Dang the bad luck.

Seriously?!?! Yes, that is what I was thinking as I said, "Sure, we'd love a Saturn Vue".

Of course I have to post the latest Rental Car story. Such a joke. Ha ha. Just kidding. So we took the Vue back, thankful to get rid of it. This one was worse than last weeks. I miss the keyless entry! What 2007 car doesn't have keyless entry! Blah! Anyways. We took it back. We went inside to wait in line. It was a much faster wait this time and a much better experience. We got up to the counter where a somewhat crusty lady was helping us. Of course our friend Brad noticed us there. He said Hi and asked us how things were going. It was nice to feel like we have made amens with him. Brad and I have had a rough past 3 rentals (including the one from May). Brad and I are tight!

We were assigned a Pontiac Vibe. Yay! At least it wasn't a Saturn Vue! So we went out to pick up our car. When we got out there we saw a white Pontiac Vibe sitting there with a guy sitting in it. I was thinking, I wonder if that is ours? Then he drove off. But I was exciting because it looked really nice. So one by one they brought up car after car after car. And we sat there. Each one of them asking what we were waiting for. And again, nothing. After sitting there for quite sometime, one of the ladys came up and talked to us again. She suddenly realized that someone else had taken our car. Just as I had suspected. Oh no. What now? Not the Vue. No, they wouldn't give us the Vue. I mean we just returned it and they haven't had to time to clean it. It was like 30 cars back in line when we dropped it off, and the line had been fast. So we weren't too worried.

She had us come around to the desk in the lot. They decided to give us something different of course. So we walked up.... and what envelope was sitting next to the computer with another reservation? A Saturn Vue. Nah, that is for someone else. Wrong. "We have a Saturn Vue here that you can take". Blah! Seriously? Well at least maybe it is the first one we had... we could get the leather seats and keyless entry back. Better than the one we got. So we took the keys and noticed there was no keyless entry. No way. We walked up and confirmed our fears. The SAME stains! Dang! Man, they were FAST!

So once again, we have a Saturn Vue. I guess it could be worse. But I have seen TWO Saturn Vue's in the whole Rental Car garage and we have to get both? Grrr.... I LOVE Saturns! The funny thing is... everytime we have got a Vue, it has been for a different class of cars. At least this week it's cheaper. Sadly enough, it is still cheaper for us to drive to Pittsburgh and drop off and pick up the same car than it is to extend. I love rental companies. Come on... cut us a break!

Red Eye

Wow, it's been a day. Yesterday we decided that we would fly to Pennsylvania. We wanted to get out here and check a few more places out. It's definatly been a trip. I have been watching plane tickets prices and they have doubled for the next two weeks because of the holiday. I couldn't even find any tickets until next Saturday. Most flights over the next week are booked. The rest of them are 1000.00+. So when I found a good deal on tickets we decided to come out (and it was a direct flight both ways). I have been watching these tickets for about two weeks. We still paid about double what they have been going for, but half of what they are now. Anyways, we are here and I am glad.

We drove to Vegas yesterday. We got on a red eye flight around midnight. It was a four hour flight so we got to Pittsburgh around 7:00AM. Lets just say, even though we were on the exit rows with twice the leg room... there is no way I can sleep on airplanes. Blah. It was one of the shortest nights ever though. So we got our rental car. While we were picking it up the lady asked if we wanted to upgrade for $5 a day. We could get a Toyota Carolla, PT Cruiser or a Mustang. We said, "Nah, we'll take the subcompact". Wrong answer! Take the $5, take the $5!! So we walked out to our Chevy Aveo. You know those commericals that show the 5 huge basketball players getting out of the Aveo. HA HA HA! We couldn't even fit out luggage in the car! We finally got it situated and in the car. The car is quite dirty... and on the window is this sticker!

Ewww!! Nasty! I want to take it off because it grosses me out, but I can't make myself touch it! Gross!

So the car is.... interesting. The seats are horrible. There is one cup holder that neither front passanger can reach. There is one arm rest on the drivers side... The whols car is just akward. And it's Yellow! TAKE THE FIVE DOLLARS! Ha ha! Just kidding. It is alright. It will serve it's purpose. Sadly enough I am thinking... man I wish we had the Saturn again! LOL!

So gas is pretty cheap out here. At least cheaper than Utah. $2.89

Well we got to our hotel around 10AM. We were exausted and just plain tired. So we talked the front desk people into letting us checkin at 10 instead of 3PM. We got to our room and crashed! We slept until 3ish. Then we went to Walmart and drove around for awhile. We went to the Eatn'Park for dinner. It was good, I was surprised. Then we got back to our hotel to plan the day. I crashed again around 7:00 and woke up around 10:00. Those red eyes are a killer! But I feel like I have wasted a whole day!

Brad Paisley...what a dork.

Of course everyone knows my love of Brad Paisley... We were driving around and this song came on... what the heck?

"Ticks"
Every time you take a sip
In this smoky atmosphere
You press that bottle to your lips
And I wish I was your beer
In the small there of your back
Your jeans are playing peekaboo
I'd like to see the other half of your butterfly tattoo.

