A List and a Ramble

Let's do a list. 

(1) The dealership found a car for me -- maybe next week. Same everything except the tow package which we didn't want anyway. I joked that it was even the same VIN. It's not over till it's over though. We'll see what happens. 

In the meantime, I have a large plug-in hybrid to drive to Asheville with only a reverse camera. Oh boy, this will be interesting driving. I'm going on Thursday-Saturday now. Quick turnaround. 

(2) Planning the neighbor group night out actually went smoothly. Date, confirmed, wow. Pressed the EASY button on this one. 

The ghost tour is from 8-10:30 PM!!!!! My lord. My idea. I'll love it and simultaneously regret it too. We'll go to dinner first so that'll help staying up.

(3) I'm not leaving until Thursday because I spent most of the day at the dealership yesterday. I can't get my stuff together without incredible rushing and it's not worth it. Weather is fine the entire week. I'm going to set up for the kids so it's not "fun" anyway.

(4) Look at the moon this morning. I wasn't sure if the camera would show the nuances. Glow rings, star at the top, sliver moon with shadow. Astrological art.

Now for some reflections -- rant? Probably not, but probably a ramble.

I'm not doing well with the calendar balance. I'm scheduling less so I have more time for the things I need and that time is being sucked up by circumstances (the car being the biggest one, but not the only one). Scheduling less, not seeing results. 

I'm still toying with the idea that this is a bigger problem in my mind, than it's an actual problem. 

I'm annoyed so I'm tossing my hands and saying "seeeeeee, it's not working." But is the issue from my annoyance or not doing the things? Does that make sense? I think I'm piling onto the problem and making it bigger. 

Missing meditation is one thing. Being mad all day about missing meditation is another. 

Something for reflection. 

On another note, I'm taking more control of decisions. It's funny how easily I give away my agency in certain areas and don't even realize it. 

Did that with the car. I felt strongly and no one else agreed. I acquiesced over and over. But yesterday made that decision on my own. Asked to talk to the GM. Didn't tell my husband. This wasn't a committee decision. Did what I felt was the right decision for me. Done. Came home with the rental AND plans to trade the car. 

This feels like a strange moment for personal growth or personal reckoning. Something is shifting or needs to be course corrected. Not sure exactly what or why, but the status quo is not working anymore. Changing feels necessary. Standing up. Speaking up. Being myself without apology. Take or leave me, but this is my life. 

Sounds dramatic, but it feels oddly very important. It's a must-do kind of thing. 

Okay, thanks for listening. Let's end the ramble for today.

Have a good one. Later gators. 

No Car

Latest car news while I'm waiting for my phone to update because it was shutting off randomly. Apparently there's a fix out for it now. New technology, not my favorite thing.

Picked up the car. Got help setting up one of the app features that was giving an error. Tech got out of the passenger seat and it started misfiring again.

They were able to hookup while it was happening. Tons of error codes that have no fixes. 

P.S. They also said they had no idea it was misfiring continuously like that. They thought it was only occasionally according to the report. 

Spoke to the GM and they're looking for a new car to trade. I should know something in a few days. It probably won't be green. 

For now, I have a HUGE red rental hybrid SUV. Oh boy. It's a challenge for me to drive something that large. 

Monday -- The Good Kind??

This Monday isn't my usual Monday love. 

It's a day of my least favorite chores (indoor plants and monthly paperwork) AND we pick up the car. It's going to be a battle. My guess is they still won't "find" anything "really" wrong with the car and then I'm left taking my chances it doesn't happen again. 

Nothing like having a new car that shakes violently, alerts, won't drive ... and a service department that says the computer shows nothing but some engine misfires. "Great news, nothing's broken." I can't even with this logic and attitude. 

Anyway, the cake was a hit. Delicious. Everyone enjoyed it. Yep, I ate way too much, but totally worth it. Cakes by Courtney knows how to do a cake recipe -- especially her frostings. I'm not usually a frosting fan, but I love hers. My grandson said "I love the cream." 

Regret topping with the
toffee crunch because it
was hard to cut.

Black chocolate cake.
3 layers. Tastes a little
like a leveled-up Oreo.

Family said the chili was also "the best." I used a new recipe from Half Baked Harvest and the spices were a little different. She recommends make ahead and reheat for better flavor melding. Of course, it was the first fall cooking of the season and that always tastes a little better. 

