I owe a ton of emails...and have a list as long as my arm of things that need my attention...but I don't know where to start.  [Hmmm...I seem to be having more and more of these days lately...don't I?] 

This morning, we left early for a "routine" scheduled oil change at the dealership, [and afterwards planned to drive on up to check on my mother-in-law and visit with the sister in law [in from NC.]   It's that time of year...time to get the car ready for the cold weather.  When we arrived...the place was empty....[normally there are cars and owners lined up...waiting to get signed in...but this morning hubby and I were the only ones there.]  While waiting, flicking through the channels on the TV, I turned to hubby and said; with the way the economy is and the huge hit the auto places are taking...it wouldn't surprise me at all...if they "find something wrong with the car."  Twenty minutes later...they came to find us standing outside in the sunshine...to tell us that they found a "few things that needs taken care of right away."  Uh huh...ok...what?  Two places have started to leak [seals around the axel and the gear in the steering wheel?]  Say what?  We just had the car in there 3 months ago for maint. [oil, rotate the tires etc. and nothing was mentioned then.]  Today they are telling us that besides these two major issues, the found the tires are beginning to wear a little, but wait...that's not the worst of it...since they are 4 and a half years old...they really need to be replaced soon because of age...and we probably need an alignment and a fuel filter too.  HUH? [In March they flushed the entire cooling system and transmission system etc., and said the fuel fiter would be flushed in the process, so that wouldn't need to be changed for a long time.]  It's all so confusing...and with their insurance and shop policy...they just don't allow customers back there...to see for yourself all these things that they say are "wrong' with your vehicle.  [Feels a little like leaving the fox to guard the hen house doesn't it?]  Thankfully the two major problems that they found today is still covered under our extended warranty, so they kept the car and put us in a rental.  We ended up with a small extended cab 4 wheel drive truck....with a 1/4 tank of gas.  After the usual walk around [pointing out the many scratches and flaws on the vehicle], and looking inside...[OMGOSH...the inside...is something else...this truck only has 12,000 miles on it but honestly it looks like it's been in a flood inside...[and ohhh...it smells like it too.]  So, I pull out the perfume bottle and start spraying everywhere. [It helped for a little while, but not long.]  

Anyway...we were "finally" on our way to visit with MIL after an unexpected hour and a half delay.  BUT...16 miles later, we were on empty and had to stop at the nearest station to put gas in the thing. [OMG...who can afford to drive a vehicle that get's 16 miles per 1/4th tank of gas?]  Our vehicle is 4 and 1/2 years old, but it only has 19,366 miles on it...and it normally gets approx. 20 miles to the gallon...sometimes more.  So....hubby called the rental company and told them that they really need to find us another vehicle...[when we stop back by on the way back from visiting MIL.]  In the end...we did stop again...but oddly enough the small car that they were going to change us over to...well....the boy that takes care of cleaning the vehicles had just left for lunch and he took the keys to the car with him....would we mind waiting another hour for him to return? Huh? Are you kidding me?  So, we resign ourselves to the fact that we're stuck with a truck [that rides like a tank, and slurps the gas.]  At that point we just wanted to get home...and get out of that vehicle.  Now, we wait on them to call to tell us that ours is finished.  It could be tomorrow or Wed.  The main problem is...I have two appointments [Wed. and Thurs.]...so if they call either day...hubby will have to be over there picking ours up and returning the rental, and I'll need to be in the opposite direction...at the same time.  [And, did I mention that I don't drive unless it's an absolute emergency...and that is our only vehicle?]   Oh yes...it's a Monday...for sure!  LOL

Jury Duty Update:  My doctor wrote another letter on Friday [which is a little more detailed...although not as detailed as it probably should have been, but he also noted on there, that due to the HEPA laws etc., etc.,...yadda, yadda.]  Now I wait [and pray]...that they don't reject this one too.]

Anyway...hopefully by this weekend...I'll find time to catch up on the emails that I owe..."IF" the two blonde brain cells that I have left...are still communicating with each other. LOL
Hugs & Blessings....T