I have only 2 more full payments and a partial payment and my car is finally paid off. So, of course, it has to start acting up. I know that there’s things I need to have looked at on it. And I plan to after the first of the year (after it’s paid off). But this time it’s something different.

I went to Burger King for supper (I got paid today and haven’t gotten groceries yet and nothing in the fridge but cake. I went thru the drive thru. When I was done, I went to roll up my windows (they’re electric) and it wouldn’t do anything. So I freaked. Called and talked to Dad about it. I kept trying to get it up and it would go up a little bit and then die. Let it sit a bit then try again. Up a little bit more. It FINALLY rolled all the way up. I figured the motor was going out. Dad said it could be the wiring or maybe it was just stuck in the track. At this point, I don’t know.

When I got home, I tried it a little. Rolled it a little ways down and then back up. It seemed to be working without any trouble. Of course, I didn’t roll it down very far ‘cuz I didn’t want it to get stuck again (it is November in ND after all). I just need to be careful. The only time I’ll roll it down for the next few months is going thru a drive thru (whether it’s the bank or fast food).

I just hope the gremlins stay away ’til spring. Is that too much to ask?

Mood: blah   Y&R

I was on my way to my interview this morning and started hearing a strange noise. I turned off the radio and then the fan. I still heard the noise. I was freaking out. What the hell is wrong with my car now. The noise sounded like it was coming from the engine. Then I looked at my phone. I had a phone call. I had put my phone on ‘manner mode’ since I was going to an interview. When it’s in ‘manner mode’, it vibrates when it rings. THAT was the noise I was hearing. Thank goodness. ‘Cuz if that noise had been coming from the engine, I would have REALLY been screwed!

Mood: hungry   Y&R

God damn piece of shit. Pardon my language, but my car really pissed me off tonite. I worked ’til 6pm tonite (getting some overtime … can always use the extra money … especially now). On my way home, I happen to notice that the oil light was on. CRAP!! When I got home, I looked under the car. SHIT!! There was a small puddle of oil on the garage floor. It wasn’t there before. And I could see it dripping. So, of course, I freak out like I always do when shit like this happens. I called Dad (Daddy … HELP … LOL). He couldn’t help much since he couldn’t actually look at the car. So … I took it to Jiffy Lube. I was due for an oil change anyways. And I figured they could find where the leak was coming from. Yeah … I should’ve just went to the repair place first. Couldn’t saved some hairs from going gray. They guy at Jiffy Lube told me that the oil was leaking from the top of the engine. THAT can’t be good. And when the car was running, it was just spurting out. I had a regular ol’ geyser under the hood.

They suggested I didn’t drive it. Thank goodness for AAA.

I called the repair place that is right by my apartment … once I FINALLY found it in the phone book. Damned if I could remember the name. And I see it every day when I go to work and when I come home. I need to add that to my phone … just in case.

Anyways … about 10 minutes or so after I called, the tow truck showed up. And damn if the tow truck driver wasn’t a hottie. That made the experience a little better … At the repair shop, it didn’t even take him 5 minutes to diagnose the problem. The oil sending unit went out.

Of course, I’m thinking … “GREAT … how much is THIS gonna cost me?” Turns out it wasn’t as bad as I thought. It was an $18 part. But then that darn labor cost factors in. All in all, it cost just over $71. Could’ve been worse … so I’m not gonna complain.

I decided to come home while they worked on my car. It’s not very far from my apartment, and I didn’t think it would take long to walk home. And it was nice out. But I didn’t get to walk. The tow truck driver drove me home … He was on his way to another tow, and since it was close, he gave me a ride. I won’t bother you with my evil thoughts on that … heeheehee.

I did walk back there. Only took me about 6 minutes. The guy was getting ready to call me when I got there. About 5 minutes after I got there, my car was ready to go. THANK GOODNESS!!

I REALLY hope I don’t have any more problems with my car for a while now. But if I do … I know where to take it. They guy at the repair shop did say that I should get my fuel filter replaced. I looked it up, and it has been quite a while since I did that last. Guess I’ll have to go home one of these weekends and get it done. It cost only $24 last time (in 2002). I doubt any place here would do it for that cheap. He said something else about the fuel system. I can’t remember now. But it didn’t suprise me. I’ve had a feeling that’s what the OTHER issue I’ve been having with my car was.

Arg … it’s almost 10pm. Time for bed. Me very tired. Barb was over last nite to use my computer and she didn’t leave ’til midnite … that’s 2 hours past my bedtime … LOL. And I’m wore out from this afternoon. Hell … I didn’t eat supper ’til 9pm. Thank GOODNESS tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!

Mood: tired

Link courtesy of my Dad … gas price humor

Boy … if he didn’t have good timing. LOL. Prices were $2.49 on Monday. They went up to $2.79 yesterday. And they’re up to $2.99 today.

