Anybody Pulling Their Hair Out over A 2001 Chevy Tracker?

Well, I am. I own a 2001 Chevy Tracker. It is my first 4-wheel drive vehicle. I love being able to have access to the 4 wheel drive in bad weather, and it sits high enough to take through the field if I have to but the thing is nickel and diming me to death.

Two years ago the timing chain broke. The codes read that there was a problem with the cam shaft sensor. Yep sure was, it was not turning because the timing chain was broke. That said my two brothers and Dad tore the thing down and commenced surgery. They did an excellent job and the thing ran real well (so my daughter says because I never got to drive it after ward). About a year ago it started to run rough and now I can't take it out of the driveway without 3 feet to keep it running (it is a standard and have to keep one foot on the gas all the time, which leaves my left foot to the clutch and brake at the same time). It has no power and when you live in a region as I do where you are either going up or down and there is no flat road this is a problem.

The thing has 135,000 miles on it, which now days really is not that many, but she acts like she has 200,000. I like Chevy. Even my little Daewoo Lanos Hatchback which I might add has an engine light that NEVER goes off, unless something serious happens. The last time the engine light went off in that was when the timing belt broke. So unless the engine light is on in that car I do not dare drive it, and if I am driving it and the engine light goes off I get really scared because it means big bucks.The main problem here is that in NY if the engine light is on you can't get it inspected. Last year my mechanic had the vehicle for 2 months trying to get the light to off long enough to inspect it. The car purrs like a kitten though, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The Tracker on the other hand will likely kill me and the engine light is not on. Thanks New York State to signing my death certificate over a damn engine light.

Perhaps my family will sue New York State when I kill myself driving a vehicle deemed to be safe by NY, that really is not, but because it will pass inspection it is the only vehicle I will have to drive. The New York State vehicle inspection program is nothing but a scam to fill the coffers, and maybe if more people died and families sued over it they would make the program based on safety instead of politics.

So I guess if you have a unsafe vehicle you have to drive like me because you live in New York State I will look forward to meeting you on the other side to swap body parts and horror stories.

And as it goes....
Deb

Verizon Customer Service: A Review

Today I would like to tell you about my experience with Verizon. As you may remember back last December I was waiting for my Tracfone to arrive and out of desperation resorted to ordering a cell phone from Verizon. It was supposed to be an addition to my existing account and cost about $20. Well as it turned out my bill went from 66 dollars to as much as 265 dollars. It was a little more than the 20 dollars I expected. I have to say if I had used the plan as it was designed the bill would not have been that much. In the wake of my Dad’s illness the need for inter family communication went up 500 fold.

So today I called Verizon to discuss my plan and bill. I have to say I was greeted with a very knowledgeable lady who took her time and went over the last 3 months bills analyzing where the most usage was and discussed in full my other options, and the cost. She answered all my questions and did not at anytime during this conversation did I feel pressured or hurried.

I left this interaction with the Verizon customer Service Agent with a new plan that will be more within my budget and service that meets my needs. Thumbs up Verizon!
It was so nice to talk with someone who was interested in helping me rather than selling me something more than what I needed. Thanks.

And as it goes……

Deb

Everything Is Growing Like A Weed And I Need to Get The Spring Cleaning Done

The home I currently live in I rented for many years before returning to it. It has been about 4 years since my return. My first year I had my gallbladder out, and last year I had the pulmonary embolism so I really have only had two healthy years since returning home. I am finally making some head way on cleaning up the dump this place has turned into. NY State says you have to keep your renters stuff for a year even after they stiff you on the rent and move out in the middle of the night. One set of renters left me 52 garbage bags worth of garbage (the 55 gallon bags I might add) and stole the TV I let them borrow. Others have left furniture, toys, clothes, tools, you name it, and it has been left behind. Most all of it junk, because it is broken, dirty, torn or misused in some way.

To this end I have been dividing stuff up into piles. One pile is going to the junk yard. Prices are up on metal recyclables and I could use an extra couple hundred dollars. Trips to the junk yard are a profitable venture if in need of some quick cash. Another pile is going to be relocated to the front yard for sale. Another pile is going to be donated to people I know who could use it, and the last pile is the “I am not real sure what to do with it” pile. My garbage pickup guy is not going to be impressed with me when they come to empty the dumpster because it is not all fitting in the dumpster.

Now, about the green growth. This is a rural area I live in and all this stuff is sitting in the field behind the barn. I had counted on the cool spring weather to give me a good month of gathering all the junk and going through it all before the field grasses started to grow and hiding everything in the field. So far this concept is not working for me. All this warm weather with rain every few days has set the field grasses in over drive, and the snakes are already out. I know this will not go over well with some folks who are snake lovers, but I am not one of them. If you have ever seen a snakes den full of eggs then you know nobody will miss the 6 that met with the end of my shovel. And honestly it is not the 6 I killed that bother me it is the 90 or so still out there. I have plenty of cats to keep my rodent population under control I do not need the assistance of this predator. Actually that is probably why I really do not see the number of snakes my neighbors do. I assume it is because the food supply is not as good over here as it is next door.

