A Prairie View

Barcelona Hotel

I know there are many many places within the US that I would love to visit. And I have dreams that go beyond the coasts of the US. Spain has always been a fascination for me. How I would love to call up a Barcelona hotel and book a suite for 2 weeks. Soak up the atmosphere. Fun and sun. Walk the beach. We have a 25th anniversary coming up (364 days from now to be exact).

I love my small hometown, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But there are times, I want to just go. Travel. Get away from the daily life pressures, spirit my husband away from all the pressures he goes through each and every day, and just spend some time together. Away. Because of what he does, (dispatches for 13 grain hauling truck drivers), its sometimes hard for him to just go to Topeka for supper, without interruptions. So, we are stuck in this place, with no vision, no plan, no clue to how we could make it work. Getting away, without being tied to the job, and yet, not making 13 guys sit at home for 2 weeks while we are out playing.

So, I dream. Maybe it can’t be Barcelona, but surely, somehow, someway, we can put it together and go away.

RE: Blooper

Anita & Moonshadow:  What’s REALLY bad about the whole situation is that it WAS proofread by someone other than me.  That was in my job description, that my “boss” — the minister, was to proofread everything I put out for publication.  He proofreads the bulletin,  and the meditation that we use as in insert for the bulletin every Sunday.  But with the newsletter that we do every other week, he lets his wife proofread it.  She used to proofread professionally.  And, wouldn’t you know it, we STILL have mistakes go out.  My most “proudest” moment… (yeah, right), I was promoting our Barbershop group, and said something about our own Harry Huff, Ethan Strawder, and “Dub” Cormode.  Only, I didn’t type Harry Huff.  I typed Harry Harry.   And only the readers caught it.

I realize there will always be mistakes, and we just do our best to try and catch them all.  But, what I hate. hate. hate.  is when its in the bulletin, and he has to make an announcement of correction.  I feel like I am publically humilated for messing up.  I know he doesn’t mean for it to be like that, esp. if we have to get the word out that something was published wrong, or I put the wrong song#.  But still.  I just want to slide under the chairs and leave.

I just take it with a grain of salt; and if someone brings a funny blooper to my attention, I just use the old “catch-all” excuse of “I was just testing you guys to see if anyone actually READS the newsletter”.   What frustrates me more than someone pointing out my mistakes is hearing “Oh, I didn’t know ……”  — about an event or something going on.  It was in the newsletter, people.  And chances are in the bulletin as well.  And on the website.  Do you people not read anything I do?   We have promoted and promoted and promoted the website.  And people still says “Oh, we have a website?  what is that address?”.

But then… I have a few faithful.  David is part of our church board, and he said Scott kept saying  (Scott is the head  of our fellowship Ministry team)  over and over “well, the website says that day is free”…. “on the website, you can find that information”.   He brings his laptop to the meetings, and he USES the calendar I keep up to date.  Gotta love him.

Just for you FYI, if you want to check it out, the church’s website is in my sidebar, under “My sites” :)

Blooper

I still have several hours of work (work-work, not blogging-work) ahead of me, but I am bound and determined to get it finished tonight. We are running out of time (the report has to be emailed in by midnight Wednesday). But, I do have to admit, today went alot better than last Friday did. It was just one of those days where I couldn’t do anything right.

The real blooper that threw me off course was — it was just a few minutes before 12:00. I had just gathered up the bulletins to take down the hall to the sanctuary. And THAT is when I noticed it. On the front page. Under “Greeters”. I had — “Jerry and Scott Carpenter”. Wouldn’t have been so bad if Scott had a son named Jerry. He doesn’t. He has a wife by the name of Jeri. I didn’t have the heart — or nerve — to let it be. I hate making mistakes, especially blantant ones like that. And to pair “two guys” up for greeters. I knew I had to fix it. So. At the very time I should have been leaving my place of work for the morning …. I was re-running the bulletins, un-inserting the outline and attendance slip we put in each bulletin. *Sigh. So, it was after 1:30 before I was headed out to my afternoon place of employment. And with this report, I was wanting to get as much done on it Friday as I could. Getting out of there an hour late did. not. help the situation.

As it turned out, it didn’t really matter anyway. David had a couple of projects that needed my attention as well. So, as for working on the report, I didn’t get to it until 3:30-4:00 anyway. So much for well laid out plans.

