Here we are, posing for the photo booth camera. People say we look alike. Do you think so? She is hair-challenged and has fine, blond, ringlets. Although you can’t tell, her eyes are blue and mine are brown. Her daddy likes to say that we share the same personality, and he usually says this while she is whining and demanding and driving us stark raving mad.
That husband of mine, what a joker!
So, our car died. A couple of months ago, a mechanic charged us about a thousand dollars to fix the starter and a sensor. The mechanic assured me at the time that it was worth it to fix this 1993 vehicle because it only had 90,000 miles on it and was an otherwise great car. (Meaning, other than the fact that it didn’t run, it was a great car. Whatever.)
A few days ago, while my husband drove, smoke wafted from the engine. (Justifying his caution–remember when he insisted that I rent a car on August 1 to drive to Portland? I thought that was a crazy expense. He was right. Our car was unreliable.) The mechanic called me yesterday to let me know that the radiator had a leak (thus, smoke) but that the bigger issue was the cracked head gasket. I laughed, actually chuckled, because I knew a blown head gasket was bad having owned a Chevy Blazer with the same problem years ago.
I said, “How much?”
He said, “Fifty-four hundred.”
I said, “Ha ha ha ha!” If I were the cursing type, I would have let loose a string of profanity at that point.
So, our only car now is a 1995 Chevy van, a super-big one that looks like a disco-dance floor on wheels. It’s great to haul the kids around, but for daily driving and errands and such?
I don’t even want to talk about it.
School begins in two weeks or so. August 31 this year–the first time we’ve ever started before Labor Day. I have this list of things in my head that I want to accomplish before school starts–crazy stuff like making a two-week menu and matching shopping list, painting and redecorating my boys’ room, organizing the spices, cleaning out the storage room, scrapbooking all the photos since 2002, solving the Mid-East crisis and of course, giving myself a pedicure.
Oh, and I get to buy school supplies! I am overly fond of school supplies and always buy too many crayons and bottles of glue. My love for school supplies is irrational and passionate.
Lastly, I have a free children’s ticket to see the movie “Cars.” It expires August 31. If you’d like it, leave a comment. I’ll pick the winner in a random drawing. Deadline: tomorrow night, about this time. (You can log onto www.hollywoodmoviemoney.com to find a participating theater. Promo code 31104.)
Actual Unretouched Photo 
Mel, your daughter looks just like you! And I’m sure she has as much as your personality, even when she is not in a cranky mood ;). All said and done, she is blessed with a mom like you.
And speaking of school supplies, kindly file in line to look at my sister’s collection of pens, pencils, things that could be pens but turn out as pencils, crayons, wax crayons, coloured pencils and many many many more supplies she has been collecting from over 10 years. So yes, maybe we do have a space crunch, but we will never be out of pens. Um of course..(Frantic search for any writing material, holding phone in one hand, rifling through papers AND trying to listen to the caller)
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Oh…I need to go smell a new box of crayons! Why has that not been made into a perfume?
You and your daughter are both lovely! I hope she becomes a writer. I’m looking forward to what she will have to say!
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Mel,
Your new photo is beautiful and I think your skinny face makes your hair look even more stunning!
I think it’s time for both of us to start thinking about vehicles that were born in the 21st century. My condolences about your van.
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I think she is just as cute as you. So I guess she does favor you after all.
Sorry about the van. We were in the same boat with our 4runner. Sigh. And it was completely paid for. It’s hard to single car it, but it can be done.
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I love school supplies, too!! I have to resist buying some every year around this time… 🙂
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The photos are sooooo cute!! I am sooo sorry about your car. Me to, if I were the cusing type, (thank Goodness I am not) but I think I would have been really ungodly. Anyways, I will pray the Lord will provide you with all your needs.
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Yes, you and your daughter do look alike! And you look great, by the way. Way to go and keep up the good work!
There is nothing better than brand new school supplies. At our new school here, they will let you pay them a fee and they’ll have all the needed supplies waiting on your child’s desk on the first day of school. What fun is that?!
You are so great about giving away free things, maybe someone will give you a new car for free. 🙂
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Cars. I hate ’em. We have a 1994 Honda w/ “only” 104,000 miles on it. We’ve replaced the transmission…twice. It sometimes just chooses not to start. And we just found out that it is pulling to the right, not because it needs an alignment, but because the frame is bent. So much for a reliable, low miles Honda! Our other vehicle is a hugiant 12-passenger van. I feel your pain.
On a brighter note, I’m not sure how much your daughter looks like you–hard to tell in black and white–but you are both darling!! 🙂 You really look great, Mel. Congrats on your weight loss–I know you are so proud of yourself!!
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I love the photos of you and your daughter!! You guys look great!
What is it with school supplies? I have mounds of them from previous years, notebooks, pencils, pens, colors, markers, you name it, but I keep getting more. And I homeschool, so we don’t even use the amount a kid in a ps classroom needs.
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Mel, I went through this very same thing, only it was with a van we had just purchased! The head gasket was blown, a huge problem. Ugh. Car problems. I feel for you.
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School supplies are a great weakness of mine too … I have three different pencil bags of my own with all shapes, size and colour pens – my favourite at present is my pink gel ink pen … Wish I could enter your “Cars” competition, but being in SA I probably won’t qualify.
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The moppet is adorable…You are lovely. My most humbling driving experience was our old red 1966 Pontiac Bonneville that was half-a-block long and ugly as sin. It felt like driving a football field and the oxidized paint job…well, let’s just say I was happy when it died and went to Dead Car Heaven.
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Drat those head gaskets! Our Toyota pick-up was retired to auto heaven after the same problem last May. Unfortunately, we had to pay $500 for them to try to fix it and then finally tell us that it was not worth fixing. It was *hilarious* indeed.
So, sorry about the car. But hey! Very cute pictures of you and your daughter!
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I’m sorry about the car. My 14 year old van died a week before Christmas. I still haven’t entered the 21st century with a vehicle but I’v moved up to 1998 (another van of course).
You have the same smile.
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I can’t believe I missed the deadline!
Yes, I want the kids to se Car, because I want to see Cars! hee hee
I love my van too, it’s a 97 and I am coming to the conslusion it may not live another century. I love my van. and the paid of nature of it too!
Who can resist the smell of new crayons anyways?
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I haven’t seen the movie Cars and I’m interrested in the ticket! 🙂 (Sucker for free stuff)
I don’t have a car yet (still riding public transportation at 24), but my parents always have huge bills from the mechanics for their 1995 Cavalier. The car will be paid off in a year or two, and they’ll look for a new one because this one is just falling apart.
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Having just one car sucks. Been doing that for about 3 years now. Bleh.
Having car repair bills suck bigger. Sorry about your car. Bleh again.
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I LOVE cars! Ones with low miles, ALL the bells and whistles, bought & maintained on someone elses dime!! 🙂 If that is not an option try an import Honda, Subaru, Toyota & Nissan all make some great vehicles. Hondas and Subarus IMO are harder to find used. Toyota and Nissan maybe not so hard. I wish you luck in finding a reliable ride for your family. My parents for many years had serious junkers. They bought thier first new direct off the lot mini van the year I left home. It took them 18 years to have a reliable ride.
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Wow what a great pic! Your daughter is adorable!!! Im interested in the Cars Tickets but I read your blog on Clubmom! Great pics!!!
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