NYS Inspections....

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I probably shouldn't elude to the fact that most things about cars, I havent a clue about! There has always been a big push from my parents to check my oil and other fluids that may go into a car, but honestly..that isnt something that is forfront on my mind. I know, I know... if you run empty on certain fluids, you are in for BIG trouble!

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I don't know if it's just a female thing or what, but as long as the car has gas, I figure it will go wherever I take it... I don't usually think about all the other "should be obvious important" things that help a car run smoothly. I know, Im bad/irresponsible - however you want to look at it. It's not done intentional, but it's just something that doesnt stick. Sometimes, I think I might be getting better at the whole deal, but then other times, Im just not sure.

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I'm forever told Im inexperienced, and my guess is that I will ALWAYS be in someone's eyes.

I guess when someone has enough years on you, they feel as such.

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ANYWAYS, last week.. I made a trip to Syracuse, during the snow storm of all things. It was brought to my attention that I was driving an uninspected car- which had been for about 2 months now. I was completely shocked at the news not having a clue that this was the case!! I've always seen 2 stickers to the lower left windshield, but only ever look at the largest of the 2, you know the one with BIG black numbers that stands out. To me, this read November 2009. I always thought I was safe until then. The problem being, that was the registration, not the inspection sticker. The inspection sticker(in RED) originally read Novemer 2008. The new stickers out are strictly blue or silver(silver being strictly January renewal dates, I think.)

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Mind you, this wasn't in the slightest bit a bother to me my whole trip out there- BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW, and the instant, I found out.. I was petrified of getting pulled over on the way home or running into a ditch due to the lack of visibility with pounding snow & having a cop rescue me. The whole way home I stressed.. and then refused to take my car out when I needed to. From that moment on, I was checking everyone else's cars to see just how obvious their BLUE/silver inspection stickers were, and concluded that I would have been sunk if ever a cop passed me!

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A call was made to our mechanics only to find out that they were booked for a WHOLE week. That's not what I needed to hear, because I needed my car! Anyways, I was determined not to use it until then regardless, so thanks to Ange for the use of hers. I was able to get where I needed to. It wasn't until today that my car was FINALLY inspected & able to be picked up.

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To my suprise, the mechanic asked me a question....." Did you ever notice some rattling up front that seemed to aggrevate you any?" I was like, "why yes actually!" "Well, we replaced a tube that was causing the problem!" I was forever grateful for this.

Once home, I asked mom & dad if they had mentioned anything to the mechanic about my rattling noises, and to their knowledge, nothing had been said. I concluded that I had a very GOOD & thoughtful mechanic to fix that also.

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Now relieved, here is proof that the car is up-to-date with an inspection=)

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Use what you have to Make a Difference!

I've been clearly reminded of the many blessings I have in life, that quite frankly I've taken for granted often. A while back, I wrote a post on "Extreme Makeover" and how my eyes have been truly opened to the world around us, those that are stuggling in all sorts of ways & how we all can be a part in making a difference in the lives of others.

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Well, tonight after work, I decided to play catch up with some episodoes of Extreme Makeover, and once again was faced with tears rolling down my cheeks when I thought about how so many people face life living a struggle of finiancial debt, physical ailments of family members, which limits potentials we each could have to offer, having a roof over your head, but that it's so far from being called a house or even better, a home! Some of us can't even comprehend what others go through, others that give all THEIR time and energy to help others, like themselves or ones worse off- while everything to a naked eye continues to worsen or fall apart.

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To look at someone, can say a lot, but even still there are others, who to look at them, you would never know they are battling some of the most difficult battles, fighting the hardest wars within themselves, whether its trying to find a purpose in life, knowing that someone very dear and close has been taken away, or weathering the storms of the seasons under a roof thats about to cave in.

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Humanly, we all can only handle just so much of these difficult times. We need to find relief in some way or another. ABC, has such an awesome way at helping to take the burden off of struggling families so they can have a place that can be safe, warm and where they can be together with the ones that mean the most & love. They are good for giving people a chance of a NEW start in life; a new begining!

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Take a look around....Many people are desperate, far more than we could ever imagine. When I think about it, I am reminded of what God has given me : A family, good friends, picture perfect health, support & love to share, a great job in which I can be of help to others, just so much that I am so grateful for. I think about times in which I feel my life has hit rock bottom, times in which I didn't know where to turn or what to do, and Im reminded that there is a purpose to everything! Without going through difficult times, one will never gain strength and become who they were made to be.

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We all need to be reminded of the fact that:

Regardless of how little one may have or how difficult a time one is going through,

it's what we do with the resources/time that we have, that makes all the difference.

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We can be a blessing to others in our darkest of times.

What a fun evening of skiing together at....

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Yes, these pictures are a bit blurry. We were dealing with night light & 3 low battery cameras/ cell phones.
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Taking a little break at the middle of the mountain;)

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Ok, so while we were on our break time back in the lodge, we had a group of immature guys that were aggrivating me at least. They kept begging us for our cheese rolls and marinarra sauces saying.. that we would never be able to eat them all, and that it would be nice if we shared. When they realized we werent in the sharing mood, they thought they should ask us for money so they could go get their own!

Yes, rice Krispies & I get along GREAT & when I saw one this big- I just had to buy it.

Christmas 2008

I just thought I would post a few pictures to represent our family Christmas this year. Everything truly was wonderful, and wanted to thank mom (mainly, seeing she does all the buying) for all her hard work she puts into this Christmas season. It's definitely noticed and appreciated Mom. I Love You!

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Thanks to the rest of my family for their thoughtfulness & giving. You all mean the world to me, and I just wanted you to know that.

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Yes, this is a smart dog!

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Now, I have plenty of pictures of the gifts I bought for everyone, but this one stood out a bit due to one particular reason. One of Ashley's gifts that I bought her was a Colombia Winter Coat. As she opened her gift and pulled it out of the box... guess what fell out of her pocket??

Yes, I couldn't believe it... someone apparently lost their ring in the pocket!

Not a good picture of the ring, but you get the point.

Well, I wont bore you with all my many other pictures.=)