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Accurate Auto - beware (Chico)

CAPTION: 268 mile tow through the desert and into Los Angeles because of Rob Jeffries, Chuck Albert, and Accurate Auto's failure to provide service.

On March 19, 2010 I took my 2005 Hyundai Sonata in to Accurate Auto for the manufacturer's recommended 60,000 mile servicing. Why Accurate Auto? Because back when I had my Toyota Camry and had several instances when the gas tank imploded, a good friend of ours who had been helping us with our auto mechanic needs was unable to do so and recommended Rob Jeffries, the owner of Accurate Auto, to us saying that he was the only mechanic in the Chico area that he trusted.

Since then, the Camry was donated to the local community college because we felt that it was unsafe for anyone else to have it given that we never really were able to figure out what happened to cause the implosions and I bought a Hyundai Sonata. So when it came time for the service and the company I bought my Sonata at had lost their lease and went out of business, I brought it to Rob.

But Rob's gotten bigger, took over the old Big O Tires shop, expanded to selling and installing tires, too. And he's taken a back seat to the hands on he was doing back when I first started going to him, turning the daily operations of his shop over to his brother-in-law, Chuck Albert.

Still, they were quick and friendly, got the service done on the vehicle and I was on my merry way.

Fast forward exactly 2 months later when, on June 19, 2010 I was traveling with my sons through Death Valley before their summer got wicked hectic and we didn't have the time to take a mini-vacation together (and before it got too much hotter in the desert!). As we came over the 5,000 feet above sea level pass that dropped down to Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley, the check engine lights came on and the car stalled. For several terrifying minutes, I coasted down to sea level at speeds that sometimes exceeded 80 m.p.h., turning into the Stovepipe Wells General Store and Fueling Station's parking lot. I tried a few times to get the engine to turn over, but it didn't.

After hours of frustrations, making phone calls to places like Henderson Hyundai just outside of Las Vegas to have them tell me that it was my fault I was stuck in the desert, that I should have never driven my vehicle in there to begin with (I still find it hard to understand where that came from, but I guess that's probably one of many reasons they're going/have gone out of business last I heard), and AAA whose driver overshot us by an hour and didn't get to our location for several hours after being dispatched, we arranged for a tow to Harbor Hyundai in Long Beach, CA, the only place that was able to get the car in first thing Monday morning to find out what was wrong.

Sadly, we missed celebrating Father's Day with my husband and wouldn't see him for several days after as he was scheduled to work for 96 hours (the joys of working for the municipal fire department). With the tension of the unknown, it was probably all for the best we put off celebrating until later in the week. That's another joy of firefighting, the family becomes accustomed to celebrating holidays and special events on odd, off days.

Shortly after nine Monday, June 21st I contacted the service advisor at Harbor Hyundai who was able to tell me that the crank shaft sensor had malfunctioned. They were able to replace it and it was covered under the extended warranty I had the foresight to purchase. We breathed a sigh of relief and tried to spend the rest of our day resting and preparing for the long drive home once the car was fixed.

And then the service advisor called back. He needed my approval to replace the timing belts. The amount of the service was breathtaking - and not in the most gorgeous sunset you've ever seen kind of way. It came to the tune of over $400. He went on to inform me that the belt should have been replaced when the car received service at 60K miles and said that even if I opted not to replace it at that time, it would need to be replaced and would cost even more since the entire front they already had disassembled to access the crank shaft sensor would have to be removed again to perform the replacement. I authorized the repairs and worked at the kink in my neck from the tension.

The car was washed and ready by the close of business. Los Angeles traffic was a bitch. We waited it out until passage was relatively smoother and started off into the night. It took over nine hours and over a half a dozen rest stops catching a half hour here, an hour there, of sleep before we finally pulled in, hours after daylight, safe and sound at home, June 22nd.

On July 8th, armed with the worn belts that were replaced, receipts for the expenses we incurred, a copy of the towing bill (over $1300), and an invoice for reimbursement, I visited Accurate Auto (which happens to be a NAPA AutoCare Center whose pledge, according to their site, is: 

About Our Services

Our business takes quality and customer service seriously. As a NAPA AutoCare Center, we follow a strict Code of Ethics so customers will know up front what to expect. As part of this code, we pledge to:

Perform high-quality diagnostic and repair services at a fair price, using quality NAPA parts.

