Stressed Out

 I'm hurting. The past couple days dealing with the stress of trying to figure out what I am going to do about a vehicle has just gotten me all tightened up in the upper back and neck. Yesterday I had a few headaches as well. I have no solution at this exact moment.

Taking the Middle Son for his road test for his license this morning. After spending a few days trying to get it done last week, was finally able to get an appointment.

Then will come that stress of adding him to the insurance (rates go up) and at least drop the one car off. But the difference isn't going to help save towards a new vehicle.

There are things that need to finish getting done to help the financial situation, but there isn't much I can do to help on that score. Another frustration.

Hope your Monday is better.

PeacE

Frustration Level: Maximum

 Today started out nice. Slept in for a bit. Wife ran out and got some croissan'wiches from Burger King for breakfast. Drove out to RM's and took her to lunch a t a nice little cafe. Food was tasty (I had a Philly Cheesesteak and fries) in good proportions, for a real good price. We had a nice time catching up somewhat.

Then everything went hell in a hand basket. Driving home, my car starts overheating. I am only a mile from the shop that does our car repairs, so I drop it off, explaining I just had it in within the last two weeks for a coolant leak, that was fixed... what now? Having not made an appointment, I knew I could wait as long as Tuesday before they could find time to look at it. So I will be without a car for a few days I figure.

About an hour later I got a call from the shop. They were able to get it in and do the pressure test on the coolant system. Results are a cracked engine block. No bueno. We are talking engine replacement, and that is not happening. I have had this car barely a year, bought for $2300 and I've spent at least that much in miscellaneous repairs/tires/rims. No way am I spending $5K+ for an engine replacement.

So now I need to find a vehicle. But I need the money to get said vehicle. I could (and probably will try) to sell this one.... for parts or something. Tires and rims at least... I don't know. It wouldn't be enough to get another car. And I don't want to finance a vehicle.

I'm frustrated. It feels like I can't even go a week without something going wrong, or costing a fortune.

PeacE

Sometimes, I Just Don't Get It

 Yesterday was a pain in my backside. Wednesday, like I posted, got the Middle Son "trained" up how to parallel park. Spent time off and on all afternoon calling the DMV to try to set up an appointment for his road test. "Due to high volume of calls" I could not get through, and the recorded message kept saying to try back at another time. I thought, well, even with all the COVID crap going on, maybe we could just show up at the DMV office and if not do the test then, get an appointment set. I was tired of trying to call.

So yesterday that is what we did. Or rather tried to do. Drove to the location nearest us, and walked in. Then instantly stopped. They were not letting anyone in without an appointment. I explained how I had tried calling many times previously the day before with no luck even getting in a waiting queue. They -didn't care. All they could suggest was trying again starting at 7:59am (they open at 8). Really. So we headed back home. Both of us were feeling pretty frustrated regarding the issues trying to get this done.

Back home, about twenty minutes go by, I decide I will try to call. I already had told Son that he needs to also be trying to call off and on through the day to help get this done. On the first try, I made it into the waiting queue. Ended up on hold for almost an hour, and once someone was on the line, had an appointment for Monday 8:30am for his road test. Setting the appointment took less than 5 minutes. So basically a day and a half wasted trying to set this appointment. Government at its best. Sigh.

Good part is, we can move forward on this journey. Monday he'll pass the test, get his license. I'll be spending money adding him to the insurance policy, with raising the coverage limits per some new AZ law passed this past July. At least we already have a car for him, and don't have to try to find funds or a vehicle for him. I'm just mentally tired from this journey ... and so many other things this year, with the limitations that have been in place due to "everything".

My buddy J had called me mid-afternoon yesterday, mentioning that our favorite pub was re-opening. I guess they fell in the 'moderate' range in the business re-opening guidelines that the AZ government had set. My buddy was planning to be up there around 5, and asked if I was going. I had not heard about them opening, so I said I wasn't sure, but a short while after getting off the phone, I decided to go. I went to leave home, and my car wouldn't start.

I had just had it in this last week for the coolant leak. I had driven it Wednesday night with no issues. Thursday afternoon it would crank, but not catch - like it wasn't getting gas, or the spark plugs weren't firing. I tried for around 10 minutes with no luck. I did an Uber up to the pub, and knew I would be spending today dealing with the car. I walked out this morning, gave it a couple cranks, and it started. First couple times was like it was trying to get some gas, and by the third try, it caught. I turned it off and restarted it a a handful of times, checking to be sure it wasn't a fluke. Everything seems ok. I was worried that I would be calling a tow service to take it up the road to the car shop to have them look at it again.... and possibly being without a vehicle through the weekend. Would have to call RM and reschedule our lunch. But things seemingly have worked out that it is not an issue.

