One Way or Another

One way or another I’m going to pass that damn emissions test. I started the process over three weeks ago and failed the emissions test which I need to get to re-new my licence plates. Had to get a whole new exhaust system (I don’t want to even say how much) with a very expensive catalytic converter. Got that done and failed the test again. $20.

I posted on Facebook about my trials and tribulations when I got pulled over last Sunday morning on my way to work and charged with expired stickers. $110. I’ve been getting a slew of advice about additives and gas. No mechanic said to use additives or anything about gas. They said ‘it hasn’t been driven around enough’. I got temporary stickers, $15, and drove it all week, worked Saturday and Sunday; an hours driving per day.

Monday morning I filled up with Premium gas, $40, and drove to a far away Canadian Tire sure I would pass. Failed again. This time it was $30.

I drove it back to the garage that fixed it. A few sensors haven’t ‘kicked in’. He said “do NOT put in any additives as that might affect the test” and my gas tank was too full; it should be about half full.  I have to do ‘drives’ the correct way….. so complicated I had ask for a print out.

While I was waiting for the mechanic to check it out, there was a woman waiting who was dressed in old sweat pants and her shoes looked more like slippers. She started talking, very pleasant and smiling although she had no teeth. She was hoping there wasn’t much wrong with her car because it was her mentally challenged son’s 16th birthday and she was taking him and his friends to paintball. All money she had was going to his birthday party.

That sure knocked the self-pity right out of me. Today I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home. We’ve had no snow yet and its warm and sunny. If I was going into work I would be grouchy as hell but I’m feeling grateful instead. I hope to put away the last of my firewood into the woodshed and couldn’t get better weather for November.

One way or another this will get done. But for today I’m not going to worry about it….. although I should go for a ‘drive’.:

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/one-way/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercy

I wrote a post about my car repair but it’s too long and boring so I’ll give a précis on the story;  Went to get stickers for my car and needed an emissions test first. Failed the test and had to get a new exhaust system which I finally got done last Friday. So I was driving with expired stickers but it was the weekend and I had to work. The odds of getting pulled over was slim.

Sunday morning, 8:45 a.m. on good roads I’m driving to work and see flashing red and blue lights. I pulled over expecting him to rush past me but he pulled up behind me. Sonofabitch!! I haven’t been pulled over in decades. He told me I was speeding at 110 kph (68 mph) and when he pulled up my licence found I was driving with expired stickers.  Can you believe it? I sure couldn’t.

He went back to his cruiser while I mentally kicked myself and swore. Luckily he showed me mercy; he would only charge me with expired plates ($110) because a speeding ticket would be $220, raise my insurance and lose points. Good thing I’m a nice, white old lady.

Do you know how hard it is to drive at the speed limit (80 kph) when no one is in front you? My normal speed is 110 kph on the highway.

Yesterday I went for my second e-test and failed because I haven’t driven it around enough! $20. Got temporary stickers for $15.

Went in to work the closing shift and the Big Boss is coming so ‘do some extra detailed cleaning. Pull out all the racks and do a real good job on the floors’ Seriously? Look at me, I’m old and tired!  “Six more weeks, six more weeks” I kept telling myself,  Thank God.

Driving home my lights weren’t so good. When I got home I checked and a headlight is out.

Today I’m off. I should drive around and try to get a headlight but I don’t want to. I’m tired, my knee is sore and I want to stay warm. I’ve got that “I give up” kind of feeling.  I’ll take a drive down to the beach, around the big block to ‘set my exhaust’ and make an appointment for a new headlight and e-test for tomorrow or Friday. Luckily I don’t have a night shift until next week.

I am so thankful to be getting an Old Age Pension starting next month. If I had to go on doing this I would be so unhappy. I’m going to put my whole first cheque on my credit card/exhaust system and start my retirement in January on a clean slate. I say thankful instead of grateful because actually walk around muttering; Thank You, Thank You. To whom or what I’m not quite sure but I’m feeling it’s mercy.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/mercy/

 

 

Psst! it’s SoCS

Psst! Over here!  I shouldn’t talk about money, my mom told me that was wrong but I’m so excited I’m bursting!