Employ ASE-certified technicians in all areas of work performed.

Be dedicated to customer satisfaction.

Exercise reasonable care for the customer's property while it is in the shop's possession.

Provide a system for fair settlement of customer complaints, should they occur.

Maintain the highest standards of the automotive service profession. )

where I spoke to Chuck Albert. I didn't need to remind him that they had serviced my Hyundai Sonata, he remembered me. I shared with him, by way of showing the part in my auto manual under the 60K mile service requirements, that according to the manufacturer, my timing belt assembly was supposed to have been replaced. I then pointed out on the invoice they had provided me at the completion of the work the part on it that showed the timing belt was checked but not replaced as stipulated. Mr. Albert stopped me to check with an online database, All Data, to see what they recommended. A few minutes later, he returned to say that All Data did stipulate the same - that the timing belt was supposed to have been replaced. I then explained what happened with the crank shaft sensor's malfunction and subsequent repairs that included the costly replacement of the belt. Mr. Albert then looked at the belts I brought with me:

  
Above: Balance Shaft Belt

Above: Close-up image of destroyed balance shaft belt. Note the loose teeth on the white background and the ones still intact on the belt. These had fallen off and interfered with the crank shaft position sensor and caused it to go out, resulting in the engine's failure.

Above: Packaging from replacement balance belt and other replaced items.

Above: Ruined v-ribbed belt that was removed from vehicle during Hyundai Harbor's service, the same belt Accurate Auto stated on the invoice I received after the 60K mile service was completed indicating the belt was "ok". Clearly it was not and as Mr. Albert admitted during our conversation on July 8, 2010, could not have become that worn (note the cracks which should be smooth) in just 2 months time and should have been replaced.

Mr. Albert stated that the service Accurate Auto provided me was negligent and furthermore added that Accurate Auto was responsible for the subsequent engine failure I experienced Saturday, June 19, 2010. He made copies of the invoice from Accurate Auto at the time of the 60K service, Harbor Hyundai's service that was performed on Monday, June 21, 2010, the towing bill for over $1,300, and the invoice I had printed up listing the expenses I incurred as a direct result of their negligence. He said that he would give the information to Mr. Robert Jeffries, the owner of Accurate Auto, that evening or the following morning as Jeffries would be the one to handle the settlement.

The following day, Friday, July 9, 2010, Mr. Albert called me to tell me that he had seen Jeffries the previous evening, given him the information and paperwork and would be in touch with me. He was unable to say when exactly, stating it could be in the hour or up to a week, but did assure me Jeffries was concerned and would be taking appropriate action.

When I hadn't heard from Jeffries or Albert by Friday, July 16, 2010, I called the shop and spoke to Albert. He was puzzled as to why Jeffries had not contacted me and stated he would inform Jeffries I had called and expected to hear from him shortly. Another week passed and on Friday, July 23 I attempted to call Rob Jeffries at Accurate Auto. The employee who answered the phone asked who was calling, then put me on hold. Several moments passed and the employee claimed Jeffries had left. I have evidence to the contrary. I asked for Chuck Albert. Several more moments passed after being put on hold and Mr. Albert came on the line. Frustrated and feeling that I was being taken for a ride, I expressed this curtly with Mr. Albert. I informed him that I felt they were jerking me around. Mr. Albert was quick to say if it were up to him, this would have been settled, but he's not the owner and is not able to do so. At that time I told Mr. Albert that I saw no other alternative than to pursue legal action. After our phone conversation, I sent a formal demand letter to Jeffries at Accurate Auto along with the itemized invoice for the expenses I incurred as a result of their negligence.

On Friday, August 6 I checked the status of the certified letter I sent. It was noted on USPS's website that the article had been refused at by the addressee and was being returned to the sender (me). At this time, there is a formal letter of complaint that's been filed with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, NAPA Auto Care's customer service, and inquiry being made to the Ripoff Report folks. I've since learned that Michelle Jeffries, whose Facebook page shows she is married to Robert Jeffries, is listed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as the owner of Accurate Auto, and therefore has been reported.

