, with proper maintenance, will easily last 10+ years. I've been driving my Durango 9+ years... it needs to last me a couple more at least too

Oh, I forgot to mention I need a new battery too...

I called them today and scheduled the battery for the end of this month. I told them I have to hold off on the other stuff at least till the beginning of the year.

Gosh, this has been a busy day.

I'm taking in a young adult from our church who is in between jobs and there is no longer any room for her at her parent's home. (She just graduated from college) So she will join our family on Sunday...

...and... I "think" I'll be starting a part time job next week working for some friends of mine who just started a business. I have a sit down with the husband tomorrow to chat everything over.

2 jobs? PO baby

When will you find the time?

I decided to take it.

It's only about 15 hours each week. I will do 5 hours over 3 days to start. He is sooo needing some help and there is an incredible opportunity for him to grow this business. Take a look. If you need anything done for Christmas, we ship all over the world.

www.TheNewDayGroup.com

Melanie and I made a Praline and Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Praline Sauce and Candied Pecans for a party with one of her co-workers tonight - my tongue nearly beat my hand up trying to get to it

An Emeril Lagasse recipe, if you are interested, you can get it here - highly recommended for those NOT on diets. I think it's the best cheesecake I've ever had and we still forgot to put the candied pecans on top

Not bad for never having made pralines or cheesecake before

kewl Embie!!!


Hey, now you are talking about my milieu, desserts!

Any leftovers?? Sounds soooooo good!!

We'll have to make some more this coming weekend if you guys are around - "Deja Vue" is coming on Thursday too, I know Drew likes both of those

The more things change.....the more they stay the same. Only got two hours of sleep last night. Sleeping on my days off are so hard. I work straight 10 PM to 6 AM shifts. And on my days off...I just want to sleep like a normal person. I had some problems a couple of weeks ago. Doc made me take a whole week off to go thru a ton of tests. MRI, EEG, EKG, Chest xray, 24 hour halter monitor...and had to monitor BP for seven days....day and night. Oh, and blood work.

My blood pressure spiked at work....and since my mother's heart exploded when she was 33, the doctor wanted to rule that possibility out.

I was freaked about taking a whole week off. I have fervently worked on my finances since Jan 1, to be debt free by my birthday that just passed. With the exception of my mortgage and my car note. I didn't meet my goal...but, I got incredibly close. It really upset me to know that I was looking at new medical bills....after all the hard work I did.

Thankfully, although my dad is diabetic....and my mom's heart problems....all my test came back good. Echocardiogram showed some damage....but, doctor said it was normal wear and tear for my age. Nothing to get worked up over.

Diagnosis? Insomnia and anxiety.

So, he prescribed something to help me when I sleep and something to help me when I am awake. As you can see....the sleep thing still isn't going well. Been on the meds one month.

With the week off....I struggled with a decision concerning a trip to Las Vegas that has been planned for two years. I have beat myself up on a daily basis....about how I really cannot afford it. But, its with my father and stepmom. And we are meeting close friends from Oregon. Mr. Bill and my dad served in the Navy together and this trip is for a Navy reunion. I helped unite these men and after six years, it is my chance to actually be a part of it. So, I am going. It has been seven years since I have done anything without my children. And, two years since I took them anywhere. We were in Biloxi and New Orleans two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. The kids have been on one adventure after another. Sheldon went to Yellowstone and to Virginia this summer. He white water rafted for the first time and flew on a plane for the first time. Emalie went to camp and to Schillerbahn. Mom worked and worked and worked....So, I am taking this trip. And, you know what? I cannot wait. Its hard to believe that I have been working in the casino business for a combined seven years and have never been to Vegas. One of my friends from work is flying out there with me. Mr. Bill and Ms. Joyce will pick us up from the airport. And we will then meet my dad and stepmom....who are driving in. I would love to see the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. And, visit the Venetian. As lame as it sounds....I plan to sit around and listen to old men tell tales.

I depart on October 9th....returning on the 13th.

Saphy

I love old men telling tales - I sit and listen for hours at Thanksgiving at our reunion. Be sure you record some of it for posterity.

Anxiety can be a killer, over time. For health and family sake we have to relax regularly too - anxiety can give strokes and heart attacks.

I have Shingles.

po baby... speaking of - David has a rash too

Cute as a button, all he wants to do is play and eat and be held occasionally. He really has a great personality and has started clapping now and has even whistled a few times (I heard it 4-5 times or more this weekend). He'll purse his lips and blow and a little whistle comes out

He ate 3/4 of a weenie tonight and only gagged once

Hey Guys....I hope everyone's rashes are all better. Embie, poor baby....I am so sorry that you have shingles....that is awful.

Thanks for the advice, Allen. Always timely. And for some reason...I am apt to follow what you say.

I am trying some different approaches to handling the stress in my life. Some are working....some are not. But, the key (I believe) is that I am addressing it and actively trying to deal with it.

Everyone wants to go to Heaven....but, no one wants to go "today".

Have a great day, everyone.
Saphy

Thanks Saphy, doing well. Hope Allen bebe is better too

I ordered DVO today.

My dad turned 75 and my F-I-L turned 90 in September. My dad got sick and needed surgery so we postponed our celebration until this past weekend. I took my folks and my 90 year old F-I-L and his 86 year old girlfriend to this Italian restaurant that had an Italian band and everyone was dancing. It was so beautiful. Some people were just regular people dancing with their spouses. Some people you could tell had been taking lessons somewhere and they were really really good. No one in our party danced for different reasons, but I couldn't help thinking how romantic dancing is. I loved watching them. You really have to know your partner and be in tune to their movements. There is passion in dancing.

I hope someday I meet someone that likes to dance.

How are you liking DVO? I told Drew (Amy Lou's husband) tonight that you ordered one. They have 2, I'll never be nerdy enough around them

Drew came over tonight and helped me finish wiring the tankless water heater - something I've been talking about getting done for years now. The plumber was real good but we had a mis-communication - I asked for a bid on A, B, C, and D to be done and he bid on A, several smaller things didn't get done. I was able to get him (for a fee) to do B; C and D are still left to go. The old water heater and dryer were disconnected to get the gas and water pipes re-routed. Drew helped with the wiring (did most of it actually ) and now Mel and I are able to take hot showers still

With any luck we'll be able to wash and dry clothes again this week

Oh, I like to dance, but do it badly. You should get a friend to go with you to some of those free dance classes they have.