Just feels weird that I "apply" myself to getting something done, and nothing works right.... then BAM! after I give up, everything "falls into place". I wish this worked more often this way. I'd be working by now. the other house would be sold. I'd have the nicest looking yard in the neighborhood and people would drive by jealous of our nice cars. Okay. I was daydreaming a little there.....

It's Friday. I think I am going to go to the pub today for a bit. See some more friends. Read a bit more from my books. I'm at 127 of my 175 goal for the year, so am a bit ahead of schedule. Tomorrow I found a place near RM for lunch we will try. It'll be a first for her (I hope) as it is near her house, that maybe could be a place they can go to. Either way it will be nice to have some one on one time with Mom.

That's all I got today. hopefully nothing else will go wrong today.

PeacE

Mid-Week "Studying"

 This morning I spent some time teaching the Middle Son how to parallel park, in front of our house, using the trash cans. He has it by the third try. That means today I will be calling to set up an appointment for his road test, so he will be able to get his license.... and raise our insurance rates. But he needs it to get out and look for a job. He has been understanding about financial and time constraints these past few months.

Got an update from the job I want. Seems they are supposedly still finalizing details. So here I sit longer.

Lunch with RM this weekend. I should get online and see what places are around her, and we can go try one. I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Nothing else to report.

PeacE

What A Weekend

 If you read the last post, my weekend was not starting off very well, except I had a good buzz Friday night. Maybe a little ticked off at my siblings, too. Just a little....

So breakfast Saturday morning went well, all things considered. PT and I caught up on the basic things going on in our lives. He shared some issues/questions... I brought up about driving and "hanging up" the keys. He said he would think and pray on it. In other words, it ain't happening real soon, but at least he won't be surprised if we force the issue. hopefully before there is an accident... I explained all that to him as well.

Sis called me later that day as she was "going to their house and needed to be sure what she was walking into". I called her a POS chicken and told her the basics. I don't know if PT has talked to RM about it at all. I sort of doubt it.

This coming Saturday I have lunch planned with RM. I haven't decided where we will go yet. I am sure that PT will be a topic of discussion, as well as a few other things (ie. my drinking, use of swearing - c'mon Mom, you laughed!). But I think after this next weekend, I am done with family things for awhile. I have other stresses going on in life that I don't need this kind of crap adding to my pile.

It's Monday. have errands to run today. Joy.

PeacE

End of Week

 Friday is here. I am actually feeling decent about the end of the week.

Let's start with the Wife's tire problem. took the tire up Wednesday morning about 10:30, went back around 1 and it still wasn't done. No message/text so went back at 4:30 - still not done, but they had determined it had a sidewall tear/hole so a replacement was needed as they couldn't repair it. Why didn't they call? I have no clue.... So bought a new tire. Being transferred in from another location ( I think I wrote this before?). By 3pm Thursday, I still have not gotten a text/message saying it was done. Again, at 4:30 went up and they had not completed it yet. I explained my dissatisfaction with the assistant manager, and all I got as an excuse is " We are short three people today". I said I understood, but almost two full business days, for a tire that wasn't even being removed/replaced on the vehicle, was left for service, was a bit of bad business. no I did not get a discount. I did not receive future discounts (though I have been a loyal customer for 20+ years)...all I got was "I'm sorry" and waited another 20 minutes before they had it done. At least I have it now.

Picked up some new wiper blades for the middle Son's car, and an A/C charge kit. Headed home. Was going to do the tire thing on the Wife's van, but a thunderstorm moved in (we needed it!) and I wasn't doing that in the lightning. Got up at 5:30am today to do the tire change. Ran my car up ti the garage at 7am. Had the Son drive me back up at 8am when they so I could drop off the key and explain the issues. Before 9am, they called. Was a pressure relief valve in the coolant system, and was only going to cost me around $666 (heavenly number?) to fix, so I okayed it. By 9:30am they called and it was done. I'll end up getting an Uber up there this afternoon (three miles away) as no one else available to give me a ride there.

So, car issues done. Less than 1K spent. Better week than it was looking. Only thing left is to charge the A/C in the Son's car.

PeacE

So Not Happy

 This last week has not been fun.

Last Thursday we had gone to RM's for dinner. It isn't far to their new place... maybe 10+plus miles... and dinner was fine. On the way home, we had taken my car, and it started to 'overheat'. nothing dangerous, just temp gauge jumped up, never into the red, but higher than what is good. I have a Charger, and they are known (as well as the Magnums, which I had before) to have issues about the coolant, and being sensitive. I wasn't overly worried, thinking it had been a month plus since I had last checked levels, and in summer her in AZ, you should check more frequently, especially the coolant. I waited a day or two, as I had no driving to do, before checking it. Coolant was low, I couldn't find a leak anywhere, so topped off the coolant, and life went on. Tuesday, the Wife had a flat just a couple miles from her work. I had to drive out to help change it, and on the way back, again I started to overheat. I made it home, but drove most of the way home with windows down, heater on HOT and full fan blowing. Rather warm considering we broke another heat record that day. Now I have a couple spots of "standing fluid" on the engine. I topped off coolant, unable to find a leak still yesterday, and drove it up to Discount Tire (about 2.5 miles away) and coming home it started overheating again. So now am scheduling an appointment where we take our vehicles in for work. I'm guessing it is going to be a leak at the water pump (which is hard to see) and will cost around $1400 to fix (was last time on my Magnum). Sigh.