Today went much better.

And yesterday went well as well…because I could walk in the sanctuary knowing my little blooper was my little secret.

Catching Up

I got so wrapped up in “blog stuff” this weekend, that I forgot to blog.  I didn’t spend a whole lot of time doing it, but I revamped a couple of my sites. My wonderful, creative banner maker/friend whipped me up several new banners for the occasion, and now I’m good to go.  To actually — BLOG — again.  Instead of blog housecleaning.  I did make a list of things I do want to blog about, so … hopefully, I will get to them over the course of the next few days. 

One thing that did take a good chunk of my time this weekend, is that stupid IFTA report.  Its due Wednesday (@ midnight), but David has to pull it all together after I get it all entered.  He says it doesn’t take very long … maybe 30 minute.  It sure takes me longer than that to get it entered into the computer.  We have 13 drivers.  All who fill out log sheets and trip sheets.  Its my job to check the log sheets against the trip sheet.  Oh, for those of you who are wondering what trip sheets are ….  every time a driver crosses a state line, he has to write down his mileage.  For each day.  So, each trip sheet will have the minium of 10 entries (beginning mileage, ending mileage) for the day.  And that is assuming he only drove in Kansas.  If he drove other places, those have to be recorded on the spread sheet as well.  AND THEN.  Where he bought fuel. 

It actually isn’t that bad, if its done on a weekly basis.  I can do a week’s worth for all 13 drivers, in probably 2 hours.  But.  With the divorce of the boss, and the old “Mrs.” leaving, everything she did, I’m now doing … on top of what I was doing before.  So, these last 2 quarters, I’ve let it pile up, and then scurry the last week to get it all done.

Once I’m done with this last quarter, I’m going to put in some extra hours this week, or weekend, and catch up October.  And THEN I’m going to try and stay on top of it on a weekly basis.   If I do that, it would make things so much easier when the report comes due.   Intectually, I know that.  Putting it into application is another thing.

Kinda like the “Procrastanation” post I have in the works.  I have it started.  But, have been putting it off getting it finished.  And I suppose thats why I haven’t posted much this past week, thinking I need to finish that post before moving on.  So, I posted nothing.   New week.  New goals.  New way of doing things.   

A Traveling We Will Go

As the end of October nears, I am always drawn back to 20 some years ago. To the beginning. Of our family. We celebrate our 24th anniversary next week. When we were first married, we traveled. Alot. Because of business. The first few years, we drove every where, to fairs, with our product in a cargo trailer that we pulled with our supercab truck. After that, it was trade shows, and we shipped everything in, and flew to the show. With all the 100’s of thousands of miles we put in, it never occured to us to have travel insurance. We were fortunate to have traveled all that distance, and never experienced any reason to have insurance when we flew, although, we did have one vehicle accident when we were driving everwhere. But our auto insurance picked that up. Looking back, those were good days. Long hard days, but in a different way. Its interesting how our lives have taken different paths since those days.

Life Insurance For Kids

We’ve done some not-too-smart things over the years where our finances are concerned, but one thing we have done right, is making sure we had life insurance for kids. Equally important we made sure we had life insurance for us as well. Until my mom died, and I had to go through the process of planning — and paying for a funeral, I didn’t realize just how expensive it is. I know it sounds callous, planning ahead, just in case your child dies, and someone else paying the expenses, but that is what insurance is all about. Its one of those things that almost seems like wasted money … you pay and pay and pay and PRAY that you never have to use it. But, if you do need to, you are glad you did. We made sure that the other one will be taken care of, if one of us dies. And in the event that we die at the same time, Ethan will still be able to go to college, and things should be taken care of financially where he is concerned, as well as a fair amount of money going to the older children as well. We did this when Ethan was probably 8 or 9, so at that time, we were looking at the aspect that who ever would raise him, if we both died at the same time, that it wouldn’t be a finance hardship to do so. Fortunately, he’s is just a few years shy of being 18, and so we have all survived those crucial years of someone having to raise him, in the event of our death.