Why the Jeffries' and Accurate Auto are failing to uphold their claim to taking customer service seriously, is a complete mystery to me. Why they feel it's appropriate to let a woman traveling alone with her children be stranded out in the desert overnight and not make any attempt to offer a remedy to something that was caused directly by their negligence is more than disconcerting, it's contemptuous. I urge anyone considering taking their auto care needs to Accurate Auto to reconsider and share with others this experience so others are equally informed. This isn't about money, it's about doing what's right. It's about honest, integrity, and being true to the promises you make. The Jeffries' promise is as they pledged above. Clearly they have failed on all accounts and should be held accountable.

Side note: A review was posted to the Accurate Auto Facebook page that has since been removed. It read:

As I stated before, Mr. Jeffries, even if you do remove the review from your Facebook business page, this is on the World Wide Web, it won't go away.

Other reviews can be found at Yelp.com under Accurate Auto in Chico, California (as linked throughout this post), Twitter.com, Facebook, and pretty much anywhere you look online. Because you simply can't fall short of your responsibilities and leave someone literally out in the desert, helpless, and not expect there to be some sort of karmic payback.

I’ve always been the Good Samaritan, even when visiting Washington (the state) where it’s more or less illegal to help someone in need. Whether or not I could be sued for my efforts, I find it pretty appalling people can behave so poorly, but I digress.

I suppose I should consider investing in one of those newfangled electronic gadgets all my kids and their kids have these days that remind you of everything you’re supposed to be doing and prodding you with a selection of chirps, chortles or entire songs they plug in from their computers if you haven’t gotten to it yet. That’s if I manage to make it past my 70th birthday without putting myself into another tailspin and dropping dead of a heart attack. Until then, my plan is to keep my mouth shut. I’d never forgive myself if it slipped out how forgetful I am and one of my well-meaning kids mistakes it for Alzheimer’s and sends me off to live in an old folk’s home.

K. Leung, 2008
All Rights Reserved

Exercise:
Write down a bumper sticker you like. (It's a good idea to exchange with someone else so you are working with one you don't actually remember.) Describe the car (van, truck, SUV) this bumper sticker is stuck on--make, model, year, color, condition. Open the door. Describe the smells and textures. Name three objects you find. Name a fourth object you're surprised to find there. Look up. Here comes the owner. Who, walking how, wearing what, carrying what, with what facial expression? The owner says something. What? (Burroway, 20)

You might rationalize that the cost of service alone is well worth the policy. You may even look at the reduced coverage on large appliances and other big-money items is worth the annual fees even when the premiums are increased. But if you look closely and carefully, you'll start to notice that the restrictions have doubled, then tripled and even quadrupled. Got a leak on the exterior faucet? Too bad. Not covered. Air conditioning conked out? Tough luck, you didn't perform the recommended prevention maintenance as we recommend. Got a repair service provider out that is a lazy bum and claims the two dollar soldering job done on your thermostat will solve the problem and a week later, your furnace dies? Not their problem, they'll tell you. "We're just going off of what the service repair person reported, who is the authority in this matter."

I really wish I could tell you that I got these examples from places like Consumer Affairs, but no, these are actual examples after talking with family, friends and our own experiences when using their "service" since 1995. In the years, we've even see the contractors that have been sent out, change. Spend any time waiting for an AHS representative to answer your call while listening to their recorded message loop around, and you'll understand they've become, more or less, a monopoly. They use Cleanmasters, Servicemasters, and have an umbrella of other services that include Terminex (and that in and of itself is scary if you spend any time looking into them for pest control services, gives me the eebie jeebies just thinking about it) among others. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but these aren't the people I want anywhere near my home, let alone tromping around to fix and service this or that.

A few years ago, when our policy came up for renewal, we decided to let it expire. Shortly after I received a call from an AHS representative. I explained that the lump sum they required was no longer affordable and we weren't so sure we needed the since watered down services they still offered. He was a damned good salesman. By the end of the call, we renegotiated the terms and he had my credit card information along with an arrangement to bill me monthly for a more affordable amount, no added fees tacked on and, as he explained, able to be terminated any given month.

As you probably know, when things roll over to a credit card, you tend to forget about the charges. Until the card is about to expire, they send you a "friendly email" and then you're back to reconsidering - do we really need this service? When's the last time we even used it? Is this an expense we can cut when things are as tight as they are? Can we make a claim against our homeowners policy if something big happened and exceeded our hefty deductible? That was us and we came to the conclusion, let it ride.