Yesterday I got a notice from CRA telling me what my monthly OAP will be and it was way more than I thought! I swooned with happiness! I had to keep looking at the number to make sure it was true!

I had just got my car back with it’s new $1800 exhaust system. Ouch. Picked up my mail on the way in and there it was….. Service Canada. drum roll

I won’t say how much because, as I said before, my mom said that’s in bad taste. But It’s more than I’ve been making these years at Sobeys and I can live on it easily.

I’m working all weekend and I haven’t been this happy going into work in forever. Today I have my favourite shift: 10:00 to 3:00 and tomorrow 9:00 to 3:00. No cleaning floors!

I’m so freaking happy today! I love Canada!

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “psst, or any other attention-getting noise or word.” Find a word or noise that you’d use to get someone’s attention, and start your post off with it. Enjoy!

https://lindaghill.com/2017/11/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-18-17/

I’m 65!

Yahoo! I made it! I’m 65 years old today!

Last night I worked; got a cupcake and sung Happy Birthday to.  After 4 years they still don’t know that I don’t eat eggs and so don’t eat cupcakes.

Thanks, guys, but I’m looking more forward to the cheese bread than a soggy cupcake.

I’m off today; going to stay warm and cozy and have lots of good treats. There is one job I want to do, cover the living room windows with plastic. They are very drafty and it makes huge difference. I’ll check Facebook every once in a while for HB’s.

Tomorrow my sister is taking me to TOWN to do some shopping while my car gets ‘fixed’ and I’ll come home with some take-out Indian food. Too bad the car repair has put a damper on my shopping spree.

Working all weekend which is OK…… I still need that money! I get my first OAP cheque next month…… oh, boy, I love Canada! (Even with its strict emissions rules.)

Hopefully I won’t get caught driving without stickers. They shouldn’t bother until the end of the month. Another e-test Monday and new stickers, I hope.  I’ll have on my snow tires and be ready for winter!

Well, time to go enjoy my day. I honestly wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!

Honk! Honk!

Honk! Honk!  My post about my car didn’t make it into the reader yesterday. I even tried publishing it twice.  The link worked but I guess no one wanted to read about my car repairs….. imagine that!

It’s going to cost me a whole lot of money to give me the right to honk my horn. I don’t even need a repair…. my car failed the emissions test so I have to get a new exhaust system. It make me sick.  If I lived a down the road, across a bridge, I would not have to have an e-test and would not need an expensive ‘repair’.

Of course I tossed and turned and thought about if I should stay on my job another year but I just can’t….. the thought of it is just too depressing. I thank God I’m in the position that I can quit. I’ll have very little money but I’m sure I can make it. I can even chip away at this ‘repair’ on my credit card.

Whenever you are looking forward to something, life sneaks up behind you and kicks you in the ass.

https://monicleblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/dubious/

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/honk/

OLW: Good Advice

Got some great advice for life in general while getting my health card and driver’s licence:

“Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.”—– Service Ontario

https://lindaghill.com/2017/11/15/one-liner-wednesday-shes-at-it-again/

Dubious

I am very dubious that my car needs a repair that’s going to cost over $1000 just so I don’t pollute our environment and can keep my car on the road. But I have no choice: in order to get the yearly stickers for my plates I have to do this or buy a new car.

I want to help keep our air clean but this is ridiculous.

It started when I didn’t get my application for renewing my driver’s licence and plates.  I had an application to renew my health card so I was waiting for the forms for my car to do all at once. Since the forms usually come long before your birthday I realized last week that I would have to go to Service Ontario without any forms.

My licence and health card were renewed but my car needed an e-test before I could get the yearly stickers for the plates. That is an emissions test to make sure your car isn’t belching fumes into the environment. I would have known this if I’d gotten the forms in the mail and not cut it so close (maybe).

She said if I hurry down to Canadian Tire they might be able to fit me in. When I got there they said the machine broke down an hour ago and should be fixed tomorrow. I phone the next day and they said ‘tomorrow’ but I was working. I phoned Monday and they said they couldn’t get me in until Wednesday. My plates expire Thursday.

