A Remote Hello

Hello from the car repair place! Because when it rains, it actually hails. My beloved truck Xena is getting some work done. Bless her heart (engine) she is entering middle age and needs a new radiator and the usual tune up.

Apparently no one got the message that I have already done my part to help the economy with the new water heater and dryer this year. Hello whoever--I am done OK. Please no more expenses. OK thanks! Oh well c'est la vie. I am very happy I brought the laptop so I can spend a couple of hours reading blogs and surfing and whatnot while Xena gets her new parts.

edited to add: Karin's comment is referring to Xena being stolen in January. Not again! It's just some typical, but not welcome, aging vehicle repairs.

Conquering Technology and the Return of Xena

I am doing not one but two happy dances here at Chez Crazy Cat Lady. I just spent all morning/noon/til now setting up a wireless home network system. After much trial and error and wishing there was a neighborhood computer geek to help me, I finally figured it out MYSELF! Woo hoo. (For all you techy people out there it probably is not but a 10 min task, I am sure, but for me it was lots of saying "why isn't this working!!" and "%#^$(&^!!!!!") Anyway, I have the household laptops all happily communicating without wires to the "Internets". Do you all realize that we have gone full circle from bunny ears

back to bunny ears????

S. says the little router is ugly but now he doesn't have to wait for me to read all my emails and blogs before using the Internets. I think I'll have to name the cute little blue Internets machine. Any suggestions?

In truck news, I finally got Xena back from the body shop on Wednesday. She looks better than she has in years after being repaired and detailed. It was very strange driving my truck though knowing that some thief drove her around for two days and messed her all up. And the thief or thieves had the nerve to use up every last drop of gasoline too! There some lingering issues (power locks and windows aren't working, stereo speakers are blown out) that I'll have to get back with the insurance company to fix but at least I have my truck back.

Now on to my regularly scheduled Saturday of laundry, chores, and oh yea maybe getting some sewing in....

A mental health day

I called in sick to my day job today because I have had a headache since last Tuesday when my truck was stolen and I really needed some rest and some time away from people and some peace and quiet for a bit. I have been really angry for a week now and need to get away from all that. My truck is repairable and the insurance will take care of it after I fill out tons of paperwork and pay my deductible ($500 thank you very much!). But I am just mad that someone out there decided to take my truck for a joyride and to steal other people's stuff and cost me lots of time and money. And cause me to be mad as hell for over a week now. I work two jobs and pay my bills and eight years ago I bought this truck new and it was the first new vehicle I ever had. And soon I will get it back fixed but always knowing that someone took her and drove her badly and it just makes me mad. I also will have to get a car alarm for it because I will have to park in the same deck everyday and if I don't, the thieves could just take it again.

I went on Monday to the impound lot and got my belongings out of the truck. The interior was a mess--dirty and spilled drinks--papers and maps from my glove box all over the place and random other people's stolen things (a car stereo, CDs, a checkbook, junk) in it. The ignition, steering column, door handle, front tire and rim, back bumper, and various other small things were damaged and will be fixed. I am over this now and back to better things on this blog (knock on wood).

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I thought I would finish posting some photos from my New Year's trip to DC. Better things to think about.

There is a statue of Ulysses S. Grant on a horse surrounded by 4 lions that overlooks the Capitol. I loved these lions--a vision of noble grace and courage.

Here is the Capitol building on a beautiful day--look at that blue sky! Work was still being done on the stands where President-Elect Obama will be sworn in next week. You can see Grant's statue in the right foreground.

We walked Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House and saw all the viewing stands and bleachers being set up for the Inauguration.

Here is President-Elect Obama's viewing stand for the parade under construction. This must be the most photographed bunch of plywood and construction workers in the US since everyone else was taking photos too.

There is the White House in the background. In my mind (only in my mind cause it was cold), I threw a bunch of shoes over the fence. Take that and good riddance! (Ooops need to watch that whole anger issue).

This is the Hay-Adams Hotel where the Obama family is staying until today when they get to move into Blair House. I'm in a better mood now are you?

At last this week is over

First, thanks to all the wonderful bloggers out there for all your kind words about the loss of my truck. Second, I am glad this week is over and I hope next week is really boring with no drama.

For those that want a truck update (if not scroll down for some photos): My truck "Xena" was stolen on Tuesday. Thursday I had to go to south Georgia for work on an overnight trip and while I was there, I received a phone call that my truck was found by Atlanta Police. Xena is now in the impound lot (in an unpleasant part of ATL) with a broken steering column, body damage, and a flat tire. I got back into town yesterday afternoon and picked up the rental car that my insurance co. arranged and now I have wheels. Monday I get to experience the adventures of "ATL Police Dept. Standing in Line Waiting for Paperwork" and "Visiting the Impound Lot" and "Seeing How Bad Xena is Damaged". Stay tuned for these and other adventures coming soon!

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Now on to other more pleasant things: Here are some photos from my New Year's trip to Maryland/Washington DC area. S. and I went to visit his family and pick up E. from Dulles airport. Due to horrendous traffic on the Beltway, we took a scenic route from Dulles to Maryland via a car ferry across the Potomac River. Not much has changed in a couple hundred years, you can still cross the Potomac by ferry boat, only in cars rather than with horses. For the record: I refrained from any George Washington impersonations while crossing.

We spent one day in DC and went to the newly refurbished Museum of American History. There were several neat displays on the first floor of all kinds of different stuff including a quilt. (Sorry for the glare and the partial photo, it's not easy taking photos around other tourists)

I loved this peacock block so took a detail of it. Maybe this will end up in one of my future quilts, or we can just admire it here....

We had lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, which is "Washington's oldest, most historic saloon", founded in 1856. The current location is in this Beaux Arts former theater building

The interior is beautiful and full of antiques.

Our booth had this incredible statue of a dog. Loved it and wanted to take it home with me!!!! Isn't it just fabulous???!!!

Not a good way to start the year...

Well my first day back to work in the new year and (I still can't believe this) my truck was stolen from my work parking deck. Oh my beloved truck "Xena" is gone! So instead of sewing and downloading photos from my trip, I have been on the phone with insurance people, etc. Nothing of value besides a pair of shoes, a Michigan ice scraper (can't find good ice scrapers here in the south), some magazines, and coffee mugs was in the truck. Well things can only get better from here right?