The Last 96

I was looking forward to today to be my fresh start. So in the last 96 hours I have:

• learned that our car is almost not worth repairing
• loosely decided to buy a new car
• FIXED THE DRYER
• lost heating in the house again
• dropped and cracked my phone

F.M.L.

Are you kidding me? Really? Come on! I went all crazy with the thankfulness and planned out my advent business. I've been a good girl and I really don't believe in this end of the world business but I just might start!

Friday I put the car in the shop. It started making a little noise and I was hopeful a little noise was a little problem. There was even a black friday sale with $100 off repairs! GREAT! I know the car is getting older, and that it has more miles than it should, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it?! I need to go to a different shop no where near my house or the crazy over-priced dealer? It might be a medium or ginormous problem?! Not a problem friend, I've got time for that!

Then Saturday morning I woke up, AGAIN, to a chilly house. I got a little over confident and decided that since this happened before, I should clearly know how to fix it. Cold house = no fire in the boiler. Makes sense right?! That was the problem before and all I have to do is light the pilot. So I truck it to the basement full of SuperMoM spirit only to find that the pilot isn't out. The boiler is running, has fire, and is circulating cold water. WTH? You have fire, heat my house!! Did I mention it's now in the 40's and upper 30's now? Yay for bricks that stay warm!

DH and I have been back and forth, and by back and forth I mean I'm back and forth and he is "yes dear"-ing me to the moon and back over this car situation. I really like not having a car payment. REALLY LIKE IT. I really like eating out, and taking random trips, and not giving money to someone for something that is taking money from me already! Oy! Do you sink money into an old car or cut your losses and buy new? I won't get money for a dying car, so I was thinking used, but then am I trading problems with someone? Argh, just what I wanted before Christmas! Although the prospect of having heated seats again is swaying me hard!

Lastly, while we're out for our pre-nap walk today I was annoyed by my phone going off. I knew it was just DH saying ok and that I didn't need to respond but it was dinging at me so I pulled it out. Pulling lead to dropping. Dropping on concrete. Shattering my screen. But look at the bright side, I only have to pay more than what I paid for the phone as a deductible. Thankfully it still works, maybe I could live with it for a little while. Maybe a new phone AND a better case for Christmas?! Think of me tomorrow Marcia when you're holding your new phone!

So how have your last 96 hours been?

Rainbows and unicorns??

The silver lining to all this is that I did fix the dryer. Now I can have warm clothes and blankets for my cold house! Yes, I did only do it to say that I fixed something! I couldn't take much more breaking before I broke down.

Grrrr..... I'll be thankful when November is over!

Now back to my scheduled advent planning...

Jack- lo- Mantern & The Snor'eastercane

 We finally carved a pumpkin!

This is the first time we've ever carved a pumpkin as a couple, as a family, and my first time since maybe elementary school. I think the ladies were mostly confused as to what we were doing, but once the process was under way they were overly excited.

The only one brave enough to dig in with me. 

Hands like a surgeon, or serial killer. 

Eagerly watching.

Our jack-lo-mantern.

I know I should correct, but that is irresistibly cute!

After a fun, family evening we continued enjoy fall today. The girls have been enamored with leaf fights. I even laid down the other day and let them cover me with leaves. I'm still itching from that! However, since there is a Snor'eastercane on the way I wanted to soak up that last bit of fall before all the leaves are blown from the trees and float away in the flood. 

Don't you love it!

But back to this snor'eastercane, people need to get a grip! It's going to rain, the wind will blow, the world will however not be ending and no amount of batteries, water, and toilet paper will save you if it does! Stocking up on perishables is also not a fantastic idea because the power will probably be going out and you can only eat and cook sooo much before you fall into a food coma. I will comp to buying three gallons of milk, but I can guarantee you that nearly all of that will be gone when dear Sandy makes landfall! 

So work will be hell this weekend. I will probably lose power at some point. But everyone cross your fingers that the storm surge isn't horrible! Enjoy the weekend for me!!

Dearest Statef.arm

Dearest Statef.arm,

I hate your stinkin' guts!

Love,
Mandy

Option: Sewer and drain back-up

I pay extra for this option. It only covered drains within the foundation of the home. This would EXCLUDE the drain 5" from my back door. The sub-pump that is INSIDE the house that pulls water from the drain OUTSIDE the house couldn't keep up. But that doesn't matter. The house could fill with water from every window and door and I'm S.O.L.

Let my toilet explode and everything is covered!

So that leaves me with no bathroom floor, no vaniety, no family room furniture, no floor covering, no back door, and 3/4 walls. We also lost the girls' play mat, some toys, some clothes, some books and other odds and ends.

FML

I'd strip for money but I think they'd pay me to get dressed! I'm fond of my both my kidneys and am not eligible to donate blood. That leaves me with two cute kids (which I'd like to keep) and a dead laptop.

Happy Monday!