(OT) Heckuva Day - LONG

And if life is fair, some where out there is someone who cares
this much about you, that s/he would drive across town to be sure
you're OK. If not, well, then you're that person in her life.

Well done!

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Magic Mood Jeep" wrote in message
m...
:
: But I'm still worried. I mention this to DH - he says we
should drive the
: 35+/- miles and check on her. I grab my copy of her keys, and
off we go
: (after I I/M Bro that I am leaving and will call him with the
results).
:
:
: The phone in her bedroom I know she keeps the ringer off so it
won't scare
: the bejeebus out of her at night.
:

Magic Mood Jeep wrote:
After attempting to drive the Jeep to the repair shop - but not making
it but 1/4-1/3 the way, we called a tow truck (engine was running way
too hot, and any water poured into the radiator just ran out wherever
the holes are).

$75 for the tow.

Repair Shop just called, about $700 to replace water pump, all ho$e$,
ga$kets & $eal$, radiator and the belt (Jeep only has one, snakes
through everything, and it was damaged when the water pump froze up).

Crap.

I've been testy all morning.

DH asks why and I have to answer "Stupid Jeep. Dingbat Mom."

A stop at the likkur store is in order......


"Magic Mood Jeep" wrote in message
m...
I start off the day being lazy, but finish putting up the laundry that
I started (on Monday)...

Then I realize, as I start getting things ready to start my next cross
stitch project, I am two floss colors short! My own fault as I was
hasty when I was checking my list in the store.

*And* I also needed to go to the Dr.s for a blood test (they are
monitoring my thyroid, trying to get the meds right), so I call and
see if I need an appointment - no - they say, this can be done as a
walk-in.

So I head to the Dr.s and sign in. And wait - less than half an hour
(appointments get priority). Finally it's my turn. It's been pretty
hot out, and since I drive a jeep soft-top (no AC) I have the top down
- and I'm wearing shorts & tank top. Needless to say, Dr.s office has
AC cranked on super-premium-high. And my veins are normally hard to
find. Cold temps make it even harder as the veins are more
constricted. They finally resorted to a hot pack on my arm to expand
the veins and called in their expert "vampire".

That done I head the 5-10 miles to my needlework shop. Yes, I know
floss is cheaper at Wal-Mart, Michaels' or Hobby-Lobby, and they're
closer - but I like supporting local businesses when I can (plus the
needlework shop is much friendlier - and carries more needlework stuff
than do the other three).

As I left the shop, the Jeep started making funnier noises than it
ever has. The temperature gauge was maxed out!
Oil pressure looked fine. I was afraid the tranny was fried. When I
(finally) got home, I could smell the burned peanut butter smell of
super-heated radiator fluid. Looked under the Jeep - sure enough,
green fluid dripping - rather a lot. Called DH, and since it was past
time for him to come home anyway (earlier he had said that he was
going to work over on a project), he said that he's coming home.

When he got home, he popped the hood - radiator fluid splashed all
over the underside of the hood, and some on the engine (hence the
burned peanut butter smell). Sigh. We figured the odd noises the
Jeep was making was the water pump. After it cooled, DH opened up the
radiator - and there's all sorts of metal filings in there!!!!! eeep!

Needle$$ to say, it'$ off to the $hop tomorrow to get looked at. Our
budget i$ cowering in fear.

Second thing to happen. I finally remember to log into Windows
Messenger, and check to see if my Bro is online (he admonished me in
his email earlier for not being on lately). He is - and is worried
about Mom. He's been trying to call her for the last couple days, at
times when she's usually home. But no answer. I try, let the phone
ring for *3* minutes, and then it flips over to a busy signal. Try
again, and now it's busy! I try calling the manager of her apartment
complex - but they've gone for the day. I leave them a message w/
Mom's name & apartment # & our phone number.

But I'm still worried. I mention this to DH - he says we should drive
the 35+/- miles and check on her. I grab my copy of her keys, and off
we go (after I I/M Bro that I am leaving and will call him with the
results).

The drive takes about 1/2 an hour, and my mind is filled with visions
of all the terrible things that can happen to a 74-year-old widow who
lives alone. When are they going to invent transporters so that we can
instantly get to where we're going??????

We arrive at the complex - her car is there, so she's not been in a
car wreck (whew).

No newspapers piled up on the porch, so she was at least OK this
morning (or her neighbor stole it).

Her screen door/storm door is latched - and since there's no way to
lock or unlock it from the outside, that means that she (or someone)
was inside to latch it.

I pound on the door.

In a few seconds, Mom answers. She wonders why I have such a scowl on
my face.... I tell her that Bro & I have been trying to call, and not
getting any answer.

The phone in her bedroom I know she keeps the ringer off so it won't
scare the bejeebus out of her at night.

Check the kitchen phone - and she has accidentally TURNED THE RINGER OFF.

She has the habit of turning it up high when she's in the
shower/bathroom, or laundry room, so she can hear it, but when she's
in the kitchen it's super-loud and will blast her clean out of her
apartment, so she turns it down. She went one notch too many.

She says she's never going to live it down - and I don't think neither
I nor Bro will let her!

--
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy
former-blonde
in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
email me at nalee1964 (at) insightbb (dot) com
http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep



"Crap" is an apt description. Purrs for things to go *uphill* from here
(with a nice cool engine).

Sam, closely supervised by Mistletoe

Magic Mood Jeep wrote:

I start off the day being lazy, but finish putting up the laundry that I
started (on Monday)...

snip
She has the habit of turning it up high when she's in the
shower/bathroom, or laundry room, so she can hear it, but when she's in
the kitchen it's super-loud and will blast her clean out of her
apartment, so she turns it down. She went one notch too many.

She says she's never going to live it down - and I don't think neither I
nor Bro will let her!

--
The ONE and ONLY
lefthanded-pathetic-paranoid-psychotic-sarcastic-wiseass-ditzy
former-blonde
in Bloomington! (And proud of it, too)©
email me at nalee1964 (at) insightbb (dot) com
http://community.webshots.com/user/mgcmdjeep

Lots and lots of calming purrs,
Polonca and Soncek