Things that wear out

It seems as if all of my appliances have come to the end of their lifetime. But it also seems like it is somehow a "conspiracy" that they are all dying at the same time.

The only TV's I had both went out within a week of each other. Great for the digital TV conversion, but not so much for the pocketbook. I have been listening to my fridge making a weird noise, like a fan is out, but somehow it keeps on ticking. I'm just counting the days when I lose that appliance completely. I ALMOST bought a new fridge a couple of years ago, but didn't as the payments were going to be pretty high and I wasn't completely sold that I liked the new fridge in the first place. It was a side-by-side and people warned me it isn't as large as a regular fridge. Then the appliance store didn't deliver in my area we are too far out of their delivery area. So I got to thinking about the cost and everything and cancelled last minute. I am sure the guy who sold the fridge to us was angry because he didn't get his commission. We avoided going into the S store for the next year!

The dishwasher is still working but I know it's old. The washer is working but I have to hit it just right to make work by smacking it on the lid. What a life!

All these appliances are wearing out, and I figure if I replaced them within the next two years, I won't have to worry about them going out for another thirteen years, at least!

By then, I'll be ready for retirement! Then what?? I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there.

Here I am again!

I've been here, but just couldn't think of anything to write. I've been mostly visiting Facebook with old friends ranging from junior high through college and beyond. I have found friends whom I would never have thought would be a "friend" through FB and others whom I considered "were" friends but for some odd reason they do not add me as a friend. Very strange. Now, I can understand it if they are not online all that much and don't have time to add everyone. But, when I make a request that "yes, indeed you know me," by telling them my maiden name, etc., I expect to get picked up. Perhaps, an image comes into their minds and they think, "Oooh HER!? You've GOT to be kidding!!" Then they ignore the request and not add me to their friend list. Then, I have had some people requesting me to be their friend and you know what? I am thinking that exact same thing. But being the forgiving soul that I am, I think "why not add them?" Maybe these people have changed for the better; therefore, the ones I thought were good friends way back when, were not really good friends at all. So it is interesting how people change, or how I perceive that they HAVE changed. Simply because they have added me to their friend list.

Maybe I'm just gullible. But one person, whom I thought was just "icky" has written to me twice! Sure, she could have thought I'm not messing with her anymore, or I could have thought the same thing about her easily because of the type of person she WAS. Now, I find out we have a lot in common....weird.

So if you're on FB and you haven't picked up my request to be your friend, now you really know what I think about you. However, most people who read this blog are either on FB and are my friend. Or not on FB and still are my friend.
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I like our new vehicle. But this past week I got my tag renewal for the old van. I looked at what I owed and since that van was nearly 4 years old, I can just IMAGINE how much the taxes will run on this car!! I already have higher payments for the car and the insurance coverage.

The car is small and I can't see taking this car out to Oregon, let alone GOING on a vacation to Oregon! I foresee in my future no cross country vacation for this year. I think we will be staying within the state. Unless I can find some "rich uncle" to finance a trip! Ha! That won't happen anytime soon, all my uncles are not living.
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I got the instructions on my "BIG test." I gulp, when I read about how much liquid I will have to consume. I have been reading online about this type of prep and some people did well and others didn't. That's the part I'm worried about. Once I get past the prep, I will be ready to take this test and get it over with. Hopefully, I won't end up like my dad. I do want to live past 72.
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S has been going to Forensics tournaments lately. Her first one turned out pretty good. She has written her own Oration about America's dependency on foreign oil. The rest of the tournaments, eh...one of the judges thought she was making this all up. Believe me, she isn't. Then this past tournament she was passionate about her subject and still didn't get scored high. She really wants to qualify for state. She may not be passionate/competitive when it comes to sports, but when it comes to Debate/Speech she is!
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I am waiting on my Federal Tax refund. I use the direct deposit method so it should get here quick. I talked to my FB friends and they have used the program Free Turbo-Tax Online. I should have went that route. Instead of complaining that I haven't got it yet, it would have been here two weeks ago at least! Next year, I will file online...this waiting is the pits!

Lost and Found

Everyone comments that I have a great memory of them or that is of events that happened 30 plus years ago. Yet, my short term memory, is just that short!

Sunday after our church function, I went to the coat rack and said, "This isn't my jacket." The hood was zipped up; my gray gloves were gone; it was a large sized jacket; and it was definitely more cleaner than mine. I wondered just who picked up my jacket!

We called the first suspect, ZB, no he didn't have it. He didn't wear one that day. Check that one off. Our second suspect was Barry, no he didn't own a burgandy jacket. Check the second one off. My next suspect was TP, they checked their closet and said that they didn't have. Check that one. The fourth suspect, NM, checked her closet and didn't get back to me, so I figured she didn't have it. My fifth suspect I left a message on her answering machine. She just had to have it!

While at the Sunday School class party, TP, remarked, "You found your jacket."

"No," I explained, "I am still wearing the one I found and holding it hostage until I get mine own back." Then added this one was pretty nice that I might just keep this one.

In the morning I received an email from the last suspect and she explained that she hadn't gotten it out of the box yet.

