The Bad News

Oh Crap! Can I just say that?  Or do you want details?  Also titled "the ballad of Kid-San"

Our one and only car has died.  It started almost 2 weeks ago... losing power, then conking out altogether last Thursday.  Friday, we towed it to a place I know with loaner cars.  So we were not without wheels for the holiday weekend.  DH thought it was the catalytic converter, and so did the mechanic guy, but he didn't actually look at it until Tuesday.  Not the CC.  Plugs were majorly fouled, so he replaced them.  Car started, seemed to run okay, then PFFFT.  Apparent timing belt destruction.

Towed on Thursday to another place, the place we usually use.  Returned loaner, rented small, cheap car with good mileage so I could keep my already post-poned-by-a-week meeting in Chicago on Friday (yesterday.  That went well, but this is bad news).  Thursday night, mechanic calls and says "interference engine," "timing belt off by 10 degrees," "lots of noise," "unfixable," "new engine," "$6200.00."

WTF?!?!  We still owe $4000.00 on the loan!

Good friend, Pete, says get second, third, fourth opinion.  Off he goes to do research. Decided on Friday to tow to Isuzu service center (it's a '98 Rodeo).  They say we can't tell until we look (on Monday), but hard to believe the entire engine needs replacing.  Maybe not that drastic.  Might be only bent valves, broken piston.  Still.  Had to extend 2-day rental to full week.  Towed car for third time in one week (nice man at Schmidt's gave quantity discount).  Won't know more until Monday.  There goes buying the nice, economical 2nd car to replace the company vehicle I gave up when quitting old job.

And with me being having no "verifiable" income, can't get home equity line of credit to cover our asses right now.  Many margaritas and beers have been consumed since car pronounced dead on Thursday.  But no hangovers.

The Good News

So I went to my meeting in Chicago, to meet with 2 potential clients, and one promised to send me work right away, and the other is very enthusiastic, but hasn't specifically committed.  However, since he owns the company, and he wants to do this, I'm thinking it will happen.  In some ways it's just data entry, but it's pretty specific stuff to the water restoration industry, and not just anyone can do it.  They all want to utilize this new, web-based software, but they don't want to hire a person dedicated to that role, and can't free up anyone to devote to it.  I'm the interim solution.  I can work "on-demand" and I already know the program way better than any of them.  Yay me!  Next Wed, it's back to Chicago for a regional meeting where I'll have my pricing scheme and contact info in hand, ready to pass out among the 15 other local companies also trying to bring this system on line.  Just 3-4 projects per day, and I'm officially earning my keep!

Weekend festivities:  The sort-of monthly meeting of the Arrogant Bastards Dinner Club (ABDC) is at our place for the weekend.  Friday night, P&C arrived with tent (the mansion) and pitched it in backyard.  DH & I have our tent in the side yard.  Rupert's tent is next to the garden.  S&B arrived at dusk and pitched theirs between Rupert and P&C.  We grilled burgers for dinner.  The Saturday plan is to hit the Art Fair on the Square, and one or two farmer's markets.  We're cooking/living outdoors the entire weekend.  This is to officially break in the outdoor kitchen.  Later today, more friends will arrive with their kids, and we'll all prepare a multi-course meal of the season's finest.  We're expecting 15-16 people total for dinner.  Sunday should see at least 11 for breakfast.  Watch this space for menus.

Sleeping outdoors last night was delightful.  I love waking up to the birds and the coolth.