Where did my rampage go?

We had a recall on our brand new vehicle. I call the dealership to arrange a time to come in and have it fixed and they inform me that they won't have the part to fix it until the end of August because it's back ordered. She says this so nicely as I'm staring at a piece of paper that says the malfunctioning part can cause an accident. I'm imformed that my best bet is to call their consumer assistance number and complain.
Of course I do.

This is where I had a little run around with Felicia. Felica told me, and I quote, "That part isn't back ordered, it's back-ordered from Korea."
And there's a difference? I ask her to explain and she can't.
She tells me that I can have the dealership at least check to see if they are bad. Then what if they are bad? What am I going to do then? Felicia had no answer to that so I called the dealership back.
I was told that once the bearings are taken off, they can't put them back on and they can't give me a replacement vehicle until they can fix my van.
So I plead. After having been transferred through 4 different departments and talking to 5 different people about this, my head is ready to implode.
I took a page from my stepmom instead and told her I have 2 kids and I need a safe vehicle and asked if there was anything she could to help me.

Today my van is all better. They 'found' a part somewhere. I can go back to being completely oblivious when it comes to all things automotive.

I did get a new favorite saying courtesy of a dear friend:

Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

We've been home from vacation for 10 days now and still not a peep from MIL. We were over at her house on Sunday, but she never showed up so we left. Their house makes me cry. I'm not a neat freak by any stretch of the imagination, but everytime I step in that front door all I can think about is how I want to clean it. I think she's been on a buying binge again. She buys clothes for the kids thinking how great the sale was- and it really is- but the kids won't be able to wear the clothes for another 5 years or so. At least she's happy.

Baby X called me 'mama' yesterday. I melted. Then when I put him to bed, he started fussing a little and he used 'mama' in this pathetic weepy voice. I thought I was never going to be able to walk away from that door! He was asleep in less than a minute but I still felt like crying. Stupid, I know.

Today I bought Baby Signs. I hope that it works. I somehow doubt that he'll be able to sign his reason for constantly trying to eat my face but maybe someday he'll be able to sign that he wants apples or bananas.
Even more I hope that it doesn't end up on my bookshelf collecting dust next to my editions of Learning Cherokee and Gardening for Dummies.
My Mother-in-Law is amazing at gardening. She can make anything grow. Unfortunately for her neighbors, she does her growing in her front yard. It looks like a jungle and when they start to decay, the smell can be overwhelming.
Back to baby signs......

I can't wait to get started! I wonder if I can get Mr X to try it too. Maybe if I show him what he's supposed to do.

I'm still searching for a picture of that awful painting from the previous post. I know it's on my computer somewhere. Meanwhile, I'm devising ways of accidentally destroying it.

So what would you like to know? That is the point of these things right? To vent, to tell all. It seems like writing in a diary knowing that your little brother is going to sneak in later and read it all. I guess I'll start with the basics.
I've been married for 3 years. We have 2 kids, one is 7 the other is under a year old. I have an over grown lapdog and masochist cat. I have a great extended family. My Mother-in-law is, what's a nice way to put it........ slightly less than sane. But I've actually grown to love her quirkiness. She's this little Asian lady with a loud voice. I have a hunch you'll be hearing quite a bit about her.

Today I'd like to discuss John Wayne. Or more specifically the ugly felt John Wayne painting that is in my guest bedroom closet. Mr X bought this thing about a year ago. I think at one of those police auction sites. If there is a law against bad taste, I bet that the previous owner of this painting is in for a very long time. For a few months it sat in our living room while Mr X made vague threats to hang it. Somewhere. My idea of somewhere was by the curb on trash day but I was vetoed.
Then one day it disappeared and I thought that perhaps the good taste fairy had at last smacked my dear Mr X into tossing it.
Then I went to put some sheets away in the closet and there it was staring at me.
Poor John Wayne is up there somewhere begging someone to please just shoot the thing and put it out of our misery. It's not even a nice picture of John Wayne.
Did I mention it's felt?
Yeah. Felt.
I closed the closet door and just pretended I didn't see it. I even started to forget about it after awhile. I refused to look down anytime I had to open that closet door. I was hoping that by some miracle Mr X would have forgotten that it was there too.
No such luck.
He has once again begun making threats to hang it "somewhere".
I wonder if there's a place ugly paintings go to die?