Interrupted

My Life Thus Far
2006-04-30 03:48:29 (UTC)

Impala Predicament

When I woke up this morning, I decided that the first
thing on my agenda would be to get my car back into
presentable and functioning order. I'd been neglecting it
for months and it was starting to show:

1. It was FILTHY. Not just dirty, but nasty. I didn't want
to touch the handle, it was that bad.

2. Bird poop-need I say more?

3. Kiki's bottle-flinging left the back seat covered in
milk stains (and with the warm weather coming, it HAD to
be cleaned).

4. The floorboards and door pockets resembled garbage cans.

5. The dust layer on the dashboard was measurable by
ruler, yard stick or tape measure.

6. My "check brake fluid" light has been on for a week.

7. My tires were a few psi away from completely flat.

So, as you can see. My poor Impala was in need of some
TLC. I started by going to Wal-mart to get some car care
supplies. Upholstery cleaner, tire shine, glass cleaner,
Febreze, Armor All. The usual stuff. From there I took it
to the Cruisn' Carwash on Bethel and had it hand and
machine washed (I sure wasn't touching it). All was fine
and good until I got to Les Schwab. They have big glass
windows in the front of the store and as I was parking I
noticed in the reflection something black on the bumper of
the car. When I got out and looked, I discovered that the
paint had been STRIPPED from the right, lower bumper (the
area I keep running into the garage with). I guess the
high pressure of the car wash peeled if off. But, anyway.
I took it into Les Schwab to have the brake fluid checked
and the tire pressure adjusted, but it turns out I need
new front brakes, too. $500. The damn brake fluid was
free. Isn't that ironic? Why didn't my little message
center tell me I needed $500 brake pads instead of FREE
brake fluid? Who knows.

After I left Les Schwab with an appointment for next
Saturday, I came home to check the yellow pages for auto
body shops that could have the bumper fixed before
Wednesday, because Snookums will kill me if he sees what
my irresponsible driving has done to his precious Impala.
I found one right here in Port Orchard that actually
answered the phone. Phil (the owner) is a really sweet
guy, who is quiet, but gets his point across pretty well
none the less. He looked at the damage and offered to do
it for $200 even though his estimate was for $400. I
couldn't thank him enough. He stops working at 1pm on
Saturdays and doesn't work Sundays at all, but he's
willing to work on the car tonight and tomorrow so I'll be
able to drive it to work on Monday. Isn't that SO sweet?
I'm trusting a total stranger with my most expensive
possession and I have no transportation in the event of an
emergency, but I'm hoping nothing bad happens. I'm trying
to have faith in my fellow mankind and I did seek him out.
He didn't come looking for me, or anything like that. It
should all work out.

So, instead of a $10 carwash, $50 in car care supplies, a
free brake fluid top off and air in my tires. I'm $700 in
the hole. Thank God I have the money, that was the first
thing that came to mind. The second was, I hope nothing
else goes wrong. I feel very safe in my car. I love my
car. I don't want that trust and security compromised by
car troubles. It's been good to me for the past two year,
so I'm going to keep having faith in it now. It's only a
2004. It isn't on it's last leg yet.

As if all this wasn't enough. Now I think I'm getting
sick. I've got a little tickle in the back of my throat
and my nose is runny. Great. I just LOVE being ill. I'm
going to keep being optimistic and hope that everything
works out. It will.

I'm going to watch Pearl Harbor now. I know it isn't the
best movie to watch when your husband is in the Navy, out
to sea on an aircraft carrier and not within phone
contact. But, I could use a good cry anyway. Ciao.




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