My Adventure

I can't believe I did this, but alas, I was happy to find out that I was not the only one. Sorry, I have no pictures, so just imagine in your head.

Yesterday Austin wanted to take a car we had to a mechanic to see if they could tell us what the problem was. The car doesn't stay running and will over heat because it needs a new water pump so Austin borrowed the mechanic's tow dolly. The little short ones where you drive the front wheels up and they rest on the dolly while the rear wheels spin freely on the ground. We tried to push it up the dolly ramps, but the two of us couldn't get enough momentum to get the tires over the metal that holds the tires in place at the back of the tire wells.

We decided to jump the car and drive it up the dolly, strap it on and go. That should have taken 30 minutes tops. Well, it ended up taking more like two hours. We got the car running and I was driving because Austin doesn't like me handling the jumper cables (I appreciate that, as I have no desire to shock myself or accidentally touch the jaws together and ruin the car), and I killed it once because I didn't have the gas pushed down enough (no it is not standard) and so I had the gas pushed down pretty far and gently let off the break, and I went up the ramps over the metal bar and over the other side of the wheel wells on the dolly. My car came to rest on the frame.

Everything turned out okay. After some maneuvering, jacking, and towing, we got the car off the tow dolly and then up the tow dolly in the proper place. Austin drove the second time. We did learn that his truck isn't as wore out as we thought. It pulled the car, the dolly, and the Explorer that was connected to the tow dolly about a foot before we realized that we were going to need a different approach to get the car unstuck.

Our little car, I have affectionately dubbed "Golde" is now safe and sound getting a ounce over by a Honda certified mechanic. When we dropped her off and were putting the tow dolly away, the mechanic's son came out and helped Austin, he said he did the same thing with his minivan, which made me feel so much better. I am so glad it was just a car and not a big minivan we had to move.

My lesson, always be able to push the break down.

Mice

All last week Austin swore he saw something going back and forth in front of our door to the back of the house. Friday, I finally found one of the mouse traps we got for the other place (which was useless because we had rats not mice), and set it. I didn't think about it again until I heard a snap and a jingle of metal the next day. I looked at the wall because I thought one of my stained glass pieces fell off the hook. When I saw both of them still in place, I remembered the trap. I am glad it was in a dark corner, because I would have seen more of the death shakes than I already did. All I have to say is that mouse was brave to begin with, he paraded around when we were in the front room watching t.v. Yea! no more mouse, well Austin thought it would be a good idea to put it out again and so we did. Sunday morning, there was another one. So that makes two. Please no more. I have had rats and now mice. No more vermin.

Grateful

I have been in a grateful mood lately. I haven't written all of them down like I should, but here are the more memorable ones. I am grateful for:

1. A neighbor who called to let me know my pipe broke
2. Austin can getting auto parts discounted at work
3. My job
4. God's sense of humor
5. My Focus (ask Austin, the Focus is mine and the Explorer is his, yes we share)

I want to go on, but I am at work. Really the gratitude has been helping me see the silver lining when things go wrong (like a broken pipe that flooded my driveway). Besides, it is easier to be happy when you are grateful.

More hours in the day

I really wish there were more hours in the day. I want to read more, but my prime reading time (laying in bed before I go to sleep) seriously bugs Austin. At times like this, I do wish I was more of a morning person. I have tried, but unless it is something active, I cannot wake up and stay awake.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

A couple of weeks ago, I really felt the need to visit my grandparents. I haven't been down to see them since July and I could not ignore the feeling any longer. So I went. After I decide to go I found out that Grandma was going to be having surgery the following week. I am so glad I went. Nothing big happened, we just chatted, but is was so amazing. Grandma showed me some dolls that she has been working on, well, doll clothes. She is so talented and I wish I would of had her teach me some of those things when I was living in Mesa. I get the feeling that they will not be with us much longer, and that thought really makes me sad, but if the church is true, and I know it is, I know I will see them again. I just don't want the long wait.

My mom went down to Mesa today to take care of Grandma after her surgery, she isn't doing as well as the doctors had hoped. I am so grateful that my mom has the know how to go and help like this and that she is feeling up to the task. (On a side note, my mom has been doing pretty good which is wonderful.)

I also go to see my other grandparents. They weren't expecting me, but it was great because I was able to take some things back to my mom for them. On top of all the grandparent love, I got to spend them day with my youngest brother. I really wish he knew how I awesome he is. Not that I want him to get a big head, but I hate to see him down on himself when there is no reason for it.

My Finger Hurts

I would first like to apologize to anyone who might fuind this offensive. I am sorry, Austin is not perfect. Now to the story.

I spent all day Thursday calling and writing letters to clients because the Court decided that it wanted to move all of Tuesday's hearing times for the next two weeks to the next three Mondays. It is pretty vital that the clients know this information so they don't get in trouble for missing their court dates and I send letters so we can prove we told them. By the end of the day, my fingers hurt. While I do type during the day, it isn't usually an all day affair.

Last night when Austin and I were laying in bed, I told him my fingers hurt. To which his reply was, "my finger hurts, I've been driving all day." So, know I am going to check everyday to see if his finger hurts.

The Reason is

I keep wanting to post an update. It's a new year and I would like to write on my blog more. However, I keep having days on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Well, moments I guess is a better description. I'll have a great day, but then when I get to a computer to write it all down, I am having a downer and all I want to do is complain. That is not fun so I keep my thoughts to myself.

Anyway, Christmas was great. I got a huge bonus, somewhat unexpected, but I totally surprised Austin with it. You see, he has been wanting a PS3 for the longest time, about 6 months. We would go and look at them and comeback depressed because there was no way we could afford it. He would be depressed for a couple of days and then go back to hoping maybe I would relent and we would get one (I do the budgeting). Well, the Saturday before Christmas I went shopping while he was at work and I had to be sneaky because I bumped into his sister and his family CAN NOT keep a secret. So I was shopping for longer than I intended because I wanted it to be a surprise. When I wrapped it I put it in a huge box so he could never guess what it was and then I didn't even bring it home until Christmas Eve. It really helps having family around so I can hide presents at their houses. When he opened it he kinda felt bad because he knew I spent more on him (he got the rest of the bonus money) than he did on me, but that lasted about as long as it took to open the box, set it up and start playing the one game he had, Gran Turismo.

New Years was fun. We stayed at home, and rang in the new year very mellow. Austin stayed up to 6:00 a.m. playing video games with Justin, his nephew. I went to bed, as watching video games is kinda boring. The real excitement came the next day when one of our outdoor faucets burst and we couldn't find the water turn off valve. The water was freezing as it came out. I was in a dress because I was about to go to church when we discovered the break. I think I am now sick because of that. We couldn't get a hold of our landlord, but as my Aunt use to manage the property, she and my uncle came to the rescue. It is all good now.

Oh, and both Austin and I got raises. I think that is a great start to a new year.