Rude of me?

So I have been thinking about possibly trading my car in lately because of many problems, so I went to Edmunds.com to get an estimate value for my car.  They make you fill out your info, and say someone will contact you about deals they have.  I checked the box saying "email only."  Well all week I have been regretting that, because I have been getting calls and emails like crazy from dealers and its driving me NUTS!  I keep ignoring them because I haven't researched enough to want to get roped in to anything yet.

Well, today  I SERIOUSLY just got this email from a dealer that has been the worst spammer all week.  He calls and leaves messages sometimes 2 a day.  

Read this and tell me its not crazysauce.  (last name changed to protect the "innocent")

Jerilyn
It's Joe Blahblah from CardinaleWay Mazda.  I just wanted to let you know that I talked with my therapist.  He says that you never responding to my messages is not an indication of your lack of interest.  He says it's my own insecurities.  How about dropping me an email or giving me a call?  Just let me know if he is right or wrong.  I do pay the guy after all! 

Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon!

Joseph BlahBlah

Internet Sales Manager
CardinaleWay Mazda

Whaaaat??

I almost died when I read it.  I thought it was hillarious, so I had to send him an email in the like, right?

Joe, 

 You need a new therapist.  Found someone else, please don't contact me again. Thanks! 

-Jerilyn 

Was that rude of me?  I just couldn't resist. 

Politics, blech

I really don't like talking politics. Really.  Everyone just gets all offended and upset usually no one changes there mind about anything that has been debated. (However, I do think its extremely important to know and understand what is going on, if you can wade through all the muck.) That said, this is a video purely about perspective.  It's interesting for me because I am a typical American who doesn't seem to know the difference between $1 billion and $1trillion, except that I know which  pile of money is bigger.  Yes I admit it, mostly I don't want to really understand because it seems crazy upsetting that we are even in the debt we are in.  (Again no blaming of which president got us in to what messes for what reasons here, just an observation of the mess we're in.)

So if you're like me, this may be an interesting bit of perspective. Watch if you want, don't if you don't want :)

Hartley Family Band

I have some of the coolest family around.  I also come from a very musical family, none have ever been formally trained, but we all seem to have a crazy love of music.  I didn't really get that "performance" gene, but I love it all the same.

My Dad brought me up on great rock music, like Journey, Eagles, Styx, Neil Young, etc.   In fact, whilst still in the womb, I was rocking out at his concerts with my Mom in Canada when he was still in a band.  I have grown up with him singing and playing guitar, and have tried to pick it up a little myself.  (ahem, still working on that).  My brother has become an amazing singer/guitarist/song writer too.

At any rate, my Dad and his brothers, Ron and Gerald come together every christmas and play music, and as of the past 3-4 years have been recording (finally) their stuff.  My uncle Gerald has a mini recording studio in his house.  So without further ado, I HAD to show the world some of it.  I will start by posting thier most watched and enjoyed one on Youtube.

Its called "Seven Bridges Road."  A cover the Eagles did a while back. (Originally written by Steve Young which if you read any of the comments, its been quite a disscussion, lol)

{L to R: Gerald (youngest brother), James (my brother), Larry (my Dad), uncle Ron (oldest Brother)}

Watch and enjoy!




THIS is another of my favorites (amazing harmonies) although maybe not as well known.  Its called "Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby Stills and Nash.





Feel free to watch others if you have some time to kill :)
A few more suggestions though:

~My Uncle Ron wrote this BEAUTIFUL song.  I am learning to play it.  Its Called "Sunshine and Rain."

~Here is their cover of Teach Your Children Well, for those who may not recognize the others.  (really well done version- i love it)

~And last but not least... my uncle Gerald whose house they are recording this in, is an amazing soloist and guitar player, and jack of all trades.   Here is one of his most recent, and I love it.  I LOVE his voice.  And no, he is not one of a set of triplets, this is just The Gerald Hartley band. :)
Go HERE to watch.  (ps check out the coolest guitar ever he is playing.)

Check Your Neck!

Happy Thyroid Awareness Month!

While thyroid disease is not something happy, early prevention of the disease is!  January is the designated month, so everyone stop what you are doing right now, and CHECK YOUR NECK! It literally takes 5 seconds - Just put your head back, and feel around for any abnormal lumps or unusual "enlarged glands." 

Your Thyroid is at the base of your neck, by the middle of your "clavicle" but you could have a lump anywhere.  Remember, I found mine up near my chin on the right side.

While I had cancer, many suffer from Hypo/Hyperthyroidism.  Now that I have no Thyroid I am forever Hypothyroid, and have to counter that with medication.  Here are some signs that you could have it. 

Facts about Thryoid cancer:

Thyroid Cancer is growing seven times faster than Breast Cancer

Thyroid Cancer is growing six times faster than Prostate Cancer

Thyroid Cancer is growind five times faster than Testicular Cancer

Famous Celebs who battled Thyroid Cancer:

Sofia Vergara from Modern Family

Catherine Bell From Army Wives

Roger Ebert

Katee Sackhoff from "24", "Battlestar Galactaca"

Happy Hunting!

John Deer Certificates, Rodeo team and Gila Monsters...

... are all a part of my new life. I have been warned on more than one occasion at work to watch for rattlesnakes, and Gila Monsters (pronounced like Heelah, and looks like a big scary lizard). Our school is quite proud of our Rodeo team, and John Deer program and I haven't quite figured out why yet, but I get emails warning me to stay out of the "range" at our school because there is shooting going on out there. Guess I should figure out where that is so to avoid getting shot at.

Anyway I am HERE! Its crazy in AZ! Not really, that just rhymed. But it IS crazy that I am in a totally new place and really don't know hardly anyone, and my job is very different than I am used to. I have realized that I can not compare this life with what I have been used to in other areas, especially the job. I am still just getting my feet wet but I think I will really like it when I get settled. So far so good!

I have now been here for 2 weeks. My parents helped me move out and drove down with me and moved me in here. They are SAINTS! I would have been so overwhelmed without their help, but with them here it went smoothly and quickly! Thanks again parents!



Some interesting things: (the word "interesting" is being used loosly)
-My commute is a smooth, traffic free 35 minutes from Chandler to Coolidge (south) and its dry, flat, empty desert for 30 mins of the drive.
-I use my GPS on my phone to survive, but get semi-lost everyday.
-Our college has 3 campuses and 7 centers accross Pinal (yes, Pinal) county where students take classes and it takes anywhere from 30 mins to 90 mins to get to each one from the main Campus I work at.
-I have done a lot of traveling to the different campuses already to do "Diversity" training. I was really tempted to do my best Michael Scott impression, but refrained.
-The theme in Az is "Pueblo" apparently. It seems to be a requirement.
-Really like my apt, have 2 roommates who seem nice, but not a ton of interaction w/ them yet.
-I now have trader joes! And Chipotle! And warm weather!
-I am finally starting to interpret on Tuedsay(when school starts)!!!

So here are some Pics~

My new digs:

MY DRIVE TO WORK IN THE AM:

The school, and Building I work in:

COME VISIT ME!!! PLEASE!