My Pianist!

I took this with my cell phone because the hubby and my oldest daughter have the digital camera out turkey hunting! I hope for many more years of pictures with her at the piano! Faith, Hope, & Love!

Babble...

Let the Dana babble begin! LOL

I did finally get through to my cell provider...and bless Randy's (yes I got a normal North Dakota named person!) heart! He informed me to always call them directly and deal with any billing through them not my local provider. He did credit my account for over the amount that I refused to take less than and was polite, understanding and helpful. And it was all finished in 15 minutes or less! And I have been dealing with a 'person' right in town, a real LIVE person in town for 10 months??? What in the world was I thinking all this time?

After relaying the story to people I work with and friends and not to mention posting it broadly on the internet, I have been told many stories and referred to many websites! I must say that I am not the only frustrated person in the world over cell phones. It never ceases to amaze me how many different problems or even the same problems everyone has with something until you begin voicing your opinion.

I guess the saying is true--Satisfied Customers tell 3 friends but Angry Customers tell 3,000! I don't know who to credit for this or if this is the exact quote but have heard it numerous times. And I agree...when I was frustrated I was venting to all who would listen...now I want to tell those that I did vent to that I did get good service, even after frustration!

My youngest daughter is taking piano so I am adopting a free (yes, FREE) piano this weekend that needs to be tuned...at least that is what I was told was the only thing that it needed completed! LOL (Yep the SUCKER/April Fool that I am!) I do believe that this person will not take me for a ride on my deal...how can I go wrong? IT'S FREE. But anywho...I do have to find a spot in my home for this piano. I know where I want it but will that spot work is the next venture! I know Chania is EXCITED that she gets some attention and will have something that is 'hers' in the house. It isn't that the poor girl owns nothing but it seems that she is the one that waits her turn for the cell phone (that will be a while yet!), waits for the computer time (hard to get that with older siblings), waits for the TV time (which I have fixed by adding more cable hook-ups!), and is always the third to try anything. So, the piano is hers...to use and learn. She seems to enjoy the lessons so far and is interested in learning more. I hope the excitement stays with her and she can entertain us during her practices! (I'm sure I will keep you posted on that!)

My little Chania went to pick up "HER" piano this weekend so she is visiting her grandparents. My oldest daughter and her father were off to a track meet this morning...she is NOT competing (or not supposed to compete!) because of an injury we want to rest until next week. And my son is going to help me around the house today...SHhh...don't tell him yet because he is still sleeping and because I have to be VERY sneaky about getting him to do things around here! I better get my 'pre-cleaning' done so that when he does roll out of bed he can begin to 'help' with the real cleaning!

OH, and more babble! My BFF Darcie is the greatest! She is so talented it is unbelievable! She quilts, crochets, raises kids, helps in town with various organizations, is a great mom, and cuts my hair! Thanks Darcie for the great hair cut! You are the BEST! :) Faith, Hope, & Love to you today and always!

Venting day!

:) Let me start with a smile...because I am SO trying to be positive. Last June (2007) we added my daughter to our cell phone plan. During the process of 're-doing' the plan we also added UNLIMITED text to my son's phone. The following month I received a bill and we were charged for 'overage' of text. HOW? Unlimited is UNLIMITED RIGHT?! So I figured it out and thought that it was possibly pro-rated for 1/2 of the month (which it was NOT). The following month same stuff different billing....hm. Something isn't right here. SO, I took both bills to our 'service provider' in town and had them check it out. They would 'look into it' and get back to me (I have heard this EVERY TIME I go into the office or call them--which has been at least twice a month or more for 10 months!). IN THE MEANTIME my next bill arrives with NO credit and another month of charges on text messages. I dial into the cell company and ask the person I am put in touch with--after I get the English language automated menu and the find the 'right' number to push to get a HUMAN--and she was VERY helpful and credited the account and fixed the problem BUT couldn't do anything with the previous two months because my provider would need to correct those. WELL, I am still waiting. NOW today I call out to my local provider. I was told that she can't do anything for me anymore because it has been too long of a period of time to credit me.

HAVE I NOT BEEN BATTLING THIS FOR 10 MONTHS! What qualifies for 'too long' of a period of time? OK, three months? Well, I tried to correct it and my 'provider' didn't do their job...

Don't I get a break? Doesn't arguing and complaining for the last 8 months count as a continuation of the 3 months? If I were running the show it would!!!!!!!!

Whew...OK, I feel so much better now! :)

I think we are having spring here today! It blew right into the area...literally! The day will continue to get better...this too shall pass! I just need FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE to see me through.

Details...

Prom...interesting to say the least and fun! They had a great time and behaved so I can't complain. Although they were VERY tired following the 'after prom party' put on by wonderful people in the community to keep the kids safe all evening! They were at the party from 12:30 AM to 4:30 AM and needless to say we didn't see much of them the following day! :)

Here are a couple more snaps of the evening...the back of this dress was so cute I wanted to share.






















