Tuesday, January 12, 2010

payback?

If I didn't know better, I'd think I was being punished for all my whining and moaning yesterday morning. Shortly after I wrote that post, I got a call from Rich. Turns out the problem with Rich's car that we were hoping was minor, was actually major. As in a death sentence...costing way more to fix than the car is worth. Honestly, it's hard to complain...the car was ancient when we bought it, and we've had it for several years. Never in our lives have we had a new car, and really, we've been quite lucky with all the used cars we've bought.

But despite the fact that this had to be expected sooner or later, it still stung. Because what it means to practical terms is that Rich and I are going to have to postpone our trip to England. We've been saving for the past few years, planning to go this summer for our 20th anniversary. But it now looks like that's not to be. We'll have to wait until next year or maybe the year after. (One of the worst things is that it will now be much longer until I get to meet Ana. :( I can't tell you how sad this makes me.)

Anyway, today's a new day. Time just has a way of making you better able to handle your disappointments, I guess. Not that I don't still feel like crying a little.

I'm sorry to say that I had a hard time scraping up good things yesterday...I was too busy feeling sorry for myself. But last evening, I did capture one beautiful scene that just warmed my heart.

January 11th "Good Stuff"



*Max is our reluctant reader. Sometimes getting him to read his 15 minutes a night for homework is a challenge. But last night, he just got wrapped up in his book. His bedtime came and went, and we just couldn't bear to tear him away from his reading. And while he sat there, engrossed in his newest Zelda book, Aldo sat there soaking up the petting. Anytime Max stopped, she let him know. The two of them sat there like that for over an hour until Max finished his book. :)

14 comments:

  1. Not payback, just a sad thing. :( Oh I'm so sorry to hear about this Debi. I'm especially sad to hear about postponing the trip and I hope that you guys find a way to get a cheap car and don't have to spend all your savings. :( I really feel for you.

    On the other hand, those pictures of Max are so sweet.

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  2. Bummer about the car, Debi, esp. if it means no trip. As Amanda said, perhaps you can find a cheap or used car and not have to wait so long for the trip. And the Max-Also photos are great; I especially like the eye contact between the two of them.

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  3. Amanda,
    Thanks. I'm feeling better today...accepting it as one of those things life throws at you. Telling myself that while having to postpone our trip for a year, or even two, sucks, it's not the end of the world. We WILL get there eventually!

    Jean,
    Thanks. And I'm definitely not looking at it as no trip, but just trip later than planned. And believe me, we will be buying a used car...we've never had a new car, and I'm sure we never will.

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  4. oh bummer on the trip!! HOw I would love to go to England too!! I'd love to meet Cath and see Merlins cave and maybe a few other things! I think of it all the time... I hope you find a way to take that trip sooner then later.. !

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  5. You were going to come over to old Blighty! Oh no, would have loved to have met up.

    Sorry to hear about your car; it is rather upsetting and hurts when a major expense happens like that. One of my girls got a new laptop for her birthday and completely broke it two days after. I felt physically sick for quite a few days after. It had cost so much already. We ended up claiming on the insurance, but we still had to pay out excess. On the bright side, my vacuum cleaner is being fixed for free by the Vax company, so that is a result.

    Love the pictures of Max and Aldo. My cat is similar in his ways, though he paws my books if I don't pay him attention.

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  6. ... following up onmy last comment, you can also have my car, if I move up. :) But, I'm sorry, I wish I could help. It seems so silly, little things that end up having to be more important than things that matter. Like who the hell cares about a car? But you have to, no choice. The car gets to be the top priority, even though it's stupid. I wish I could help :/.

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  7. Debi - That definitely sucks, and you have every right to be upset. Hopefully, things will work out, and you can find a way to get a new car AND take your trip.

    As for your good stuff, that IS so wonderful. What a priceless picture!!

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  8. *hugs* I'm so sorry about the card and the trip, Debi :( But don't worry, you WILL meet me someday. Maybe I'll make it to upstate NY before two years anyway..hey, I COULD win the lottery :P And what's a year or two? It's nothing, I tell you! Except maybe enough time for my own life to get settled, hopefully, and then I'll be in an even better position to show you around Europe and have a wonderful time :D

    On the bright side, those pictures REALLY made me smile :)

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  9. So sorry to hear about the car and having to postpone your trip...don't count it out totally you never know what the future holds!!

    Loving those photos and your son and the cat!

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  10. I'm sorry about your car. That has to be a huge disappointment having to postpone your trip. The upside is that you said postpone, not cancel!

    Tim is a reluctant reader as well. He sets the timer for his "homework" reading and I am not joking when I say if the timer goes off and his is mid-word he stops!!!

    I hope your day is better today.

    take care,
    Dawn

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  11. That's horrible about the car! Poorly timed as things like that always seem to be, huh? I hope that things find a way to turn around and you get to go on your trip afterall...

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  12. I'm so sorry about the car and the trip, Debi! I hope you're feeling better now.

    I totally love the pics of Max and Aldo! My heart just melt viewing them. :)

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  13. It's so important to draw attention to reading, and attract reluctant readers to it,especially boys. In fact, I've recently completed a feature magazine article on this subject that came out in October, "Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers."

    I grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.

    My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of reading. And I have a new book, Lost Island Smugglers, coming out in June.

    Keep up your good work.

    Max Elliot Anderson

    PS. So sorry about the car.

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  14. I am super far behind on reading your blog evidently as I had missed this post, too. So sorry about the car...when my Accord died a couple of years ago, I was just distraught. Buying a car just stinks - especially when it causes you to postpone a trip. I hope you and Rich get to have your anniversary trip sooner rather than later. Y'all are wonderful and just deserve it.

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