So, the Wife's tire... ran it up to Discount at around 10am. Dropped it off, said I would come back in a couple hours or so, so they could have time to just work it in. Was to be a plug/fix if possible, if not call me and we will set up to replace. Wife is at work driving on that donut spare. A short while later I get an email saying there is no charge, and the work completion on the tire is set for about 12:30. Around 1'ish I head back up, and come to find out they have not even looked at it yet, I showed them the email, the manager apologizes, and says it will be done by end of day. No biggee, I don't live far. I go home (this is when car overheated again). Before I get home I get a phone notification of email, was Discount again saying a no charge fee for fix, and completion time was now changed to 6:30pm (they close at 6pm - WTF?). At 4:30, I have the Middle Son drive me up in his car, and the tire is "just now" in the shop. They check it, turns out it is a sidewall damage and cannot be repaired, so had to get a new tire (another $156 out the window) and of course, they have none in stock.... and only 1 available from another location locally. Yadda Yadda, can have it there and done by mid-afternoon today. Supposedly. Theoretically. Hopefully.

No updates on the job situation.

Thankfully that economic check finally came, because it is disappearing fast now.

I just got finished reading RM's blog this morning that she posted yesterday. She and PT had gone "up north" for a few days for their anniversary. I guess this will not be going down as one of the better trips. As we all age, we tend to slowly lose the full use of some of our abilities, and I think PT has finally gotten to the point that it is time to remove the ability to drive from his list of things he can do. RM had mentioned there were a few instances on the whole trip that his driving could have put them in danger, or worse, someone else. Back in early July, when RM was moving, I remember spending some time with Sis, and we had a brief talk about when this day would come, and I was informed it is my duty to take PT's keys from him, as she was not getting involved in that one. I guess I need to talk to RM, and decide what might be the best way to do this, and soon. Sigh. Joy, oh Joy.

Deep breath. As I am sure RM will say someone said this all the time... This too shall pass...

PeacE

Again With the Early Hours

 The past couple nights has been back to not sleeping well. In bed around 10:30-11:00 and awake at 3. Find something to do until 6'ish, and try to lay back down. Sometimes I can "nap" at that point. Most mornings I can't.

I will admit that this night I had some pretty weird dreams. I know I was thinking about past jobs yesterday evening, and it probably brought on some of the weirdness. In the dream I was working, but it was a combination of the several jobs I have had over the past 30+ years. Didn't dream much about what *my* position was, but had many co-workers I have known (some liked, some not) in there. Some of them have passed now, which was a bit weird, too.

Still waiting to hear on the current job. Supposedly they are still finalizing contract details. It's been going on for three weeks now. hope they get it done soon.

The Youngest and online schooling is going fine so far. Some of the other schools in the Valley have opted for hybrid classes - where the student population is split and some attend certain days, the other half the other, and online when not physically at the school. Son's school said they would re-visit this idea around October, once there is better numbers regarding Covid outbreaks, etc. He may physically be in classes before the end of the year, but no band events for sure. I don't think their football team has a season this year either, even though I have heard some schools are doing shorter seasons.

PeacE

Pbbbbbt.. It's Tuesday

 There are many things on my mind this morning. they have been tumbling through my head the last couple days, and the few hours I have been up already today. Nothing I want to share though - has to do with personal finances, etc. Things that need to get taken care of, but don't have the resources to get it all done at once. Still waiting to hear about "the job", so that isn't helping much either.

Went to a wedding this weekend. I friend I have known for about 29 years. We went to high school together. It wasn't her first wedding, but either way. It was a nice small event, that practiced social distancing, and prevention of spreading (masks were worn). Thank goodness it was indoors, since AZ is breaking records for consecutive days over 110 degrees. We didn't stay for the whole event, but did get through most of the celebration, and left when it was down to dancing prior to the send-off.

I went out for a bit with a best friend (that went to the wedding with us) Saturday night. This friend is not only an attorney, but my insurance guy as well. I just found out AZ supposedly increased the requirement for coverage when it comes to car insurance and mine is below that mark. Today we are supposed to meet up to see how much that will increase our payments. yeah... more financial worries.

