Stupid Car!
Ah, the joys of owning a car that has problem after problem with it. We just replaced the alternator and battery 3 years ago, but on Friday night--while I was in Ashland, might I add--my battery charge was running awfully low, and after some consultation with my parents on the phone, they decided I should leave it there. So, I had to call a friend and have them come pick me up and bring me back to Medford. On Saturday, I was able to get it home, and today my dad took it in to be looked at. The verdict:

I need a new alternator.

My car hates me.

Oh, and, an added bonus:

My car has been leaking a very small amount of oil the past couple weeks. I didn't think much of it, but the shop called today to say that the oil has completely saturated my timing belt as well.

Total cost: $1300.

Yay.......

My Retarded Car has.....

Struck again. Last week, yet another thing went wrong with it. I went to Les Schwab to pick up Zach after work because he was getting his brakes done, and he went to get in the driver's side door.....and......drumroll please.....the handle BROKE! Like, right where two pieces of metal were soldered, it just broke in half, so pulling on the handle does absolutely nothing!

How exciting for me. Now whenever I have to get into and I'm by myself, I have two choices.

1. Get in through the passenger side, and climb over the cousel to the driver's side.
2. Leave the driver's window down half way and open the door from the inside.

Yay!!! for me. My dad ordered the part last week, and it is supposedly coming on Monday. We'll see. The new hood for my car was supposed to be here a month ago, and we just got it yesterday. Fancy that.

Here are the pictures of my poor car I promised. :(

So.....if you haven't heard yet...I think my car may be cursed...or be an accident magnet....or something to that effect.

Tuesday after I got home from class I parked behind one of my brother's friend's car at the curb. As I was walking up, he was getting ready to leave and gave me a hard time about my fender-bender last week because of the ice. He went on to say that I'd never see any dents on his car...he doesn't get in accidents.

He hopped in his car, put it in reverse.....and backed right up into my car. Now I need a new hood..... *sigh*

They opted not to inform insurance and just pay out of pocket....so now I'm waiting for the whole process to be over with.

I'll try to post a picture or two of my cursed car later on today!

So....I hate driving in snow/ice........

because, well, car accidents suck. Totally ruined my day......

Thats all for now.

Sooo..I feel terrible. It has been a whole month since I posted. That is pathetic, and I apologize. An update:

1. My car is still sick. While I can drive it, it is still leaking a little bit of power-steering fluid, and thus, still banned from my spot in the garage and driveway. If this makes no sense to you, here is some background. My parents are somewhat anal folks and flinch at the thought of having a stained driveway. So, I must park out at the street. Tear, Tear.
2. I recently received a raise at work. Now that, my friend, is very exciting. A whole 25 cents increase!
   
3. School starts in 2 weeks. A day which I am dreading at the moment. I have to drive out to Ashland four (4) days a week once school starts. Two of those days only for one class. The big picture: Lots of gas, means lots of money down the drain for something called an education.
4. I was very dismayed to hear that Sam Goody got bought out. I just signed up for a 2-year subscription for their rewards program and it's all going down the drain because f.y.e. has their own program that only goes for ONE year. Basically, $25 down the drain. *sigh*
5. I have a stomach flu that has been going around my office. Just about everyone has had it, and now I do. I have felt nautious off and on for almost a WEEK now. I'm ready to be done with it now. In case you were wondering....
6. I've recently discovered Dee Henderson. Granted I have heard people rave on about her before, but I finally caved in when Matt gave me a copy of one of her books. Now I am hooked.
7. I'm tired of the hot weather and very much ready for fall to be here. I absolutely love the weather in fall---perfect with a zip up jacket or sweatshirt...and it's soooo beautiful.
   
8. I have been a good Sunday School kid and actually DONE my lesson before class for the last TWO weeks in a row! Go me!!
9. This last weekend, Donna, Zach, and I went down to Sacramento for the long weekend to visit Stacy, Florin, and all of the other wonderful people in Sacramento. We had an absolute blast!
10. And I am too young to have these kinds of back problems. 'Nuf said. Thinking about finding a good chiropracter-yes, it's that bad.
    

Whelp, I think that about sums it up for now.

Sooo...Don't you just love it when you have car problems? I know Bryan does, since he seems to testify about it in church everytime he has any... ;) (Truth be told, Bry, your testimonies are always very entertaining)...But, I digress.

Back to my car problems. Thursday night, on my way out to the Marincus' to pick up Zach from his trip, I stopped and got $10 worth of gas at Shell to hold me over-I had stopped at Safeway first, which was cheaper..but also had 4 cars in each lane, so I decided to go to Shell even though they cost more, because I didn't want to wait. And my car seemed to be running fine, it made it to Jacksonville and back no problem, however, later that night, when I was taking Zach home...I noticed it had started making this whirring noise when I slowed down and when I was turning..but didn't think too much of it. Then this morning I noticed it was a little worse on my way to work, so I called my mom-note that my parents are out of town right now..- and told her what was wrong with my car. Her answer? Bad gas, which made sense to me, since I just got gas last night, and so I stopped worrying too much about it. After all, there wasn't much I could do until I got most of it out of my car by simply driving around. However, tonight when I went to take Zach home, it had progressed to much worse. And I noticed it was beginning to get pretty hard to steer. Sooo, I called my dad this time, and asked him what he thought. I also mentioned that I noticed it was leaking something on the driveway..which looked like oil. The new verdict? My dad thinks my power-steering is out. Which means no driving for me until after they get back from their trip and my dad has a chance to look at it. Know what else it means? *sigh* $$$ :( And of course, this comes about a week after I was saying how I loved that my car never gives me any trouble. There's never anything wrong with it.

*sigh* Me and my big mouth. Why did I have to say that? I was just asking for something to go wrong. And now it did.

Moral of the story? Gas is the least of my worries.