update, update, update

[cassidyrose]

Dance
Big Moves has lots of cool events coming up which I will post about separately. The Bodies in Motion show was a huge success and my performance went well (more on that later). We are performing our piece twice in May and the Phat Fly Girls have more performances coming up as well. My studio dance show is slated for the end of June and I am doing my best to get ready for it. I had to miss class last night due to illness--bleah.

Health
My throat has been consistently hurting since Saturday morning, localized on the right side. Something looks funny on my right tonsil, though not quite strep-like. Felt sick all over late Sunday and all day yesterday. Feeling marginally better right now as I am in my nice air conditioned offce. The evil chemical carpet cleaner smell is mostly dissipated which helps in me feelin OK. catzen seems to still have a ear/sinus infection. We both need to get to the doctor.

Car
My transmission started not working properly (can't get past third gear) on Saturday (of course I was 80 miles from home when this happened) and I finally got the car to the shop today. I just spoke with the mechanic and a new transmission is need which is going to cost nearly three grand.

F**k, F**k, F**K!!!!!!!!!

I feel like crying. Actually, I have already been crying. I can usually deal with financial blows OK, but this is just damn overwhelming.

I wish we could just get ahead.

General Finances
We've finally been able to get caught-up on all our bills (we owed quite a chunk on PG&E and PacBell), largely due to our wonderful friends and my tax return. It feels good to be mostly up to date with the bills, even if we are still broke, and un-and-underemployed. It also looks like catzen has finally gotten the mess with the EDD straightened out, which is good.

The really, really really bad news is my car.

House and Home
We are slowly getting our house in order. With some of my tax refund money we were able to buy a new vacuum which we sorely needed. Ours had died last fall and mactavish kindly gave us her old one which worked well for the interim but lacked attachments (a must for our stairs and corners and stuff). So, Friday night we went to Target and got the one I had picked out with the help of Consumer Reports. It works wonderfully--our carpet has not looked so nice since we first moved in and I steam cleaned it. It should really help our allergies to have a super vacuum.

School
Um, yeah.

This week I plan to complete the scales for my thesis and submit them for approval. Due to all the stuff with catzen's dad I won't be able to graduate until next spring. So it goes.

Work
Plodding along. I am going full-time come June.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Can you get a second opinion on the car? Or even a second estimate from the same guy, with the additional info "we do NOT HAVE three grand, is there a fix for much less that'll last, say, a year"?

***hugs***

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Well, they already tried the cheaper alternative (a transmission service) and it didn't work. I know transmissions for my car cost over two grand. I am at 110,000 miles with the first transmission, so it is not all that suprising, it just SUCKS!!!!

If we can't figure out a way to pay for it (which will probably can), we will just deal with one car for a while.

Thanks for the hugs.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ow, do they tend to last only ~100K miles? Standard, automatic, or both? (That could explain some weird symptoms I'm seeing.)

Anytime.

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Well, they can survive a lot longer. The mechanic informed me today that getting the transmission regularly serviced (once a year, flush the fluid, etc.) is key to them surviving. If you are noticing strange symptoms, I suggest you take it in for a look before it goes completely downhill.

[bookofnights.livejournal.com]

Well, they already tried the cheaper alternative (a transmission service) and it didn't work.

Have you looked into having the transmission rebuilt? It may not be workable for you car, but I've spent several years with rebuilt transmissons (cheaper than new).

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Sadly, this is the cost of a rebuil transmission. A new one would cost 4K. That's what I get for owning an Infinity.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I hope things get better soon. I know you could use a break.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Ow. If you need any help, give us a buzz.

[rampling.livejournal.com]

Bummer about the car thing. That sux. At least I'm glad that I was able to help earlier. *HUGS*

[quietshell.livejournal.com]

Dance: I look forward to seeing you perform again! :) :)

Health: :( Sorry to hear about the sore throat. I can relate as I have the same thing going on right now too. AUGH! Not a good time for me to get sick (as I'm sure you feel the same about yourself too ... like there is *ever* a good time??)

Car: *hugs offered* I'm sorry , sweetie. That sucks. I hope you can come to an agreeable solution to help you with this woe :(

General Finances: Yay about getting caught up! I hope to be in that same boat soon too... if I could just get these damn taxes completed of which I'll be getting a refund (I'm greedy.... I'm just trying to squeeze out as much as I can :) )

House & Home: Yay! I hope the new vacuum will help with the allergies :) It should!

School: Best of luck to you with that. Again, I can relate to that too.

Work: Yikes. Good luck with the transition into full-time again.

More hugs offered ... feel better soon, dear.