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We Have a Car
Jan 8th, 2010 by Babs

<div class=\"pavatar\">We Have a Car</div>

Today the dealer dropped off our shiny new (to us) Honda Civic. We were originally planning on getting it registered and picking it up ourselves, however because our dealer is small they don’t have a link with the RMV, so I had to overnight the paperwork to Geico for stamping. Hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday the car will be on the road.

As I said before it’s a 2000. It’s color is officially Light Teal Pearl. It looks like a cross between a pale sky blue and a light aqua. Very pretty and in very good shape, too. The dealer checked the brakes and decided to replace the front rotors and pads as they looked a little worn to him. They will also be paying for the state inspection. It’ll also pay a visit to my mechanic for a checkup.

I will, personally, be making sure the car is maintained. Glenn promised he would take care of the Taurus but couldn’t even keep up with the oil change schedule. I was reading the maintenance schedule for the car. Although it says to go either by mileage or months — whichever is sooner — I’ll probably have to focus on mileage. The schedule only goes up to 8 years and the car is now 10. šŸ™‚ One of the cool features is that it has a light that comes on every 7,500 miles to remind you that “work” needs to be done.

I can’t wait to get behind the wheel!!!

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What I Did During My Internet Hiatus
Jan 7th, 2010 by Babs

<div class=\"pavatar\">What I Did During My Internet Hiatus</div>

For those of you who weren’t aware, we lost our internet access (and cable and phone) back in October. Funny how these companies actually expect you to pay for their services. LOL Anyways, what was supposed to be a short break from the home internet turned into nearly a three month stint because, as they say, everything that could go wrong did. šŸ˜›

Immediately after things got turned off I started my almost daily treks to the Winchester Public Library to use their computers. I informed those who needed to know of alternate ways to contact me, since my only phone was my cell and the only way I could read my email was via my sites cpanel which Firefox (on my home computer) had the only remaining copy of the password to. I spent most of my daily internet hour doing payouts on King of the World and trying to keep up as much as I could with friends on Facebook. Sadly, because I was unable to set up my own friendlies, my land on KoTW took some major abuse — especially during the week before coming back online at home.

At home I watched a lot of DVDs. First from my own collection, supplemented with ones rented from Netflix. Then I started hitting the library’s collection. Since a good portion of that time was spent crocheting for upcoming craft fairs it didn’t matter if most of it was brainless fodder. šŸ™‚

I finished up my colorguard practices for the year and did an awesome performance at Plymouth. I was very proud of myself! I had posted a video of the show on Facebook, and had planned on doing the same here, but it seems the video’s owner has removed it. Boo!

Glenn has been Glenn. He still thinks that the little drummer boy and I have a thing as well as that the entire drum corps nation is trying to keep it a secret. He insists that the guy was at a practice a couple of weeks before the Plymouth show. At first he said he know because of the look several guard members gave him after something he said. This is despite the fact that none of the Crusader colorguard members knew what was going on until a week after the guy supposedly appeared. Now Glenn is saying he actually saw the guy being escorted out by a group or corps members just as he (Glenn) walked in.

Back in November Glenn had a mild heart attack. I’d love to have some sympathy for him but after I’ll I’ve been though… His own stupidity hasn’t helped, either. He had been suffering from shortness of breath for a week prior and it took him almost as long to make an appointment to see his doctor. The night before the appointment he was wheezing badly, like he had pneumonia, but refused to go to the hospital because he was going to see his doctor in the morning. His doctor took one look at him and demanded he immediately go to the hospital. Apparently his heart isn’t beating all that well (most likely due to all the boozing he’s been doing) and was so weak that his liver and kidneys couldn’t do their jobs and his lungs filled with fluid as the result. Upon release from the hospital he was given strict instructions not to drink. He swears he hasn’t been, yet he’s been doing a lot of “walking” (that requires the car), spending much time in the bathroom, and exhibiting minty fresh breath. Plus he’s also cold and tired about the same time every day (earlier on weekends). He claims this is because of the medications, but he takes the same meds at night that he does in the morning and he has no problem during the day. That’s if he remembers to take them, that is. And yet he’s still cold and tired, then, too.

Last month the rear brake lines on the Taurus either started rotting or some stupid critter gnawed at them. Either way the car was leaking mass amounts of brake fluid. The car was supposed to stay put until we could afford to take it to a mechanic but Glenn is so special he decided to drive it anyway. Shortly before Christmas he was driving down to Arlington, lost control of the car, couldn’t stop, and hit a wall — totaling the car. Did I mention he was also driving uninsured, unregistered and with an expired inspection sticker? *headdesk* I’m still waiting for the “YOU’RE FUCKED!” letter from either the Arlington Police Department or the RMV. We are looking at new cars. Well, new to us. Yesterday I found a 2000 Honda Civic with just 54K on it for under $6500. Damn good shape, too. If the credit union approves the loan we may have it on the road by next week. If we get it, I’m going to do everything I can to get my license ASAP. Not just because we now live in a town that’s apparently too good for public transportation, but because I plan to own that car in the near future — and Glenn will be paying for the gas, if you catch my drift.

