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Monday, July 1, 2013

Poor Little Plastic Car

The Baboos and I just returned from a trip to the grandparents' house (hence the whining silence last week--plenty to whine about, just no computer handy).

On the way home, I ran over a large piece of tire, which beat up the front and underside of my poor little plastic car (a T0y0t@ Pr1us). Mini and I had small emotional breakdowns, but Sweet was a rock. Rolled with the punches. Extremely nice service manager at a Chrysl3r dealership pulled off the broken plastic pieces for free and made sure it was ok to keep driving. Seriously. For free. While we ate lunch. Back on the road within an hour.

Hopefully no car disasters have befallen the other pixies, but I'm sure you have whines. Let's hear 'em.

42 comments:

kathy a. said...

Wow! Kudos to the car dealership! Yay for Sweet being a rock! That must have been really stressful.

How was the grandparent visit?

W: heat wave. Not so bad as other places, but we have no AC, and I melt when the house gets toward 80F. Seriously, I turn into the wicked witch. Had to put myself in time out yesterday.

AW: cold leftovers and salads should see us through the next couple of days.

Old skool: zits. They really detract from that aspiration to age gracefully.

Happy Canada Day!

kathy a. said...

BOOK CLUB: July 10, 2013 - Les Miserables [2012 movie version]. This was PK's suggestion -- with the movie modification because such a long book seemed too much to ask.

It does not appear to be available on Netflix. Amazon offers a 2-day streaming "rental" for $4.99, or you can purchase rights to view anytime, however many times, for $12.99. Should be available at video stores, or even for free at your local library. Feel free to join in if you saw this, or read the book!

esperanza said...

We set our a/c at 80 degrees. At least when I'm in charge. But, sympathies on the heat wave. It was awful here over the weekend, such that 93 degrees seemed "cool" today.

Grandparent visit was pretty good. Sweet was on her very best behavior (if only that had gotten packed in the car). Great grandma is not so good.

esperanza said...

And now hubby is going to have to fire someone. And I have to soothe his fretting over it, or not get any sleep.

Sue said...

esperanza - that must have been so stressful! Yay for good car service and Sweet the Rock. Sorry about Mr. E's firing task - I can't imagine how hard that would be.

Kathy I hear you on the zits. Ugh.

AW Canada Day! Fireworks! We have a great view from our balcony....

W: my dad was admitted to icu with heart difficulties yesterday. They did a cardio conversion and he's stable. Tomorrow I'd cardiac cath and possible angio. He's very far away from us in another part of the province but he's at one of Canada's best research hospitals. Still, hard to be here when he's there.....

esperanza said...

oh Sue, hugs to you, and I hope your dad sails through tomorrow. It is hard to be away.

First time firing anyone for Mr. E. I guess it's good he's fretting--not something you want to do lightly.

kathy a. said...

((( Sue ))) Good he is at a great place! Hard to be far away. xoxox

Esperanza, Mr. E is a keeper. I'm sorry great-grandma is not doing so well. xoxox

Anonymous said...

((((Sue))) hope your dad improves quickly!

((((Esperanza)))) sorry about great grandma, and firing people

--Neighbor Lady

kathy a. said...

AW: Yay! It was supposed to be "broil" today, but the magic marine layer showed up, so it's not bad.

Saga AW/W: The up side of this support group for SIL's special kind of dementia is that omg, it all fits. We are not actually crazy. Or alone. And a down side is learning exactly how it will just keep getting worse. It's better in the long run to have lots of information, give it a little time.

AW: son is by again, eating another metric ton of pasta salad. :)

esperanza said...

AW: cooked a really great supper tonight
W: I was the only one that liked it

kathy a. said...

leftovers? ;)

esperanza said...

Yes, lots. Would you like some?

kathy a. said...

Sure. Care for a little pasta salad for the side?

I'm in need of light reading material for getting to sleep, and those times I wake in the night. Suggestions? Our library will have a table at the 4th of July fair, and they usually have a ton of cheap books, so I'll need to stock up there.

AW: 4th of July fair! It's a tradition in our town. There is an international music festival at the park, live acts alternating with DJ music; lots and lots of booths (community groups; crafts; etc.); food of all descriptions; an art show; fire trucks and police cars to inspect; games; a magician; belly dancing; etc. Tall colorful flags, waving in the breeze. Friendly dogs. Cute kidlets, such as ours were when we first started going.

Anybody else have plans?

Sue said...

AW: dad got through his angio well. They put in a stent and he is resting now.

kathy a. said...

Oh, Sue! That's great news!! xoxo

esperanza said...

oh, good, Sue. Thanks for sharing.

Miranda said...

That is wonderful news, Sue!

esperanza said...

Mr. E has now fired the person (er, accepted his letter of resignation). Let us now resume our normally scheduled sleeping, for Pete's sake.

kathy a. said...

Oh, letter of resignation. Very graceful. Sleep is a good thing.

Sue said...

It's always good when those "keep you awake at night" things are done.

Happy July 4th everyone!!

esperanza said...

W: here's how this works at our house: Mr. E has hard day at work, stewing over many complex and complicated interpersonal issues. Arrives home, post-meeting, around esperanza's bedtime. Wants to talk. Dumps said complexities and difficult emotions, soliciting input from wife. Mr. E sleeps soundly. Esperanza left stewing, tossing and turning.

AW: yes, glad it's over, though the effects will linger for a while. Hopefully everyone concerned has learned something. Fairly certain that I slept better than the author of the resignation letter, poor guy. I have been in his shoes, and lo, it stinketh.

esperanza said...

W: also, Mr. E is working all day. Letter of resignation = extra work. Plus two funerals this weekend. Yes, it's a holiday, but the work doesn't go away. He's spent lots of energy and time on this firing business all week, and the other stuff has stacked up.

