No. It was the [original] crank shaft and timing belts. (yes, plural - they should have been changed, so I read, at the 96K mark. from what I've googled, it's "main timing belt and a balance shaft belt"). When Dre held the crank shaft, it crumbled between his fingers. The timing belt he showed me was missing so many teeth that I felt like I was in the front row of a Willie Nelson concert. guess it's a good thing that I'm not a big fan of shopping, since the bill for the car (not even including the gratuities - two mechanics, one of whom drove me to work for two days as well as worked on the car, until i got a rental) repair (not including aforementioned rental) was comparable to a month's health insurance. or two weeks' takehome salary.

because jacob was going to be in the shop all weekend, and i needed to go to the doctor, and to pick up prescriptions, I figured that a rental would be cost-effective. i got it friday (my boss let me leave work to get it) and returned it within twenty-four hours. slightly annoying that I went through the trouble, but cheaper than the taxi I would have needed on Friday. (I was out of one prescription as of last Wednesday. My backup was actually in the trunk of the car, since the doctor had given me samples I hadn't remembered to bring into the house.)

It wasn't a great week. Along with my car, my office copier (and then) my office printer broke. However, the second repairman just left, and everything's happy again.

Meanwhile... the pain center in New Haven is closing. I can either go to their Meriden office, which is nearly 25 miles each way, or to the Derby office, which is "only" twelve miles each way. (New Haven is only 4.9 miles from my house, or 4.4 miles from my office.) The extra eight to 21 miles may not seem like a lot to many people, but it's going to mean extra gasoline each month, and extra driving... (which I don't do well when it rains - and with an office closing and a whole practice dumped on two other offices, I may not be able to reschedule appointments based on weather.)

MyRide may be an option; round trip to Derby is less than a gallon of gas. I'm sending my application.

I could look for another doctor - but this one believes me. I was in the waiting room on Friday for over an hour (and they think it will be cost-effective to close one whole office and split the patients between the other two practices??) talking to people whose doctors didn't believe them, whose families call them "lazy," who have to choose between necessary surgeries and being laid up OR dealing with the pain so that they're able to take care of their families. I like my doctor, who absolutely refuses to give me a hug (ethics) and who's constantly keeping up with what new developments will make his patients comfortable. He reminds me a lot of my rheumatologist (except that she will hug me).

Despite the lack of funds [to say the least] and this [major] annoyance with my doctor, I do know I have a lot to be grateful for. On Sunday, I had to go for milk. It was cold and drizzling rain, but I had a car. I saw a mother who had also taken her child to the convenience store; it's got to be an emergency before we'd pay their prices, and I wondered what she needed, and why she couldn't leave the child home where it was warm and dry. I had the money for a pint of the Willie Nelson Peach Cobbler that I wanted (I was willing to go without something else this week, to stay within budget). On the way home, I saw two different elderly men with shopping carts, going through people's recycling and trash for cans to return; I don't need to do that.

Obviously, I'm always grateful for my family, the roof over my head, my friends, my cat, and my laptop. Sunday just gave me a little more.

AND ... my mom may have seen a fawn or two out the window yesterday. Time to charge my camera batteries!!

I headed to work this morning, as per usual. Got to the corner, stopped at the stop sign. Turned left. Stopped at the stop sign...

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On Saturday morning, Lara, Jamie and I went to Scotty's (not the mechanic) for breakfast. We're like teenagers; we laugh like no one is watching and it's infectious. When we were stuffed and coffee'd out, Jamie invited us to her new mansion home. We got the tour, watched a concert, and, when it was time to go, Jamie gave us tomatoes she'd canned herself. (I will have to plan a week's menu before I break the seal on the jar; only my mom and I will eat them, and I don't want them to go bad.)

Next was the supermarket. I got to the register, reached into my pocket, and found that the cigarette case I was using as a wallet - with all my cash for the week, and my driver's license - was gone. I was so embarrassed. It was self-checkout and I asked someone with a store uniform to please clear it out because people were waiting, and I'd be back. I ran to my car, and checked my sweater pockets, the floor, under the seats... nothing.

I wanted to get to the church book sale before it closed, so I grabbed quarters out of their little cells and brought in the two bags that we'd filled. I think it's supposed to be a "trade," but I paid for my books.

Got home, called Lara, asked her to please call Jamie, whose number I don't have, and ask her if I left the case on her counter or lost it in her couch.

Sunday morning, robbed of an hour's sleep, I took Mom to the supermarket. I hate driving without my license!

Then I drove to New Haven to plot out the route to the doctor's the next day. Social Security didn't like my doctor's opinions, and wanted me to have an independent evaluation. The streets were still closed, long after the parade ended. I finally parked the car and walked to find the doctor's; however, I couldn't find a parking lot. GRRR... I got gas, and still haven't found Ben & Jerry's Willie Nelson (I'm checking every quickie mart I pass, seems like!)

Monday morning, I drove to work, still not thrilled about driving without a license. Did my thing, drove to the post office. As I went around a corner, the mail slid. I got to the post office, parked the car, and opened the driver's door. Why my mom missed the red outline of the cigarette case with my cash and license, I don't know, but I found it! It was between the seat and where a running board would be if we still had running boards, which is why I couldn't find it. (Maybe it was down lower and moved up over the course of my driving, I don't know.) Anyway, it's found. And I feel better.

Though not nearly as good as I felt yesterday during my massage! (I just stopped typing so I could book another one; I used my income tax rebate for a package!) I doze in and out, as I try to match my breathing to the background music of the beach and gulls. When Mona's done, and is doing "energy work," I can tell because I can feel the heat of Power as her hands hover over me. I simply can't imagine how miserable I would have been this morning when the car got sick, if I hadn't had that today.

There's only one person at the garage, now; I guess they're entitled to get lunch. I'll post this, call back in half an hour, and read the book I've got in the office, in the meantime!