The Youngest Son started online school yesterday. There was only a "half day" and things to work pretty well. Today is the first "full day" and he says he has all the needed links for classrooms etc. online. At this time, the schools say that this will be the normal thing until at least mid-October, where things will be re-evaluated in regards to students returning to physically going to school.

On a similar note, AZ passed guidelines for different places of business to once again re-open to the public, and requirements that must be met. They are doing it by county standards of positive rates, etc. Which means the 4 most populated counties (mine) are not able to open gyms, and many other public forums at this time. At the rate of the statistics, it doesn't look to be anytime soon. There's at least my excuse to not go to the gym....har de har har.

Need to make sure the Youngest is up and moving for classes.

PeacE

Busy Saturday

 Yesterday, my third child hit that 18 years old mark. It is kind of depressing, the kids growing up so fast. Me growing old so fast. We were invited out to RM's on Thursday for dinner, which we did do. No idea when we will get a chance to go out for this one's birthday dinner as of yet. The social distancing guidelines make it hard to get into nice places, with the long wait times for service.

The Wife and I are attending a wedding today for a high school friend of mine. It isn't her first, but we have been friends for years. Though, come to think about it, I was never invited to her first wedding. Maybe it was one of those small and quick ones. I don't know. I have met this gent several times and he is a good guy.

After that the day os pretty shot probably. On;y 9am and it is over 100 already. Sweating just sitting here.

PeacE

Another Thursday

Yes, another Thursday is here, and I just don't care. I'm a bit pissy this morning actually. Got another email from the "new job" saying they are still finalizing details... but Hey! Answer this questionairre to re-verify, the re-verify to the re-verify, to the verify about your availability to work for us, be reachable by phone during "core hours" of the day, and oh yeah... let us know your internet connection speed, and system version/capability.

TMI for them I think.... though I did send it. Why TF they need all that? Fucking people want to know more than they need to know....my opinion.

So now I'm kinna pissed off. Sigh. 

PeacE

In a Holding Pattern

So last week I got a bit excited. The company I was to start at back in March contacted me. They have a couple more contract jobs coming up and were looking to see who were available. This had happened a couple times since March, and each time I inquired about training, I would never receive an answer. This time they did reply that they were no providing training remotely. So I jumped for joy (imagine it, I did not physically) and replied I was available. Monday no information. Tuesday I get an email pretty much saying that they are still in the process of verifying final contract details and will be contacting soon. Nothing yet received this morning. I really do hope I get selected and get the training to get started. It would be nice to be working again...even if remotely from home.

I think I mentioned that finally received our Gov't check. That bad boy is going to the bank today. I think I will celebrate and invite the boys to go with me, and treat for lunch at Subway. They may or may not go.

I guess I should get started on my day....doing what I have no idea.

PeacE

Well, Something Right Happened

If I didn't have it in my hand I would never believe it. That Economic Relief check from the government finally arrived at my house. Guess that means I have to get some tings done now....

Except the Wife didn't sign it, so I can't bother going to the bank today to deposit the damn thing.... What's one more day at this point?

Got nothing else.

PeacE

Will Today be the Day?

I think today is the first day in quite awhile I set my alarm to be up early. Most days I get up when the Wife does, but today I wanted to be up and ready a bit earlier. I am hoping to hear back about the "Job" I have been waiting on for the past several months. I figured since the recruiter's email was based out of Texas, I would get up so I would be ready to go at 9am TX time (about 7am my time).  And that is just to hopefully get the email saying that they will be training and assigning my this week, not to necessarily start work today. Yes, I am anxious to get started... even if it is working from home.

The weekend came and went. My brother got pinned for Captain in the US Army Reserves. I didn't make the ceremony due to the drive involved. But I'm happy for him.I know he is working on "retirement" from there.

This is the last week before school starts for my youngest Son. They start next Monday going "virtual". When we did a walk-through registration, he was assigned a Chromebook laptop, for connection for his classes. The past two weeks he had used his tablet mostly for Band Camp, even though there will be no competitions this year. The emphasis was on breathing exercises, and a second session daily for individual groups and working on the music. Teaching classes virtually has to be a daunting task for any teacher, but how much harder is it for say, a band director? Or a teacher that teaches a class more "hands-on, like wood shop - do they actually teach those types of classes anymore? Probably not.....

The Daughter sent some pics and short videos of my Doodad this weekend. Her first time with a "slip n' slide" was one of them and pretty cute. I wish they lived closer and had the ability to visit more, but am happy at least they are where they are - compared to where they lived last. I know I sound like RM in that. I guess it is true that as you go through life, you start realizing the things your parents said/did. Depressing in some ways....

Welp, I am off to finally go check my emails and see if that one I am waiting for arrived. If not, then it will be some Warcraft, with periodic checks of email throughout the day.

PeacE