Confessions of a One-Track Mind

The check finally arrived late Friday afternoon. Mb ran me to the bank, then kidnapped me for the weekend. Having spent the last couple weeks "married to my mailbox", as she ascerbically put it, it was wonderful not to have that weighing on my mind.

The combination of a cushy bed and a quiet neighborhood, to say nothing of not being completely stressed out of my mind knocked me out; I slept for ten solid hours Friday night.

Did a fair amount of running around Friday evening and Saturday. Stayed in Sunday morning---all day, actually---while Mb went out to see a friend's baby, leaving me to finish season 4 of Justified.

It was raining fish at oh-dark-thirty, so we skipped the food bank this morning---NOT as much of an issue as when I have no money at all---but we got out of her house and down to mine mid-morning so we could get my car hauled to her machanic.

I should've known better. Mb has crap luck with mechanics. But we got it hauled over there, then went to the bank so I could get money to pay J ahead for the phone (took care of May and June) and the three of us lunched at the Chinese buffet on the Island.

Was dropped off at my place around two, and despite having slept for ten hours the night before, I crashed for a two-hour nap. I know I've been stressed out and tired, but damn---!

Shortly after waking, I heard back from Mb's mechanic, who told me I need a new engine, supposedly because I'd spun the timing. That'll be $750, including labor, please....

I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. My daddy was a mechanic, and HE could change a timing belt. Replacing the whole freaking engine sounds like overkill to me. Perhaps coincidentally, he replaced the engine in Mb's car, too. Hers was still drivable, so I wonder what was really wrong---blown head gasket, maybe?

At any rate, I got ahold of the mechanic the C's use, who seems reliable. He's going to tow my car over to his shop in the morning and take a look. It may be that the darn car can't be saved for what I can afford, but I'm going to make sure and ask someone *I* trust.

That's where things stand now. More as it happens....

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In a more uplifting vein than my last post, a few things have been going right:

The boil water alert has been lifted. Yay!

J drove me around to my bank and I got funds to pay FPL. Then she ran me over to WalMart (less than a mile down the road), which was amusing.

See, I haven't been to the store in more than a week, and was out of everything. There's a S'leven right next to the FPL pay station, but the prices are way better at WalMart. J was suspicious when I said I just needed a few things and would be out in 15 minutes. Her mom Susie was notorious for saying that and coming out two hours later with a train of shopping carts.*

I checked my phone for the time when I went in, and did some speed spending. The usual: caffeine, bread, cheese, eggs, lunch meat, munchies. And I was back at the car with my loot only to find her on the phone...where she remained for another 15 minutes, so I could've taken my time.

Battery situation: Called around and found I can get a reconditioned one with a 1-year warranty, $45. Given the age and general decrepitude of my car, that sounds much more suitable than a brand-new one for $85.

It's too hot to run around hooking up the charger and all that this afternoon. I'll do it first thing in the morning, to avoid heat stroke. Mb, God bless her, is going to follow me to the salvage yard in case I stall out. I figure I'll change out my old battery there for a minimum of back-and-forthing.

Afterward, I'll stop by the beauty supply place for hair color, go home, do my hair, and call GK. At least, that's the plan. In the last 24 hours or so, my mind has been havind a tug-of-war about going to the reunion at all. I know, I've been driving y'all crazy talking about it for the last six months, so WTF, Fluffy?!

Because, really, do I honestly think the great love of my life is going to swoop down and save me from all the crap in my life? Or even buy me dinner, which looks to be kinda pricey, according to their on-line menu.

Face it, my teeth are dreadful. My smile is more scary than seductive. When I say I'm hot, it's in the WRONG sense of the word. (I'm sure I'm going to explode into a sizzling pile of pork rinds any day now.) I'm terrible at small talk, and sometimes I don't even recognize flirtation. Yes, I can dress up, but I have the sick feeling that anything I do is going to look like I'm trying too hard.

It's a chance to hang out with GK and maybe see some people I haven't seen in umpteen years. Supposedly, one of the big cheeses is subsidizing everyone's bar tab. (Mind you, I'm a really cheap drunk, so not a huge incentive, but still....) That's how I need to think of it. IDK. I'll talk with GK tomorrow and see what she thinks.

Saturday, there is talk of seeing a movie. Which one will depend on whetheer the kids are off touring KSC. If they're not, "Brave" has been mentioned. Otherwise, GK and I are both enthused about "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". Frankly, I'd rather spend the $8 on a movie ticket than an over-priced hamberger at the reunion.

