ok..the merger is ALMOST done....

I guess there are some hurdles to overcome in order for the Chrysler/Fiat merger to occur. I believe that these will be taken care of. There is too much in stake for the employees, the vendors, the banks, and the US. I have faith in the people entrusted to make the best decision. No matter what that might be.....

However, I would like to know what is up with the Jekyll and Hyde weather. Yesterday was so warm and beautiful. Today??? A totally different story. I'm sure my dogs are not going out to pee because it's too cold and windy. I hate this weather.

So, another nut recall due to salmonella. And I LOVE pistachios. Darn.

What a random blog....

Because, here is an article about the worm that is supposed to get stronger tomorrow on April 1. I sure hope this is an April Fool's joke. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29975229/

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Chrylser/Fiat merger....DONE!

Well, ahead of the April 30th deadline given by President Obama, the partnership between Chrysler and Fiat has been completed. Nothing like an ultimatum from the President of the United States to get 2 companies to the table to negotiate.

I know Chrysler will be just fine. This only makes things stronger.

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Blueberry muffins...and..this weekend, NO JOKE, we will sell you a car for our cost

My husband made blueberry muffins (from a box) this morning. There is a first for everything. His mom worked a ton when he was younger so he never really did fun things in the kitchen with her or his dad.....so this was quite comical but also quite an achievement. Yes, I know what you just follow the directions on the box, but to use a stand mixer and measure oil and milk....I'm quite impressed of his new skills. Now, this just really means that I can ask him to do that for me if I'm busy. Excellent.

AND...I heard it straight from his mouth....Jay said that as long as we don't lose money, we will sell the car this weekend. You could pay what our investment in the car is.....how awesome!

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I'm not the only one.....

A nice article about dish washing soap....it must be a slow news day if this is on the MSNBC webpage.....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29918496/

What can I do? I want clean dishes...and I don't like running my dish washer 2 times to get my dishes clean. At 90 mins. each...that's 3 hours I don't have to wait for clean dishes. And if I run it at night, I'm not going to get up to push the button again. Sigh....

A trip to Idaho it is...

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What a beautiful day!

The weather is nice today and we had better all enjoy it before the rain comes tomorrow. But I suppose that is what spring weather is like. What can you do? However, today is gorgeous so far.......

SO, 1) good luck, Zags.

2) Buy a car....we have a huge month-end sale going on right now. There is a huge ad in the Spokesman Review today (and tomorrow) or you can just go to the dealership and find out what cars are on sale.

3) Read this article on what Fiat and Chrysler have planned - maybe. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090323/ANA03/903230332/1193

4) Have a great Friday!!!

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Even lower mortgage rates???

This is crazy!!! I can't believe the rates are BELOW 5% right now. I used to work for Washington Mutual Bank (when it was still a bank....) when I was in grad school and I took customer service calls on their mortgage loans. It was around 7%-9% at that time and that was "so low" and people were going crazy! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7148582/


So, if you are able to...go and re-fi your house and get a new car with your savings! What a great deal!

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Secret --- there will a big sale this weekend!

I'm letting you know here first. My husband left early this morning to go and create a huge ad for the Spokesman Review. If you go today and say that you know about the sale already from the blog....they will let you have the price today....before anyone else knows about it....AND so you get 1st pick at what goes on sale! That way you don't have to get up early and drive down to the dealership by 8am tomorrow when the store opens. You'll already be in the car you want at a deal of a price!

I am doing this without my husband knowing...so I hope he's ok with it.

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Is "people food" ok for your dog?

My Roscoe and Oscar will be so happy to hear this good news!!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29780984/

However, I highly doubt my dogs would EVER be begging for baby carrots.

Good article though...interesting.....

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2000 Acura TL

We just got a forrest green TL on trade with only 86,000 miles. It runs very smoothly. Our technician that does a safety on every single one of our used cars wants to buy this car himself... just doesn't want the payments. He even considered begging and borrowing for this car. It's a good buy for a family, older couple, or even a new driver.

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Terrible tragedy...

Such loss in the plane crash that happened in Butte, MT over the weekend. I can't even begin to imagine what that family is feeling that lost 2 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 5 grandchildren. And, the other family on board also knew the other family well too. There were all college alums.

My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families that are impacted by this tragedy.

God bless.

