We both got a to go box. Of course, I carried out a plate of food for Dominique. She dug right in.
Since I had taken back too many things to WM without a receipt, exbf returned two things for me. That $25 will buy gas for the rest of the month....well, maybe.
We went to Harbor Freight and got two free reachers. I was driving and getting in and out after we went to WM.. When I was ready to go in HF, I showed him the three choices of free items on the ad I had, and asked him if a reacher would help him. He gasped and spoke louder, agreeing he would like one and needed one desperately. He said he was looking at that coupon when I was inside somewhere. So, I got two reachers, one from each of our phone numbers. The manager lets me get them because exbf walks slowly and painfully, using two crutches. Since I had to purchase something, I bought two utility knives, one for each of our free items.
I had to pay for and pick up two coupons I won. I got a $10 coupon for KFC for $6, and a $20 fabric store coupon for $7. "Won" means I was one of the first callers to ask for the coupon. It's how fast you are. A $10 coupon will buy two $5 dinners on Tuesday. I thought about using it today. But, that was not to be.
Went to fabric store and shopped with my $20 coupon. I got three buttons for the front of exbf's 3 pants for a dime each, pretty metal. For a dime each I purchased 10 heart-shaped metal buttons just because. I found red chevron and green chevron print fabric and got 1.5 yards of each, plus a weird shaped floral scrap for $1. Oh, and a rubbery thimble since I cannot find my leather thimble. Metal thimbles hurt me.
We rested a bit and I offered him a salad with chicken, tomatoes and other vegetables orKFC. He said the go box dinner was fine. Heating that up was a real back saver since I was hobbling around. That's free lunch, dinner, and second dinner which will be scrambled eggs and some greens. Since I had no breakfast, I am taking the liberty to have two dinners. Maybe some fruit.
I also received free fruit today! The bananas sorely need freezing.
The day was sailing along fine, hot and pretty. Everything happened as it should.
THEN, I tried to open my driver's door after putting something in the passenger side. The automatic lock did not work. So, with my heart beating fast and the sweat pouring even more than the 90 degree heat warranted, I opened the driver's door with a key and got in. The dome light was off. The key did not make one sound happen in the guts of the car...AAACK!
Exbf is not physically capable anymore of doing anything to the car. So, I called J's boyfriend. They are broke so he did not want to use his gas for anything. He did not say so, but I knew. He came down and took me six blocks to Auto Zone, telling me they would not lend me jumper cables. They did. I frequent the place and they took my driver's license for collateral.
The car started immediately. When I took the cables back and collected my license, I asked them to check my battery. She said the battery was fine and now to turn on the car so she could check the alternator. The alternator is bad. Soooo, now I have to get a new alternator. Even though this one has a life-time warranty, it is such a hassle. I will have to pay to have the old removed and new installed. I seriously need a guy around to handle this stuff. Well, that is not all that needs handling.
I managed to get the car to WM and J got a gallon of gas in their gas can and put gas in my car, too, using the money on the card from WM. We came home and I gave her ground chuck, bread, and a few more items.
Ugly--ants are swarming in my car. I have no idea why they left and returned. Maybe they never left, just hid! ???
It seems as I get older problems and heat exhaust me more and it's harder to bounce back! Okay, I am gooey from melted Peppermint Patty.
Ugh, I hate car trouble. I need to take mine in and have it tuned up, but I will wait until after the trip and after the tree in Mom's yard comes down since that seems to be next on her plate of emergencies.
ReplyDeleteMy friend's mother got on a kick of cutting every tree and bush in the yard. Nothing else would do. The family thought that was a bad idea. However, the mother would hear a chain saw, even from power workers, and walk down and ask them to cut large shrubs which they did. When she made up her mind, she worried everyone until she got things done.
DeleteI can't wear metal thimbles either. I can't breathe when I put one on. Good on you with the free stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness someone understands me and thimbles!
DeleteThat was some day you had! I plan on staying home today- love those days when there is no need to leave the house! Sorry about the ants! I hate pesticides but I would have had to spray heavily and stay out of the car for a few days and cross my fingers. What's on the menu today? Leftover chicken soup for me and then I'll freeze the rest.
ReplyDeleteNAN,
DeleteI was exhausted when the car drama started. I only plan to leave the house to take care of the alternator. The spray I have has no odor according to label. Actually, there was no odor when I got in the car a few hours later. I love leftovers. I need to get in the kitchen and freeze a leftover deli chicken.
It would make your life easier if you had a guy to take care of cars and other bits & pieces. I hope the alternator doesn't cause a lot of drama
ReplyDeletekylie,
DeleteI hate trying to get people to help me and cannot afford to call a garage to come jump off my car. I fully expect drama, nerve-grinding drama.
Have your alternator guy check for ants. Don't know where you live, but ants can be a real problem in the south.
ReplyDeletehttp://terrysautoelectrical.com.au/2015/01/auto-electrical-system-ants-amps/
Janet,
ReplyDeleteI checked that link. Funny thing is I was telling J on the way to get gas that ants could ruin electrical components in computers and such.
They love electrical components and many people have had them ruin their well pumps. The fire ants are especially bad about this. "Crazy" ants do it as well. I had fire ants come out in the bathtub in the house and bite my son when he was little. They got in the hot water in the water heater and it smelled like formic acid.
ReplyDeleteJanet,
DeleteYou mean they came in through the water to the tub? That is scary. I have heard about the raspberry ants ruining electronics, but not any other ants. Your poor child! I am already afraid of showers, thanks to Psycho. Now, tubs?
I guess everything gets more complicated and worrisome as we get older. Having to deal with three problems at once drives me crazy. Aches and pains, house, car, yard, family--it all adds up to a difficult day. And then I don't sleep well. I don't sleep well when everything is going well. Just know you are not alone. And then your stupid ants are back. Open all the doors and use a flame thrower on them. (Not really.) If I hear of any sure fire ways to get rid of ants, I'll let you know.
ReplyDeletetana50,
DeleteYou nailed it. Three problems in one day plus just everyday living is horrid. A flame thrower is a great idea....lol. Sleep is a problem for me in the midst of problems.