A Mystery in Oceanside

Today Chuck went to the store and came home with a mystery just waiting for a sleuth like me to crack. He presented me with a flash drive that he found next to his truck in the parking lot at the local store.
My mind went crazy, I wondered what mysteries could be solved with the flash drive. Do I open the drive up? What would it reveal? Maybe, just maybe it belonged to a Russian Spy and it had all his secrets, maybe it belonged to the President, the Secret Service, maybe it contained Martha Stewarts Insider Trading Stock tips, maybe it would reveal where Al Capone was actually buried? Maybe it belonged to the mob, a movie star, a foreign dignitary, the possibilities were endless.
Do I take a chance and open it? What if the Spy/Owner came and tracked me down like on the movie “The Net” with Sandra Bullock? Maybe I should just throw it away in my neighbor’s garbage and then when the Spy came to kill me because I “knew too much”, he would be thrown off by my quick thinking and disposal of the evidence in my neighbor’s garbage. No, I couldn’t do that to my neighbor, I actually like them.
I decided to throw all caution to the wind and just open it so I could save the world with my new found knowledge.
I found some excel files, some accounting information, some fliers, meeting minutes… Oh how very exciting.. I had to read more….
Then, I took a deep sigh and realized what I had.
Girl Scout Crap.
Bunch of Girl Scout information…… Now I love Girl Scouts, in fact my daughters have both been in Girl Scouts but I must say, I was a bit disappointed.
I read further and wondered who I could belong to. I opened a file entitled “letter of recommendation” for which I found a name and number at the bottom of the letter. I took a chance and called the author of the letter and let them know that I/Chuck found their flash drive in the parking lot. She was grateful and wondered how I could know it was her lost drive? I proudly replied “I read all your stuff”. Gosh, I sounded like a stalker now that I think about it.
Lady came to the house, offered me a Mary Kay booklet as she happens to sell the What a reward… Maybe when I opened the door to give it to her she was thinking yikes, this lady is pretty ugly, she needs my help. Maybe she leaves these flash drives all over the city hoping an ugly person would find it.
Oh well, I may have looked/acted like a Creeper/Stalker but I’m an honest Stalker.

The Silver Stallion has left the track

I have to admit, I have stayed away from my blog because of its appearance. I even begged a friend of mine to do it. Here's my password and username, please, please, please....

But no, she has to go burn cookies and doesn't have time for my blog.

So here I go...

I'm in a somewhat saddened mood. Tonight, we sold the Silver Stallion; my 2001 Ford Windstar that carried us 2793 miles across country when we decided to move from NY to CA. The Silver Stallion that kept me from going insane with its ability to put my children in a somewhat coma while they watched movies in the backseat and I listened to my favorite CD. The Silver Stallion, which had a few bumps and bruises, but for the most part lived a happy life here with our family of five.

I had to give it a cool name so that I could possibly persuade my oldest child to take it when I got a new vehicle. "Come on, it's the 'Silver Stallion!' It's a chick magnet! You can even watch porn in the back on the 8-inch screen!" But to no avail; none of my children even wanted my free Silver Stallion. They would rather take the bus.

I put the car on Cragslist last night, and today, a nice lady emailed me, very excited. Her husband and nephew came over and said, "We will take it!" and then rode off into the sunset. I feel somewhat sad, as it was a good vehicle for me. I actually never minded driving it. I didn't care that some people may have thought it wasn't cool enough for California; it was mine and all mine. I hope the new family loves it as much as I did.

I tried to tell them all the great things about it, but they didn't seem too interested. Heck, they didn't even test drive it. I boasted about the 6-player CD, the entertainment package, the fact that there were adjustments for the pedals for short-legged people. They just didn't seem to care. So, I may not have told them that I've had like 4 flat tires (nails love me) and that the brake light occasionally sticks; therefore, the battery will die, or that sometimes the check engine light comes on but I just ignore it. I actually gave them a deal, as Kelley's Blue Book listed it for over $6K, and I sold it for $4K.

My Silver Stallion was replaced with a 2008 Ford Expedition...Some people may think I'm terrible for getting an SUV, but I do love my new car. I do my share (and my neighbor's share) of recycling and composting, so I splurge a little of Black Beauty. My husband bought it for me for Christmas; it had a big red bow on it Christmas Day, just like in the movies!!! I was shocked; I've never had a new car. I'm 44 years old and never had a new vehicle (even the Stallion was green broke and used when I got him. )

My family surprised the heck out of me Christmas Day. I received the usual; new PJ's, bathrobe, slippes, and thought I was done with my gifts, and my daughter said, "Oh yeah, Mom, did you open the big box?"

Big box??

"Oh yeah, Mom. It's outside. I forgot..."

I walked out in my new PJ's and saw this big BLACK BEAUTY on the road...I laughed and said, "Yeah, right..." My husband pulled out the keys and remote: beep-beep...I was speechless! I have to say this is the first time in my life I was actually speechless.

Instead of the "Silver Stallion," Black Beauty is a perfect fit for our family. I can still sing like crazy and the kids can watch their DVD. Plus, I look hot in it...maybe it's the tinted windows?