Two

Went to the bar tonight for the Phils game. It started a bit rocky, but the end result was pleasant. Had some car trouble on the ride home, but things worked out.

Chancing It

I got my car back today! Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. After dropping it off Thursday, today was the first word I heard about it. Call it bad timing, but it seems as though the day I dropped it off was the last of the month, and the shop was backed up with registrations and inspections that needed to be updated.

Diagnosis: Unclear

What I was told was: It looks like it's the start up module is malfunctioning. To replace that, it will cost you about 500 dollars. But, we have gotten the car to start consistently all day, so it may have cleared.

Decision: Left up to me. My dad and the mechanic both came to the lack of conclusion that it may or may not need to be fixed and there was really no definitive way to make that call accurately. I could pay the money and make sure that the problem is behind me, or challenge that a problem even exists by not fixing it.

So, here I am with my car back in my possession. I couldn't justify spending money, and that much of it, on something that is not definitely necessary. On the other hand, I could find myself unable to start my car at any point. It is definitely a risk, and one I am not happy I have to take. But the fact of the matter is: money is way to tight. Now - if it breaks down somewhere that I can't leave it, and I cannot get it to start. The money to tow it is going to make me regret that completely. Who knows how this one is going to end.

Bad Timing

I realize I said I was going to explain yesterday's series of a events leading to me being car-less but I am already down to about 5 hours of sleep so it will have to wait. But I can say that the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I lost my car on the last day of the month which means I did not have the ability to get the new SEPTA pass for October which cost my 5 bucks today.

In addition, my car has yet to be even looked at because it is the end of /start of the month. This means that everyone has brought their cars in for expiring registrations. The repair shop is too backed up that they might not even get to it tomorrow. I am hoping that is not the case, especially because if it turns out it is a dealership-fix-only then I am even further removed from getting it back. Hoping for the best.

Repaired

Thanks to having a father and grandfather who know their way around a car better than I know my way around a computer, my car is fixed. The damage, well that is to be determined. Looking to be well over 200 dollars though.

With one thing being fixed there must be another thing breaking. Our air conditioning went today. My sister, who was home alone, was unaware. My dad got home to find the inside temperature at 86 degrees. So, I am going to bed. It is too hot to even have this computer on my lap.

Working From Home Is Still Work

Yesterday I had some car trouble and was forced to work from home today. In the long run, it was actually better. There are just certain things that you need your own headspace for. Luckily I was able to do everything I would normally do at work as well as get to the things I wouldn't have been able to do.

I had never worked from home before and thought maybe it would be this glorious thing. Sure, cutting out having to commute to do work, as well as getting an extra hour of sleep was great. But there was no real sleeping in. I started working at 7:30 (which is actually earlier). I worked straight through, except lunch, until after 3.

My car is still not totally fixed, but it is drivable. I will be back in the office tomorrow.

In other news, I got my new shoes today. The one pair: shoe within a shoe (pictured below).

I also found out that I am due for an upgrade on my cell contract. No more worrying about what to ask my parents/siblings for for my birthday. Hello, iPhone 4. Ordered it today. Expected delivery is 2 weeks. Woohoo!

Finally - started watching Veronica Mars today. It's pretty cool for a show about a teenage private investigator.