In the process of gathering everything from recliners to broken glass windows up there I lost my little Black & Decker cordless screw driver. I have walked that area twice today. The thing is bright orange for crying out loud. The grass has swallowed it up and unless I run the lawnmower over that part of the field I suspect I will not find it until I hit it and it breaks the blade on the mower.

I think I have done all the gathering of junk in my back field I will be able to do this year. We are expecting 3 days of rain and by the time the sun comes back out I will need the bush hog to mow up there, and until I get all the glass and garbage out of there mowing is totally out of the question. We will see how tough my little Black & Decker cordless screw driver is, maybe next year.

And as it goes…..
Deb
http://wormlady.dealsmall.com

Everybody Wants To Make Me Rich: For A Fee

I do not know about what kind of e-mail you get, but everybody wants to make me rich in mine. I get an average of 30 emails a day from people who promise for a nominal fee of anywhere from 27 to 197 dollars, or more they have the answer to all my bills. With all that available money to be made why is the United States still suffering a 9+% rate of unemployment? Why are people still loosing their homes?

It is just another testament as to why the honest guy never gets head. The guy loosing his home probably never scammed anyone, and just went to work faithfully
everyday thinking that if he did an honest days work everyday everything would be alright.

Even the Church is in on the deal. I bought into a work at home program called Disciplines Crosses. For 69 dollars they sent you materials for 25 crosses with instructions,ect. They also sent "perfect" example for you to look at. I did the crosses and sent them back, including in the lot the "perfect" cross. Now they will give you back your original investment after 8 lots of 50 are returned approved. Keep in mind you are buying supplies each time to get hose 8 - 50 count lots made. They claimed to pay you for them in a buy back program, if they are approved. Long story short...all my crosses were returned to me...including the perfect example as failures. They said that I could sell them myself though someplace else. First of all if you have your name on product, and reject it as junk would you honestly want somebody out there selling that junk with your name on it?

Well, if you are board and looking to surf the web a little tonight check out my site and see if anything appeals to you http://wormlady.dealsmall.com.

And as it goes...
Deb

Latest Venture Takes a Turn

Ahhh... the hidden agenda finally hits the fan. The newest venture called me last night and tried to sell me consulting services to help my new venture succeed. Only a "Selected few" would qualify, and guess what the qualification is? Yep you guessed it, the ability to cough up $1500.00 instantly, like off your credit card.

With this program I have a site that costs $50 a month. I have to advertise this site, and when people buy off my site by clicking on to the ad site they are looking for I make a few cents, literally.

The site address is http://wormlady.dealsmall.com and if I do not clear the cost of the site by the 30th of this month i will be canceling out of the whole mess. So if the site continues to be live after the 30th of April 2010 you will know I am doing ok, if it is not then you will know how well this work at home enterprise works in the scope of keeping up with staying behind.


And as it goes.....
Deb

My Profit Site: Review

Another site I looked at, and blew money on was a site called My Profit Site. In just a few words...don't go there. The sites they offer are "corny" and in my mind kinda stupid. They for a price offer you pre-set up web sites and claim they are live, and they are to my computer, but not to yours unless you pay extra for instant customers. Once you pay the "Pro" fee you can access stats on all your web sites. I have to laugh because it is as if they are paying someone to make them up when you look at them.

Trust me if you get a email about My Profit Site....run....run as fast as you can.

My newest venture has training videos and homework. I am working through the materials now, and so far everything makes sense...which is kinda scary. More to follow......

And as it goes.....

Deb

Affiliate Marketing: Learning The Ropes

Well I have gone and done it again. I have entered into another money making enterprise. This one, at least at the moment seems to hold some promise. I have a website that contains commonly searched for merchandise and services. Some of these sites I have personally visited, and purchased stuff from long before this enterprise.

I will continue to update on my progress (or troubles) with this new venture as progress (or regression) is made. Wish me luck!

And so it goes....
Deb

Looking at My Email Cash Project

Well I am still looking at work at home stuff. I bought into My Email Cash Project. LOL...they market toward making money, as as with most all the rest nickel and dime you to death. They hook you up with Cash Network, but if you read the publishers agreement all Cash Network is concerned with is you signing to make sure they get their money. Then you move on to auto responders, 20 bucks a month or more depending on the payment option and site. Then unless you are into some other list resource you have to buy prospective clients lists to send email to. That is as far as I got before I got disgusted and discouraged. The return policy for the program states you have to have a Order ID to get your money back, but they do not send you one, so do not look to get your money back if you buy into it.

You would think after 20 some years of looking at these things I would know better. I have to say that it might work if you have a job to support it. If I were you I would take the fee and go outdoors and bring a lighter and start a campfire with it. At least you will something to show for it, even if it is ashes. My Email Cash Project will cost you upfront big time ....be aware.