I'm just hoping the weather will be decent for the picnic tomorrow afternoon and to catch a swim in GK's hotel pool. I'm really looking forward to that!

0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0

* That was right up there with her habit of telling someone on the phone, "I'm on my way out the door right now!", when in fact she was just getting ready to take a shower. I personally witnessed this on more than one occasion; the woman was constitutionally incapable of being on time for anything.

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This has been a weird week, and yeah, I know it's not over yet.

Spent a day at J's dog-sitting---she was over in Orlando and the neighbor who usual acts as doggie-butler has her own drama going on and was unavailable. I got to sleep in a/c, which was sweet. Came out to a dead battery and had to wait for J's return and a jump-start---my own fault: The door didn't latch properly, the light stayed on, which wasn't noticable when I got there in broad daylight.

My lights got turned off for non-payment. I have the money, but because I've been nervous about how fast it's shrinking, I delayed paying, which led to me sitting in the heat for several hours after I made the payment, which cost me an additional service charge. *facepalm* Yes, I know it was stupid of me, please let's not rub my nose in it.

I heard about Ray Bradbury's death and was startled, as I *thought* he'd already passed. I may have confused him with Kurt Vonnegut, both of whom I considered somewhat subversive in high school. IDK. Anyway, good-bye, Mr. Bradbury. You were a great American writer.

Speaking of writing, I'm really pissed with ff.net, which is on my last frackin nerve. It doesn't want to load---it takes multiple attempts every time. I hate their new log-in. I hate that they no longer give you the option to block ads. And I'm livid about their "reiteration" of their ratings policy. I'm about ready to jump ship for AO3, which annoys me mightily; I've been over their for about eight years now. I have a shitload of stuff posted there, including some major multi-chapter works, which it'll be a four-star pain-in-the-ass to crosspost, because AO3 does NOT make it easy. Grrrr.

My sleep schedule is back to being buggered up; I'm never quite sure of what day it is unless I check my phone. I hate it, but sleeping during the day is more bearable than being awake for it. Lots of cold showers either way.

Watched Rosalind Russell in "Sister Kenny" the other day. I figured Roz as a nun dealing with an epidemic would be a triple-play as far as my kinks go...alas, no nuns, but it was still okay. Saw "Walking Tall" (the Rock remake), which I'd seen when it was in the theater...prime case of "I didn't know he/she was in that!"...in this case, the love interest was Aisha in Dark Angel and Emily in Jericho. One of the minor villains was also in Dark Angel (Joshua), and the factor that sucked me in as I was flipping channels, Neal McDonough as the uber-villain. Justified just won't be the same without him next season!

Apologies to jdsgirlbev and gwyilliondream, both of whom had birthdays earlier this week. Hope they were awesome like you!

Hope it gets better from here on out. I cracked my neck a little while ago...sounded like my head was about to fall off, which wouldn't surprise me.

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Talk about being all dressed up and nowhere to go. Here I am, nicely garbed and ready to head to WalMart (because I discovered last night that I'm supposed to do hospitality today---I've *got* to stop signing up for this shit!), and lo and behold---my battery is ded. Defunct. Terminal, no pun intended.

I've called the church and left a message, inwardly cringing, because this was NOT what I had in mind. Granted, I was just going to grab some chicken and salad, but I had every intention of coming through with what I promised.

God damn it, WHY? If it's not one thing, it's five things! And they're all back-to-frackin-back!

iefalheihfiofejhaoiegfyeivhfdv!!!!!

Here's what's going on: My car has been sitting where I wrestled it to since Friday evening. I don't have AAA or roadside coverage through my insurance. None of my peeps with AAA has been available for one reason or another. And while there was a time when I would have just changed the frackin' thing myself, that was before my knees, back and shoulders began giving me grief. Kneeling is out; these days, if I end up on the floor/ground/short furniture, I have a hell of a time getting back up, and I feel it for days.

Anyway, this morning, I was contemplating whether if I got a particular person's number from certain other person, whether particular person might help me out. The phone rang. It was PJ, asking if I'd gotten the car sorted out. When I replied that I hadn't, he said he'd make a call, and rang off. Okay, since I *know* he has AAA, I thought it might be that, though I had my doubts---AAA has gotten very snarky about seeing ID to prove that you're the person who officially has the membership.

PJ called back and gave me the number of his mechanic, who I am to drive over to my car so he can take a look at it. That'll be this afternoon after the shop gets back from lunch. PJ said they---the shop---would attend to it. (Not sure if that means putting the donut on, or if PJ's going to pick up the tab for a new tire, I hope! I hope! which would be a fab birthday present. Haven't I gotten pragmatic in my old age?)

