Cars Depress Me, and Writing Stuff

[paragraphs]

I hate cars. I really do. They are expensive to run, maintain and with a teenage son, insure. My daughter has just about completely taken over the responsibility of her car, but that doesn't lessen my worry and responsibility (making sure she gets the oil etc. changed, takes care of the tires, etc.). And now I have to add another, for my son. He will be helping--has no choice there--but the bottom line is we need to get him a car, which makes THREE cars I have to fret over.

My credit is 'good' but low-good, should be able to snag a loan easily enough. But, loan on his car means full coverage, which means higher premiums. Alternative is to give him my car, but uh, I don't think so. I don't want ANYONE to drive my car ever again. Something always happens to it! It is banged up right now because of his fender bender that only hurt my car, not the other guy's. Sigh.

So, onward I must go to find a car for no more than 5k, that doesn't have a trillion miles on it, that won't break down completely before it is paid off, and won't saddle me with a huge payment. I can afford around 150 tops, so of course anything I find will be more than that.

I wish I could win one, or someone would just say HEY! I got a spare, take mine! (dreaming).

I hate cars.

Been down alot lately--not sure why, probably mostly the single-parent, I-can't-do-enough thing. The post-seeing-Nick thing. I'll deal, no choice yes? Trying to shake it all off though it isn't that easy. But at least I am writing again! I've got three big writing projects going, and will start keeping track of the word counts soon. One of them is my Loose-Id fic. Yeah, remember I quit working on it? Well, I am back to it again, at least considering it. I'd written myself into a wall, so it was easy to walk away. I think the answer though is to work out an outline, a map to lead me to the end. I have that for the other two projects, and it does help alot. Just printed it out and will zip through it and see what I can do with it to the end. It would be very helpful to have a sale this summer!

Have a writer's group meeting tomorrow, and our bi-weekly one Wednesday. First meeting of that went off great, even though we ended up talking three hours to a Narcotics officer from Florida--one of our members is a local Narcotics cop herself, so it was a crazy three-hour discussion, whoa. That dude could tell a story, and he told A BUNCH. We were captive, but happily so. Quite a character.

I have not worked at all today, btw. Just haven't felt like it. I think I will keep on with this bad attitude this afternoon and plunk down an outline. :)

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Cars are incredibly depressing. Expensive, and in most of the US? You really cannot have a job and survive without one. *pets*

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Nope, can't. Son is going to TCC for a year, and has to have one for that and for working. My daughter and I live in our cars. UGH.

Sigh.

[valancy-joy.livejournal.com]

n'awwww. HUGS. I commiserate. keep putting off calling the garage, but have to schedule my state inspection by the end of the month.

Am not working much myself, but as I got an excellent yearly eval. I think I deserve a bit of slacking off :) now if the excellent eval just came with an excellent bonus.

been wondering how the writing groups were going, so glad to hear it's good!!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Get that inspection done!

I'll be doing a post about writing groups! They are intriguing and fun--had a really nice time yesterday, too. :)

I HEART YOUR ICON!

[http://users.livejournal.com/lindalee_/]

Maybe my hubby can help you with the car thing? He's an expert at it, ya know...

I'll send him your requirements and see what types of cars he suggests looking for.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome! I have been told a truck would be best for the son. I wouldnt' mind a truck in the family but he doesn't want a truck.

[durayan.livejournal.com]

I recently *almost* bought a 98 Lincoln Continental for gosh awful cheap. 113 miles. It seems to be a relatively reliable Great American Road Barge. Should be cheapest to insure a granny car, and should prevent teenage person with testosterone poisoning (and lets face it don't they all have this?) from doing something particularly foolish with the car. (Hotrod Lincoln song notwithstanding). Anyway. I paid for the payments and stuff on my car as a teen...seems to me that's a decent requirement. And while my parents paid insurance, I'd have had to pay the difference if I screwed up by wrecking or speeding.

Good luck car hunting!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

He is a weird boy. He doesn't care much for driving, and since he slid in my car and accidentally rear-ended that car, he has calmed down even more. LOL my parents had one of those cars--BEHEMOUTH! I am pretty sure one of his friends has one also.

I bought his sister's car brand new, but that was then, and her who has worked since 16. So. He'll help out, wants to, especially now that he is staying at home a year. HAS to help out, but a job while going to school won't hurt him any.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOL I love it, GARBarge. I would name it that. Yes he will help with the paying for it--I feel somewhat guilty on that as when I bought Tiff's car, I was able to pay for it in full that day (this was just after the spouse died, so I had the money and bought two cars outright--damn that was fun!). She pays for everything else with it though. And she's set to switch to her own insurance when she turns 21.