Beach Weddings

With the cooler evenings, the leaves are changing, and the landscape takes on a whole new look. My brother-in-law went to Arkansas this weekend to get married. I don’t know the location, but David’s nephew was married at the same place last year, and we have seen pictures of the location — very very pretty. Lots of trees, and with the tree leaves changing colors right now, the view must have been spectacular. The only thing prettier are beach weddings. Wedding Tropics.com is a fairly new site, some of their pages are still be redirected to their sister site. But, it looks like a wonderful site if there is a wedding in your future. You will have a chance to tell them about your wedding. They will have a wedding gallery. Their sister site makes custom made clothing, many pieces perfect for a tropical wedding.

I Know, I Know, I Know

. . . that this is just all part of the seasonal change. But.  I am sooo not ready for winter to set it.  Its cold.  Its wet.  I don’t like it.  Course, I’ll like it even less when this cold and wet turns to snow and ice.   I love and appreciate a beautiful snowy view from my window as much as the next person.  But, I do not like having to get out in it.  And working at two different places, I can’t just go to work, and stay until the day is over.  I have to get back out, go to place B, and deal with it all over again.   Is it spring yet?

Home Based Business

I know there are alot of things I wouldn’t do, but something I would like to try my hand at one of these days is a home based business. Within that realm, I know there are quite a few things I wouldn’t do; but I can think of several that I would. I would love to be able to stay at home, and still bring in an income. I have seen that happen this past year, and I wish I could turn it into a serious business, instead of a part time sideline like it is now. But, going beyond that, I can see myself doing medical transcripts, or other computer work. I tend to be a homebody most of the time, and even though I don’t hate what I do at my places of employment, there are still days, I just want to cover my head with my pillow, and announce to the world that I’m not going to work. But. Thats not who I am, and unless I’m truly sick, or my heart-out-of-rhythm thing gives me fits, I go to work…each and every day, whether I want to or not. But someday…I am going to make this happen, and bring a home based business to a reality level!

Rolling Through

That was a surprise. Usually, there is usually a little message at the bottom of the TV screen warning up of severe weather rolling through. And maybe this doesn’t constitute severe weather. But, we are watching TV, and we hear thunder. We have a weather alert program on our cell phones, so Ethan gets his phone out and looks, and sure enough, here is the wide band of rain. And a little bit of yellow, which is the severe stuff, headed our way. I thought the weather was supposed to be nice these next few days. Guess I was wrong. Maybe it will have passed over by morning. I hate gray mornings. Ethan has Late Start, so he doesn’t have to be at school until 9:30. Must be nice! We have a staff meeting every Monday morning at the church, so I need to get there earlier than I do most mornings. The start of a new week. I’m already looking forward to Friday, though. Isn’t that bad? I do plan to get quite a bit accomplished during the week, so hopefully, I will see that happening. Lots of things go on in my head of things I would LIKE to do, and get accomplished. But alot of times, applying the thought to application just doesn’t happen. I have a lot on my plate that needs to be done, so I really need to apply myself this week!

Never Give Up

Never give up.  Never give up.  That is my motto for now.  I would like to give up.  But I can’t.  So, I will forge ahead.  My weigh in wasn’t good.  It wasn’t bad.  But it wasn’t good.  After such a good start, these past two weeks have been disappointing.  Julie keeps trying to explain body physics to me, and why I’m not losing, and it does all make sense.  But it still doesn’t help keep the “I quit” thoughts at bay.  But I know what I do when I’m not staying on this plan, and that is definately not a good thing.  We talked about that today.  I bought a book that I am going to try and journal through.   Its a “First Step” book, which is a whole other weight loss program.  But, it has some good things to say.  The book is called: “Begin Again”.    It goes on to say “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off.  Let God be your guide. “  It has inspirations and motivation for everyone who struggles with insecurity and failure, particularly when you are trying to reach weigh loss goals.     I really thought it was the book for me.   Doing this on my own is not working.  But I refuse to give up.

Crock Pot Recipes

As a wife and mom that works outside the home full time, it goes without saying that I do appreciate the evenings I can come home and supper is already done, because of a little preparation done before I left the house that morning. A crock pot is a working woman’s best friend. Now granted, I seem to be limited to what I make in the crock pot — roast beef and potatoes … sometimes chili …. I haven’t ventured beyond that too much. But with winter just around the corner, I am looking forward to using my crock pot alot more. I love walking into the house, at the end of the day, and be greeted by the aroma of supper cooking. Its time, though, I expand my horizons. Moms Who Think.com has a wonderful crock pot recipe section with hundreds of Crock Pot Recipes. They go beyond the simple pot roast recipe. Appetizers, breakfast items, chicken, chili, pasta, even fish and seafood. And best of all - desserts. David would think he had died and gone to heaven if he walked in and smelled this Crock Pot Cobbler that I found at Moms Who Think.