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World Baseball Classic 2009

Well, Japan won again. Thanks to Team Korea for giving it a good effort and making it exciting. I wonder how the US team was picked. I understand some of the guys on the team but then others, I wasn't quite sure of. It's quite unfortunate that the MLB spring training it right in the middle of this tournament. I keep hearing over and over that MLB players are at a different level than the rest of the players in the WBC. Maybe we'll see that come true in 3 years at the next tournament.

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2010 NCAA Men's basketball 1st round in Spokane

HURRY...here is the link to apply for the lottery! http://www.ncaa.com/champ/m-baskbl-d1-champ.html

This is an application for tickets for the 2010 1st round action of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament. The applications started at 10am...so I hope there is something left for you!

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Thanks for a good season....

Thanks to the UW Men's basketball team for a terrific season. Of course, I would have loved for the Huskies to have beat Purdue and gone on to face UConn. However, they weren't so good in the 1st half. Should have, would have, could have....but this is good too.

Anyway, after the terrible football season, this was a nice surprise.

Thanks to the team and Coach Romar.

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oh..and go buy a car...right now....

you will get a great deal. I promise. I know you will..just ask for Jay.

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My heart is racing.....

The UW Huskies were down by 14 at one point but now we're trailing by 3. I can't stand it. My house is clean right now since I'm trying to get rid of my nervous energy.

Gotta love March Madness!!

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What's a boilermaker?

So UW made it past the 1st round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Now we wait to play Purdue tomorrow. I'm nervous...as usual.

However, what's a boilermaker? Maybe people in the Midwest like interesting names....for example, the Cleveland Browns. What's a Brown?

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Welcome Spring 2009!

I can't believe we are in Spring already. Of course, I think I heard on the radio that it might snow this weekend so I know that winter being over is only based on what the calender says because I know the cold will still be around. However, I always think of soft grass, yellow baby chicks, and Peeps marshmallows around this time of year. Well, and new sandals for myself...can't wait to see what this year holds for me.

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1st round over

Good job, Huskies. I sure hope Jon Brockman is ok after that huge fall on the court. He was going for a rebound and literally bounced on the court when he fell. It looked bad...REAL bad.

Well, onto Purdue on Saturday. That makes me nervous. The Huskies usually play well one game and can't do it again for the next game. We shall see.

I love March Madness. What a perfect little break in this terrible economy with gloomy news everyday!

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Well..and I suppose...

good luck to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, too.

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ohhh......and...if...you..need...

a car...PLEASE come down. We had a fantastic day yesterday and Jay wants to keep up the momentum. Make sure you talk to him (if he's not in a meeting) and tell him that a great deal is what you want!!!

We have a great selection of Pacifica's right now. Also, my husband is driving a beautiful Jeep Grand Cherokee. The color is SOOO gorgeous. I think I might want a car that color in the future. It's a very dark blue but not navy. Also like a midnight blue. It's so pretty...and that's even in my badly lit garage. I can't imagine it in the sun!!!

Also, we have a great selection of Jeep's too. They always seem to go fast so don't wait!!!

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1:45 pm. Go Dawgs! Go!!

I am ready for the game today. I got my Purple and Gold coffee cup out, my kids are dressed in their Huskies finest, and my WASHINGTON hoodie is nice and clean. Of course, I am not leaving the house today but I guess I'm ready just in case I decide to run outside into my backyard after the win or loss today.

If this is how I am for just the 1st Round....I'm afraid of what might become of my behavior if they make it into the Sweet 16. Ok, first things first...need to get past the nation's best shot blocker!!!!

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My heart goes out....

to Burien Nissan, Auburn Nissan, and Eastside Subaru - all part of the Rainier Automotive Group. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41416857.html My sister saw this story last night on KOMO news out in Seattle. There must be something going on with the financing or the line of credit that allows them to have cars on their lot to sell. This is actually the number one reason across the country on why and how dealerships are closing down. It's really not due to consumer's not being able to get car loans.

There are real people and real families that lives are now affected by this closure. I hope all goes well for them. Such a hard thing to go through.....

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Well, I am no where near Irish but my best friend from 5th grade was. Her mom went ALL out every year for this holiday. I had soda bread of all kinds for a the few weeks before St. Patrick's Day. I listened to Irish traditional music and played around with a dulcimer and ate some interesting food while at their house. I bet I would enjoy the food better now but steamed cabbage wasn't a fan favorite at the age of 11.