Now "all" I have to do is get my tag renewed, and the status will be quo.

Tomorrow calls for a food crawl to take advantage of the restaurants that offer free goodies for birthday celebrants. I'd really rather do that in my familiar vehicle, POS though it may be. I'm going to be joined by Mb sometime after breakfast, and in the evening, we're headed over to J's for canasta.

Saturday, I need to get my tail in gear early enough to take my cans in for recycling for a bit of extra cash so I can see Contagion, which I'm *really* looking forward to.

The Sons of Anarchy season premiere was excellent; it's set up all kinds of things to come. Thankfully, Mb has agreed to record things for me so I won't miss out after I go back home to my cable-deprived premises.

I dreamed I was exploring the French house. I couldn't find any of the rooms that were posted, and there was a man outside watching me and making a call---I knew it was to les gendarmes!---and I was trying to get out of sight, but there wasn't anywhere that wasn't visible from the windows.


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I was headed over to J's this evening for the usual media night frolics when I suffered a flat tire. Of course I was in the far left lane, and the nearest turnoff -with-a-shoulder was a ways down on the right. I was lucky in that the person in the minivan behind me was NOT a maniac, so I was able to get pver eventually.

Pulled into the park and took stock of tire. Verdict: really most sincerely dead. Thank goodness for cell phone: I called J, who made very good time in riding to my rescue.

I'm expecting a check, although since it's a holiday weekend, that complicates matters. Such as, if I DO get the check tomorrow, there's nowhere to cash it until Tuesday. Not sure if my usual used tire place will be open before then. I have a donut spare, but need a way to get back up there to put it on.

I'll probably call the C's on their travels and ask if I can use AI's car for a couple days.

Really wasn't planning to have to replace a tire; just keeping the tank fullish is enough of a challenge.

WHY does my life have to be so darned complicated?!



ETA, J was good enough to run me to Publix (which was where I was planning to head before her place), because I needed beverages. There was a sample lady giving out chocolate wine...she very kindly gave me three shots of the stuff, and I only regret that I couldn't afford to buy a whole bottle.

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Spent the evening at J's...she wanted movies, so I showed her a couple 70s favorites, Hopscotch and Scavenger Hunt.

She's trying to repair hr old computer, and inveigled me into doing some soldering for her. Mind you, I haven't soldered in 25+ years, and her equipement was NOT up to par, but I think I got the job done, go me.

Then, on the way home, I got pulled over---my left brake light is allegedly stuck on. I would not be surprised, since electrical peculiarities have been an issue since day one. The cop just told me to look at it when I get a chance, and that was all.

I think it's absolutely hilarious that I've been driving that thing without a functioning speedometer for, like, three years, have gotten pulled over for no light over my license plate, allegedly failing to come to a complete stop, and this---but none of them has ever mentioned my speed. Proof positive that I really DO drive like an old lady!

The hell of it is, if I'd swung by the library to drop off the books I had with me (blonde moment, I forgot all about them), I probably would've missed the cop. Oh well, it might be that something worse would've happened, YNK.

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It's 45F/7.2C in my office at just past midnight. I'm wearing layers upon layers, including my coat and I'm doing my best to type in gloves.

Was going to go wander around WalMart to warm up, but my car won't start. Tomorrow, I'll fish out the battery charger and see if I can get it going. Got a new battery when I got the car, and that's about five years ago, so...not too surprised. Charger is buried in the trunk, won't that be fun?

As much as I bitch I'm USED TO being miserably hot. Miserably cold is just miseerable.

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Just before I woke up this morning, I had a dream. A guy gave me a pickup truck...I don't know who he was, I'm not sure what the circumstances, whether it was for something I'd done for him, or was going to do or what The truck itself was black, full-size, good shape---not *quite* Truckzilla, but close enough. It had a bunch of bumper stickers and back window decals on it, including a banner for some kind of business (carpets? tapestries?) in lieu of a tailgate.

The next day, I went to some kind of flea market or street festival. I got there early and stayed all day, and by the end of the day, heading back to the truck, I still felt energetic and happy. I met a cute guy and we were walking along, flirting.

I got to the truck and saw that the driver's door was open. Looked inside the cab, and it was stripped. Even the steering wheel was gone! I stepped back, and realized that the whole engine compartment, everything in front of the firewall was gone! Basically, it was the bed and the cab sitting there.

