Car

OK, I think I'm ready.


This is a picture of my car (and, incidentally, myself). It's a 1994 Honda Civic, meaning it's having its 14th birthday this year. It's been a good car, and I'm quite attached to it.

Last Friday, when I took it in after the brake fiasco, I really just thought it needed new brakes. Not too expensive, pretty routine, and not really a big deal. It was heartbreaking to see it hooked up to the tow truck, but as the driver said, "It's like it's going to the hospital."

When I got the call from the dealership telling me that, not only did the brakes need entire replacing, but it was leaking fluid, the CV boots were cracked and had nothing left in them, and the timing belt/water pump had not actually been replaced, and all of this was going to cost over $2,000 to fix, I was pretty devastated. I mean, I laugh and say the car could go any day. But on Valentine's day??

The dealership held the car overnight while I asked everyone I know what to do - should I fix it or just give it up? The original estimate, just for the brakes, was $1,777; the car on Kelley Blue Book was worth $1,775 in good condition (not in totally undriveable condition). And although I really like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, I did just pay for my Globe trip, and had to take that money out of savings sort of unexpectedly. Not that I couldn't buy a new car, but who likes to see $20,000 disappear from their bank account??

After much devastation and lots of lovely support, I decided to fix it. After everything was said and done, it cost about as much as originally estimated, and I'm not sorry I did it.

Talking to a coworker today, I realized I've had that car longer than I've lived in any one place. It's been an utter constant in my life since I was 11, before I could even drive. It got me through high school, color guard, college, relationships, friends, here to my current home, and nearly through yet another degree. It's become it's own era.

Now, I know eventually, I will have to let it go and buy a new car (but not without donating the right rear quarter panel to a friend ...). And my mom had even forgotten how old the car was. Obviously the car has far exceeded its worth (and Andy has said at this rate I'm making money off the thing). But like my dad said, it would be especially hard to lose a member of the family, especially on Valentine's day.

Calming

I am SUCH a fan of these.

Mashed

Normally I'd just keep my music preferences to myself.

But this is a must-download. I've only heard the Moby version of Run On before, but it was easily one of the better, if not the best, songs on that particular album (too lazy to look it up). No wonder, because I like Johnny Cash and this particular style of music ... although I'm not quite sure what I'd call it. When this came on Radio Paradise (appropriately just before Peter Murphy's Cuts You Up), it was worth me checking out.

So, Download & Support.

Run

Someone posted this to myspace (yes, I still occasionally log in to myspace).

Step #1: Go to www.google.com
Step #2: Search for "find Chuck Norris"
Step #3: Hit "I'm feeling lucky"

Step #4: Laugh.

More to come on the car, once I'm ready to tell about it...

Worst

As in, worst Valentine's Day ever. But it has nothing to do with my lovely fiance.

First off, I was mad my professor canceled class last week, when he could have this week. We were going to get out early, but still - that's a whole drive up to LA that I could have avoided.

The day started off with giving Andy his Valentine's day gift, then rushing out the door. I had to get to work early because of an all-day meeting, and a lot of work had to be done. I managed to get some things done before the meeting started, but I couldn't finish for all of the people around. The meeting was to discuss what was going to happen in April; three days after I leave they're starting a new accounting system, and aren't prepared at all. All morning we discussed the things I said needed to be done when I started, and was told no.

I worked through lunch to try and finish some work. Training really takes up the day! The person I'm training is very nice, and picking up very fast, but I'm just not that good at explaining. After lunch, we went back to the conference room - where most of the attendees did not return until 30 minutes later. They'd gone out to lunch and had super slow service. The meeting was technically complete at 3, but since it was scheduled until 4, most of the group wanted to stick around (and since I'm the "expert" - yikes! - I had to stay).

Finally, not a minute before 4, I ran back to my desk to close things up. I got to see my work friends for the first time in about a week, and didn't actually leave for class until 4:20, 10 minutes late for beating traffic.

And oh, what traffic. I called my parents on the way to wish them a happy Valentine's day and unfortunately they got to hear all of my awful road rage. The highways were no worse than usual, but the traffic around campus was a parking lot! After nearly getting hit by someone who decided they didn't want to let me change lanes (after I was 3/4 of the way in), I got to the parking structure - which had the "Full" sign out in front. But, when I looked in from the street, it seemed there were plenty of parking spaces, so I ignored the sign and went on in. I guess just a bit of added stress, since the day had gone so swimmingly already.

I met up with some friends in the cafe, and we discussed why the other people in our group don't seem to want to respond on the meeting and projects we have due next week (and why I have, for some reason, become the group's scheduling secretary). Another of my group members was in my class, and I was going to talk to him about it, but he never showed up. At least class was entertaining. And we got out extra early.

Normally, getting out of class before 8 p.m. would be wonderful. But LA traffic lasts up until about then. Once on the 110, which was stopped entirely, I thought I was pushing a little harder on the brake than I usually do. To which my next thought was, "Great, looks like I'll be spending Saturday with my car in the shop."

By the time I got home, my car was entirely undriveable.

Last time I got my brakes fixed, it was sort of slow to come on. I hardly even noticed anything was wrong until Andy drove one day. But this came on fast - within the 20 minute drive from campus home. I couldn't drive faster than 30 miles per hour, and to stop had to pump the brake for a while to get to a full stop. When I finally got home, in one piece and without accident, the apartment was empty. I looked around, but there was no sign of Andy, so I called in to work to let them know I wouldn't make it and then Andy to see where he was.

He came home with a cute little pink Starbucks cup for Valentine's day. But I think the best gift of all was that we were both home safe and sound. I spent the rest of the evening arranging for a AAA tow to the dealership, and making an appointment.

Not exactly the flowers & chocolates every girl dreams about.

Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I'm spending it in an all-day meeting at work, and in class tonight. Not very romantic. :(

For this Valentine's day, I went the DIY route and made truffles! (OK, and bought flowers. But I didn't plan ahead enough to make those.)


Pictured, front to back: Kahlua flavored; rolled in cocoa; with an after-dinner mint inside; covered in white chocolate. Can you believe my camera has a "food" setting??

They're actually just as easy to make as the websites say. I used this recipe, but I forget where I found it - I reviewed about 8 different recipes. Whoever's it is, thanks! And don't pay any attention to those who said they didn't set well; mine came out perfectly.

1 12oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
pinch of salt (oops, I forgot that!)
1 tsp. vanilla
Melon baller

Melt everything together (I recommend in a glass bowl in the microwave; I further scratched up my pot). Refrigerate just a little while, maybe an hour or two, and ball away! Best if you run the melon baller under warm water, and your fingers under cold.

Taxing

I filed my taxes last Thursday. It was a little tricky getting all of my tax forms in advance of the mailed copies (and, in fact, the two important ones are by download only). I've used the same e-file service ever since I started filing taxes for real. So, I was the first person I know to even be thinking about it, much less file, and I was definitely feeling my oats over it. No money, no kids, no house, no problem!

I got an email the next day saying my forms were rejected. The social security agency had never heard of me - which was scary, since I've paid them thousands of dollars over the years!! I was in a total panic. This meant I'd have to re-file, and I'd already completed my state taxes based on my federal taxes, and I might even have to (gasp!) fill out and mail the forms ...

IRS: 1 Me: 0

I went back in to my account to see what form they'd filed on my behalf, so I could copy it. And I realized I'd made a mistake on my social security number. And I could correct it, and re-file.

Karma: 1 Me: 0

I will never brag with pride again.