Toyota and the pedal recall

I am an owner of one the Toyota Camry’s that is being recalled. If you know me, I don’t get in huff about some of this stuff. Yes, Toyota should have been more forth coming about this whole thing. It does disturb me that a company with the reputation of Toyota did not figure this out earlier, and do something. I will get my car fixed when the time comes, and get a free oil change to boot.

The Camry hasn’t really impressed me anyway. I hate the way seatbelt gets stuck in the door all the time. One time the catch was in the door when I closed it. It put a dent in the door jam. No big deal, except it was the exact spot where the door ajar button is located. And it was just deep enough to keep the button being depressed. Thus keeping the signal buzzing when ever the car was on, making it impossible to use the automatic door lock. Thank God for duct tape.

Anyway, thinking about the pedal and recall, I remembered something. Just after I bought my car in 2007, I was driving on the highway. I need to accelerate into a merge. And, yes, my petal stuck. At the time, I thought, this is kind of cool. After hitting about 90, I repressed the gas pedal, then the breaks. The car has been fine since then.

Well that’s that.

Ebay! ARGH!

Sometime I really hate eBay.

I have a small store on eBay, ParaFanAlia Toys & Stuff. And as of March 30, they will be screwing the small seller once again.

I currently pay .03 to list an item in my store and 12% when it sells. This is not bad and I can make some money. As of March 30th, I’ll pay .20 for the same listing plus 12% when it sells. This in on top of the $15.99 a month for the store.

It may not seem much, but it’s is. Let’s say I 50 item in my store. Now that mean I pay $17.49 ($15.99 + $1.50 in listing fees) plus any final selling fees. As of March 30th, I will be paying $25.99. $8.50 doesn’t seem like a lot, but that’s the profit on 2 of my items.

Of course the mega stores that are coming to dominate eBay are still listing for .03.

It’s not enough for me to pull out of eBay, but it sucks. What’s worse they word all the notices to make like they’re doing us a favor. They have to gall to say:

For most sellers, the new fee options will bring significant savings with dramatically reduced upfront cost. Across the board, Insertion Fees are being dramatically reduced. Final Value Fees for Fixed Price listings are for the most part staying the same.

Just venting. I used to love eBay, but now, I just need it.

Eating at the Dinner Table

Tonight I was eating dinner with my mother. She had made us Cavati (or Cavatelli, if you must.). Not homemade but store bought. Still they were good. Cavati are one of my mother's favorites.

She was telling me about the time she working in my Grandmother's store selling homemade Wandi. She got home late and found out that my Grandmother had made cavati for dinner, but there wasn't any left. My guess is that Mom was under some stress, because she burst out crying. Grandma, being the way she was, made a new batch from scrach for Mom.

It was nice little story on it's own, but facanating to me, because I didn't know my Grandmother had a store. It was in the late 40's, and didn't last very long. From the undertone of my mother, I guess she did most of the grunt work involved. It's something nice to know.

I like eating dinner with my mother. If you haven't had a family meal in while try it. I think it would be good for the soul. No TV or Cell phones. Just sit down and eat. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. And don't force it. Things will come in there own time.

Today's number

Hadn't been feeling it, but today's lucky number is 7037. I needed to
take break. The number weren't coming to me naturally.

Sent from my iPod

I'm going through lots of paperwork today. I have gotten 4 bags of shredded paper today to go with 3 bags I did over the week end. Most stuff I can toss, but htere are few thing I don't want to lose. These are NOT important things. So I'm taking a break to post this one item. With it posted I can toss the the paper it is written on.

My 2009 NFL Predictions: (I know half way in, but this is what I put down.)

AFC East

1. New England
2. Miami
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo

AFC South

1. Indianapolis
2. Tennessee (wc)
3. Houston
4. Jacksonville

AFC Central

1. Pittsburgh
2. Cincinnatti (wc)
3. Baltimore
4. Cleveland

AFC West

1. San Diego
2. Kansas City
3. Denver
4. Oakland

NFC East

1. New York Giants
2. Philidelphia
3. Dallas
4. Washington

NFC South

1. New Orlenes
2. Atlanta (wc)
3. Carolina
4. Tampa Bay

NFC North

1. Green Bay
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Detriot

NFC West

1. Seattle
2. San Fransisco
3. Arizona
4. St. Louis

AFC Playoffs

Round 1

• Cincinatti Over Indy
• San Diego over Tenn.

Round 2

• NE over Cin.
• Pitts over SD

AFC Championship

• NE over Pitts

NFC Playoffs

Round 1

• Minn over NO
• Atl over Seattle

Round 2

• NYG over Atl
• Minn over GB

NFC Championship

• NYG over Minn

SUPER BOWL

New England over New York Giants

Dreamy

Why did I dream I was in contemporary beach blanket bingo movie?
Wasn't even X-rated. :(

A This Is Your Life reference was thrown in for good measure!

Life

It been one of those weeks.

After being sick for a while, a friend's mother pass away on Tuesday.

Yesterday, another friend had a baby girl.

I guess it's the Circle of Life.