I enjoyed the HS call too. Just 4 of us and we used teams instead of zoom. It was a better flow to the conversation. We've also decided to do a text thread instead of messenger to communicate this year until our friend goes overseas again.

UPDATE: Got a call from the car service department with an explanation that seems reasonable. If it is the reason, it won't happen again and then it can be forgotten. Fingers crossed. This was the head service tech and his attitude was a lot better -- and I told him I appreciated that he acknowledged the frustration. I'll pick it up today. 

Also, in other good-service news, the roofer who ghosted us for 2 weeks, stopped by yesterday during the rain to make sure the leak held and it did. Maybe it's fixed too after two floods? He was really kind to stop by to check. 

Maybe Monday is shaping up better than expected. 

THAT would be a great theme for the week. 

The good kind of Monday showing up.

New week, new start. Have a good one. 

Later gators. 

Happy Updates (as promised)

Quick hello and upbeat updates. 

☺There were four of us for bookclub. We scheduled our next meeting and chose books through January. Guess bookclub lives until 2027!! The new member actually came.

☺I made the birthday cake -- I'll take pictures today. Black chocolate cake (tastes like an Oreo), vanilla bean icing, sweet & salty potato chip, pretzel, coconut toffee topping. GF and I can't wait to try it. 

☺ Chili is finished too. I made MINE first in case I ran out of time. We could do takeout for other food if needed, but I was able to get it finished. Cooked from 2-8 o'clock. 

☺HS call is back on for this morning. It'll be good to catch up.

☺Roofer finally showed up. Didn't "see" a problem, but resealed the vent area. I think it would've been helpful to toss water to test the vent instead of guessing, but what do I know (and this is a happy update). Last rain it POURED in so it's not a subtle leak. Storms fizzled out until tonight so we'll see.

Those are my happy updates. 

Hope you have a good one. Later gators.

Maybe a Lemon?

The espresso machine was, in fact, a sign for the day.

Went to drive my car for the first time since taking it home from the dealership and it left via a flatbed tow truck. (No spider issues on the run though -- phew.) 26 miles on the car.

The car was shaking violently and emergency alerts as soon as I started it. 

Service from the dealership was disappointing at best. "Just go through the warranty." "Not sure if we have a loaner car for you." "We got this car from a dealer trade because you wanted the green color, so it's the other dealerships responsibility."

They hooked the car up and found NO PROBLEM even though it did it repeatedly for me, my husband, and the tow truck operator. Even the car said there was something wrong (I took a picture of the alerts).

"The computer noticed some occasional misfirings of the engine, but there is no fix protocol at this time."

They're keeping it until Monday. If it doesn't do it on Monday, then "we're good to go." SERIOUSLY??? The car was un-drivable. 

This is a mess. Can't drive the loaner out of state. Trip to Asheville is questionable now and do I even want to drive it to Asheville?? If this happens in Asheville it's an entire other level of inconvenience. I have the option of taking my old car back from my son for the week, but now, I'm essentially borrowing HIS car. He's on vacation for the week.

Had to cancel my physical. 

I DID get to the movies. Verity was a lot more disturbing visually, but the twists, scares, and ending are great. The movie theater was really nice. Finally got to go (though this was close to getting canceled too).

Roofer was a no-show for the FIFTH time. Storms starting tonight through Monday morning. We'll be spending all night/day/night dealing with water if he doesn't come today.

Yep, it was a sign.

I have a full weekend -- of course. The car situation backed me up on getting ready for Sunday. Football day and celebrating my DILs birthday. Doing a big meal and homemade cake (so I can eat it too). I was planning to have the grocery shopping finished so I could fit the cooking and baking into plans today. Can't get started with no ingredients. I'll need to shop at prime time on Saturday afternoon and somehow fit it the work before football at 1 o'clock on Sunday. 

I'm tempted to buy the cake and do takeout. This means I'm left out of the eating, but also, no work. I'm on the fence.

Bookclub for brunch. Will they / won't they show up?? My guess -- 3 people including me. Two people and I'm calling my efforts finished. Guess I need to figure out my favorite summer read too. I've been so sure it was bombing, I didn't give it any thought.

Probably Lonesome Dove or The Wall. Couldn't be more different. 

I also didn't realize it was Youth Day today. Lots of roads closed for the parade and festival. Oh well. People can figure it out. I'm not giving them another excuse to cancel. 