I was in shock. It occured to me that the original owner and I hadn't completed the paperwork, so even if the insurance paid out, I probably wouldn't get anything, and there was no telling if he'd pass it along so I could get the truck restored. I'd barely had it for 24 hours, and here it was, fucked beyond easy fixing.

Meanwhile, the guy I'd been flirting with said he had to go. I asked if I could call him, and he said he'd call me. And he got out of there, fast, as I tried to point out that we hadn't exchanged phone numbers.

I stood there, bummed out, and wondered where there was a phone so I could report the theft to the cops.

At this point, I woke up, feeling depressed. What does it say about my murky subconscious that even in my sleep, life craps on me? I get ripped off and blown off simultaneously. No luck with vehicles, no luck with my love life.

Why can't I have the GOOD kind of dream, where I'm having Discovery Channel sex with JDM or other hotties? Nope, no such luck.


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Yesterday before work, I came home and got what I wanted to wear to church today. On my lunch break, I ran up the road to Publix and grabbed stuff I needed to make up a veg tray for hospitality. (Having had the foresight to secure one of my big aluminum trays during the jaunt home.)

La-la-la, fewer idiots at work and a couple of awesome orders, go me. Went back to Schnauzerland and was up til 2 AM putting together the veggie tray and dip.

Church went well. AI was the speaker, talking about seasonal myths like Inanna, Demeter and Persephone, et al. My ensemble was well-received, the potluck was good, and everything was happy-happy-joy-joy right up til the point where I prepared to drive off and found my right front tire was flat. (And yes, I replaced both front tires less than two months ago.) PJ changed it for me, bless him, because it would've been the kiss of death to my outfit.

Back to the schnauzers and to pack up my clothes, groceries, etc. Hung out for a while, chatted with IslandLefty, headed home, 5-ish. Was getting off 528 at US1 when I noticed my Check Engine light was on. I came home and parked it, I figure I'll let it cool down before I take a look at it in the AM...on the way to the tire repair place.

Right now, I'm at the point where I'm too worn out with the perpetual "One damn thing after another" to even freak out about it. After all, tomorrow is another day!

Yesterday before I left to take the car to the garage AGAIN, I posted another 4.1 fic, because I knew coming home to a stack of comments would make me feel better, and it did. (Feel free to comment! Comment early, comment often!)

GarageGuy tinkered with the beast for about 40 minutes, said short of tearing it down and cleaning the fuel system (+$100), it was the best he could do. (No charge.) It's not fixed, it's still trying to cut out and I'm having to park it on the flat rather than in the driveway, but it's chugging along, and I know how to pop the clutch when it stalls out.

Today, I got GK's tape mailed---priority, so she should have it on Friday, and with tracking, because I'm a professional, and I know that shipping without tracking is a total crap-shoot.

Went rummaging in my trunk for something, and came across TWO unopened 2-liter bottles of diet cola. Caffeinated. Am hanging onto them for medicinal purposes.

Was annoyed by the impromtu economics lesson that delayed the Criminal Minds season premiere, but amused myself with thoughts of cleaning up The Prez's unibrow. Duct tape, anyone? (Plus? Looking at the doorway behind him, I kept wishing I had the software to do a manip and insert that bit from Risky Business so Tom Cruise would go sliding past in one ear and out the other.)

Oh, and the new Knight Rider is gonna be fun. KITT's a Cobra Mustang? Hell yes, fuck me now! It's hot!

I have mowing scheduled for tomorrow. Not the GFS---someone I know through church who speaks English. Now maybe I'll get those blasted hanging branches trimmed. At the very least, I won't have to worry about getting persecuted by code enforcement in the near future. At this time of year, I figure one, maybe two mowings and I can leave it alone til spring.

I need to take a dish in for potluck at work on Friday. I'm thinking bean and corn salad. (It's fast, and I have everything on hand.) That's one day I won't have to worry about packing lunch!

Okay. Went to WalMart. Got the basics. (Oh, okay, I admit it, I got a bottle of glow in the dark nail polish. So shoot me.) Came home. Car would not start in driveway.

But.

Driveway slopes steeply---about 35-degree angle (almost typed 35-degree angel, thank you very much, Castiel)---and I habitually back into it because I've had several cars where the brakes wouldn't hold any other way.

I wrestled it down to the flat area close to the street and it started okay. Current plan calls for taking it BACK to the garage tomorrow because if it holds true to form, by the time I get there it will be warmed up enough to do its thing. I'm not sure what I'm going to do if he can't fix it in time for me to get to work, but at this point, I'm strictly doing the Scarlett O'Hara method: I'll worry about it tomorrow.