Easy as pie!

CROCK POT COBBLER

Ingredients:

1 can baked biscuits, cooled
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 can pie filling, any flavor

Directions:

1. Cut biscuits into chunks, place about half in the bottom of a crock pot.

2. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. Sprinkle on top of biscuits.

3. Spread canned pie filling on top and repeat until you’re out of ingredients. Bake on high for 2 hours.

Browsing through their easy to navigate website, I realize I have missed out on a whole world of crock pot cooking. I have a feeling my crock pot is going to get a major workout this winter. And my computer will be making frequent visit to Moms Who Think. What a great website.

Tick, Tick, Tick

*Sigh. Its now 9:00, and he’s still working on his article for the newsletter. There’s still a chance I’ll get it done….but I’m running out of time.

Update: Its now 12:20, and the newsletters are In. The. Mail. Whoo. Hoo. I had to go outside the box with the way I do them, but it worked, and I can continue on with my day as scheduled. Need to stop at the bank, the gas station, and then I’m on my way. As long as I leave town by 1:00 or little after, I will be in good shape. Just hope I feel the same way AFTER the appointment. I have my doubts. *double sigh.

Beat The Clock

I know how I would like for today to go, but I just have my doubts.  This is newsletter day at the church.  If things are ready to go, and I can start copying by 8:30 or so, then there is a good chance I can have them done and ready to mail by noon.  MY part was done yesterday and I gave it to my boss to be proofread, but there are a few things that still need to be added.  Hopefully, he got them done, and I can get right to it.  But thats usually not the way it goes.  Its usually 2:00 or so before I leave on a typical newsletter.  Which wouldn’t be a problem, except, I need to be in Topeka at 2:30, and its an hours drive from here.  I’m going to call and see if there are any cancellations for that later time.  If not, I’ll just have to play it by ear, and see how it goes.  I HATE being under the gun like this, but I should have thought ahead.  But I didn’t want to be under the gun with billing by going to Topeka on Tuesday.  Hopefully, it’ll be a good day, and everything will go smoothly.  Thats the plan.

Closed Captioning

It doesn’t annoy me, but then, I like to read anyway, so this is just an extention of that. But, David is always getting after Ethan for having the closed captioning feature on. Well, he used to. Ethan has finally stopped doing it. I’m not sure what Ethan’s reasoning was — part of it was, he would want to talk during the commercials, so he’d mute the TV. But other times, he just had it on because, for whatever reason, he likes having that feature on. There are times when David is on the phone to one of his drivers, and we have to have the volumn turned down, I like being able to read what is being said. I know the closed captioning is a tool for more than just our entertainment. Its a great thing to have if you are not able to hear, as well as other reasons. But, in our household, it was a source of annoyment for some.

They Owe Me

A couple of weeks ago, the premiere of Las Vegas was on, but David couldn’t be home to watch it, and it is his very favorite show.   So, Ethan recorded it for him, and all was good.

The Unit is David’s 2nd favorite show, and it was on tonight, and again, he wasn’t able to be home to watch it.  “Record it”, he said.  I told Ethan to set it up for me, so all I had to do was push the record button, and we’d be good to go.  Ethan was working on his homework — matter of fact, there was some question to whether or not he would even go to Barbershop Practice (when he goes to practice, he leaves at 6:00, and isn’t home until 11:00 or a bit later.  Its an hour’s drive to practice, so obviously, an hour home.  And then a 2 hour practice).  He worked on it right up to the moment Harry pulled in the driveway.  He was probably gone an hour before I realized — He didn’t set the VCR for me to record The Unit for dad.

*Sigh.  Ok.  How hard can it be?   I was pretty sure I knew what to do, but not 100% sure.  I called David and he confirmed what I though I needed to do.  I played around with it a little bit to make sure I knew what I was doing, and then his show came on, and I recorded it.   Which I’m glad I did.  Its a good show.  But tonight’s episode was REALLY good, and I know David will enjoy watching it.  So, I’m glad I figured it out for him.

