The Saga Continues....

This afternoon, I hitched up my BGP's (big girl panties) and drove to the post office on base, tires in the back seat, address in hand. I was worried about being able to get the tires out of the car and into the post office. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot, plus you have to go down stairs. Usually it's not a big deal at all, but today I had two 50 lb. packages with me. For those of you who know me, you know my arms are about as big as a a can of beans. Even on a good day, there is no way Id be able to haul those tires inside by myself.

Several people that I'd talked to prior to going had said that most likely, the post office staff would help me if I asked. Those several people would be wrong. I walked in and went to the custom service desk. A girl and a guy were there. I explained my predicament to them and asked for help as sweetly as possible. The guy seriously pointed over to the right and said, "There's the dolly." Clearly he doesnt have a chivalrous bone in his body. I explained that even with the dolly there was no way I would be able to get them out of the car and in here. He instructed me to go to the pick up window and see if anyone there would be willing to help me. Total jerk douche bag. =(

The line for the pick up window was crazy long, so I decided to start calling my friend's husbands to see if any of them could help me. It was lunchtime, so I was hoping to snag someone while they were on their break. Luckily, our great friend Dave was on lunch and offered to help me. He came to the post office, hauled the tires inside and saved this damsel in distress. He will be the recipient of a nice bottle of wine very soon.

So I waited in line and when it was my turn, I rolled the tires over to the window. The jerk clerk behind the counter stupidly asked, "Uh, can you lift those up here?" Knowing very well that I couldnt, I told him that I would try. Thankfully, a very nice gentleman in line behind me came to my rescue and lifted both sets up on the counter for me. I thanked him profusely while I glared at the clerk. Sixty-one dollars later and I was out of there. The wrong tires have been mailed back! I also emailed the shipping receipt to the company and my refunds have been set up.

Sooo, the saga has hit a happy note. Now we just have to wait for the new (and hopefully correct) tires to arrive. Until then....

I was given an award by Angie from Oh, How Delightful!

Thank you Angie! 

This means a lot to me and I really do appreciate it. 

I always feel a little bit like a rock star when 

gifted with one of these. =)

Im terribly at playing by official rules, so instead of telling 

you 7 things about myself and giving this to 15 people, 

Im just going to pass it along to a few of the newish blogs

that Im following. 

how i met your father

It's a Dog Tag Wife Life

Life's a Dance

Newly Mrs. Cravinho

Happy Saturday!

My Big Girl Panties Just Got a Little Bigger

Dont forget to enter my giveaway here! 

Let me start off by saying that my new tires are STILL not on my car.....

Ah, the car saga continues!

The day after I talked to the previous owner, he called me and told me he remembered where the lug nut  key was. Score! It was in the black bag in the trunk with the lug nut changer. BUT it was in a hidden pocket on the inside flap that neither I, nor the mechanic saw. I never would have found it! So I called and made another appointment to have my new tires put on.

I was cautiously optimistic that things would go well today and I would drive out of there with my new tires on. How wrong I was. *shakes head*

After about 20 minutes, the main mechanic comes out and says, "Who sold you those tires?". Me: Um, I ordered them online, why?" (dread was rolling through me at this point)

Apparently, the "all weather" tires that we ordered from the States arent actually "all weather" tires here in Germany. WTF, right?!?! He said that they were basically the same as the tires that I already had on my car (summer tires) and there was no point in changing them. He recommended I keep them for the summer and buy winter tires. Oh, and they werent even the right size. Im thinking "You have GOT to be kidding me"!

Sooo, I head home once again without my new tires and called up the company that we ordered them from.  They were very adamant that the tires are "all weather", at least in the States they are. Germany must have different standards for what qualifies as "all weather". Thankfully, the guy on the phone was super nice and helped me order WINTER tires and in the correct size. They are refunding all of my money PLUS reimbursing me for the shipping costs to send the wrong tires back. And I did it all by myself. =)

Now I've got to figure out how to mail the suckers back....

Putting on My Big Girl Panties

When we lived in the States I was a fully functioning, independent, adult woman. I could change a tire,  navigate the interstate and schedule any appointment by myself. I took care of our house and cars during all three deployments, paid the bills and worked full time while going to grad school. I even handled the situation one awful 100º summer day when the air conditioner broke, the toilet broke AND my car died in the driveway, requiring a tow truck and $800 worth of fixing. I could handle it all, because you see, I, am a big girl.

Then we moved across the ocean to a foreign country and this big girl's panties grew a little smaller. I have always considered myself independent and confident in my abilities. If I cant get something done, I know how to ask for help and I will find the answer. Over here though, my confidence is a little shakier, my abilities challenged more often. I know little of the language and feel at a constant disadvantage because of this. The answers dont come quite so easily and help is harder to find.

Today I am faced with one of my first real challenges since moving here and of course, J isnt here to help me out. We bought my car back in September from an AF guy. He was a nice enough kid, but not the most reliable. I liked the car though and we got a great deal on it. He had new tires put on it this past summer. What he forgot to tell us was that they are summer tires. German law dictates that all vehicles must have winter or all weather tires during the winter months. J and I arent familiar with tire types, so we had no idea that our tires were summer tires. That is, until we got stuck in a parking lot and the attending who was helping to get us unstuck told us. He also warned of not getting caught because it would mean a fine. Great. *sigh and eye roll here*

Sooo, we searched for new tires and found a great price online. They were shipped and here within a week (the fastest mail we've received yet!). J was busy with training today, so I made an appt at a German garage and took the car down there myself to get the tires changed. After waiting for 20 minutes, the clerk comes out and tells me that they cant change the tires without the lug nut key. I havent a clue what this even means. They show me an example and tell me that the lug nuts are locked and this "key" is the best way to get them off. Otherwise they will have to charge me 20 more euro and rip the lug nuts off, requiring me to buy a new set for each tire. Um, what?! You've got to be kidding me right?

After searching the car throughly, we came up empty handed. I was now faced with the prospect of tracking down the previous owner and finding out what he did with the flipping key. Of course the number that I had for him wasnt working, but with my super detective skills, I was able to track him down at work. He thought the key was in the trunk, which of course it wasnt, so now I sit here and wait. After work he'll go home and look for the key. If he doenst find it, we are going to be out even more money and I will be even more pissed.

I dont like feeling helpless, but thats exactly how Im feeling at the moment, 

because all I can really do right now is wait. 

But, Ill put on my big girl panties and do what needs to be done. Why? 

Because thats what big girls do.