AW: Don't tell anyone, but the Baboos have been playing, all day long, *nicely*, together and separately. The house is a disaster, but Mama is a happy girl, especially given the whine above.

kathy a. said...

Happy baboos who are playing nicely far outweighs the need to compete for the Good Housekeeping award. (Which I believe we mostly give ironically, anyway.)

Not seeing a lot of Esperanza time in that schedule, though. xoxo

AW: My beloved got a promotion!

W: He's not feeling very festive. A big report about SIL came yesterday, and last night (while he was celebrating with his best friend) the facility needed his permission to increase her meds, because she is very agitated and obsessing about her first ex, and running away from staff and getting physical with staff. And, so on.

AW: Went to the city July 4 fair and music festival with daughter! This was HUGE fun when she was little, and is still fun. Oooh, bonus -- she ended up having a long conversation about jobs with somebody working a green community type booth! (No idea how that got started, but he was very encouraging!)

esperanza said...

have no fear, kathy a. I sat on the couch and read a trashy book all morning, while they were entertaining themselves.

esperanza said...

and I somehow missed your AW. Hooray for your beloved. Promotions are good!

kathy a. said...

Happy intermission: mama dog and baby goat! Teh cute!

Sue said...

esperanza - so sorry about all of the firing anxiety for both of you. How awful. I have to admit, I'm surprised that a pastor would have to do the actual firing. I would never have anywhere near that kind of authority, even with the backing of the board. Different systems, different ways....

Yay kathy a on hubby's promotion!!! Hopefully soon when things settle down a bit you can have a celebration.

AW: working at home today (as I do on Fridays) - it is warm enough outside that I'm working on the balcony. Sunshine! Birds chirping! WooHoo!

kathy a. said...

Sun! Balcony! Birds! Yay!

The official firework shows around the bay started around 9 last night; the unofficial ones started earlier, lasted later, and there was a good burst around 1 a.m. ??? We're kind of on the side of a geographic bowl, so we hear big noises from afar.

Liz Miller said...

Congratulations Kathy A's husband!

W: One of Muffin Man's gerbils (the more adventuresome one in this post), has gone to the big hamster wheel in the sky.
He got a tumor in his scent gland, and went from happy and playful to sad and in obvious pain within a week.
.
This is not the first pet death in our household post Muffin Man's arrival, but it's the hardest.





kathy a. said...

Oh, Liz. There needs to be a ceremony. Please convey our condolences.

He was a good gerbil, a brave and noble and inquisitive gerbil, and a very good friend. We are so sorry that his last week was hard, and we will miss him. He will always be loved. xoxo

Liz Miller said...

Kathy, that is a perfect eulogy.

esperanza said...

Aw, sorry about the gerbil.

Sue, I know. He is United Methodist, and he has way more authority than anyone in our system. He did confer with his immediate superior, as well as the personnel committee at the church (don't ask me what they are responsible for, if he's the one that hires and fires. I can't quite figure it out).

Fire-ee and wife came in for a second "spirited conversation" yesterday, which was not pleasant.

Enjoy your day on the balcony!

Sue said...

So sorry about MM's gerbil. Kathy's eulogy is perfect.

esperanza said...

oh good grief, now we are in the second-guessing phase. Fire-ee's wife spreading news before fire-ee has had a chance to notify people himself. Not cool.

Sue said...

Well bless her heart..... Not cool at all. Argh.

kathy a. said...

Bless her heart is right. (Sue is Canadian, but I can hear the Southern meaning of the phrase from here.)

I did not mean to develop a sub-specialty in pet eulogies, but it all started the day I was volunteering for the 1st grade class -- they released the butterflies they had raised, yay! But then Eric accidentally stepped on the one with bad wings. Which was really upsetting, especially to Eric, and so the teacher and I improvised a nice ceremony and burial. The teacher always hoped for classroom pets to pass during non-school hours, after that.

esperanza said...

Oh, kathy a, you're reminding me. Many moons ago, I had a new divinity degree on my wall but no job. So I was a substitute teacher in the public school district. First day I got called in, third grade. Trying to remind myself "not cool to talk about God." Kids walk in. "Miss (common form of address here), are you our substitute? The frog is dead! Can we have a funeral?" Felt like a trap, I tell you.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Quick whine using my sister's wireless hotspot, from camp:

1. Mosquitos (of course)
2. Oppressive heat
3. Messed up sleep schedules and babies who want to rise and shine and give God the glory glory too early
4. Loud children and families right outside our door during naps
5. Tired at the end of camp. Old beds. Headaches.
6. Tons and tons of babies! (Echo boom of echo boom.) All staying in the same dorm hallway. Hot days + dirty diapers. Not enough high chairs. Overcrowding in the nursery.

Anti-whines:
1. Family and friends here
2. E is crazy about all the babies here. Friends!
3. The heat wave broke today, and I get to drink a cup of tea.

kathy a. said...

Quite the adventure, QWP! Good about the family and friends, and that E is making little bitty friends!

esperanza said...

Awards will come...maybe tomorrow.

Miranda said...

AW: Eight Women of a Certain Age, aided and betted by the husband of one the women, enjoyed a night out in College Town last night. We went to bed at 3am. Before that, we were silly yet embraced our relative maturity. I danced and danced. Everyone was surrounded by love and acceptance. I am proud to know them.

W: A relative has mental health issues that went into crisis this past week. The Authorities are now involved. No one is seriously hurt but things were very, very bad and may quickly deteriorate again. The affected relative can be incredibly sincere and charming which is often at odds with the more extreme behavior this person exhibits. I feel raw from trying to keep a handle on the situation.

kathy a. said...

Yay for girl's night out.

((( Miranda ))) I am so sorry about the relative with mental health problems. xoxox