But. He owes me.   I had to step outside of my box and put my thinking cap on and try and figure out how to do something I hadn’t ever done before.   But, like he says, “its not rocket science”, and  I was able to figure it out without using too many brain cells.

Broadway Tickets

The High School drama club performs several production over the course of the year, and usually Ethan is a part of them. But because of his job, and some other consequences of things he’s done, he hasn’t tried out for the last couple of productions. I wish circumstances would have been different. I think he would have made an excellent Daddy Warbuck’s in the production of Annie that they did. But, we were still looking for that balance of work, and school, and adding learning lines into the mix, I just didn’t think it would work. As I look back over the years of performances he has done, I can’t help but think getting him Broadway tickets for graduation would be something worth thinking about. Several local colleges have scouted the drama team, and there are scholarships in their futures if they so choose. I think getting to see a live Broadway production, up close and personal, would be such a great learning tool. Learning from the best. I know there are hundreds of things we will consider for him for graduation, but this is definately one thing that will be on the list.

Life Goes On

Life has a funny way of going on, regardless of what happens within our lives. David and I were both divorced before we met each other. Our 1st marriages both lasted less than 5 years. So, stepping into, what I felt like, was someone else’s shoes, was something that bothered me, but I didn’t really think of it from the perspective of the family. David’s brother is getting married this weekend. He divorced last year. They married the year before David and I did, so if they had remained married, they would be celebrating 25 years next year. Instead, he is starting over. There won’t be a big wedding, no brides maids or groomsmen. Roger won’t have to worry about buying a groomsmen gift for his best man. It will be a very private, very simple wedding. We have know the lady he is marrying for a long time, and she is a good woman. But, it still seems strange. Not having what has been the other half of Roger for so long as a part of the family. But that’s life. And as we all know — life goes on.

What Are Your Currently Reading?

AGK @ Jane Of Many Trades asks this QOTD: What are you currently reading?

I have two that I am reading. The first one is Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst. The storyline centers around a Reality TV by the same name as the book. Each chapter gives you a glimpse of the show through the eyes of each of the contestants. The main characters seem to be a mother and daughter team. Months before they committ to being on the show, the mother is woken by her teenager daughter — who has just given birth in the attic. The mother had no clue her daughter was pregnant. The rift between the two play out, in front of the camera, on the reality show. The creators of the show plot to reveal the most intimate secrets of player’s lives. The question becomes not just who will capture the million dozzar pirce, but … at what cost.

The second book I’m reading, I’ve only read the first chapter. Its one of Ethan’s books, and not one that I would normally read. Deception Point by Dan Brown. Dan also authored the DaVinci Code, and I never could get into that book. He has me from the get-go with this one though. The back cover says: When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the ARtic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory. A victory wiht profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election.  I want to finish Lost and Found first, but I am anxious to get into Deception Point.

What are you currently reading?

Daddy Took The T-Bird Away

Being a typical 16 year old boy, Ethan would love to add car spoilers — to A car. Not necessarily HIS car. His car is older than he is, and right now, he’s pretty content just being able to keep up with the insurance and gas on it. But as he dreams, of that shiny red Corvette (yeah right….dream on, Ethan…), he lists off a half dozen accessories he would love to add it. And who knows what direction his life will take? He loves to sing, and sings well, so who knows. He could be at the right place at the right time, and the next thing we know, we are buying tickets to hear him sing (a mom can dream, too, can’t she?). Course, with his track record, he probably should be one of these celebrities that has someone drive him all over. Unfortunately, he’s too much like Britney these days with his driving record. Nothing major, just little fender benders. But, at $5.85 an hour, it will take him awhile to get all the damage paid for.

