I Can Haz Break Now Pleeze??

[qos]

I'm supposed to go on a road trip day after tomorrow and my car is in the shop. It runs, but it makes funny ticking sounds when I use the accelerator -- and it almost stalls out when I put it in reverse when I first start it.

There's something wrong with the cylinders. The valves are not closing/sealing completely. The mechanic has declined to tell me that it would be okay to drive 450 miles and back before repairs are done; he -- understandably -- does not want to be held responsible if I end up on the side of the road somewhere in central Oregon.

So not only am I facing yet another bill for car repairs, I'm going to have to borrow my father's truck for the trip, which is going to increase the cost due to the higher gas consumption.



I could use a morale boost here, folks.
Anyone have any wildly outrageous good wishes, luck-changing charms, over-the-moon compliments, or other contributions to make me smile? Because this has not been a very good couple of days.

Comments

[unicorndelamer.livejournal.com]

Geez! Talk about your downpours. I'm not sure if this will help any or what, specifically, you had in mind...but I pulled this from a little book of random prayers that I have. Considering what you've got coming up this week, it sounded like it might be appropriate:

"I pray to realize that an important spiritual lesson may come to me in the guise of an unpleasant experience. May I accept such experiences as unique opportunities for learning."

Now...if only it could've been one of those all-expenses-paid-learning-experiences...

[qos.livejournal.com]

if only it could've been one of those all-expenses-paid-learning-experiences...

That made me laugh out loud.

Thank you.

[oakmouse]

Gack! I'll see what I can do. *hugs*

[amqu.livejournal.com]

From experience I can tell you that taking a solo road trip in a truck is way better than one in a car. Especially if it's a full-size truck. You're taller than everybody else with a feeling of freedom and power that's missing in a compact.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I agree! In fact, a week or so ago I'd contemplated asking Dad if I could borrow the truck for just those reasons -- but the gas prices put me off.

Thanks for the reminder.

[elevengirl.livejournal.com]

I do not mean to dismiss your need for a break, but I see some quite positive things here:

You're not finding out about this when you were in the middle of the trip. The car misbehaved on home turf, so you could take it to your own mechanic and arrange to borrow the truck.

While not the vehicle you might have chosen to take, there is a vehicle available, so you don't have to pay rental fees on top of gasoline.

Of course, if I were in charge of the world, car insurance would include major mechanical!

[qos.livejournal.com]

You're not finding out about this when you were in the middle of the trip.

Amen!

[sharpchick.livejournal.com]

Would a cliche' help?

Like, "life is what happens when you are making other plans."

Seriously, think about using the downtime for meditation and sending out positive energy. See what you get back.

Better than pacing the floor and muttering, huh?

[qos.livejournal.com]

Wise advice.

I sometimes use LJ to blow off steam in mini-rant like this, but I usually manage to avoid fretting once the initial download is made.

The car will be fixed in time for me to drive it, or it will not. I have a vehicle that should be able to get me there and back again, so the trip itself is not in jeopardy. Heck, I even got my economic stimulus check yesterday, so I have some extra resources.

I always try to focus on the positive and do my best with what I've got -- even if I feel the need to yowl a bit initially when I get a curve like this thrown at me. (And I usually try to put a humorous spin on the yowling so I'm not just griping.)

[sharpchick.livejournal.com]

I do the same thing myself.

And if we can't rant in our journals, well then where can we?

[rocket-jockey.livejournal.com]

It seems to me, looking about at all of the stuff that's been happening amongst our immediate circle, is that God is bored and has started tinkering with things, sort of like a nerd with nothing to do. I think we need to find him a girlfriend to distract him from his hobbies.

I wonder if Inanna is doing anything htis weekend...?

[qos.livejournal.com]

Ha!