Remember my transmission problems? First estimate came in at over $4000 for a completely rebuilt transmission. Seriously? So it looks like we need to start thinking very soon about buying a new (for qualities of 'new' that include 'previously owned') car. Arrgh! I so did not need this on my plate right now.

I am trying to focus on the positives, like that the car may be broken but it can drive short distances, that we have a second car that also needs work, but would require less money, so we have time to look for what we want. And that we have a little cushion to get us through this.

How old is the car, Burrell? I'm going to spend more than that on replacing my engine, but that brings the trade-in value of my car up from $0 to a significant percentage of what I'm spending, plus I don't have car payments to look forward to.

OTOH, you have kids plus job that needs reliable transportation going forward.

Ugh, yeah, we keep repairing our (old) cars (14 years and 21 years -- but Tim drives 1.3 miles to work every day, so an old beater is fine with him) because we're planning to get a newer car, but haven't actually done the research or figured out a budget, and in the interim things like the master cylinder decide to go kaput. V. frustrating. And then the more money we put into repairs, the longer we feel like we need to keep the cars, to "justify" the expense (which I 100% understand is actually the sunk-cost fallacy, but it's easier to get up and leave a crappy movie when you paid $10 for a ticket, versus ditching your car a month after you spend $400 on the master cylinder).

And then -- it seems weird and *almost* (but not quite) unnecessary for us to get a newer car, when Tim's commute is 1.3 miles and my commute is from the bedroom to the living room. But, of course, we do drive my car (at 14, being the newest car) lots of places, just not to work. We need something new*er*, but not necessarily super-new. (Plus we won't be in the same jobs forever -- as far as I know -- and may well need good wheels again.)

We have 2 older cars. One over 200,000 miles, the other getting close. And my car which has about 70,000, which is the newbie. Cars and car repairs are very stressful for me.

Facebook! I can't say anything whatsoever on there about the situation in Israel because I have friends who are very passionate on both sides. Mostly because of their heritage. Can't touch it without battles. That goes for most things political actually. None of my people have any doubt how far left of the left of progressive that I may sit, but I still limit how much I engage. I'll dispute if others post something insane because I just can't let it go by, but I don't post much that will make people crazy.

As it gets closer to the mid-terms I will surely fail and jump right into it full force again. I mean really I can't just sit and let Florida re-elect our current occupant of the state governor's seat quietly.

I was freezing in my office, so I decided to go outside and take a walk to Trader Joe's only to find they were completely out of vinho verde! Now I'm sweaty and mildly disappointed.

But it's 4:45 and you reminded me that I have some in the fridge, so your suffering was not in vain!

Timelies all!

Last night's dance practice is the last for Gary and me until the end of August/beginning of September. The next three weeks practice is cancelled because of Pennsic, and we will be away the following week. (Don't know if we'll make practice on Aug 25th as we will have gotten back from Dublin the day before.)

OK, tastebuds, I'll let you get away with it for now, but "I'm a widow" is not a good reason to grab 5 mini-pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies from the stash the company brought in for lunch. No matter how hungry you are. Nor am I going to let you get away with it at Joanne's. Again. Unless there's a good sale.

Sometimes you really do need comfort food.

I've been back and forth on the car question, but given all that I'm going through with the unemployment, it makes sense to put money into what I have rather than commit myself to a serious monthly payment and more debt than I'm already dealing with.

Oh, I grabbed and ate the cookies. I'm just giving my Id fair warning that this isn't to become a habit.