Anyways. This has been my long overdue update. I’ll be posting more frequently now that I’m back online at home, especially since it seems that I’ve finally worked out the kink in Twitter Tools. I’m sure I’ll have lots more Stupid Glenn Tricks to share, too.

Stay tuned. šŸ™‚

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Adventures in Stupidity 2
Jul 10th, 2009 by Babs

<div class=\"pavatar\">Adventures in Stupidity 2</div>

Glenn had to drive Ben to work and me to practice last night. Both of us reminded him he needed to get gas. He didn’t get it while taking Ben to work; he didn’t get it on our way down to practice, either, insisting that we had enough to get to the Sunoco along the way home.

3-1/2 blocks away from said Sunoco, Glenn is complaining that the car feels like it is dragging. I point out that I hear no noise from the brakes, or any other noise for that matter, and verbally ponder whether our gass situation could be the cause. No sooner did the words leave my lips when the car stalls.

We walk 3 blocks to the gas station to discover they only carry 1 gallon gas cans. And you must purchase them. WTF? It didn’t help that the attendant was an idiot. The gas can only holds a gallon. Why are you trying to sell me two gallons?

3 blocks back with the gas, which turns out not to be enough to get the car started. So back to the Sunoco for another gallon. Also not enough. So we proceed to do what we should’ve done in the beginning: push the car to the gas station.

The entire way, Glenn is yelling at me to keep my foot off the brake. Um, yeah. I’m helping you push the car, so how can my foot be on the brake? Neverless, Glenn continues to insist that I’m doing this and makes sure that those who help us know this ficticious fact.

By the time we reach the gas station Mr. I’m not out of shape is covered in sweat and ready to cough up a lung. Meanwhile I’m barely breaking a sweat despite putting just as much effort in while wearing a jacket, since I was on the traffic side and the jacket was more visible than the black T I had on. We fill up and head out to get Ben. We were originally 45 minutes ahead of schedule. We ended up being 45 minutes late. Of course Dumbass number 2 didn’t know why we were late because (after his “lecture” on the importance of having minutes on his phone) he left his cell home.

I need ice cream.

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Anyone Want to Buy My Taurus?
Mar 25th, 2009 by Babs

<div class=\"pavatar\">Anyone Want to Buy My Taurus?</div>

Took the car in to the mechanic to have the directional on the driver’s side replaced, the one on the pasenger’s side readjusted (finally)Ā  and get the oil changed. The good news is the Taurus doesn’t require the entire headlight to be replaced just to replace the blinker (many newer cars do). The bad news is that the accident Glenn was in two years ago shattered the mount of the headlight on the passenger’s side, and since neither the insurance evaluation caught it nor did Glenn tell them that the headlight was out of wack it didn’t get replaced back then. So we now have to cough up $200 for a new headlight. Oh, and the tie rods are worn. And there’s a leak in the air conditioner. I believe I previously mentioned that all four struts needed to be replaced and the transmission needs work. We are looking at over $4000 of work for a car with a Blue Book value of less than $2000. *headdesk*

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Thoughts and Observations
Jan 31st, 2008 by Babs

Finally had Jarret’s IEP meeting the other day. Jarret is still extremely intelligent, yet unable to be consistant with his work/grades. Still no one seems to know why. *facepalm* His teachers also claim they’ve seen no acts of defiance from him, yet admit to his persistence in using pen when he’s not only been asked (repeatedly) not to but has been given plently of pencils to use, instead. This is sounding an awful lot like back when Ben was in preschool. šŸ™ Jarret does seem to be taking after me in the creativity department. He wrote a hilariously amazing three page story about what his English teacher does when he’s home for the day. Now if only we could encourage it.

Received our monthly newsletter from our mechanic. This month, under the heading of mechanical rip-offs, Herb tells the story of the severely misfiring car that had only 5 of its spark plugs previously replaced by another garage, and with incorrect plugs. Why does that sound so familiar? *laughs*

Was traveling through Winchester today and saw a Subaru wagon with a snow covered, cut “Xmas” tree strapped to its roof. I kid you not.

After two months without my computer I forgot how much fun the Sims are to play with. I spent the last two days playing with five families, and attempting to create a new Sim for my from scratch town. I wonder what the ramifications of an all-male-except-for-one-female town would be. And should I name that female Madam Orr?

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