I know I shouldn’t complain. I could live along the Gulf Coast and no longer have a home like those who were in the path of Hurricane Katrina. But then again … Becky isn’t happy unless she’s complainin’ about something. But then again … is Becky ever happy?

Mood: hungry

My car is fucking possessed. I went over to Robin’s tonite to drop off her bday present. On my way back, my car thought it would drive itself. I was coming up to a red light, so I took my foot off the gas and waited a second or 2 before putting on the brake. Well, when my foot was in between pedals, my car decided to accelerate ALL BY ITSELF!!! My foot was in mid-air, and my car was speeding up … 20mph … 30mph … 35mph. Freaked me out. Thank goodness I had a ways to go before I HAD to stop. And I had to mash down the brake too. The roads were a little slick because of the snow *, but even after I was stopped, I had to keep the pedal mashed down because the car wanted to keep going. The wind was from a different direction than where I was coming from (I was being pushed north and the wind was FROM the west-northwest). After I got going again after the light turned green, everything was back to normal. I’d take my foot off the gas and I’d start to slow down. That just freaked me out.

* The last time I went to Robin’s … when I left it was snowing and blowing like crazy. I think next time she needs to come over HERE. LOL

Mood: tired

Turns out I’ve got a belt (alternator belt or some sort of belt) that’s all frayed on one side. Not sure how long it’s been like that. Gonna cost me $50 to replace it plus whatever other charges they decide to throw in. Thank god for credit cards. Otherwise I’d have to work it off.

They said it would take about a half hour, so I decided to walk home. The shop wasn’t far from my apartment (only took about 10 minutes to walk home). I tried to call my parents to let them know what was going on, but my damn cell phone won’t work. Either can’t get a signal or I get this weird image on the display … like a phone connecting to a modem or something. Never seen THAT before. The battery isn’t low … that’s not the problem. Not sure what is but it’s pissing me off. Fucking Verizon. First time I’ve had trouble like this though.

Shit … I should probably start walking back. They’re obviously not gonna be able to call me since my phone isn’t working. But he said it would be a half hour, so …

And I still haven’t eaten supper. But I’m definitely gonna go out tonite. I need a drink.

I have a good day at work then it all falls apart when I come home. Guess that means I shoulda stayed at work.

Mood: annoyed

Today was a much better day at work. I guess yesterday was just first day jitters. And I definitely felt better when Kelly said that she thought I did fine yesterday. I had several small projects to do (updating sites). I also got to start a brand new project. Not updating exisiting sites this time. It’s a fairly simple site, so it’s a good one for me to start with. The hardest part of it was splicing up the layout image in Photoshop … but that was because I’ve never used Photoshop before. I’ve only ever used PaintShop Pro. But I did eventually get what I need. Definitely a better day today. I feel much better.

That is I did until I was almost home from work. I was talking to Mom on the phone and my car started making some funky noises. At first, I thought I had a flat tire that had shredded or something. I pulled into the Kinkos parking lot (only a few blocks from home). Tires were fine. The noise was coming from under the hood. The noise got louder when I pushed on the accelerator. So I called Dad right away (the poor guy … I bother him way too much with my car problems). He had some ideas, but obviously couldn’t troubleshoot over the phone. I did make it home. I shut it off and then turned it back on as Dad instructed. It didn’t make the noise anymore. I called Amoco (or whatever the hell it’s called now) to see if anyone had any ideas. The guy I talked to said it sounded like an engine miss. He’d need to look at it to know. And I couldn’t take it in ’til 6:45pm. And it would cost me anywhere from $35 to $60 just to find out what’s wrong with it … not to get it fixed. I called Dad back and told him what they told me. I really don’t wanna take it in. Dad had told me to check the coolant after the car had sat for about an hour. He thinks it could be something with the coolant system. It did sit out in the sun in a downtown parking lot all day … and it’s been around 84° out today. I had the AC on when the noises started.

So this is what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna go check the coolant around 6:30pm. Then I’m gonna go drive it down the street and back or so and see if it’s making the noises (I won’t turn on the AC). If it’s fine, then I’m not gonna worry about it. Dad said it should be fine if it isn’t making the noises. I sure hope so … I was planning on heading to Ma and Pa’s this weekend. But not if the car is acting up. Maybe if I make it down there, I’ll leave my car and bring Mom’s back … she even suggested that. But I want my car even if it is a P.O.S. LOL

So for now … I have no idea what’s wrong with my car or if it’ll still do it. I’m hungry. And I wanna go out tonite. Mona called to see if I wanted to go to Pete’s. The Roosters are playing. I need to get out. It’s been a while since I’ve been out. But I’m not gonna be out late since I gotta work tomorrow. I’m just glad this is a 3 day weekend.

Mood: angry