Brakes. Broke.

Well, that's the story of our lives, isn't it? One step forward, two steps back.

My brakes on the van have been going lately. And by "going," I mean screeching and grinding mercilessly, making me cringe every time I have to use them.

I was going to hold off until the 15th - payday - to get the brake job done, but driving around today, it became clear they couldn't wait another moment. So I called up a place where I had a brakes coupon, and they could get Vanna in and out this afternoon, in a few hours.

And they did. To the tune of $350 dollars we certainly didn't have just yet. I had to get a little creative with paying for that, and now I'm hoping stuff doesn't bounce this week. We had just started to pull ahead a little in the numbers game, too, and then this setback.

Oh well, at least it wasn't a frivolous expenditure. And Vanna now rides like butta, so I can't complain too much.

********

We had SO many plans for this weekend, and instead we wasted much of it. I got the chills again on Friday night (it's because I'm skinny), so I had Rob take me up to the boudoir, where it's about 100º warmer than down here, and tuck me in. He even put jammies on me, and I ended up wearing some pre-kids (and pre-Rob) silky things that made me slip and slide around under the sheets. It's nice to be able to fit into some old favorites again. I'm loving it!

So in the morning, Saturday, I was supposed to get up way early and do some convenience store mystery shops. Only, I didn't. And I didn't get up for Sophie's 0915 soccer game, and we were STILL cuddled up in bed for Chloë's soccer game at 1215! Which was kind of ridiculous and shameful of us, especially with it being so close to the end of the season and all.

But, I guess we needed it, because not much time passed before we were all downstairs taking naps on the couch in the afternoon, too! When I had more running around to do, and missed.

We got up in time to get ready for our dinner date at the Hilton's fabulous restaurant. Rob fed the kids some spaghetti while I showered and fancied up. For a coat, I chose the nice blue one I used to wear in high school - and it fit! Tightly, snugly, but I got it buttoned up. I definitely weigh a lot more now than I did then, so I was surprised, but it still looked okay.

Linda and Tony watched the kids while we went out. I was embarrassed to hand over the keys to the valet and not mention the brakes squawking their objections, especially with all the Benzes and BMWs around. But whatever.

Dinner was lovely. The tables were a bit too close together for our liking, but otherwise, it was a very nice night out, with excellent company as usual. I felt like I belonged there for once, instead of feeling all dowdy and, well, BIG. Even Linda said I looked really nice...

When we picked up the kids, they were all talking at once about how much fun they'd had. Linda had picked up a computer Thomas the Tank Engine Bingo game for them to play, and she had all kinds of little prizes for them, from cookies to Christmas decorations and cups to Avon perfume samples! They have spent so many moments since then going through their goody bags and covering themselves with smelly-good samples. What a kick. I felt kind of bad that she went to so much trouble - it's not like I pay her a fortune - but she seemed to have enjoyed herself as much as the kids did. Now they keep asking me when they can go back and play Bingo again!

I didn't care for the fennel seeds on my scallops from dinner, and Linda raved about how much she liked scallops, so I gave her my left-'em-overs. (I don't really call them that; I'm just a dork.) I'd only eaten one of the six large scallops, so hopefully she enjoyed them well.

Anyway.

Today, I did manage to get up and go do my early-morning shops. I meticulously planned my route to get the lowest mileage and fastest time, and I managed to get all four shops done in an hour and 15 minutes - which includes about 15-20 minutes at each stop. Plus I brought home four sandwiches for Rob to eat at work, so it was a good plan.

I didn't have much downtime before it was time for me to go out again. The Brownies were having a booth sale, and it was our very first one for Fall Product. We didn't do any last year, and this year no one could "man" (Woman?) the booths for the first three, and we had to forfeit them. So I had no clue what to order, what would sell. I just ordered a bunch of stuff and worried, pretty much.

I had to run to the bank to get the money for the sale, and then run into the Kroger where the booth was going to be, to get it broken down into $5s and $1s. I had the money, the table and chairs, and the product, but I wasn't actually going to be at the booth, so it was a relief when the two other parents and their daughters showed up on time! I was just going to be the runner, in case they needed more of something.

They never called, and halfway through their two-hour shift, I crumbled and needed a nap. When time was up, I felt like doody, so I sent Rob to go pick up everything. I was shocked when he came home with hardly any product - they'd sold almost everything, and gotten $31 in donations to boot! I could hardly believe it; I was so thrilled!

Immediately after that, we went to bring my van in to be serviced. I napped again while it was there. Sleepy, sleepy Mama. (And yes, I'm out of my iron pills; why do you ask??) ;)

Finally, in the late afternoon, Chloë and I went door-to-door for about an hour, until it got dark, to try and get her personal sales up. She did really well for the people who were actually home, and she'll at least get the patch. Hopefully we can go out a few more nights this week and get her one or two more levels up in rewards, since she wants "everything" - but we won't make that, I'm sure.

When we got home, I made dinner (cheese- and broccoli-stuffed chicken breasts, broccoli, and mashed potatoes with gravy - all Schwan's) and gave the kids the peach sherbet for dessert that Stephanie's sister had given us at her baby shower two months ago.

Been putzing around ever since, trying again to fight off the exhaustion and the chills. It's really getting annoying! I mean, I'm glad I don't have all the built-in insulation I used to have, but I absolutely abhor the sensation of being cold down to my bones. What to do, what to do...

And with that, I'm back to cutting my Sunday coupons. What fun.

Fin.

Comments

[Nadine]

I absolutely hate being cold. Pretty much more than anything else. It's soul killing for me. Which living where I live can be a problem.

Sorry about the brakes. Suckage.

[Smellyann]

Move down here!