. So I brought my car into the dealer this a.m. after hearing a funny rattling around noise coming from the rear right tire. They said the drum was rusting, and that bits of dust and dirt were getting inside the wheel and that there's no way to clean it, just replace it. The left tire was also showing signs of rust but isn't as bad, so I opted to just get the new drum for the right tire. Since Honda drums of the right size were out of stock, he said they had a generic type drum, same quality, etc but cheaper, so even better as far as I'm concerned. It came to $158, which is relatively cheap when it comes to car repairs.
I still had to sit around there for 2 hours though. BORING. I took a walk around the Honda dealership lot and ended up talking to a Hyundai salesperson at the dealership next door about the Elantra, which, at 40 mpg, could be my next car.
After I got the car fixed, I went to Wal-Mart. I could really use a pair of shorts and a summer top that actually fit. I now take a size 10 short (used to be 8) and i won't tell you what size top, but anyway, I ended up spending $43 on 2 shorts and 2 tops, something I wouldn't have thought twice about if I were working, but something that now makes me feel a little guilty. But it sure will be nice to wear something presentable. When I knew I was going to be home all day, I'd wear any old thing, and often that was something I wouldn't be caught dead in in public. As for what to wear in public, I had, it seemed, just 2 or 3 items I felt looked decent.
So now this purchase will get me through the rest of the summer. I'm saving it now for my trip to see my dad next week.
He called me back today and next Wed./Thurs. looks good for him, so I'm going. The weather and especially humidity look very nice those 2 days becus neither of us feels like doing much when its muggy out and i am really hoping we do both the kayaking and the blueberry picking.
On my tight budget, I am considering this my "vacation." My dad always treats 
) (go dad) so my only expense will be the gas to get down there. It used to cost me about $30, but gas prices are higher now so let's figure $40. I usually try to go down there with no more than a half tank of gas becus NJ gas prices are much cheaper than CT since they don't have the high gas taxes we have here. So I'll fill up down there, right before I come back to CT.
I'm sitting here typing with a cup of tea at 5:20 pm. There's a thunderstorm going on and the rain's coming down. It's so funny how Waldo is really very sensitive to thunder and once it starts, he heads for the basement. Luther, on the other hand, is wholly unperturbed by it and is lounging on some furniture near my desk. Go figure.
I got a surprise drop-off from my gardener sister the other day in my driveway: a whole mess of plants which I'm guessing were leftovers or unwanteds from her job gardening on a private estate. There were maybe 2 dozen annuals, 4 different varieties, not even sure what they are, but they're all very attractive. I potted them all up and it brings a lot of joy to my entry way. I hadn't wanted to spend money on annuals.
But the heat's been so bad i really need to water daily, and am wondering how they'll fare when i'm away for 2 days next week. I think I'll move everything to a shady corner and hope the slugs don't molest them. And of course water them thoroughly just before I go.
I really need to mow the lawn. Tomorrow, an absolute must.
Got off easy (?) with car repair
July 8th, 2011 at 09:26 pm
July 8th, 2011 at 10:02 pm 1310162523
July 9th, 2011 at 05:58 pm 1310234293
My brother just got a 2009 5 speed Sonata this past week and LOVES it!
July 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pm 1310251091
I just wish the back seat went down completely level and had hard plastic on it instead of cloth, which is so much harder to keep clean.
July 10th, 2011 at 02:09 am 1310263797
July 12th, 2011 at 02:08 am 1310436535
July 12th, 2011 at 12:48 pm 1310474934