Bad Car, Good Friends

My car is still hospitalized. As it turns out, it threw a rod and my mechanic quoted me $2400 to replace my engine adding that he doesn't think it's worth doing considering the van is nearly 12 years old and has over 100,000 miles on it. My father, predictably, reacted with disbelief, called my mechanic a thief, said he just doesn't understand why the engine can't be repaired rather than replaced, and added that Japanese cars go a long way. He advised me to talk to my brother-in-law who owns a body shop and may be able to help.

My brother-in-law said he might be able to get the work done for $1200, but also advised against it. Whether it's $1200 or $2400, it's better put towards a down payment on a new car. I talked with my father again and, predictably, he's against the whole idea. He reminded me that my brother-in-law generally works with luxury cars and, therefore, he may not be able to offer me the best solution. Then he goes on about how Japanese cars usually last until they are have 300,000 miles. I calmly remind him that prior to my Nissan Quest, I drove a Honda, and Toyota before that; none of them lasted to 300,000 miles. I also tell him that I don't think I can offer an answer that he will like, but that we need to find a solution soon. I tried to remain calm, keeping in mind that my father is pretty wacky. Just how wacky is he, you ask? Read this and this.

Now I'm waiting for some numbers. My brother-in-law is checking on the price of replacing the engine as well as how much I can get if I sell the car for parts. Meanwhile, I've been looking at some new cars I might be able to afford and I'll be checking my FICO score. And if this wasn't bad enough, I lost part of a filling and part of a molar. When it rains, it pours.

Without my car, I thought my weekend was shot to Hades, but my covenmant came over last night for a visit. She had a rough day and wasn't fully present, but it was still really good to see her and chat. I spent most of today working on some things around the house and then my friend Quaaa called to invite me to a birthday party for our friend Pepito.

The party was a small and intimate, but good. All the usual suspects were there and there were snacks (including yummy candy corn), alcohol, great music, and a projector projecting "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" silently against the wall. It doesn't get much better than that. Instead of a birthday cake, there were delicious cupcakes with little plastic ghosts, pumpkins, and skeletons decorating them. I guess it was a birthday-slash-Halloween party, but nobody was in costume (although some people might think otherwise looking at this uber-trendy, gothic, tattooed pin-up slacker crowd).

I had a lot of fun. My HP (my sultan, my hero) swung by and it's always good to hang out with him. I had a good talk with the birthday boy's sister who's going to get the ball rolling for me to explore Lucumi a little more closely. I chatted with another acquaintance about her upcoming travels to Ukraine and Munich for work and Egypt, Greece, and Italy for pleasure. Nice, eh. And I spent some more time getting to know another girl I see on those few occasions when I hang out with this crowd. Lulu is supercute, very nice, and having a party next month to which I am invited to. Most importantly, Quaaa showed us all the circle dance, the latest dance phenomenon sweeping Eastern Europe (no, not really).

Tomorrow I have business to take care of. My sister has agreed to loaning me her car so I can take care of some shopping I need to do before I go to Twilight Covening next weekend. I'm so excited!