Now I can also add a few other pictures that I am sharing...I guess they are the reason my son talked his date into camo for prom! :) Have a wonderful evening...TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!

Promise...

I will try to get to some details about the CAMO prom tomorrow! My days seem to get away from me this time of year!! Hope everyone has a great evening!

Faith, Hope, & Love!

TUX RETURNED!

Well...prom is over and the tux returned to receive my deposit back! Whew! I have attached a couple more pictures. So many beautiful couples and so many beautiful prom dresses.





















And yes, they even attended prom in a camo truck! LOL

















I have also added a picture of Becca and Katie (my son's date). I have pictures of my son and daughter but haven't gotten all of them on the computer yet!

Just prom pics!

Here are a couple pics from prom...will tell details and add more later! They were cute if I do say so myself!!

Another driver...hmm...

Well she did it...Becca passed the permit test so I now have another one that can drive (although not alone yet!...maybe NEVER!). She has already informed me that I need to be VERY quiet when she drives. She also informed me that dad didn't say anything when she drove home from track and I had already corrected her or told her what to do or how to drive 4 times in 6 blocks... As I am TELLING (her words for this would be different!) her to watch for other drivers because they don't watch out for you, her brother cuts her off at a corner, whips out and tears down the block, slams his vehicle in park and runs up on the deck screaming at dad to run for cover! He so has his mom's sense of humor.

I remember Arick asking a million times a day to drive after his permit test. He drove me to the grocery store, the post office, to get or take his sisters to various events and more than happy to take mom any place in order to drive...now my memory is VERY vivid after Becca started yesterday! :) She didn't want to drive back to school after passing the test but wanted to drive home from track practice...and to drop off Chania at hunter's education class...to the grocery store...to pick Chania up at hunter's education. Ah, sweet memories...

She will come in handy next year when Arick is gone to college but...SHE NEEDS A LOT OF PRACTICE in the meantime. Just another addition to my continued saga. Need lots of Faith, Hope, & Love!!!!

April FOOL!

I must have that written all over me!!! I stopped to put the 'deposit' down on the tux for prom last night. (Prom is April 5th) So, I walked in thinking $80 deposit and when they said $60--I figured COOL...than they informed me that the tuxes were in and I could have my son come in and try his to see if everything fit and was what he wanted and he called me at that split second and said he would be right there. So, we grabbed the tux and ran...got a call as soon as I got home (you have to live in ND in a small town to appreciate this convenience of grabbing and running and getting the 'call') informing me that I needed to PAY for the tux too! LOL So, sent the son back with the check...which is the FOOL part...or was the fool the one that grabbed and ran with the tux to begin with. Or was the fool the one sending that amount of money back to PAY FOR IT? I have yet to decide if I was a fool or STUPID...or are they the same! :)

So, I sent Arick back with the check and $145.84 later...YEAH that's right $145.84. SUCKER...FOOL...DUMB...whatever you call me I agree! That does NOT include the $60 that I deposited for anything missing or ruined that I will lose if it isn't returned in perfect condition. HOW MUCH ARE DRESSES NOWADAYS? I can see a rental (RENTAL...I am not owning this tux!)...of $60 or $80...but double that for one night? OK, we get the tux all week...maybe I should make him wear the darn thing every night all week long so that I get the money's worth out of it. MY LUCK will be that he will have it on and spill something on it or rip it somehow and there goes the other $60! If I RENT a tux for that I really REALLY hope that my girls spend LESS than this amount for a dress in the next few years! EBAY HERE I COME!

But, I will say that he does look SMASHING in it. And he is perfect match to her dress! The vest and tie are camo and the jacket and pants black so it looks very sharp. And he looks 'natural' in the attire since his life has always been hunting and fishing! I am thinking that any girl that ever finally 'catches' him will have to opt for the camo wedding. I don't foresee him wearing anything else but camo down the aisle! LOL Poor girl!

I also have to update the return of my son from his trip...I cried when I hugged him. I didn't think he noticed but informed others that he thought I cried. And he was right! His sisters also were happy to see him! Becca was on her way to the state indoor track meet and they 'met' with the buses on Interstate and she said she was so excited to see the bus! She didn't even get to see him just the bus knowing he was on it and headed home! Chania hid her smile when he entered the school and tried to act like it was no big deal but we could tell that she was happy to have him back home. His dad (who isn't to big on hugs...but did a handshake) laughed and said after Arick left to see the girlfriend that evening, "I should have hugged him"! Needless to say the college experience in the fall will be interesting for all of us involved. AND Arick also said that he was glad to be home in North Dakota. He will always be the quiet, relaxed, HUNTER/FISHERMAN that enjoys the outdoors with NO horns honking (unless it is another hunter or boater) and no hollering except the usual "Take 'em" for shooting geese or "I got one" for catching fish! I am almost 100% sure my boy will always live a life close to the 'wilderness' of North Dakota or the surrounding area! NO FOOLING!

Faith, Hope, & Love...and don't be fooled today!