A couple of months passed and -wham- in comes a letter from a collections agency. It says that on behalf of AHS, their client, they're reminding us we still owe AHS several hundred dollars. They were even nice enough to include their client's billing address and phone number. Of course, it wasn't toll free.

As a homeowner, you're probably well aware of the importance of protecting your credit history. It's almost as precious as a baby. I phoned the number provided, waited a painful seventy-seven minutes to their messages that repeated so much I heard them in my sleep for days after, and finally was connected to a representative. I politely explained the situation, got the typical run-around that went along the lines of still owing money up until the policy was set to expire, which according to their records wasn't until November. I knew my rights, I knew their own limitations, and I made it clear that once we rolled over into the monthly billed amount, that these supposed "life of the policy" rules were no longer effective. That's when the representative said I had to call to another department and they would make a final decision. I stood firm. No, I fulfilled my end of the bargain, I chose not to renew my credit card information, they had no legal grounds to come after me, they were to immediately cease and desist with their attempts to collect and that if they continued, if there were any bad reports made against my credit history, I would sue them to the full extent of the law.

The representative said she would share this with the other department and that they'd have to call me to confirm the cancellation, so on and so forth. Good luck, I told her. I won't be around to take the call, I was heading out of town in the morning and could make it just as difficult for them as they'd made it for me. Regardless, the demand still stood, they were, I repeated firmly and made her repeat back to me, to cease and desist. She said she understood and would "relay the information."

Dated a week after my phone call that took an entire ninety-two minutes of my time (billable at $100/hour for a 3-hour minimum), another letter was sent from the same collection agency. I was informed that the clock started ticking when I received the first correspondence and had a mere thirty days to respond to their communication. It seemed vague about anything further than that, but the intent was loud and clear. That's when I began digging into AHS online and found hundreds of complaints filed against the company for a wide variety of things including this type of tactical (or maybe, tactless) maneuver in attempting to collect on debts that they really don't have a right to do.

I followed the advice on many of those complaint boards, went straight to the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) and filed a complaint according to their form driven website. Earlier today I received an email from the office that handles complaints about AHS and was told I would be hearing back from them soon.

A word to the wise, avoid American Home Shield. I can't suggest another warranty service that might be a better choice because I'm still dealing with this and haven't researched any, but given the headaches and the frustrations of dealing with this particular company, American Home Shield, which I've heard complaints have also come from many of the legitimate service companies AHS used to send out to service the policy, you're better off putting that money in a money market account and using that to make your repairs.

Should you hire a professional photographer? No, not really. In a way, that's like getting professional photos of yourself to put up on a dating site. It sends out the wrong message. You're better off saving that money for the repairs and maintenance that come hand-in-hand with owning any property.  A digital camera that allows you to take hundreds, even thousands, of pictures and a good editing program are about all it takes. Even the editing program is a luxury.

Make sure you set the size of your digital photos large enough to capture the colors and finite details. It makes it easier when it comes time to prep the photos to put on your site or load to an online photo album your guests can peruse.

Snap away from every angle imaginable, be sure to get several photos of each room and from different places within the room.

Staging is important. Take time to make sure all the chairs are lined up and linens are straight. A lopsided edge, a slightly angled leg can stick out like a sore thumb. If your kitchen is fully appointed, make sure you take a few shots of cupboards with doors open so your guest can actually see the dishes, utensils and so forth. Don't provide linens? It's okay to throw a blanket or bedspread over the bed so it doesn't look sterile even if that blanket/spread isn't  actually provided. Just be sure that you are clear the guest must bring their own linens (some advise to have a section that the guest must initial in the contract to show they're fully aware of this). Adding a disclaimer near the picture that states the item isn't included is acceptable and highly recommended.

Fish-eye shots are great, if you're in the hotel business. But they are deceiving which is why you don't need to do this when taking shots of your property. You can achieve dramatic pictures simply by changing the angle. Get down on the floor, step up on a chair, lean over a balcony, lay across an ottoman. Be creative.

