Summertime, and the living is...

OK, first an update on Dave, Adrian, Bud, and the missing Lumina.  Dave says he is going to pay for it.  He thinks Adrian might have it.  We are holding our collective breath...


I started to write about how hectic my next two weeks are going to be and how unhappy that made me, but then I decided to slap myself.  I really need an attitude adjustment.  OK, so my idea of a perfect life is to live alone in a house with a big porch on a beach without hurricanes or mosquitoes with books, writing equipment, and regular conjugal visits from my husband.  OK, he can live with me.  People would visit often enough, but in a really really informal way.  I'd have beer, basil lemonade, and cookies for them.  They'd go home (although they could sleep over if they needed to.)  And money is no object.  I don't need a lot.  Just enough so I don't have to worry about it unless I want to buy a $500 cotton t-shirt.  And that won't happen.


So... my real life.  I missed work yesterday to take care of my grandchildren because my son & daughter in law needed help.  I had a great time with them, although the fantasy about cleaning my house while watching them was ... a fantasy.  I did get a teeny bit done.  But mostly I played.


Today I am at work, trying to catch up with what I didn't do yesterday and can't do next week because we are going to Charleston, SC for a tax workshop/conference.  (This is when I start the slapping.)  Bob, Mark, and I are staying at a really nice hotel right across from the Market, within walking distance of the finest restaurants, shopping, and historical sights in SC.  Bob and Mark may go to the beach one day while I learn how to help people who are going through bankruptcy and other fun things.  Sunday & Monday nights are paid for by my boss.  Tuesday, we are paying, so I can have a little bit of a real vacation and visit family on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.  Obviously, I am an ungrateful wretch if I don't see what a cool thing this is.  (And I LIKE learning about tax stuff.)


Again, I'm a wretch because I'm feeling pressed about family obligations this weekend before we go to Charleston.  A family wedding on Friday and the second quarter birthday party at my in-laws on Saturday.  The wedding will be nice, even though it keeps me from my usual suspects happy hour and that puts me out.  The second quarter birthday party will be as good as I make it.  And I don't want to talk about that right now.


Next week, we'll miss the regular happy hour again for another family gathering with the in-laws.  We're meeting at Little Pig's Barbecue, which is a really good place to eat as long as you like pork.  They have three kinds of barbecue --- mustard based (my choice), ketchup based (yuck), and vinegar based (ok).  They have all of the normal sides --- slaw, green beans, mac & cheese casserole, banana pudding, rice and more.  It's a great place and I'd be really happy to go there if I weren't missing happy hour.  

On July 3, I think we are going to my boss' house for more barbecue as well as swimming and horseshoes.  On July 4, we'll have a picnic at church, then go to my brother's for swimming, burgers, and brats.  The sausage, not my children.  I think we have July 5th off.  I know I'll need it.

And so you see what a whiner I am.  This looks like a great couple of weeks, doesn't it?  It will be as fun as I make it, I guess.  OK, well, off to have fun, even if it kills me...

I am not making this up...

OK, about three months ago, our 1996 Lumina's transmission broke.  We had it towed to a transmission repair shop where they told us they'd look at it for $400.  That's on top of the $90 tow.  On a really ugly car.  The car in which I'd spilled spaghetti sauce and Italian dressing and could never get clean.  The car with only one working seat belt in the back (see spill above.) 

Bud, the owner, did tell us that if we decided to fix it, the $490 would go toward that cost.  So we know we are looking at a pretty hefty repair bill.  On a car with a blue book value of $450 if it runs.  And at this point it did run, but only backwards.

So Bob asked Bud if he knew anyone who might want to buy the car.  Bud grumbled something that sounded negative, but one of Bud's employees (Dave) told Bob he'd give Bob $150 and pay for the tow.  Great.

AND SO, Bob and I take off from work and go get a copy of the title.  We take it back and get ready to sign over the poor old Lumina to Dave.  UNFORTUNATELY, Dave didn't have the money then.  He'd get his check cashed and get with us on Monday.  OK.

Bob takes off on Monday and goes to see Dave, who had had a family emergency over the weekend.  (I think his cousin Jose Cuervo showed up, but what do I know?)  He did not have the money.

Bob and Dave dance this dance for a couple of weeks, with Bob taking off from work to meet Dave, only to get a last minute phone call.  In the meantime, poor Dave is having one family emergency after another.  (I'm thinking it was his brother Jack Daniels & his uncle Captain Morgan, but I'm cynical.)

And it turns out that Dave can't buy the car, but his buddy Adrian can.  And he will get Bob the money as soon as his fiance gets their bank account unfrozen. 

This has gone on a long long time, and at this point I don't care.  I was about to call SCETV and get them to pick up the car and sell it for whatever they can get.  Bud seemed to think we would pay the tow if the "deal" fell through.  Bud was mistaken.

But now, as of today, the car is missing.  I am not making this up.  Adrian (or is it Dave) thinks it was stolen (who the hell is going to steal a 1996 Lumina that only goes backwards?)  Bob told Bud that we needed to know if he was in the city or county, because we needed to know where to file the police report.  Bud said Dave is going to pay Bob anyway.  And then Bud said he saw pigs fly... but I think that was cousin Jose again.