Hey that gives me an idea
Let's get out of this bar
Drive out into the country
And find a place to park.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I know the perfect little path
Out in these woods I used to hunt
Don't worry babe I've got your back
And I've also got your front
Now, I'd hate to waste a night like this
I'll keep you safe you wait and see
The only thing allowed to crawl all over you when we get there is me.

You know every guy in here tonight
Would like to take you home
But I've got way more class than them
Babe that ain't what I want.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

You never know where one might be
There's lots of places that are hard to reach
I gotcha.

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you baby way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I'd sure like to check you for ticks...


And then ANOTHER Brad Paisley song came on....

"She's Everything"

She's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She's I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
She's I can't find a thing to wear
Now and then she's moody

SHE'S A SATURN WITH A SUNROOF
With her brown hair a-blowing
She's a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She's a warm conversation
That I wouldn't miss for nothing
She's a fighter when she's mad
And she's a lover when she's loving

[Chorus]
And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me

She's a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck
And a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
She's a one glass of wine
And she's feeling kinda tipsy

She's the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet
Of my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees and praying
She's the answer to my prayer
And she's the song that I'm playing

[Repeat chorus]

She's the voice I love to hear
Someday when I'm ninety
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she's the one
That I'd lay down my own life for

And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me
Yeah she's everything to me

Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me


WHATA? A Saturn with a Sunroof, what is that suppose to be a compliment? A Saturn with a SUNROOF? Serioulsy. Let me tell you, I am driving a Saturn during the present time... I feel like I am driving a lawnmover... I guess a sunroof would be the only thing that might make it better. Just a weird analogy to me.

Sadly enough, I think I like him less, if that is even possible.

Merging?

So today we drove around Pittsburgh again... There was one thing that I forgot to talk about yesterday and was reiterated to me today. It seems like Pittsburgh loves to merge... it so crazy. You'ld have 3 two lane highways merge into one 2 lane highway and then it'd fork before you even knew it. There is no time to get over... I mean you just barely merged all together into a small spot anyways... so you take whatever road you can. It seems so funny to me. Instead of a stop light and a turn, they merge. I am just a dumb Utah driver that doesn't get it I guess. But I a sure once you got use to it, it would be really easy to get around.

Another thing that I forgot to write about yesterday was about when we went to get the Rental Car... the guy there was so crusty. He just was not a happy camper. So we were trying to convince him that we wanted a car. I had already made reservations online, thankgoodness... because I guess they were out. When we were waiting he asked what kind of car and of course we replied "Economy, please". He looked at us and said, "That means you don't care if it has Power Steering or anything, right?" And of course we replied, "No" while thinking to ourselves... Do they make cars now days that DON'T have power steering... I thought it was a standard feature... I mean sure the Civic doesn't have it, but it's a '89. Thats understandable, but a 2006 or 2007? Most rental car companies only keep cars for a year, then get new ones... so we were sure it was a newer one... and sure enough... they give us a 2007 Saturn Ion 2. I mean not my ideal car, but it does however have power steering.

Utah is a place for slow thinkers!!

Here is a really dorky picture Dustyn decided to take... blah!!



So today has been a good day! We slept in and spent the morning doing a little research to figure out where we were going to go. We went back to the airport and and picked up a rental car. We are now the temporoary owners of a maroon Saturn Ion! Wooohooo!




It is beautiful out here. I would move here in a second just for the green trees and the beautiful hills. But on the otherhand, I would be lost on a daily basis. It was fun to drive around and tour Pittsburgh... but it seems the roads are crazy!! Not the drivers, just the roads. We would be going somewhere get lost and end up in the exact same spot 5 minutes later... no idea how we got there... but at least it's easy to back track. We went to downtown and drove around. There are a lot of neat buildings and bridges! It was super fun! On the way to Pittsburgh... we saw a Primanti Brothers. On the flight over, the kid in front of us told us about the best place to eat in Pittsburgh and that was it... so we went. It was.... nothin' great. I don't know if I ordered the wrong thing or I don't like fries on my sandwich. But it was bland and just tasted like I was eating a potato. Maybe I just chose the wrong one to go to, I have no idea. But not to great! Oh well. Maybe we will try again. Maybe not.

We also went to Costco and bought some food to eat until Sunday. It was so EMPTY. Seems like you go to Costco in Utah and you are concerned about being trampled. Here.... it was so quiet and peaceful. So nice!

We have seen numerous road signs that cracked me up. One said something about "Don't get a DUI, you can't afford it!" (it was a road sign like a mileage sign) and the other one was a catering service called Nappies. And the logo was "You'll be happy with Nappie". I have no idea why, but I got a kick out of it.

So we decided here you have to be quick thinkers to drive and get around. It seems like most of the signs are right above the turn off and of course there are three choices... by the time you read the first sign, you have to choose. Crazy. I mean I am sure once you lived here, it wouldn't be big deal. But it is not a city that is easy to get around in. The other problem is that there are random stop lights all over, but here is the kicker... they are tucked back in the trees or on the opposite corner. You have to actively look for the lights. Otherwise you run them!

Here is a random Cemetery. We thought it was funny that it was on a hill. Pretty cool.


This is the shopping center that we can see from our Hotel. But getting over there is another story... and getting back... well it took us a loop but we finally figured it out! YA!! GO US!!