When you're done with the photo session, offload them to your computer and take your time browsing through them. Sort out those that you really like into a different folder to come back to. Before you start working on the pictures you selected, be sure to go through the selected pictures and make certain you have at least three pictures of each area/room of the house, five of the more important rooms, such as the kitchen, living room and bedrooms. And make sure you have different angles, too.

Keep in mind that the picture doesn't have to be perfect. The most important thing is to show plenty of pictures, leave nothing to the imagination. Having several shots of a room allows your guest to be more comfortable with making a decision to choose your home to stay in.

The good news is, when you have several pictures of the room, you can load them to a free photo sharing site, such as Flickr or Picasa (through Google), Photobucket or a number of other sites, then link the album to your page and include a link in your email correspondence. Just don't link folks to an album that requires a password or the user to join or create an account.

If you're interested in having us take a look at your site or help you develop a site to showcase your rental property, let us know by leaving a comment.  Have concerns or considerations you'd like us to address, leave a comment here and come back to see if we answered it!

Recently we've been looking into some vacation rentals for this summer and have had to divert from our usual service for finding places because the pickin' was too limited for the areas we're considering. If you are a property owner, realtor, broker or have anything to do with short-term rentals, pay close attention. I have some trade secrets to share with you.

(1.) You do have a website, right? No? Get yourself one, especially if you are using an online service such as Vacation Rentals by Owners. With a website, you can add more photos, more information and present it in a more alluring manner. Also, you can expand your presence on the Internet. Tips and tricks for creating an alluring site without dropping big bucks or having a wealth of web design knowledge (along with a deal) are to follow.

(2.) Get yourself an "availability" calendar and keep it updated. Do not require your website visitor to download documents such as PDF, Word, etc. There are plenty of online tools available for free or charge a reasonable fee to use.

(3) Be clear about your rental rates and dates. On a regular basis I find that there is a lot of ambiguity about seasons. Be specific. If your rate increases during the summer, give a start and end date of that period (e.g. Summer: June 1 - August 31) and if there are holiday rates, be clear about those too. For example, if you charge more during Christmas, do you also charge more for Shavuot? Be clear, list the dates. Are you charging $280 for the night? Week? Month? Do you even rent for just a night or do you require a minimum of 2 nights stay? Be clear and concise. If you're running paragraphs to cover deals, requirements, changes and so on, you might want to reconsider your whole pricing scheme entirely.

(4) Pictures paint a thousand words. When looking for a vacation home, your guest is going to want to know what the bedroom and bathroom looks like. Sure, it's nice to have an exterior shot, a few of the kitchen and living room, but you are sending your potential guests scurrying off to your competitor when you keep 'em in the dark by not providing very clear details about the property. And really? There's no excuse. With free photo storage services such as PhotoBucket, Flickr and others, you can upload many photos and embed them onto your page or, as a few have done, direct your visitor to your photo album.

(5) Use the Force, Luke. The Internet is a powerful tool and too often in this business, it's not used to it's full potential. Provide full details. Don't push your potential guest into a buffer zone having to wait for you to reply to their inquiry. They will look elsewhere and even pay a few extra dollars (which in this business is a few extra Ben Franklin's) if it means getting the information up front and without the wait.

Does this mean shelling out to get an online reservation system? No. Does this mean getting a merchant account with Visa, Discover, Master Card and Discover to accept credit card payments? No again, but you'd be wise to use PayPal and differ the fees to your guest who will be willing to pay the 2% fee for the convenience.

Do incorporate guest book comments. Do provide an email request form.

What not to do:

Do not fudge on description. Having a sink outside the bathroom does not mean you have 1.25 bathrooms. A mini-refrigerator, stovetop with two burners and a toaster oven is not a full kitchen. Providing a set of four plates, bowls, cups and flatware is not a fully stocked kitchen. In this business, word of mouth is vital and can be viral, too. For example, we stayed in a home that clearly was not as advertised. I can assure you that every review-type service (Yelp, Travelocity, Yahoo! Travel, and many others) had a post about how bad the place was. It's more of a sin than attempting to date via the Internet with a photo of yourself from twenty years ago and forty pounds lighter.

Do not provide the physical address. Until the deal is sealed, don't provide the address of the property. Give a general location, but for the safety of your guests, don't post this information. And keep in mind that if you link to a mapping service, such as Google, Yahoo!, Mapquest, don't use the specific address for that purpose either.

