Life, Interrupted

My Burmese cat has rated this video clip EC (for Extreme Cuteness.) I never explored the Firefox site until today, and did not realize that Firefox is another name for the Red Panda. We are talking seriously adorable critters, people. If you've had your fill of other baby animals, check these little darlings out!

Of course, Kung Fu Panda 2 starts this weekend. And it will probably be good silliness. And the master is a red panda. So -- happy holiday, to those celebrating anything this weekend!

Me, I've dropped over $1400 on my car this week. I was going to crawl home and whimper. A dear friend (We can call her SS for the sunshine she brings people) went to the gym with me to soak in the hot tub, and then introduced me to the new and evolving Zen restaurant. I can eat there! A gluten-free menu that has multiple good choices! I will return, with and without her!

Still poor, but the A/C is now working (again.) Kevin says that if this fix also doesn't work, I will have a credit for what I just paid for, and he will try again. I think they didn't charge me for all the labor, either. He knew I still have tires to get eventually.

People can be so nice!

PS -- Into Chapter Seven of the new Alfreda. She just found a new acquaintance crying, surrounded by several ghosts. I didn't expect the ghosts so soon.

Well, the good news is, the car does not need its A/C valve changed, nor does it need a tune-up. There is no point in changing the C/V joints when the axle might need replacement soon (a time line of two years, perhaps, but the C/V joints are doing no more damage. So, not going to replace them.)

The bad news is, in addition to the oil change, brake check, and A/C evac and recharge, we get a 4-wheel alignment and the back struts (with all the strutty little pieces that tie in there.) So, still out $1000. That's the tax refund plus two hundred dollars. That is not tires, but I may not need tires after the alignment and strut are taken care of. I might get the car back today, or tomorrow. Once they figure out where they should be applying themselves, they don't waste time.

This is less than $100 a month to keep the car in top operating condition. A lot better than a car payment! And supporting my local mechanic, whom I can recommend as thoughtful, trying to solve real problems, understands the balance of budget, safety and things you'd like to do -- all the things you want in a good mechanic. They work on any of the standard Japanese cars, plus some American. They currently don't do Volvo, Saab, Mercedes, Jaguar, etc.

But Honda Cure is worth talking to with your car needs! (512) 302-0500.

But still. Ouch.

On other fronts, remembered an important subplot in the current novel! SCORE! Researching to jog memory.