STUPID CAR THINGS

my car hates me.

I kept putting off getting coolant.
and last night, I paid for it.
uuuguggggghhh
I went to chick fil a
YUM right? just frustrating.
while in line, I was just sitting, waiting, and my car was overheating.
so I turned it off..
then the line moved up, so I turned it on, and it died.
so I turned it on again, and the rpm meter thing freaked out.. and the little light that lights up when it’s in drive started flickering
and then the check engine light came on.
I finally got it to start, and got back on the road.. but got stuck at a light.
and my car died again.
it wouldn’t start. so I turned on my hazards and my heart almost beat out of my chest and my hands were so shaky.
I didn’t know what to do.

after two tries, it started
and I pulled off on the next street into a 7-11
called my dad
he thought I was overreacting, as he usually does (as I usually am…) ha
and told me to just try to start it up and drive straight home. I told him I was letting it cool down. we went through possibilities of what it could be.. and I ate my food in the parking lot.
when I finally went to try to start it again, it started up just fine, but my gear shifter locked up
so I couldn’t take it out of park.
SHOOT ME IN THE FACE.
he said “put your foot on the break, and push the button on the shifter in all the way, and shake it back and forth, it got lodged somehow”
so I’m putting all my weight on the brake and using all my force to wiggle this thing… to no avail. it wouldn’t move.
my dad says “okay. turn it off. call your uncle jeff”
“I don’t have his number”
“why don’t you have his number?”
“I mean. I have it. it’s on a piece of paper on the dining room table…”
…
“can’t you text it to me?”
“I don’t have it”
“can mom?”
“she’s not here”
cue freak out.
arrrgh. still at 7-11. dad’s trying to talk me down. I’m a little. frantic.
5 minutes later, I tried again.
and it started up and I got it into reverse
and took off.. took back roads (well. not really. I just drove on roads that were free and tried to get my speed up b/c that cooled the engine down)
my gps wasn’t working very well b/c the sky signal was weak.
so I didn’t know where I was going.. every time I slowed down the temperature gauge went up
bah. not a fun night.

I made it back here, finally.. and parked in the driveway but I’m not entirely to one side, there was another car and I just wanted to get here and be done with it.
I am home.
BUT
the driveway slopes downward
you have to have a guest pass to park in the lot, which is where I’ve been parking.
but after you’re there for so long, you get a warning anyway
since my aunt and uncle are gone, they told me to park in the driveway to “throw the patrol guy off my scent”
hah
I didn’t even think about if my car didn’t start in the morning what I’m going to do with it in the driveway blocking BOTH cars in the garage.
so I went out there right after I got home and inside, per my dad’s request, to move it over slightly
it started up, but the stupid shifter locked up on me again.
sigh
I’m HOPING that when it cools down, it will let me move it up to flat ground so I can put water in it. I really think that would solve this big stupid mess.
otherwise, I don’t know, they’ll have to tow it out of the driveway? how dumb is that.
it should start. It haaaaas to start.
cut to this morning:
I was able to move it.. and get it out of the driveway onto flat ground.
I put water in, and bought coolant and oil and wiper wash
I HATE this stuff

these are the kind of things that I always just called my dad for and he’d either fix it or come to my rescue
I guess knowing that even my aunt and uncle were out of town and there really wasn’t anyone I could call was the scary part

I got my chick-fil-A.. but AT A COST

PHOTOS Finally!

but don’t be mad, I’ve been horrible about taking my camera with me.

quick recap/update:
my first day of work was today & it was great :) I’m still happy. so it’s all good, so far.
I did catch a cold. bleh. so I’m trying to get over that.
I didn’t go dancing Sunday night, I went to church w/Casey & met some of his roommates, then we all went out to coffee. Fun fun fun.
Casey & Lauren will be in town this weekend & I’m SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM.
planning to go dancing weds & thurs nights.. if working full time doesn’t drain me.
today I got cable in my room! woo yay cable guy! tivo is up and running and I really can’t complain about a thing right now.

:)
more later. love to you all.
xo

Friday

good morning!
yesterday was wonderful.
the meeting/overview/familiarization process/whatever it was at work was great.
my little desk is cute, and the views from that place are incredible.