Do not provide the property's phone number. Same as above. That should be included on the property opening/closing information sheet. And on that note, the phone number should be unlisted and placed on the "Do Not Call" list.

Do not rent without a contract! It seems like a given, but you'd be surprised at the number of property owners who don't require a signed contract. Never, ever, rent without one.

Do not cheese out your site with ads. Oh sure, you want to make extra money off the visitors driven to your site, but resist that urge. Your money is going to come from renting out the property, not sending people scampering away as they bat away the pop-ups and pop-unders or worse, click on the related sites in Google's Ad-sense because they'll be linking to your competitor's site.

Coming up: Tips and Tricks for designing your own property rental web site, templates, and a special offer. Bookmark this site and come back, or leave a comment along with your working email address (your address is never published and we don't spam) and ask to be put on the Property Information Blog Update list. You'll receive a confirmation that you must respond to before the email notification begins.

I want to let you know just how the Butte County Supervisors' proposed cut in library funding will probably reduce the library's open hours to as few as 12-20 hours a week.

If this happens, the conference room simply will not be available for more than 75 clubs and organizations who use this room each month.

Please ... write, E-mail, or telephone any or all of the County supervisors asking them to reconsider their priorities.  Although they have difficult decisions to make, they seem to forget the great importance of libraries to everyone, especially during difficult economic times.

Enclosed (follows) is a flyer the Friends are giving out which shows each Supervisor's mail and E-Mail address and their telephone number.
It's OUR library, please help keep it open!

Will your library be here after June?

• Butte County Library funding is proposed to be cut in half beginning July 1
  • From $3.1 million in June 2008 to $1.5 million for fiscal year 2009-2010 which starts this July
  • From 39 staff to 13 staff (1 staff member per 17,000 county residents -- the worst ratio in the state!)
• Hours will be reduced 71% - from a total of 219 hours to only 60 hours
  • 12 hours per week each for Chico, Oroville, Paradise and Gridley, 6 hours each for Durham & Biggs 
  • Community meeting room availability will be limited to library hours or eliminated
• Library services will be bare bones
  • Elimination of reference desk, Literacy Coach, Bookmobile, Books by Mail and requests from other branches or library systems
  • Restrictions in children's programs, online databases and computer access
  • No budget for books, magazines or newspapers

KEEP IT OPEN!

• Call or write to your Butte County Supervisor.
  • Ask that library funding not be cut further than the current 23% and to restore funds a.s.a.p.
  • Ask them to support a ballot measure that could provide stable funding for our libraries
• Attend the May 19th, 2009 County Supervisor's Meeting (according to website, the meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. and agendas are posted prior which can be found here: http://www.buttecounty.net/Clerk%20of%20the%20Board/Board%20Meeting%20Information.aspx)  
  • Location: County Government Center, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville
  • Wear red, speak up
  • Bring every library supporter you know with you
• Purchase and install a license plate holder - KEEP IT OPEN!
• Support your local Friends of the Library group
• Your tax deductible donation can purchase books, furniture, equipment and support special programs
• BUTTE CO LIBRARY

Butte County Supervisors:
Dist. 1: Bill Connelly
538-6834
bconnelly@buttecounty.net
5280 Lower Wyandotte Road
Oroville, CA 95966

Dist. 2: Jane Dolan
891-2830
jdolan@buttecounty.net
196 Memorial Way
Chico, CA 95926

Dist. 3: Maureen Kirk
891-2800
mkirk@buttecounty.net
196 Memorial Way
Chico, CA 95926

Dist. 4: Steve Lambert
538-2514
slambert@buttecounty.net
3159 Nelson Road
Oroville, CA 95965

Dist. 5: Kim Yamaguchi
872-6304
kyamaguchi@buttecounty.net
747 Elliot Road
Paradise, CA 95969

It's always helpful to cc those you are supporting.  Also, CFoL is selling the Keep It Open/Butte Co Library license plate holders.  Further information is available at their Web site.

Chico Friends of the Library
PO Box 6952
Chico, CA 95927
www.chicolibrary.org

While today's technology lets us virtually visit nearly every place in the

world, some may argue that's sufficient enough data to incorporate into a fictional novel. But is it? 

