It didn't get better, it really didn't.

So, I'm hoping that my streak of bad luck is all used up, because I'm still having problems from the problems I've just finished having.

I will say, first, the moving sale went spectacularly well! I made 3x what I was praying I would make. If anyone reading this is going to have a sale, here's a hint: if you want to get rid of stuff, for the last day of the sale do a buy one, get one for your stuff. People will buy things they don't need because it's too good of a deal to pass up!! TOO GOOD!! :D

Okay then, so the Thursday after the sewage thing, the gas pipes were leaking. The gas company had to shut off the gas. Friday, Rocky (the new, sweet puppy who weighs about 50lbs and is 9 months and has mad jumping skills) jumped the neighbor's fence. The neighbor who is married, about 30, and acts like a 4 year old who's not getting his way. He and his wife were out there baiting my dogs. Then they got mad when I had to go into their yard to get him. That wasn't fun. SOOOOOOO glad to not be there anymore.

So I did manage to get everything loaded up and we were 150 miles into the trip to my sister's in Kansas City when the engine overheated and the transmission blew. *Sigh* Really? Should I have been surprised? At this point, probably not.

Luckily, I was close to a good mechanic, and, as it turns out, he only needed to replace the pump in the transmission, which is about 1/4 - 1/3 of the cost of a rebuilt tranny. And blessed am I to have parents and a sister who willingly split the cost. Unfortunately, it didn't fix the problem.

So I think my engine has almost no power, I can't use the a/c/, and going over 50mph is not recommended. I don't know what happened, could have cracked the heater core or a head gasket, but there is an oil leak and is sprays over an engine.

I thought I was nervous the other day? Now I'm somewhere between depressed and pissed off that I am having so many problems when a goal towards which I have worked hard, and dreamed of, is finally within reach.

I don't know what to do. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but I was planning on at least having a working vehicle.

I did get the camper onto the property. I was fully expecting it to tip over, given my luck, and am exceedingly happy it did not! I'm with my sister here in KC until Sunday, then begins the misery that is to be expected in a move like this for a while. Please pray I find a job quickly! I'm going to need all the prayers I can get. :) Time for more coffee.

~Beth

Nerves

PANICKING!!

I think I'm going to end up doing all of this on a HALF of a shoestring budget. My nerves are jangling, I'm stressed out, and my stomach is doing that weird flippy-floppy thing that happens any time you take a huge risk like what I'm about to do.

Moving day is May 24th. I've just realized I don't have enough time or money to do what I want to do. But by the Grace of God, it's going to happen.

I just have to get the paper bag and breathe, and stop thinking about all the things that can go wrong!

Pray for me, please!

~Beth

Good Times At My House! (Can you hear the sarcasm?)

I have had a HELL of a week. Power tools were involved. And sewage. I drank a lot of vodka last night. It was well-earned.

It's been fun.

On Monday, I was trimming the hedges. Now, I'm normally VERY careful when I use power tools. Being cut by anything with a motorized blade just does not sound like fun for me. Don't worry, folks, it's not that bad. It's only my fingers. I'm still not quite sure what happened. I ended up slicing through the skin on two of my fingers - it bled a lot. The hedge trimmers spent the night outside. Honestly, it could have been worse. They will heal and I have not lost the use of my fingers.


Ok, so could my week get any worse than that? Gee, funny you should ask!

I have known my roots needed auguring for about a week now. I just put things off, the backup in the basement wasn't that bad. So, Thursday I called Rick's Sewer Service here in Fort Wayne. He came out, tried his machine (apparently, did a shitty job, that's what the guy I spoke with yesterday said), and said he's not going to be able to auger the roots, there's something blocking the bit, basically. Oh, great news, because it could mean replacing the sewage drain pipe in the backyard. Fantastic, right? But he was going to try one more thing.

So I was cleaning out my toolbox and had to go downstairs to get some nails that were on the shelves down there.

And the dude, who's 60-something, was PEEING ON MY BLEEPING FLOOR!!!!!! AFTER he realized he wasn't going to be able to get the water to drain. I got my nails and went upstairs. And then when he was finished trying the "one more thing", which, of course, didn't work, I sent his grown man son (yep, works with his son and pees on people's floors) out to the van. Then I tore the guy a new asshole. And sent him on his way. Penniless.

When Miss Beth gets mad, she gets MMMMMMMMAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!! If anyone else ever tries that bullshit I'm just going to set the dogs on them. My dogs are scary. Don't come in my backyard if they're there - they don't like intruders. Big babies. I love my dogs. :)

So all that brings me to the final part of the saga. Yesterday Ben from J&S Excavation came out to have a look. There's a process called jetting (which is exactly what it sounds like, where high psi water pushes sediment out of the sewage pipes thereby getting rid of the blockage) which is in-between auguring and replacing the pipes. But it costs $300. And there's no guarantee it will work. So he asked if I could go the weekend without using water to see if we could get it to drain. I said sure, I'm from the hills, no problem. On Monday he's going to come out and put a camera down and see if he can jet it and it will work, or he might just be able to augur it, which is less expensive. If he can do it, the camera fee is included in the cost. If not, I'm only out $60 instead of $300. I kind of like this guy. He's working within his boss' rules to save me $$.

So this weekend, no sewage at my house. We are taking sponge baths, and the kitchen sink is currently draining into a 5 gallon bucket. Even, we are using a sawdust toilet. It's really not fun in the confines of the city. But it's good practice for MO!!

Oh, and did I mention there was a shooting in my neighborhood? Actually, the house directly behind mine (as in, we share a fence). It was a murder-suicide where a 53 year old man shot his father and then himself. That is so sad. I didn't know them really well, but my prayers go out to the family during this time of grief. I hope anyone out there who has problems can find someone to help them before the problems culminate in a tragedy of this magnitude. It puts everything else in perspective, because quite frankly, sewer problems and cut fingers are nothing by comparison.

Let's hope next week is a quiet one!!

Ok I have all these lemons, time to go make lemonade. :) Happy weekend, everyone!