Tune ups, refunds and not getting ripped off

So a couple days ago I came to the Conclusion I needed new tires BAD. Whether I was driving 2mph or 60mph, my steering wheel was shaking like a bobble dancing hawaiian girl for your dashboard.

After doing a little research, my Dad and I concluded that Walmart was our best bet only costing roughly 60$ a tire. After I got the Tires fixed I was suppose to go to Pep Boys for a oil change and wheel alignment and that was it....... until

"Mr. Rivera would you come with me please"....and thats when the.... you know, hit the fan.

Apparently one of the mechanics had broken a stud off of one of my tires and had the Mechanic removed anymore, my car would essentially been declared disabled. So they told me I would be rein-versed for the stud and nut that they broke (which is what I expected) but they refused to pay for the labor that was needed for replacing it which was almost 3 times the amount of the broken stud and nut.

Extremely mad I go to Pep boys the next day and wait three hours to get the stud replaced on the one tire and the Bill ends up costing 83$ (15$ for the stud and nut alone, the rest being labor). I go back to Walmart to get the last tire put on and miraculously the shaking on my steering wheel is gone :] thank God it was only the tires that was wrong and nothing else.

so a little happier I head back to Pep Boys to get a oil change and Computer Wheel alignment which looked like they were turning my car into a transformer with these square looking reflectors on my tires and red dots spinning all over my car.

While My car was finally being worked on for the last time I'm sitting around thinking.... I began thinking of how I felt that I was ripped off by Walmart because ultimately it was their mechanics that broke something on my car.

 Now I'm not one to complain unless I REALLY have to and this was one of those cases where I felt the need to because I am a poor college student trying to make a living while getting an education.

So after my car was good to go I head back to Walmart and request to speak to someone in charge at the front of Walmart. They send me to the back to speak to the a guy in charge of the area and I explain to him the situation and he says that the best he can do for me is re-inverse me half.

Now when I get started with something I do not back down until my point is put across. So I tell him that I'll accept the half refund and in turn I wanted a number to someone higher up to speak to.... he said he'll get in contact with the assistant manager of Waltmart.

After he disappears for 15min he comes back by himself and informs me that he'll refund me the full amount.

Life Lesson Learned: Don't get taken advantage of and let your voice be heard.

Happy saturday everyone! :]

To Infinity and Beyond is sometimes all you need

Since the day I moved in I've been busy working, running and sleeping. I feel as though my life is becoming a cycle slowly and I don't like it at all.

That's why I have to thank my Mom for sending me a little package that snapped me out of the work cycle :)

Sometimes you just need a reminder of what got you there in the first place.

"The IMTP" photos :)

here's hoping I get in!

The end of a journey; the start of a new life (part 2)

Continuing the long journey, my third stop was located in Tifton, GA; a town so small if you blink on the highway you’ll pass it up! But this small town was home to not only one of my close friends but my best friend, and roommate during the college program, Michael! Now when it comes to Southern Hospitality I thought nothing of it until I got to his house where he lives with his beautiful young grandma, Billie Butler. From the great home cooked southern food she prepared, to floating down a clear fresh water river for the first time. I definitely got my taste of the southern lifestyle and although it maybe different form Chicago, I loved every minute of it…. and it’s true what they say, sweet tea is better in the south ;]

From Tifton, GA I made it into the sunshine state, home of the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and the place where dreams come true! After pulling up to my new apartment and watching a large green pick up truck pull into a parking space I new who it was, coming all the way from North Carolina, one of my close friends and now roommate, Alex was there waiting for her hug and I knew right there and then I finally made it to my new home :]

 After settling in my new apartment and looking at how I finished setting up my new room, from my pirates poster, to my cross country team picture, to my new bathroom and walk in closet, I officially know what people mean when they say “it’s not the destination but the journey along the way” and if it wasn’t for all my friends I saw along the way it wouldn’t have been as much fun! Thanks everybody for all you’ve done along the way!

The end of a journey; the start of a new life (part 1)

On Sunday July 3rd 2011 I left the State of IL. The state where I first learned how to walk, ride a bike, join my high school cross country team, attend my first year of college and spend majority of my life.

I left to continue my education, I left to try something new, I left because life moves too fast and if you don’t keep up you’ll be left behind… and this is my journey:

After listening to 6+ hours of music and passing miles of Fireworks ads I made it to my first stop in Lexington, KY where I met with two of my friends, Elchanan and Emily to spend the fourth of July with, and although high expectations weren’t met with the firework shows due to Disney cursing me for high standards, I still had so much fun seeing people that I knew from my college program and how they haven’t changed one bit from there southern accents to their goofy selves…. also trying Fazolis and Orange leaf frozen yogurt for the first time was definitely a plus in my book :]

From Lexington, KY home of the Wildcats I reached my second stop in Athens, GA home of the Bull Dogs and my friend Brittany :] From the University of Georgia’s photo adventure to being introduced to the extremely flammable drink known as Hunch Punch, Brittany sure knows how to have a good time and being lucky enough to have her as my friend rather than her bullying from her accused bullying days is always great too! And even though she didn’t listen to me about her recent camera purchase, I still forgive her because she did in fact make me a cake ;)

From Athens to Tifton I trucked my way to through the state of GA to arrive at my next destination where the kid from Chicago meets with the kid known as his best friend.

To be continued….

Packing and a Little Munckin

So the going away party from my coworkers the other day was amazing, I had so much fun from the Music to the amazing people there to the amazing bottle of Chardonnay as a "going away gift" :)

After "sleeping off the party" I finished up my friends photos of her Baby that I had taken pictures of this past weekend and man o' man was he cute :D just a little Munchkin. Thanks Daniel Aaron for being the best little model with a Mohawk I've had yet!

Spending my last full day In Illinois is definitely bittersweet.... idk where to start off my day....maybe it'll start off in the pool since there's a heat advisory and go from there;) 

Happy Saturday everyone!