There I sat, dumbfounded! What happened? My jacket couldn't have just walked off by itself!
I retraced my steps and thought about the other church function held at TP's house. Could it be that I walked off with another jacket namely, TP's? I made a quick call to L's place of work so he could talk with the boss.

Sure enough late in the morning, the missing jacket was at TP's house! Sheesh! Did I feel like I was losing my mind. When I picked up the jacket in the closet 4 nights ago (yes, it took me that long to discover the mistake!), the foyer was dimly lit and I thought I was getting my own jacket. I picked the jacket toward the right side and mine must of been to the left side.

I sheepishly brought the jacket to his rightful owner and said, "Here's your jacket, T."

I do feel like the Scarecrow, "If I only had a brain!" Or a better short term memory!

The 60th Birthday Celebration!

Last night we were invited to attend the 60th birthday celebration of a very dear friend and Sunday School Classmate.

Upon entering we heard music such as Chicago and Carole King. The music that I grew up with and that enjoyed to love. On the table we saw pictures of D and K when they were young and first married. We remarked about those wide-collars. It is amazing how they all changed, but still look so young!

Our class is comprised of an age range of 72--51 years. Most of the classmates have known each other for over 29 years; went to the same HS; and were members of the church most all of their lives. Also along at the celebration was KA's sister and brother-in-law. And former members DB and DB, who now are pastors at another church within the area.

We enjoyed a "chocolate bar" with punch, coffee, cookies, chips and salsa. We munched and talked about church things and not church things. We kept up on the latest gossip. We talked about how we are "feelings our age," from feeling like we are loosing our hearing, knee replacements, and general body aches. We talked about the music that was blaring from the CD player, the Doobie Brothers.

Then DA's brother-in-law slipped in a CD and pumped up the volume. "Happy Birthday," it played but in a jazzed up 50-60's style. We all cheered as the 60 year old danced with his wife a short dance.

It was a fun birthday party and I thought about my own brother who will be turning the same age this coming August. I probably won't get to go out to see him but at least I can think about how he will celebrate! Granted 60, is a big number, but celebrating with friends can make it all a little more fun!

Happy Birthday Dr. D!

Church Functions

Last night I had the priviledge to meet the new pastoral candidate for our church. Now usually the person who represents the committee was gone out of the country to visit family and the other person (who created the committee) was also gone to an appointment. This left me and another person (who was sick) to represent the comittee. I was planning on telling the candidate about our committee but totally forgot the sheet.

It was nice to sit down and "break bread" with the pastoral candidate and the rest of Church Council. I was just happy to be apart of this whole process.

When I first attended and eventually became a member of our church, the pastor was here at least a good 10 years. I got to know him as I expressed an interest in joining the church back in the early 90's. Pastor W was around my age and he was one our favorite pastors. Then Pastor W left to pastor another church. When they had the search committee for the next pastor, L's dad was on the committee. I remember looking through the sheets of the bios of possible candidates whom the comittee was considering. L and I read through the sheets and thought another candidate, who they did not choose, would have been a pretty good choice. The church called Pastor V to pastor at the church about 13 years ago. During this process though, I don't ever remember Pastor V visiting with the congregation and having so many meetings. Maybe I didn't remember it because I was pregnant with my last child then.

During Pastor V's tenure, we had a "parting of the ways," and left the church going to another one up the road. We were away for about 4 years. During that time the church hired a youth pastor, by the name of Pastor Y. When we came back to our home church, Pastor Y was the lead pastor. We liked him quite a bit. It didn't have anything to do that he was from my hometown and that I knew his sister back in junior high. He was just a nice guy who seemingly had a passion for a call in the ministry.

That was until last year, he had another calling and ended his term at our church. Our church formed the search committee and we have done several forums, check sheets to see what person would best fit our congregation.

I was happy to meet Pastor S. We got to know him more and found out what his passions were for our church. It is interesting to be able to meet a new pastor (to be) rather than to be assigned one as they do in Methodist and Catholic Churches. Where I went to church (Presbyterian) we had search committees just like at our Mennonite Church. I never got to be apart of the process or knew anyone remotely related to the ones at the Presbyterian Church, but I was very thankful that I did get to have the opportunity to meet our candidate.

Thankfully our church has made it easy for nearly everyone to get to know Pastor S. They have held dinners with the classes; there will be a special dinner tomorrow night a church-wide get together. There are breakfast get togethers as well. Whomever thought of introducing the pastoral candidate in these informal settings was smart!

I am hoping that Pastor S will become our new pastor. He does have a passion for leadership and youth. Good job pastoral search committee in finding him.

Casual Observation

This was just a casual observation that I made about my car buying strategies. About five years ago we were driving home in our white van from Hutch. We were going through some wooded area just south of Kingman when all of a sudden we saw a deer veering into the roadway. L saw the deer as it ran into the van. We all were scared and could hear the metal crushing as the deer smashed into the van and flipped over the van into a vacant field. Steam came out of the engine and I was scared that the van was going to blow up. We waited outside of the van until a man from our church (at that time it was our church) picked us up and took us to his country house. This happened in August and we thought deer season didn't happen until at least until September or later. Our van was towed to Kingman and we tried to survive with one car. The car was the "brown bomb," aptly named by a friend of ours. It wasn't easy at all. We hassled with our insurance company about what needed replaced, parts wise and wondered why on earth the van wasn't totaled.