So this is kind of a nostalgic holiday for me...even though I am probably the furthest thing from any type of Irish ancestral lineage. Isn't America wonderful?

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Recession over in 09?

I'm not sure if I'm willing to agree with Bernanke quite yet. He said the slump will "probably" be over by 2009. So that means we should be recovering soon....well, at least, stabilizing. However, I'm not sure if we are there yet with housing pricing still going down. However, I like the hope he provides. I'm ALL for that! Americans need to start spending again. I did my part at Old Navy this past weekend.

But, I did find this article with some websites that offer coupons and so forth to help you save on groceries. Yes...groceries!!! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29681227/

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34%

You can't expect to win a basketball game with only a shooting percentage of 34%....UNLESS the other team doesn't show up. So, the Huskies are out of the tourney. That's ok. They just need to shake this loss off and get ready for the BIG tournament.

I hope we get past the 1st round.

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Go Dawgs!!!!

I am a HUGE Husky fan. (UW is my alma mater.) I will not be a fair-weather fan even though our football team looks like it is JV compared to other Division I schools. Tomorrow we play at 6pm against Arizona St. I shall be yelling my little heart out. I did root for the Cougs today since I strongly dislike UCLA....but I guess they will have to wait another season to go to the Big Dance.

Gotta LOVE March Madness!!!!

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Parking sign confusion...

Can it be this hard to relay a message on a parking sign? http://www.krem.com/topstories/stories/krem2-031209-parking-sign-confusion.2c614c42.html

So, I wrote about the 1st signs and how they were confusing to me because the blue handicap symbol made it seem like only those with a permit could park there for 4 hours. Now the NEW signs are just as confusing. I wonder how the signs are designed and decided upon....by a couple of people? the sign company? a committee? maybe they should get a focus group or at least ask someone on the street. This is turning almost comical.

However, I would like to be the sign company that keeps getting business in these tough times. Keep making them more and more confusing.....just make more signs.

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What in the world?

I think these hard economic times makes people lose their ability to reason with logic. The story about the 3 dealership employees that disappeared along with 81 of the dealership's cars is a funny one. It defies logic and how these 3 thought they could get away with it is puzzling. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29656878/ So the owner and 2 others went missing and so did the cars off the lot. They showed up all over the place like in a Wal-Mart parking lot, auctions, and so on. I can't imagine this plan actually working and the authorities NOT finding out. But, you have to believe they thought it would work since they actually tried to carry it through.

I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

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Customer service overkill???

Can there be too much customer service? A blogger just wrote about this (http://yourbiz.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/11/1830497.aspx) and I started thinking about my personal experiences and then our own dealership. I don't think I've ever been "killed" with too much customer service. I sure have been fuming mad with poor customer service but maybe I don't shop at high-end enough stores to get too much customer service. I don't count annoying sales people who are trying to make a sale as "too much". Those people are trying to do their job and feel that aggressive sales tactics will get them.

I think our dealership could have better customer service at times. It's because I know my husband and I are just about willing to do anything for a good customer. Sure, we have a few that will try to take the world from us because they think we are making a ton of money. (Trust me folks....we have bills that you would not believe.) Those people don't realize that if you are a fair and decent customer, we will treat you better in the long run. I guess getting what you can now is better for them than great service the whole time you own the car and beyond that.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great customer service experience at Spokane Chrysler. If not, write me and I will try my best to make things right!

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Wintery weather

Since I moved from Seattle, I am always amazed at the amount of snow that can fall in Spokane. My neighbors are telling me that the past 2 years are just out of the ordinary and so on but for me to have been here for 6 years and to have had 2 of the "worst winters" on record....either make me very lucky or unlucky...depending on how you see things. I just can't believe it...that's all. Still in shock....

So it looks like the market is up today due to the good news from Citigroup. And I'm sure tomorrow we will have some bad news...or maybe in a couple of days...and the market will go down again. I don't understand why people can't be more level-headed. That is what aggravates me the most. Well, that and people who are in line and don't get their checks ready and pre-fill in the lines. I mean, you know the date, you know the store you are at, and you know how to sign your name so let's get it going already!

BUT really...who writes checks anymore! Get with the program!!!
ugghhhh

bahahahahah

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Windy days....

