chase_acow

I am the sorest girl is sore town. But this story starts one week ago.

Some of y'all might remember a post a couple of months ago where I just needed to vent about an absent mom and heavily unequal effort in our relationship. She did finally text back, and without really opening up about her thoughts and her life, apologized and did actually invite me over at a specific time with a specific activity planned. And she did try a little harder to text and call back and forth in the meantime.

On Tuesday, I loaded up the dogs and off we went. We got idk, 9.5/10th of the way there before the car started clicking and decided it was done. Very busy highway and I am suddenly doing 30 mph - I'm imagining I got flipped off quite a bit. But there was a nice little rest pull out, and I waited for Mom and Carl to come out and drive the rest of the way with me just in case.

Long story, still kind of long - I have to replace the engine. WHY ARE ENGINES SO EXPENSIVE?!?

I still actually had a very good visit. And she tried really hard to be present and do things.

( Blue Heritage Spring Center near Eureka Springs pics )

Rented a car to get back home for work because they don't expect my car to be done before Friday, and Enterprise gives me a brand new Camry with a thousand miles on it. I looked at it and immediately suspected a trap. I finally figured out the A/C, then I finally figured out the bluetooth, eventually I figure out the cruise control. This car is so much smarter than I am. It was fun to drive, but also, little terrified of messing it up.

On Sunday, I grab the car keys to go to work, and it isn't until I pull back up the driveway that I realized I forgot to grab my house keys which I had not added to the GIANT car fob.

Alas.

So I gotta break into my own house. Okay. How hard can it be? I don't lock any of the windows, and I have some tools and a ladder. I go around the backyard, because I don't really want this to be a neighborhood slapstick show, and pick the window for the utility room because there's less stuff to break in there. I pop the screen and the poorly fitting glass out, wedge my little spade under the window and leverage it up several inches. This house has a crawl space, so it's up. I say this because it's also a very old wooden window I haven't tried to open in the last three years.

( the set up )

I heaved. I struggled. I worked one side, and then the other. I bent at the knees, straightened my arms out and used all my strength . . .

and I still didn't have a chase_acow sized opening. But I could see the cats* sitting in the doorway watching my increasingly pathetic attempts. They do not seem to care.

Both my guy-friend dispatchers are on nightshift, so I wasn't going to bother them in the middle of the afternoon. My other dude coworker is currently on duty in his black pajamas, so he's a last resort. But I do have neighbors with teenagers. I usually try not to bother them because except for their dogs during the day, and when the 23 year old makes the 13 year old cry, they keep to themselves and mow their yard. Unfortunately, mama redneck (affectionately) rouses the 23 year old and sends him over, beggars can't be choosers, and he does manage to wedge the window up another four inches before he declares that's it and heads back to his nap.

All right, it's now or never.

I first try head first. There's an end table under the window to help stabilize my weight while I wiggle in. I get to my waist, realize how much it'll hurt and how impossible it will be to change my mind once I commit. I back out and study the situation again. I grab a smaller wooden ladder, get up on the top rung and swing one leg through while balancing on the other leg and . . . I don't know how to keep going. But all my weight is on one leg which is quickly letting me know that it's struggling.

Oh no. I'm too high to duck my head and upper body through the window. I have probably less than a minute before my other leg gives out. I am now regretting every single decision the universe has ever made that has led to my birth which has led to this day.

Luckily, lightbulb comes on. I step down one rung while clinging to the window so I don't overbalance, this gives me room to duck through and I am now standing inside my house! \0/

I immediately went to attach my house key to the car fob. And two days later I am still so sore in such weird places!

I took the neighbors chocolate chip cookies to thank them, and so they'll help me the next time too.


*more about the cat status later!

My parameters: 2012-2017, mid-sized SUV, <100k miles, and doesn't cramp my knees. So, y'know only the most popular thing everyone wants to buy. I tried two of the most recommended dealerships in town, and I don't think that's my path forward ($$$). I'm going to try a couple of smaller ones tomorrow. And then I might try going into the City, but I really don't want to.

If anyone has any tips, I will gladly take them. This is my first attempt to buy a car not from a family member where I don't have any choice in the matter.

The dealership gave me a loaner car while they replace a bad starter that murdered my fairly new battery. They thought it would be done yesterday and I still haven't heard from them. I'm starting to get a lot worried about the labor portion of this bill adding up. I just called and apparently no one who is working today has any idea, so I should call back on Monday. Ug. Their customer service is not great. I'm driving a Jeep Renegade which is weird and box like. The windows are large and untinted. A sniper could easily take me out.

I am not really a wine person, I don't know what I don't know about it really. But one of my friends told me to try Barefoot. It's not expensive has a bunch of options, and maybe I'd find something. I love their Moscato, and I wanna try their canned spritzer. Sure, maybe not the classiest thing, but it's a portion size, and you can take it to the lake because it's not glass. I hope I like them

Please excuse me while I have a nervous breakdown. Final finals week is just so very ... final. I don't want to graduate and look for a real job, and have to support and provide for myself. I now have such respect for those of you who are doing this, and I haven't done anything but think about it. Seriously, this standing "o" is for you. *claps*

They decided to total my truck, so I went to clean it out and ended up bawling over it. I mean, how lame. A 23 year old girl crying over four wheels, a hunk of metal, and some of the best memories of her life. I loved it. I never named it, because it couldn't decide on a gender, but man I loved that truck.

My last test is tomorrow, and I have denied myself access to any of the sga_santa or sg_rarepairings fic until I finish mine. I'm so sorry kellifer_fic, but I have passed the thousand word mark, and I'll be done soon...ish. I suck.

Also, in this process, I have discovered that my space bar is finicky, and I am curious, so...

[Poll #887757]

We've been having a "retreat" this weekend for Tau Beta Sigma, and it's actually turned out far better then I thought it would. We're getting tons of new ideas for the candidate class this year, which as Membership Educator, I'm in charge of. We're also, getting closer together as Sisters, something I never would have imagined at the end of the spring semester. I even learned something about myself, as I analyzed how I reacted to people and ideas. My biggest sin isn't pride anymore, it's envy, and I really need to take some time and think about that.

My truck's battery died today. We went ten years on the original four year battery. I don't care what you say, I love Fords.

In fic news:

It's so hard to sit on these things and wait for the beta. Also, since I will be gone for the next week (going to St. Louis tomorrow on a trip with my mum) and I don't want any of you to forget about me, I've decided to post this first part. The second part is also finished and includes a scene with the kids that I giggled at all the way through, but it'll have to wait until I get back.


Title: The Emperor Strikes Back
Author: Almie sly_bone
Fandom: Star Wars RotS branches AU
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Anakin (+ Padme)
Rating: NC-17
Summery: The Skywalker family has now been refugees for a little over eight years. Together with the Solo family, they strive to help their planet while remaining in anonymity, but although they know it not, this last chance at rest is nearly over.


( Do you know what your children are up to? )