Tonight I'm going to chill, watch the premieres of Heroes and CSI: Miami and think good thoughts. (And hopefully continue to get happy feedback on None So Blind, my SPN season 4 kickoff, which contains, for those who worry about these things, no slash, no wing!fic, no feathers, and for that matter, no Winchesters.)

"It started right up for me this morning," said my mechanic. I figured maybe there was a clog in the fuel line that got knocked loose going up and down the flatbed, but on the way home, it started running rough when I had to idle at lights.

Right now, it's sitting in my driveway. Kat's coming by in a while and we're going up to Walmart so I can deposit enough cash to pay (some of) my bills. Then...I don't know. I just don't know. I'm so crazy with stress I think I'm going to go blind. I'm sick to my stomach with dread.

All this because some idiotic pencil-pusher has decreed some arbitrary number for call handle times. None of this, NONE OF THIS would be happening if I was working from home. That is, the 2500 extra miles I've had to log since May have helped kill my car, drain my wallet AND stress me out. Thank you very much!

Am I rambling? Probably. I've already told PJ and AI, if anything happens to me, if I keel over in the call center, get creamed by a semi, or wind up in a rubber room, I authorize them to sue the bejezus out of my employer. It's all their fault.

09:35AM - I wake up.

09:45AM - I call garage. No answer.

09:48AM - I call missybrat, arrange to got to Melbourne to pick up/cash my check.

10:35AM - Mb arrives, we go to Melbourne

11:04AM - I take possession of my check. Call the garage again---no answer---leave message. Discover the branch of my bank closest to work doesn't have Saturday morning hours, unlike the branch closest to my house.

11:28AM - Cash check at Publix. (I wish now I'd picked up a few things while I was in there.)

12:20PM - Hit Woody's BBQ for lunch. Starving. Introduce Mb to their corn nuggets, heh heh. We both have the lunch combo and we both select sausage and spare ribs. Yummy!

01:45PM - Try calling garage again, still no answer.

02:20PM - Zoom up to garage, to discover no one there, no sign my car has moved since being off-loaded from tow truck. (Am pissed.)

02:57PM - Mb delivers me to work. (On the way from Sharpes to Melbourne, I enlighten her on why repeated viewings of the trailer for The Accidental Husband can lead to the overuse of the word "yummy". This includes rhapsodizing about JDM, aka "Sex on Legs". This definitely helps cheer me up.)

03:02PM - I log in. CSR-type shit ensues for the next few hours, blah, blah, blah.

11:31PM - Mb and her SO pick me up and deliver me home.

And that was my Saturday...which is, thank God, my Friday.

My car won't start. Not only is this going to cost me money for repairs, it's going to cost me time from work. I'm skating perilously close to a level of discipline that will bar me from going home, ahh, the irony. PJ is going to help get me towed to Old Car Guy, aka 2nd Choice, who is there until 5:30 today and working tomorrow---so I have a decent chance of being able to get to work tomorrow. I did not need this shit. (And White Trash Queen was plying us with free pizza today---I am bummed!)

Please, can we pray for a speedy and inexpensive solution to this problem?

So, I'm on my way to work, and I stop in at 7-11 for a sandwich for dinner. Come out. Get in car, car won't start. It's not a battery sound, it's not a starter sound, no, it's silent, which in my experience means the alternator is about to cost me money.

I called over to the C's, and discovered that G and her hub (also church members) were sheltering there, as their house has flooded---4 feet deep, according to her---and G-Hubby came out to collect me. He took me down to work so I could collect my check, deposit it at the bank, and brought me home. (Many thanks, adventurat, the Palm kept me entertained while I was sitting in the car waiting for Hub's arrival.)

There's no answer at Car Guy's. I feel a sense on lingering DOOM. What next, damn it?!

Dinner, I think. I'm going to splurge on pizza, which I've been craving for days, and spend the evening watching What Not to Wear and trying not to panic.

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Irony for today:

Virgo (8/23-9/22)
It's a great day for finalizing plans, especially if they are related to travel in any way. So go ahead and finalize your itinerary or sign any paperwork that needs to be signed. You're ready to go -- so let's get this show on the road! The era of uncertainty you've been struggling with is over -- and if any more information happens to come to light over the next few weeks, it shouldn't affect anything to any great degree. It's time to move forward decisively. (My Yahoo horoscope)