Stephenie Meyer, author of the bestselling saga, Twilight, a paranormal young adult romance, based her books on very real towns in Washington: Forks, La Push, Port Angeles and Seattle.  Admittedly, she never actually visited these places prior to publishing her novels. 

While her research was daunting and rather well done, there are some rather glaring inconsistencies that could have easily been avoided if (a) she'd simply fictionalized the towns or (b) actually visited them. 

For example - Forks is primarily besieged by constant cloud cover, however, unless the clouds are laden with rain, the effect of the sun and clouds actually intensifies the brightness.  That's a huge flaw in all of the books.

Another example entails traveling between three of the commonly referenced towns: Port Angeles, Forks and La Push.  Type it into Google and you'll find that, for the most part, travel time is consistent with that Meyer's incorporates into the saga.  Drive it and it becomes a whole new ball of wax.  The inconsistencies are, once again, glaring.

The list goes on ranging from landscape to architecture to tradition and to points of references. 

But there's the twist: does it really detract from the story Meyer's weaves?

Had Meyer's stories not become as widely read, would many even bother visiting the towns she wrote about?  Would - or for that matter - does anyone care about these problematic areas?  As logical human beings, are we primarily a society that can look aside from the creative licenses so liberally taken and enjoy the tale being told or does this knowledge somehow diminish the return?

Let's take this a step further.  Let's say Meyer's changed the names and retained all aspects and elements of telling a truly fictional story.  Would doing so cheapen the tale to the point readers would turn away from the stories?  Would they Google the locations and come up short and decide not to continue reading the saga as a result?

Consider Stephen King whose stories revolved around a very real location, his own town of residence, Bangor, Maine.  Are the details precise?  I personally couldn't say.  I've never visited the areas nor do I plan to.  I'd go if the opportunity presented itself, but as a point of destination just for the thrill of seeing some tangible relic of a purely fictional tale, hell no.  And even then, if I did and found that, like Meyer's, the details were off, would I cast aside the stories as devalued pieces of sensationalized hogwash?  Of course not!

Greg Iles bases some of his novels in Natchez, Mississippi, a very real location.  Dean Koontz incorporates fictional towns while adding in very famous, well-known, widely written about landmarks and locations, such as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). 

So no, it doesn't or at least shouldn't.  If it does then clearly it's not the fault of the writer but rather a disconcerting inability of the reader to separate fiction from reality in which case, a therapist, psychotropic medications and a hands-off policy for Internet use and cable TV viewing should be strictly enforced.

And now I must bid you adieu.  I have a few more satellite maps to download for my CAD program as I build my subterranean Wiccan meets Atlantis metropolis.

I'm old faithful when it comes to pranks.  I love them and take great joy in pulling them. 

Back when I was growing up, some friends of ours played a really good prank on my sister and me.  Just recently, when visiting our friends, I

recalled the memories.  Neither of the brothers recalled the incident, or at least admitted to it.  But I sure did and have shared it with my own kids who got a big kick out of it. 

The brothers are genius nerds by their own admission.  And while they tended to be mortal enemies, there were times that they worked well together.  Such was the case that humid soaked July afternoon when they spent tireless hours wiring up the bedroom that was temporarily taken over by my sister and me. Amidst the huge train set suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the room and the wild mish-mash array of all things nerdy, they worked a series of switches and levers so that when we were drifting off to sleep, from a remote location, they were able to unleash the mad science of freaking us out. 

It might have worked much more to their liking if the youngest, a mere year my junior, hadn't used a stage whisper to call back to the others (my brother got in on the prank just out of luck, he's a guy so naturally, he gets to side with the other guys) declaring "I think they're asleep."  If I hadn't been so curious, I would have whispered back, "yep, dead asleep."

From the furthest corner of the room, hidden beneath stacks of books and electronic odds and ends, a chain rattled.  I grinned as I looked over in the dim light at my sister who was sound asleep, wondering how much longer she'd stay that way.  The noise grew louder and then sprang magically across the room and emanated from under her bed.  She shrieked as she sat up, eyes wide and bulging. 

"Shhh," I cautioned as I pressed my finger to my lips and then proceeded to whisper the way it should be done, nice and quiet.  "It's the guys, they're trying to scare us.  Come sit here," I said as I offered a place on my own bed, having settled in for the show.  She scrambled across and made her own dent on the mattress.  Huddled together, we peered out into the darkness wondering what was next. 

