This was the first year, really, that I sort of got into the spirit of Halloween. My daughter decorated the house really nice this time, and I even had a decent costume worked out (for free), but like all well-intentioned plans, it didn’t turn out like I had hoped.
I had hoped to have a low-key family get together but kids and grandkids had other plans, and mom figured my house was “too far” to come. Whatever. I figured then that I’d hand out candy to the neighborhood kids and then drive up to see my grandkids where they were at. God had other plans. About 4:00 my daughter heads out to get a Starbucks and pick up a headlight for me, and calls frantically from an unknown cell phone. Turns out her car died on in the middle of a left-turn lane. Major déjà vue for me – I was pregnant with her when I ran out of gas in the middle of an intersection in Long Beach, California (with my other one year old daughter and older step-son in the car.)
Anyhoo, turns out car is totally dead. Car is a 2004 Kia Optima, by the way – I swear they have time bombs in them that go off at 90K and the car totally craps out. But I digress. Car has to be towed to the dealer to have them figure out what’s wrong with it. Towing guy – not a mechanic, I’m sure – says he thinks it’s the timing belt. I did some research, and if this is true, this is not a good thing. The belt is not so expensive, but the labor is, and anything else that a broken timing belt could have caused, like major damage to the engine. Great.
So, there went my evening because daughter needed my car to follow tow-truck driver to the dealer and then do some other things. I was left at home to answer trick-or-treaters. Fun, but not something that one really enjoys doing alone.
Oh well, onward and upward. I’m struggling today to find my positive attitude in all this – the last two Saturdays have just outright sucked. First we lost Merlin, then the car died. I know there’s got to be a pony somewhere in all this horse manure. LOL. That’s just how I roll, really. I’m going on a run this morning as soon as it gets light out, so that will help.
Here’s some pictures of the day.
My daughter as the Goddess of Fertility. Appropriate for a pregnant lady, and not as overdone as the pregnant nun motif, you think?
Me as an “elegant” witch (dressed up for my mom’s potluck on Friday night). That black velvet dress used to be my mothers, by the way, and was too big on me. Looks like I have a project ahead to alter it and give it some shape.
My last-minute carving attempt, freehand. Not too bad.
Part of the front door decorations. I tried to get the rest, but my camera doesn’t photograph night shots so well (or is it the camera person?)
Now time to clear up all the cobwebs and move on to Thanksgiving. But first, a couple birthdays on the horizon. My oldest daughter turns 30 and my youngest grandson turns 2. Wowzer.
{ 6 comments }
You guys look great.
It wouldn’t surprise me if it was the timing belt on Stacy’s car. They generally only last between 60-90k miles. I had to have mine replaced on my jetta. Doesn’t KIA have a limited power train warrenty that goes to 100k? You should check into that, sometimes if they do have that warrenty, the timing belt is covered.
You should call the place we take the truck too. Quality Forgein Auto on Bth-Evt HWY. They are good with their prices and guarentee their work for 18 months.
They do have a warranty, but I’m not sure this is covered under that. I would be delighted if it was covered, but they may want documentation of regular maintenance…We’ll know the Dx tomorrow. I will ask Stacy to call there when she starts pricing the repair job, but its going to be a while before it gets fixed.
It’s always somethin’, right? Well, at least you looked gorgeous! Here’s hoping the car is quickly diagnosed and fixed at a fair price.
Hubby and I went to a friend’s son’s H’ween wedding dressed as Raggedy Ann and Andy…..all hand sewn. A lot of work, but we had a ball. Haven’t dressed up in at least 35 years!
Oh, yeah…….I MUST HAVE THAT HAT!
You sewed your costumes?? Good for you, Bev. It’s been years since I sewed a costume. And I have no idea where I got that hat…It might have been somewhere as simple as Target or WalMart, but I got it last year. It’s awesome – has a veil with spiders in it and everything.
Your daughter looks so beautiful!!!
But I hate to say I think I looked like your grumpy pumkin when I went back to my house this weekend! I had to paint like crazy in an effort to fend of the inspectors who are going to look for flaking paint as part of a VA loan a buyer wants to use for my house. It wasn’t pretty!
Thank you, Laura. She is doing well with the pregnancy and did look really lovely in that costume. Sorry to hear you’re still having issues selling that house. Darn it! I’d be grumpy too.
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