My dream would be to find a sweet creampuff 1 owner for 3k or so...a co-worker did and I fussed at him for not giving it to me. LOL.

[durayan.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Make that *getting* the GARB.

It's candy apple red. Paying around 1500, with expected $900 more to go to tires, ball joints, tie rods and sway bar links. Still, not bad. Need to figure out how to tint the windows without making it scream "pimp-mobile".

Good luck with your search!

[used_songs]

Yeah, cars are stressful. I wish I lived in a place with good mass transit.

*hugs*

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

ME TOO!!!!! But darn our wide-open spaces, huh. I live in my car and rarely go out on weekends as a result. Did yesterday though and am glad.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

You're right. Cars suck. And yet...

*hug*

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh! what was the story with yours? Get it all fixed up? I envy my sister--she's in Nashville and just takes a nice bus to and from work, no problem. Of course she wants me to move there, but... Oh well.

I envy Nick--he lives just on the edge of his city's city centre, everything RIGHT THERE, they have a great bus system Everyone uses, and there are of course trains to get home to Hamburg and home. He doesn't need a car at all. I would be quite comfy if not for the cars.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

I couldn't afford the property tax or to have it inspected, so I effectively garaged it for several months. However, garaging in this case was 'parked it and did not drive it.'

Anyway, somebody apparently noticed that we had unlicensed vehicles on the property (my car, ex-boyf's truck) and we got a notice saying to either store them appropriately or license them.

I'd just got my tax refund, so I licensed mine. Ex-boyf's got his truck crammed into the garage.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

This is the first time I've seen you refer to him like this. Hugs to you... Damn, I'm behind on your life!

Don't you just LOVE people for turning you guys in? Geesh. Thanks neighbor.

I am watching GRIDLOCK. I was startled to realize that the girl who kidnapped Martha into the car, is the actress who plays Annie on BH? Whoa. Crazy...

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

I joke sometimes that I like Being Human because it's secretly Doctor Who/Torchwood. There's a lot of crossover in terms of cast and crew.

J and I split up in mid-March. He's still around and will be at least until he graduates. It's weird, and I genuinely think he'd checked out and assumed I had too by the time that conversation happened, so awkwardness abounds! Plus, you know, seven years + 1 day? Yeah. It's a thing.

And eh. It needed doing. Sometimes a crappy neighbor can be impetus to do all manner of useful things!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Ahh around when Nick and I were gearing up for our trip. My head was elsewhere. I think I am grounded now (and very glad it isn't us stuck in the UK right now!).

LOL yeah, sometimes it is a thing. Well, I know it can't be easy, but damn, you deserve genuine loving. Just do. I hope you find it someday.

How's your mom? (now that i have you cornered...)

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Not too bad. Most of her health challenges are well-controlled at the moment. Her arthritis is a real challenge, though. She's in a lot of pain, doesn't move well, is having trouble with her hands. I think they're talking about cortisone shots or something to that effect.

She's still not doing dialysis, which is kind of scary to me, but its her choice to accept or eschew certain treatments. So.

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone today who sliced open his thumb doing something as simple as removing my rotten muffler from my rusted exhaust pipe, I feel you pain (along with mine!).

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

I am not laughing, I swear. OUCH!!

[topgeargirl2.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize with feeling down lately but writing has helped since the subject I'm writing about will be a challenge but it's fun.

Between you and me, the prompt I chose at touchyerwood is one of Nick's

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

And hey you, you keep plugging along, writing those things, because it was really, really good. You have a unique voice, I like it, and am very excited to see you continue to get better and better. Claire, I did not start writing until I was 33!!! You are doing AWESOME!!!! MILES and MILES and MILES ahead of where I was at way older! SRSLY!

So drop-kick that discouragement, you're getting quite a nice bunch of fics together, and am very excited about seeing how you do with this new project.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

We solved that problem by not getting our children cars. Period. I imagine where you live it's impossible not to have one, but we've gotten away with it so far.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Sigh, it is impossible. I live 40 minutes from work (thanks to it moving further out), Tiff has to get to her two jobs PLUS TCU, all far away, and Kelly will be getting a job and going to TCC. They save money by living at home with me, and can stay here long as they need to. I am sad both had to work so young (Tiff's been working since before she could drive) but I can at least give them that, a free place to live.

How is your daughter doing? Still going to school far far away?

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

She's doing great. Coming home in over a month to work at a Girl Scout camp most of the summer. My son's progress report arrived. Not so great. He's really going to have to take it up a few notches. Sigh.

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

i'd sell you my truck, but i'm kinda far away...
*hugs*

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Bring it on down! LOL. It's not far! Okay never mind. It is kinda far. LOL.