It wasn't much longer we'd have to wait.  A bright light streamed into the nearest window, playing with the lace curtain and turning it into a ghostlike apparition.  She shivered violently from her spot next to me.

If they'd used a more original wail, one that didn't come off the same LP our parents used every Halloween and piped out into speakers hidden in the trees to scare the little ghosts and monsters that came to our house trick-or-treating, I might have screamed, too. Except I didn't, I laughed.  My sister punched me. "Not funny," she whined. 

"Yes it is," I said as I continued to laugh, waiting to see if they had anything more to the show.  She didn't seem to agree but had stopped crying and was wiping her tears when suddenly there was a scraping noise across the roof just above the window and a shadow fell across it.  There, swinging from a rope, was a dummy fashioned out of the boys' father's pants, work shirt and what looked like a football helmet.  I doubled over in laughter as my sister stormed out of the room to tattle.

Seriously, how could you forget playing such a prank?  They claimed they did a lot of those hijinks back in the day, so the actual memories of that particular set weren't as fresh as they were for me.  Neither denied they did it, they just couldn't recall that particular incident. 

Stay tuned as I reveal my own pranks over the years in upcoming posts! 

I know, I know.  This from the very same man who manages to make me laugh (even though I grouse about his teasing that can go overboard and me, Miss Sensitivity on a rather frequent basis, overreacts - shhh... that's our little secret), has created some pretty interesting ways to Topsy-Turvy our tomato plants, did a fair job at reupholstering the boat seats during the short 4 months or so we actually owned a boat.  I was pretty surprised myself he couldn't come up with anything.

In his defense, I must say that he was pretty good about involving the kids in coming up with some thoughtful, personal creations; such as the ceramic plate they put their handprints on and then painted, had it fired and presented it to me when they were about five or the beautiful beaded necklace and bracelets they created and gave to me for Mother's Day a few years ago (ones that I still get raving comments about whenever I wear them and can proudly say "my sons made these for me"). 

But then, something truly amazing happened.  Oh, I won't just tell you, how about I show you? Let's take a gander:

After unwrapping this very heavy box, I see that it's a case of the only diet soda I can drink, Pepsi One, because it has Splenda in it (I can't drink saccharine or aspartame because it gives me an instant migraine that shuts me down for several hours).  Nice.  But then I break it open and find that it already was opened once before.  Inside, each individual can is wrapped with Press-n-Seal plastic wrap with a Dutch Bros. $1 gift certificate underneath.  Twenty-four (he gave me the remaining 6 after I got them all off the cans. 

This was a few years after I'd found these (see below) in my Easter basket from him...

Which was seven months before I opened this...

a photo album with printed copies of all the digital pictures we'd taken over the past year, with...

you guessed it, Dutch Bros. certificates tucked into several (about 19 in total not including the one in the front pocket) of the sleeves.  But that one I figured out already because they had been in such a hurry to get the gift assembled and then out the door to go play a round of golf before sunset and forgot to clean up after themselves.  The only trick was, trying to figure out how they "hid" the certificates. 

This particular gift, a table-top Lazy Susan style rack of seasonings, was more-or-less regifted.  I'd bought my husband, a master chef (well, more or less, he's one mean tri-tip griller among other things) a similar rack but several of the lids were broken and so he took it back.  There weren't any more left and then along came my birthday, so, voila! Anyway, this was the hardest one the boys and he put together for me.  They wrapped the bottles with the certificates and then put them back inside the rack.  The problem was, the paper kept uncoiling and sliding down the center. I was completely surprised, though!

And finally, the recreated picture of the very first time he did this little project and presented it to me.  He bought $20 worth of certificates and then pushed each one into a paperclip strung through the end of a zip-tie to create a colorful bouquet and then used a travel mug as the vase.  I burst out into tears when he gave that to me, it was so very moving.  It's now become a joke to see (a) if he can outdo the previous gifts he's given me and (b) if he can surprise me with the new creation. 

Does this mean I'm cheap? That I can be easy with a mere $20 worth of coffee certificates?  Oh, I won't answer that one!  Only he gets to know that answer! ;0)