I think it’s going to be a good situation.. I already have the feeling that I’m going to enjoy the people that I will be working with, and that’s 95% of the battle, isn’t it?

after I got “home”, I realized I could make it to my uncle’s art class at the college if he’d allow it, so we called him up and I went over to sit in on his oil painting class. They’d been working on their still life’s for about 6 days, and I was trying to catch up…

unfortunately I won’t be able to finish it. I’d never really correctly used oils before, so I did learn a lot. I’m glad I was able to go.

afterwards we came back and had dinner, and then I forced myself out of the house to go dancing. It’s scary going alone! It’s just the initial walking in part that is so hard, I guess… not knowing what you’re walking into. I also got lost a bit on the way, but found it eventually. Once I know my way around I think it will only be about a 15 minute drive.. such a new experience for me!

But, it was so fun. I’m so so glad that I have some dance experience under my belt, because I could just walk in and meet so many people and it was something I was so familiar with. A little piece of home :) And great dancing! I’m already looking forward to Sunday.. one of the older gentlemen (Katie, he reminds me a lot of Michael.. ha.. he sings to the songs the same way he does and has big eyes and is the same build) anyway, he drew me a map so I’d know how to get to TopCats. They were all very friendly and welcoming and it was a lot of fun. I’m so glad I went.

I’m supposed to have lunch with Casey today, but I still haven’t heard from him about the particulars.. I guess it’s early yet, only 10:30. Who knows. After that, Katie and I are going shopping at Fashion Island.. I’ll probably just be going “looking” :) maaaaybe I can treat myself to a fun new ring, or something similar.. maybe.

So, with that my busy weekend is about to begin and I will take pictures and have lots of fun things for you Sunday afternoon, I hope!

I still haven’t gone down to the beach yet.. I meant to the other day and instead I went to the art class. Soon enough.

have a wonderful weekend!
xo

Day One at the Office

kind of.
today will be my first day in the building.. but I’m almost positive I’m not “working” until Monday.. I guess they could surprise me. I don’t really have an agenda for the rest of the afternoon, so I’ll adjust if they do :)


I’m … interested. Interested to see the place, to meet the people, to get a feel for the place and how things work, to understand what my position will actually be. I’m looking forward to it, but also trying to calm my nervous stomach.

I have a lot lined up for this weekend already..

Thursday (today!)
to the office @ 11
maybe dancing in Irvine? I’d like to, it just depends on how the day goes.

Friday
lunch with Casey
shopping with Katie
dinner with cousins/family

Saturday
Jonathan’s basketball game
out on a boat with the Abbott’s
maybe dinner?

Sunday
church in the AM
seeing Trish that afternoon/evening (I hope.. I need to call her)
and dancing! finally. (hoping, again)
and then I start work “officially” bright and early Monday morning.


ahhhhhh, here we go!
I’ll try to take some pictures while I’m out today and post them later :)

I'm here!

I’m here I’m here I’m here! And my laptop works now. They didn’t have wireless in the house, so we went out today and purchased a router. Luckily it practically set itself up and now I have internet again :)

I’m almost finished unpacking.. I feel like I brought very little with me, but it still seems difficult to find a home for it all. Slowly but surely.

All that’s left to “install” is figuring out how to get the cable jack from one side of the wall to the other.. but I’m not in any rush to figure that out.

Tonight, I’m meeting up with my dad’s cousins Tim & Joy to celebrate Joy’s birthday. I guess they were going to P.F. Changs and invited me along. It should be lots of fun.

Also, this weekend, the more cousins are going to be in town.. and my cousin Jonathan has a basketball game. FUN right?

This afternoon we drove by the office building I’m going to be working in.. I have only taken ONE pictures since being down here (…and since finding my camera) and this is it:

That is the backside of the office building. hello 6th floor!

I’m supposed to be there tomorrow at 11am. For what, I’m not sure yet.. but I do think it involves lunch :) and a tour and introductions and what not…


the best part? It was only 10 minutes away.. max.

First day is Monday!! but, after tomorrow I’ll have a much better idea of what I’m in for.
by the way IT’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS TODAY! so pretty. sunny and wonderful.
back to unpacking…