That said, I'm not in a horrible mood, but I am annoyed that my attempt to balance out my schedule is going to shit again. This weekend and coming week were set to run smoothly and the car situation has it going sideways. The space was supposed to be for quiet things for ME. This weekend is tight and busy now. Asheville will be a quick trip to just get the house ready for the kids to stay -- very little fun Asheville time. 

I've said no to a few things. I'm prioritizing hiking to prepare for the advanced hikes at the end of the month. My foot is painful, but holding steady. In shoes, I'm fine. This is a win.

I did suggest a group thing with our neighbors for October -- walking ghost tour in our town. It's turning out to be a bigger deal than I planned, but I'm going to give it a go and see if I can get it together. My effort has a limit though. I'll take it through one pass of organizing and then I'll tap out and we can just go to dinner. 

I know that I have a lot of fun things I'm doing and my life isn't drudgery -- it's a good time. But I'm struggling a lot to get the quiet spaces back. The spaces that ground me. The spaces that leave enough stillness so I can FEEL what I need. 

Coaching suggested looking for spaces within the rest of the day. Can I find a quiet moment in an unlikely place or can I make the time for a quiet moment in what looks like a full schedule. 

Maybe that's my work. I'll give it a try today.

Hope you have a good day.

Later gators. 

P.S. Read this back and it's whomp, whomp. I'll make an effort to be more upbeat tomorrow. Hah! I do have a lot of good stuff happening too.

Friday Morning Blues

Fasting labs mid-morning today. For some reason, only water and coffee, no tea. Why coffee and not tea? Not how I learned it, but I follow instructions.

(Eeek, just realized it's also my physical today too. Crap. That means a lot longer before I get food and decent drinks.)

This is how the morning started ...

DeScaling light.
Lord help me.

Is it a sign for the day? Lordy, I hope not lol. 

My son picked up the car, so I'm "forced" to drive the new car today. Why does this feel like such an inconvenience? It's a bother (and, of course, a privilege) to have a new car these days with all the tech changes. People have asked if I like the car and I tell them it's been in the garage since I got it. 

I'm a bit strange. 

I know it. 

Everyone knows it.

I'm in a grumpy mood this morning. 

I think it's the start of the day blues. 

None of my "good" drinks allowed.

I have to run because rain the next 3 mornings. 

I have to start the run in the dark because I have a meeting before the appointment. 

Spiders are HUGE right now.

Does the de-scaling light mean I'll also have a run in with a huge spider?? Maybe?? It's how the universe gets its jollies. Let's give 'em 3 things in a row. 

This is my mind when it doesn't get its morning routine on a regular day -- little toddler. 

Well, I really have nothing to say this morning. 

I'm going to go and de-scale the espresso machine so I can have another lungo (all decaf, and there was no limit on the coffee allotment). 

Fun fact: I learned the term LUNGO. It's exactly what I drink in the morning. More than an espresso and less than an americano. Espresso with a bit more water. 

I used to say it's a very short americano. Now I know. Now you know (unless you already knew).  I'm procrastinating. 

Okay, I really need to pull up my big girl panties and get doing the things-I-don't-want-to-do.

Have a fun Friday. 

Later gators. 

P.S. Afternoon gets substantially better with a movie date with a friend. 

Nature Day

The hike went really well. 

I finished with no problem. 

Did being a little nervous help? Maybe hah!

Visited the nature center in our town with a couple of friends. It was really pretty. It's primarily walking trails on preserved land behind a fence. Pretty, yes. Hot afternoon, also yes (90 degrees with full sun). I suggested this wait until the weather cooled down again, but was outvoted. We took a hot, sweaty walk in a lot of sun, but I had a nice time.

You can walk along a lot of that area on a public trail too, but it gets crowded with bikes too. This is more isolated and quiet. 

(Where did fall go?!?! I guess it's coming back after the storm front this weekend. P.S. Roof is STILL not fixed.)

There's also an interactive nature room for kids, birds and animals that need rehab, and butterfly area (closed for the season). Not enough to have an interest in a membership though, although my friend views her membership as a donation.

The birthday friend finally responded saying "thanks" about the birthday message (why THAT took over 24 hours to write, I'll never know). Never answered my questions about a call or what she did for her birthday weekend. Then asked me a random question later in the day about my sister. 

Today is a mix of fun and chores. 

Thrifting with my aunt. Super local this time (phew). 

Office work in the afternoon. 

No rants or deep thoughts this morning. You're welcome. 

Hope you have a good day.

Later gators.