Hey, just a heads up...
We are all in this together..
Deb

Day One Without TV

Today was day one without TV. Boy did I get a lot done. I have to say it is difficult to fight the urge to start putting seeds in the ground. The weather has been so summer like, and the trees and wild flowers are all coming out to bloom. I worked the ground with a hoe that I plan to use for a garden plot this year and it is so wet yet it was hard to use a hoe on it. Tomorrow I am going to know the true difficulty level of my activity today I am sure. My hands already feel puffy, hopefully tomorrow I will still see a separation between my fingers.

I have to say I am a bit set back as to the weather for tonight and tomorrow as I did not see the weather report today. Having seen it yesterday I believe we are in for a freeze tonight but I can't remember what tomorrow will bring. I guess it will be a surprise.

I have plans to plant enough veggies to get me through the next winter. Although I have a B.S. in Environmental sciences I am not sure it has grown me a green thumb. It fascinates me how some people can throw seeds on the ground and they grow, yet the others of us hoe, rake, weed, fertilize, water, and weed some more only to produce spindly want-to-be plants. I remember years ago my mother gave me a spider plant, and I killed it. I do not know how, but it died. This fascinated everyone I knew because spider plants are supposed to be able to withstand any personality.

Well as the season progresses we will see. I now need to research how to preserve my veggies just in case I luck out and get some to grow! Wish me luck.

And as it goes.....

What To Heck is Going On In The World?

I know when my Parents were my age they questioned the way of the world, as I am sure my Grandparents did as well, but it just seems to me that things are out of control. We have adoptive parents sending their charges back half way around the world because they turned out to be too much work. We have wars going like barbeque's all over the world. We have planes crashing, my condolences to the people of Poland and my sorrow for their loss as well as the families of the miners in West Virginia. Mother nature has jumped on the band wagon and just won't give a break anywhere. Although I have a great desire to keep up on current events I think I am going to shut the TV off for a while, and just stick the newspaper in the recycle bag for a week or two. I have enough of bad going on in my day without help.I read and hear of these world events and knowing full well I have no control, nor can I change or help in any way, yet I still feel bad for the people involved. It is said that no matter how bad you have it there is somebody out there who has it worse....Some days I am not sure who that might be.

...and as it goes.
Deb

Another Day, Another Dollar, Maybe

I gotta say I am really tired of beating my brains against the wall trying to pay bills. I work a 40 hour week, but by the time I get the check and the state and federal governments take their cut off the top there is not enough left to be bothered with. I do not have a pool, a fancy deck, a grill, or even a fancy home. All of 980 square feet is plenty. I do subscribe to satellite TV, electric service and propane for heat. I have a land line to support my computer Internet, but leave long distance to cell phone use. I do have a washer and dryer, but I also live in the country where the closest laundromat is over 10 miles away (and so is everything else for that matter). I use the dryer only occasionally and mostly hang my laundry to dry in a line outside (upside - cheap dryer bill, downside - bee stings in the rear of jeans if you do not turn them inside out and shake). Since my daughter moved out I find I eat a lot more sandwiches and easy foods, not necessarily a balanced diet. I have turned the heat down to 60 degrees so I now wear my outdoor insulated work clothes to function inside the house. I function in the dark for the most part to avoid turning on lights. At night if I have to see I use a battery operated light that you buy to attach to a wall as a portable light. It uses 3 AAA batteries and lasts longer than a flashlight. I just do not know how to spread my $8.25 a hour wage any thinner. I do have animals, I end up with them because other people bring them because they can't afford to keep them. I guess I am done with accepting them. I can't afford the expense of going non profit, and I am beginning to feel like I am being taken advantage of.

I have read some books on frugal living, and I leave those reads in laughter because living frugally is a step up from where I am at. I do like the job I currently have, I just wish I could earn a living wage at it. Even waitress gets tips to add to his/her minimum wage. They do offer a "bonus" at Christmas time...last year it covered my electric bill for the month.

I am grateful as I said to be employed, as so many are not, I am also grateful that my home is paid for other than the 2 yearly rent payments I have to make in order to keep it - school taxes and property taxes. I am grateful for my improving health, and the improving health of my family members who have been faced with extreme challenges as of late. I am also grateful for the possessions I do have, no matter how outdated and worn out they are, my vehicles for example. My car runs great with the engine light on all the time, and my 4-wheel drive does not run worth a damn but works good to use as the tractor I do not have to move stuff around the property. I am grateful that I can breath today even though I am having a lot of trouble taking a deep breath, and at times feel like I am drowning because I just can't get air in (my Nurse practitioner ignores my complaints of this problem, so I guess it must be all in my head). And finally I am grateful I woke up today because I sometimes feel that breathing is just to much work and one of these nights I will actually fall into a deep sleep and forget to force my chest to expand.

Some days keeping up with staying behind is just to much for my depleting energy level....So as it goes....
Deb