He’s Still In Pain

If you looked at David’s dresser recently, you would think that he might need to seek drug rehabilitation as many medications he is taking now. Between 5 prescriptions, and 4 vitamin supplements, he is to the point where he almost needs one of those pill organizers. How he keeps it straight to what he should be taking when is beyond me. And the kicker is, he still doesn’t feel any better! Well… that’s not totally true. His blood sugar levels seem to be coming down, so thats a good thing. And when he checks his blood pressure, its also showing lower. So, thats a good thing too. But some of the meds are for his back and joint pain, and that doesn’t seem to have gotten any better. He’s been to a medical doctor, a chiropracter — is taking these supplements, had accupuncture done … none of it has helped. I wish we could figure out what was wrong. He isn’t used to hurting like this all the time, and it shows. He not doing as much as he used to — which again, maybe thats not such a bad thing. But, it does hurt to see someone you love hurting, and I wish we could make it go away. One of these days, we’ll hit on something, and it will make sense, and he will be pain free. Thats the plan.

Life Never Calms Down

“… life never calms down long enough for us to wait until tomorrow to start living the lives we deserve.” —

This is so true. I keep thinking “well, when I get this and this and oh yeah, that done, we can do this. But then something comes up, and I’m off on another track of things to do. This week does come in close to being a good week, as far as being calm. I’m ahead of the game with my morning job. All my weekly stuff is done and ready for proof reading to be run on Friday.

Even though I have the bulletin done and ready to go, I won’t print it until Friday just in case we have prayer concerns or a death notice to include. I give it every available moment before running (and you’d be surprised at how many people will call at Friday at 11:00, wondering if something can be put in the bulletin. When do they think I run them?? and have them ready for Sunday?)

For the last month, it seems like I have had extra projects and such, and I don’t even get to the bulletin until Friday. Under normal circumstances, though, I usually have it done and ready to go by Tuesday. I’m on track for a change. That is a good feeling.

And with good feelings, comes more productivity. I accomplished several major things this weekend around the house, and it is spurring me on to continue. We are having Thanksgiving with my middle son, Matt, who lives in Emporia. But. Its my goal to have the house in shape to have Christmas for my kids at my house. Its been awhile since we’ve done that. I have alot of work ahead of me, but its doable, if I just stay at it. Esp. if I make the progress I did this past weekend.

I deserve (and so does my family) better living conditions than what we have — less clutter, etc. Maybe life will be calmer if there is less clutter! I’m not waiting until tomorrow to find out. It begins today (well, actually, it began this weekend!). I’m on my way!

He’s Going To Get A Reputation

I suppose in the big scope of things, there are worse things to have a reputation for when you are a 16 year old boy. But Ethan is going to get a reputation for pie baking. He made 2 pies for his youth group fund raiser this weekend; and then in his newspaper class, it is someone’s birthday tomorrow, and he is baking her a pie. Apple to be exact. How sweet is that? He’ll never be a jock, but he may give Betty Crocker a run for her money.

Bodybuilding & Supplements

It all goes hand in hand, whether we are skinny or not so skinny. Its all about eating the right things, taking vitamins, getting enough rest, and exercising. Its at that point things differ. Being on a weight loss plan, there are certain things I’m required to eat, and supplements that I need to take. On the other side of the coin, there are a vast amount of people who are physically fit and take bodybuilding seriously. In their daily regiment, you will find things such as muscle building supplments, fat burners, steroids and steroid alternatives. Bodybuilding Supplements @ Zupplements.com is one such website that caters to this group of people. They encourage you to call them about their products, and to take notice of special unique products that you cannot find anywhere else. They have a toll free support line, low prices and a easily navigate secure website.

They also have many informative articles covering topics of training, diet, supplement, and drug information. Which bodybuilding supplements are best? How does sleep effect muscle growth? What is an anabolic workout? What is the ONLY way to build muscle? Want to know more about the 7 day fat inceneration system? These and many other topics of training, diet, supplement and drug information can be found in the informative articles they have at their website.

Ford Recall

A month or so ago, we received a letter from Ford about our Explorer.    There is a recall on the Speed Control System of our vehicle.  Aparently, it must affect quite a few Fords, because my mother-in-law, several people at church, as well as the church itself with the ownership of the 15 passenger van that we have, they all recieved the same recall.  Being people who don’t procrastinate, several of them have taken their vehicle in to get the replacement part, only to be told lots of people have come in for the same thing, and they are out of the part.   Must be a widespread problem, and not just this local dealership, because today we get a postcard from Ford about the same recall.  They are currently experiencing an unforeseen shortage of the service part required to mak the complete repair.   So they strongly encourage us to contract our dealer to schedule an appointment to have them disconnect the Speed Control System.

Sounds like a mess to me!