I can't believe the winds today. I guess it's better than snow.....by just a little bit. I will tell you a little observation though. On windy days, for some reason, people do not like to shop for cars. So the traffic is a little light and it's hard to sell cars on such nasty weather days. This is a PERFECT day to get a DEAL of a lifetime.

Trust me...I know of many screaming deals that were made on foul weather days because they wanted to make a sale and the customers were far and few between.

So go out and get a good deal at Spokane Chrysler today!

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fast cars....in the future

Well, I guess gas mileage is at the core of every new car being developed today....even sports cars. It seems like an oxymoron to think that those 2 go together. But, I guess we shall see what the car manufactures come up with. This article gives a small glimpse: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29493140/.

It's just actually refreshing to read a car article that isn't all doom and gloom.

AND, it looks like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Mazda might seek government loans from the Japanese government. It's not just US car manufacturers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hitting everyone!!! What will the critics say now?

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Also, happy birthday Jay!!!

I'm not going to judge...but.....

So the CEO of GM, Rick Wagoner, got paid big bucks last year. And I'm sure he works very hard and is worth it. This is from www.MSNBC.com today:

GM also disclosed Thursday that Chief Executive Rick Wagoner received a pay package worth $14.9 million in 2008, although $11.9 million of his compensation was in stock and options whose value plummeted to $682,000 as GM’s share price sank.

That does seem like a lot of money, but if you're burning through $3billion a month, I guess it's a drop in the bucket. Why not when things are so bad anyways, right?

The markets dropped today because of fears on banking and GM. I really hope GM makes it. There would be a lot of jobs lost and businesses closed if that happened. Selfishly, that would be better for my own business, but I think overall, for the good of the nation, we need to hold on a little longer.

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ban barbie???

In West Virginia, a state lawmaker proposed a bill that would ban Barbie in their state. He claims it puts too much importance on physical beauty. Sure, there have been many debates regarding that issue for many years. But then I guess that lawmaker needs to get busy with more legislation because he should add magazines like Cosmo or Allure and a huge long list of TV shows. Actually, he might want to ban all network TV stations and just keep the Public Broadcasting Station. I wonder if he should go after make-up companies too.

I'm glad he's keeping himself busy during this time and doing his job. There are many people who are without jobs...glad to see that he's spending his time wisely.

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Chrylser sales....

We were down 41.7% for February compared to last year. We're right in there since Nissan was down 37%, Honda 38%, Toyota 40%, Ford 48%, and GM 53%.

I know it sounds bleak...HOWEVER, Spokane Chrysler was not down at all. We have a great January AND a great February. I think it's due to our great pre-owned inventory. However, if there is something you like, please write me and we'll get our used car buyer to find it for you!

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wow....terrible new car sales month

So the numbers for February are coming out and they are not looking good. I mean Toyota, the "top dog", is even down 40% from last year. FORTY percent!!! New cars are hurting and I can understand why. It's time to bargain shop unless you can afford it.

It's true, you can still get a great deal on a pre-owned car. Just ask all our customers from the month of February. We can't keep some cars like Jeep Grand Cherokees in stock!!! It's incredible. Good thing our inventory has something for everyone.

Yes, it's a buyer's market and we hear that all the time. We know you can get a great deal on a car. However, please remember that if you think the prices are the car you are buying have gone down due to the economy...that means your current car, your trade-in, has ALSO dropped in value. Please don't come in thinking that only the car you are buying has lost some value and you can get a screaming deal....because your trade-in has also lost some value as well. It's how the market works. ALL cars are effected..not just the one you want to buy.

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Back to work....

It was a nice funeral service and I saw some family members I haven't seen in a long time. My grandmother looked peaceful and my mom told me that the days right before she passed away, she was saying that an angel was coming for her and that she was going up to heaven. My mom and aunties thought she was just talking nonsense but it was all true. I'm glad she's in a better place and full of joy.

We couldn't have asked for a better day on Friday with the sun shining as we buried her in the ground. A beautiful day for a beautiful soul.

Of course though, now it's back to work as usual. The stock markets sure have decided to take a turn. I'm sure with the annual letter from the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, saying that 2009 would remain in shambles and AIG needing another $30billion doesn't help the stock markets at all. I read that AIG posted a loss of $61.7billion in the 4th quarter. That makes GM's $9.6billion loss in 4th quarter look like nothing. I sure hope the government knows what they are doing....since executives, CEO's, and all the guru's of the business/banking world sure don't.

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