So I drove to another Canadian Tire farther away and failed my test. The car runs just fine but my catalytic converter is cracked. ‘Small problem’ he says.

Being snow tire season my usual garage was booked until December. I phoned around and found someone who might do it but she couldn’t find parts for a Suzuki Swift. I phoned my old garage and they told me it was interchangeable with a Chevy Avail. I phoned the new garage back, gave them the information and she called me back…… the parts, alone, were $700 and she would have to look at the exhaust system to see if more parts were needed.

So now it will be $1000 or more to get the damn stickers for my plates. I can’t go running out to buy a new car now. I’m sick and angry about it.  My mind was churning all night about; should I get another car and stay on for another year? NO! I can’t do it! I have to quit that job. I will be way too depressed if I have to stay there. The car runs great and it has snow tires. I have to keep it.

Today the sun is shining and I intended to work at home all day with all this bureaucratic bullshit happily behind me. This morning I’m taking the car in so they can see what is needed.  At least I’ll have all afternoon and don’t have work and be miserable; I can be outside and a little less miserable with the soothing ointment of nature and sun.

I have to work tomorrow which is last day I’m legal.  Saturday I’m keeping my fingers crossed that no cops look at my plates and punch that number into their computer.  Hopefully I can get this all done by next week.

Good thing I have a credit card but I am very dubious that my car needs an expensive ‘repair’ like this.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/dubious/

Important Reminder

The darkest time of the year is upon us; take at least 2000 IU of Vitamin D every day! 

 

https://lindaghill.com/2017/11/08/one-liner-wednesday-this-is-your-brain/

Panacea

Sometimes a ‘prompt’ word comes along I sort of know the meaning of but not enough to be in my vocabulary.  ‘Panacea’: “a universal remedy, a cure of all ills.”

That would be how I’m looking at retirement right now. It’s only 8 weeks away and I can hardly wait. Even though I’m down to two days a week, I still drag my feet going in I don’t want to so much.

It’s getting cold in the store, too. The lunch room is freezing. Going in and out of the freezer with heavy boxes is too hard.  Sometimes you are looking and looking and freezing and there it is, way up high, so you need to get the ladder. These days I just want to say ‘fuck it’ and walk out. I am not ashamed to say; “I’m too old for this!”

Last Saturday I had a 7- hour closing shift which is working most of the day alone then cleaning. I didn’t last 7 hours. I just told them I was closing the bakery at 6:00 p.m. I was so exhausted. Luckily it was dark and pouring rain so ‘it was OK’.

“Pretty soon I won’t have to do this!” I sing to myself over and over. It makes me so happy!

However, like most panaceas, I realize retirement won’t be the cure-all for what ails me. There will be a problem with isolation and loneliness….. something that comes with being a hermit and a bit of a weirdo. I will miss the interaction with my co-workers who I’ve become fairly close to. I’ll even miss the interactions with the ones who bug me. It’s always good to have a bone to chew on.

Most people would go crazy being alone so much but I enjoy it…. to a point. After a couple of days home alone I’m a little nutty. I’ll need to force myself to do things outside of the home.

And I know full well that all this stuff I want to do around my house will not be fun. Many days I won’t want to do what I should do and there’s always something to do around here. Having a job gives you a good excuse not to do it; now I’ll have no excuses.

So retirement won’t be the panacea for all that ails me…… but it will sure help!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/panacea/

4.25 Hour Shift

Because it’s so slow at the grocery store I work in, our hours have been cut short. I was ‘lucky’ enough to have 3 shifts this week, next week I have only two five-hour shifts so a 10 hour work week. Most people are grumbling about this although they already know that is the nature of this job; crazy in the summer, slow in the winter.

I don’t care. In fact, the last shift I cut it even shorter.

It was pouring rain and we hardly had any customers so the owner told me I could leave when I was finished. I took every short cut, cut every corner on the floor and just washed the dirty part in the middle. And why waste 15 minutes up in that horrible lunch room when I can eat my sandwich on the way home?

Like a bat out of hell.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “shortcut/cut short.” Use one, use both, whatever strikes your fancy. Enjoy!

https://lindaghill.com/2017/11/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-417/