About that time

Harrison the Ford was my first brand-new vehicle. I bought him in the fall of 1997, a stripped-down 1998 F-150 2WD with hand-crank windows, bare plastic floor, and no amenities other than automatic, A/C, and a radio/cassette player. I drove him steadily until early 2002, when my Dad's van gasped its last. I then sold him to Dad, and bought Kuro. When Dad died, I got him back. I didn't drive him very much, though, which led to some problems due to lack of usage. I'm driving him more now, but it's a hassle juggling two different vehicles and I do prefer driving Kuro. Yes, when you need a pick-up, it's great to have one, but for the handful of times a year that I do...

Yes, I am considering something. I am considering giving up my Blue Boy. When you come from a family who names their vehicles, drives them until they don't drive no more, then stands in the window and cries when the salvage guy comes to tow them away, well, it isn't an easy decision. But I spent $$$ this past summer getting the lower intake gasket repaired, and now I'm hearing other noises which could be simple fixes but then again might not be. And the KBB value of an 11-year old truck in fair condition equals a couple of healthy repair bills. Then there's the cost of gas. Insurance.

Considering...

About that time

Harrison the Ford was my first brand-new vehicle. I bought him in the fall of 1997, a stripped-down 1998 F-150 2WD with hand-crank windows, bare plastic floor, and no amenities other than automatic, A/C, and a radio/cassette player. I drove him steadily until early 2002, when my Dad's van gasped its last. I then sold him to Dad, and bought Kuro. When Dad died, I got him back. I didn't drive him very much, though, which led to some problems due to lack of usage. I'm driving him more now, but it's a hassle juggling two different vehicles and I do prefer driving Kuro. Yes, when you need a pick-up, it's great to have one, but for the handful of times a year that I do...

Yes, I am considering something. I am considering giving up my Blue Boy. When you come from a family who names their vehicles, drives them until they don't drive no more, then stands in the window and cries when the salvage guy comes to tow them away, well, it isn't an easy decision. But I spent $$$ this past summer getting the lower intake gasket repaired, and now I'm hearing other noises which could be simple fixes but then again might not be. And the KBB value of an 11-year old truck in fair condition equals a couple of healthy repair bills. Then there's the cost of gas. Insurance.

Considering...

In other news

A 7 cu ft deep freezer has been bought, to be delivered next week. Groceries have been acquired. Time for a cup of coffee, a little straightening up of the living room. Then it's time to get to work.

Crockpot roast tomorrow. If it turns out as tasty as did the chicken, I will be happy.

In other news

A 7 cu ft deep freezer has been bought, to be delivered next week. Groceries have been acquired. Time for a cup of coffee, a little straightening up of the living room. Then it's time to get to work.

Crockpot roast tomorrow. If it turns out as tasty as did the chicken, I will be happy.

(no subject)

It would have been a birthday. Mom would have been 89 today.

When she was 60 or 61, she visited my aunt in Huntington LI. Aunt had a favorite psychic, and since Mom was a believer, they arranged a visit. Among other things, this psychic told Mom that she would live to the age of 83.

Mom spent the rest of her life counting down. Birthdays became things to avoid rather than celebrate, and as the years went on, it got worse. We had a family tradition where the person whose birthday it was inserted the knife in the cake and the person whose birthday came next took it out. Mom made a face whenever it came to her to take out the knife. When she entered her 70s, she started saying things like "thirteen more years." Twelve. Ten.

I wished a lot of unhappy things on that psychic over the years. Not very nice of me. Oh well.

As fate would have it, Mom's 84th fell the month after Dad died, so on top of the grief came the countdown. But the day came and went, and the next morning my 84 year old mother awoke and maybe realized that she had worried over nothing for over 20 years. In any case, she lived three and a half years longer than Anna said she would. Screw you, Anna.

Vodka and orange juice was Mom's favorite drink. I hope she's somewhere with her sisters, enjoying a drink and laughing.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

(no subject)

It would have been a birthday. Mom would have been 89 today.

When she was 60 or 61, she visited my aunt in Huntington LI. Aunt had a favorite psychic, and since Mom was a believer, they arranged a visit. Among other things, this psychic told Mom that she would live to the age of 83.

Mom spent the rest of her life counting down. Birthdays became things to avoid rather than celebrate, and as the years went on, it got worse. We had a family tradition where the person whose birthday it was inserted the knife in the cake and the person whose birthday came next took it out. Mom made a face whenever it came to her to take out the knife. When she entered her 70s, she started saying things like "thirteen more years." Twelve. Ten.

I wished a lot of unhappy things on that psychic over the years. Not very nice of me. Oh well.

As fate would have it, Mom's 84th fell the month after Dad died, so on top of the grief came the countdown. But the day came and went, and the next morning my 84 year old mother awoke and maybe realized that she had worried over nothing for over 20 years. In any case, she lived three and a half years longer than Anna said she would. Screw you, Anna.

Vodka and orange juice was Mom's favorite drink. I hope she's somewhere with her sisters, enjoying a drink and laughing.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

I should be writing

Instead I'm watching The Chronicles of Narnia. Tilda Swinton is marvelous, and the little girl who plays Lucy is one of the best child actors I've ever seen.

I should be writing

Instead I'm watching The Chronicles of Narnia. Tilda Swinton is marvelous, and the little girl who plays Lucy is one of the best child actors I've ever seen.