Spring semester: day twenty-nine
The Monte Carlo lives. And lives much better, too.
Around 11 yesterday morning I was called (awakened, sort of, as I had just been laying in bed daydreaming and slipping in/out of consciousness since 9) and told that my car was finished and that I could pick it up any time. The lady asked me if I needed a ride up there, and I gladly accepted.
"Well, are you ready now? Because I can get you now, or within the next 20 minutes or so, but may not be able to later."
Mind you, I was still in bed. But I did want my car back.
"Absolutely," I said to her on the phone, leaping out of bed to vault upstairs and get dressed.
About half an hour later I'd thrown on a t-shirt, hoodie, and shorts (as it was still around 60 outside) and was picking my car up from the auto repair shop. The total was slightly lower than I thought it would be -- $279 or so -- but I got the mighty Decepticon back and brought her home, all patched up for the time being. I will say that she drives a lot more smoothly now; apparently the belt/tensioner must have been going out for a long time. Her steering is so much easier-handling than before, and she doesn't idle or run as rough at all. Because I can more easily steer her, the huge turning radius I used to have to worry about with the landboat she is has now become almost nonexistent.
But yes, I paid for her repairs, very graciously thanked the techs and mechanics who worked on her, and drove home. Once I got here, I started on the catch-up homework/housework I need to do this weekend. And there's a lot of it, let me tell you.
That $279 took a big chunk out of my bank account, but it's not insurmountable. I still have plenty of money to eat, pay bills, etc. -- without any worries for the time being. That, of course, will change for the better once I get my tax refunds as well, most of which will also be going into the car for tires and other maintenance/repairs for a multitude of reasons. I need to make, and keep, that car as reliable as possible for the foreseeable future. If that means spending a lot of spare cash on it, then I have to do it -- otherwise this incident will be the first of many.
Still, as my mother told me, at least I got a long(er) weekend out of all the car problems. And there are times that, if given the option, I would certainly pay $279 for a few more days off. Does it balance out? Logically, not really. But spiritually and in a rest-and-relaxation sense? Yep. At least, good enough for me.
I've been severely sleep-deprived over the past few days for a multitude of reasons, most of them exceedingly good ones. My lost hours of sleep are beginning to take their collective toll, though, and I see myself going to bed at a reasonable hour at least tonight. A "reasonable hour" equates to "before 3AM" for me. And I have to shower first -- I've been so busy all day that I haven't had the chance. I've not been eating a whole lot either, for the record. Just haven't been that hungry. Maybe I'm entering some new phase of life.
At least, I hope so...
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