The guy who owned the body shop in Kingman, felt bad for us and got us a rental car until the repairs were done. He did this out of the kindness of his heart. We didn't have to pay for the rental. We rented a Mitsubishi.

About a year later we traded our rebuilt van for a Mitsubishi. It looked almost like our rental expect for not having a spoiler. We thought it was pretty good, for a while. It was much smaller than our van and we kept thinking about getting a van again.

We found a van about two-three years later and traded the Mitsubishi off for this great 05 Dodge Caravan. It had low miles and it was only a year old. It ran great and we could carry everything from a lot of groceries to building material, plus more kids and their friends. We were planning to keep this van for longer than 5 years. This would be our used car.

All those plans ended on January 31st when a woman turned in front of our van (failure to yield the right away) and ran into our left bumper. Ruining the car computer and damaging the wheel and frame. We were blessed no one was hurt. We only had 2 more years left on the loan, the van had brand new tires (only a month or two old) and here it was totaled.

There was a difference to why this van was totaled and why the other one was not. The computer that ran the car would need to be replaced and the white van didn't have that problem. Looking back at that time I wished that the white van would have been totaled. However, I would have to come up with the deficit of that loan and it would have been bad! We didn't have Gap insurance. When we bought the 05 I told my XYZ credit union to please put Gap insurance on the loan. Even though it makes the loan higher, using this plan would save us money in the long run. Also through my car insurance I requested that we get a free rental car if we were in a wreck. That was also a good preventive measure. I'm glad that I had both of these features. We were thinking about the deer crashed van in 04.

We got a rental from a Ford agency and I had been wanting to try a Focus for a long time. I thought this would be a great car for S someday. When we got the rental, I really liked it. It was zippy and I had a free subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio.

When we decided on what the replacement was we decided on a Focus (a used one). I had to laugh because it seems like that I really like my rental cars enough to buy one. I just hope we will keep this one for at least 5 years.

I am also hoping that the Gap insurance will pay something and hope they pay all of what's left on my dead 05.

The Replacement

Today we finished our business with our old van. We met up with the insurance person and talked financing. Ugh...when you have to deal with loans and such, it can be such a rush, and such a drain.

We knew where we planning on going to get the replacement vehicle. We had researched online about used cars/vans and decided on one. We were told that the one we wanted (a certain color) was sold out but there was a WHITE one for sale cheap. White IS cheap. I've had a couple of white vehicles and the dirt really shows up on these vehicles.

L and I get out on the lot and talk to the Internet manager. He shakes his hands and gives me a wink. Oh brother! One of those! He walks down the lot and shows us the red car, on the way to that cheap white thing and then he says, "Oh we didn't sell the Blue car." Was this just a ruse to get our hopes down and "wow" there it is all of sudden? Whatever.

L drives the car around the town and we decide that's what we wanted. Love the color. On the financing they put this ridiculous high number on there. We say, "Ahh, that was at least a thousand cheaper on your online price." So the salesman looks and changes it. Then we said, "What about the Internet special price?" He goes talks to his manager. We sit there, knowing darn good and well that they are stalling. He brings it down $500. Then he said he COULD bring it down by a thousand IF we financed with them.

I stuck to my guns and said that we were going with my XYZ credit union. They kept arguing with us, "Oh we could get you into a bunch better rate." Blah, blah, blah.

Well, about that time "duty" called and I needed to find the ladies room. I went in there and called my XYZ credit union and they told me that's how they are and not tell them the rate, etc. I came back and wondered what I missed. So we repeated that we were using XYZ credit union. Then they "couldn't offer" that lower price because we weren't financing with them. That was a bunch of crud!

We go into the little financial office, signing papers on the car and that manager offered us this wonderful deal to extend the warranty. He asked us how long we plan to keep the car, etc., and all that. Then the deal was they would do this and this if we were willing to pay $2,000 more on the original price we agreed upon. Again, we took the "no we aren't taking it," stance. Then the guy asked , "Why?" Well, duh, what DO YOU THINK? You are offered this really low number and then this higher number (for this wonderful warranty deal). Which one would you take? Yeah, I want to make my monthly payments higher than I was thinking. Duh....obviously the LOW number, we will take our changes with what might happen with the car.

We went back to XYZ credit union and closed the deal. We took back our rental...I'm going to miss the Sirrus Satellite radio on it. We cleaned out the rental and went into the back and cleaned out our wrecked van.

Our wrecked van looked so pathetic! The front bumper was off and the wipers. I say, "Is THAT it?" The van where it was struck looked awful! We took all of our papers, maps, and little toys out of the van. It was a good van and we only had it for almost 3 years. In fact, we had new tires on the van, that were only 1 month old! We were planning to keep that van for a long time. But our plans, are not necessarily God's plans.

We are still praying that the Gap Insurance will come through and we won't own anyting on the van. It's like being forgiven on a loan and we don't have to think about it any more. I just hope and pray this will be the case.