I live, write, and garden in the PNW with my husband of 27 years, disabled daughter, college-aged son, and my 84-year-old mother. We have paid off $250,000.00 worth of debt (if you include the interest) in the last fifteen years and as of 6/12/2020 are 100% DEBT FREE!!!!So, I had to get a new driver's license this year. DMV is still the oh-so-enjoyable experience it ever has been. $25 for that and now they make you take your glasses off to have your photo taken. Something to do with facial recognition software. If I had known that I would have at least put concealer on under my eyes. Glasses really hide the dark circles. Still this picture is 50 times better than the last one.
While at the DMV I suddenly realized that DD turned 15 and a half on the tenth, which means she can now test for her learner's permit. Oh, my is that going to be an interesting experience. She downloaded the .pdf file for the book and has been studying it all weekend.
So the time has come to start saving up for a brake job for the Crown Victoria. We've just been letting it set, because we rarely need two cars, but it needs $800 worth of work. We figure she can use it when she gets her license to drive herself to school and back. We haven't wanted to sell it since there are a few rare occasions when it is nice to have it and we knew there'd soon be another driver in the household.
It's also probably better to learn to drive in it before she learns to drive the van. It's a nice, safe car that is easy to drive and easier to park than the van. Once she has experience with it, we will let her learn to use the van. So we decided we'd take the money for the brake job either from the inheritance or the tax return, whatever comes in first. That and her driver's ed class will be the only non-debt repayment that we've allowed for out of either of those sources of money.
$800 seems a relative bargain to get our 20 year old (in otherwise excellent shape) car drivable again.
As for me, I turned 42 today and it has been a great day. My husband bought me a lovely glass rose tea light candle holder (and some books off half.com that should be here sometime soon) as well as the talking scale I wanted (but that he opened last week, forgetting it was my gift). DD made me a calighraphy water color of a sea horse. And my mother and son deep-cleaned the living room so DH could bring the treadmill in from the garage so I can walk on days the weather is cruddy.
The grocery store bakery happened to have a set of white cupcakes with white frosting that they hadn't gotten around to putting sprinkles on so we got that for my cake. And we're having my favorite tacos for dinner (that I didn't have to cook).
Last night was great, too. DH and I went to Outback for a pre-Birthday dinner. I had $42.05 worth of gift cards. Dinner cost $47.55 and we left a $10 tip because the kid was amazing. I had Kookabura wings (mild), celery with bleu cheese, a side of mixed vegetables (they have the best mixed veggies!), a bowl of baked potato soup (I meant to get a cup but said bowl, so DH and I split it instead) and a glass of Strawberry Lemonade. Oh, and maybe 1/3 of the rye bread. Delicious. I brought home half the Kookaburra wings and celery with their scrumptious blue cheese, which I will use up on extra celery I have here.
On Turning Fifteen and a Half and Forty-Two
February 13th, 2012 at 01:42 am
February 13th, 2012 at 01:59 am 1329098377
February 13th, 2012 at 02:55 am 1329101757
February 13th, 2012 at 03:48 am 1329104933
And as far as the 15 1/2 yr old is concerned, a Crown Vic or a minivan are both the car versions of uncool, contraceptive devices. No self respecting bad-boy wants to be seen inside either one.
February 13th, 2012 at 04:00 am 1329105625
February 13th, 2012 at 05:09 am 1329109771
@ Baselle--LOL My daughter is total nerd bait. I don't think I have to worry about the cool boys. It's the geeks and they don't care so much about the car as the girl.
February 13th, 2012 at 06:35 am 1329114915
Sounds like you had a great birthday.
February 13th, 2012 at 03:56 pm 1329148576
And I too love Baselle's response....funny!
DD2 got her permit last month and wants to drive everywhere....thought it would be easier teaching the second child to drive.....it's not...still as nervewracking as ever!
February 13th, 2012 at 05:41 pm 1329154870
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February 13th, 2012 at 11:43 pm 1329176582
@ CB--Laughing at the helicopter training to drive something cool!
February 14th, 2012 at 01:39 pm 1329226757
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February 19th, 2012 at 12:55 pm 1329656135