Some good things

[alee_grrl]

1. I dropped my car off this morning at a shop I trust to have it looked over to find out if: a) car was safe to drive; b) problem might be something minor. They checked it over, did what they could to make sure I was likely to get home safely, tried to break it to me very gently that car is on her absolute last legs, and were visibly relieved when I informed them that I was going to buy a new car this weekend and would be working from home for the next two days. They only charged me $55, despite having probably spent at least an hour doing diagnostics on it and their normal rate for diagnostics is $100/hour. If you need a car shop in the Vienna, VA area, I highly recommend James Madison Shell.

2. I can work from home for the next two days while I get my transportation sorted.

3. I have awesome friends/chosen family who happily listen to me and help me deal with brain weasels surrounding money issues.

4. We may be getting a dog!

Comments

[alee_grrl]

Hugs!

Good mechanics are sooooo worth their weight in gold. I'm fortunate that I've learned enough from my dad, who was a mechanic, to have a good feel for good shops and not so good shops. But there is as short a supply of good mechanics as there is good doctors.

Doggies are very happy making. Not sure when it will happen, but (almost) all household members are in agreement. Artemis T. Cat has not been able to voice his opinion, but he has been more plaintiff and affectionate since we lost Derrick last year. We are on the look out for gentle, low energy dogs (most likely a mastiff or great dane mix of some sort) who are comfortable with cats and children (though Niece is more tween than small child). May be months before anything happens, especially since Niece spends summers with her dad. But it is very happy making to be moving in the direction of having a dog as well as a cat.

We play a lot of whack-a-brain-weasel in this clan/heart family.