it only makes me laugh

new car

Finally got the car yesterday.
It's pretty. New. Blue. Honda Civic.

hope, fear, love, despair

Looking forward to the first party/gathering in the new house.

If you see a scruffy feline waif at the front greeting everyone, that's the neighborhood orphan we're feeding now. I hope she survives - she was nearly starved to death when she came around to us and I fear she might have kidney failure setting in. But, then again, she is much stronger and steadier on her lil' feets now. I've named her Doris. For Doris Day. Que Sera Sera.

I hope no one lets her inside on the carpet. She is strictly an outside animal for now until we decide whether to commit to her lifetime care and consequently wash, de-infest, and groom her. I can't decide what would be best to do. We can't afford a signficant vet bill, but if she's healthy enough, we can swing spaying, shots, etc. - the usual maintenance and care. Her greatest strength is she is one sweet kitty. Right now, our task is to allow her a safe, dry place to sleep and to do our best to put some meat on those emaciated bones.

Anyone know a good vet near us?

Hot!

Sun zapping all energy.

Almost gave myself a relapse yesterday just by spending a few minutes weeding and trimming.

I'm thinking this would be a great time to buy an icecream maker. Not that I've ever made home-made icecream before but how hard could it be? And there is nothing like fresh peach icecream, for instance, or fresh fruit sorbet.

Lemonade would be really good too now. Or fresh limeade. Or lavender lemonade.

My appetite has returned today.

You Are a Visionary Soul

You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness. Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul. You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable. Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings. You have great vision and can be very insightful. In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself. Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend. You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

feeling somewhat better today

Still trying to get over the awful cold I've had since last Thursday. I've had little bugs before but this has by far been the most painful cold I've ever had, with lots of burning and pressure in my ears and throat. I was afraid I had something much more severe like strep, plague, shingles, etc. but a visit to my doctor didn't find anything bad.

Now, there is finally some drainage and less swelly feeling inside, but it stll stings to breathe in. I purchased a vaporizer on my way home from work and I hope that will help me sleep with more comfort tonight. Standard cold remedies just make everything dry and hurt worse. Because my thoat is still sore, I don't dare do flu shots to help me sleep. The only thing that helps is chicken soup and hot tea.

Mornings are the worse. I usually feel better after a hot shower and walking upright.

Danger

I have a friend who used to like to go driving on deserted country roads for long distances in a car that didn't have a working fuel gauge. He loved to scare himself with the possibility of running out of petrol in the middle of nowhere. I can't remember if he ever succeeded in becoming stranded in the scarey rural areas of the Carolinas.

I feel like I'm doing that with my finances now. I'm taking on debts with car loans that I can't seem to find a budget for. And yet, it's necessary to have a new car because one of the causes for my failing bank account is the constant maintenance and repairs on my 13-year-old car.

the wind

sleepless

I was in bed by 9pm, tired, ready to shut down the brain.


And then, my mother phoned at 9:45, which is quite late in the evening for her -

to talk about the car

and what she, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my uncle all think I should be doing

which, of course, has nothing to do with the decisions I made that I can live with.

Never let the loved ones know what you're up to.

Bush Sees A New Threat

the car

Driving home from various errands on Saturday morning, I was suddenly aware of how hot it was in the car. Looking down at the panel, the AC was off. As were all the gauges and the power windows. I drove the rolling oven I was stuck with all the way home and checked what fuses I knew of under the hood. I saw nothing wrong.
After that, Monster followed me to the mechanic where I left it for a diagnostic. They called a couple of hours later and said I could pick up my car. When I got back, they said everything was working now and should continue to work - as long as I don't run my air conditioning.

There are an entire group of fuses under my steering that I missed checking and those fuses - all or most of them - went out all at once from the air conditioner. So, how do I fix this problem? I have to replace the entire unit for a cost of $2197.00 or there abouts, mostly parts and not labor, and the dealership could possibly get the replacement in by Tuesday or Wednesday if I had gone ahead and bought a new unit that day.

I paid the diagnostic fee of $100 and took my car home. This car is too old and needs too many expensive repairs on a regular basis to fix again at that cost. Every time I turn around, it's another repair in the price range of $2000, give or take $20. Really - the cost of taking my car into the mechanic is nearly always the same.

Monster is going around lots with me in the evening to look for a new compact car to replace my old '94 sedan.
I test drove a Toyota Yaris yesterday. This evening, I hope to try out the Honda Fit. It is a pit that there are no cars left anywhere of last year's Scion or Civic that might sell for something within reach. Monster was eyeing the new Scion at the dealership yesterday, although he's not at all in the market for a new car yet - just dreaming and planning.

My needs are not much. I don't haul much around on a regular basis. Just need something with automatic transmission and air conditioning, and maybe power windows & doors and a stereo I can plug my iPod into. That and in a better, much more visible color this time around than beige or gray. I think the color of my car might be one of the reasons people seem to be constantly running into it in parking lots and while stopped at lights. It's amazing how often I'll just be sitting idle and someone will turn or back into me, or how many times I come back to my car in the parking lot to find mystery dents and scratches. Maybe I need a car in Safety Orange or Electric Chartreuse.

it's boring out in the burbs

and work is no better today. there is a deafening silence here.

dinner with friends tonight will be good.

need to find a gym to join.

need to find some night classes to take.

the good news

Monster has started organizing the upstair living room of the house.
I get paid today.
Labyrinth is playing on the big screen at the Midtown Landmark Cinema.