What a week
It has been quite a week here.
First, we had our kitchen sink and dishwasher stop draining. The rest of the sinks and showers were fine, so we imagined it was blocked. Sure enough, we had ice frozen in one of our pipes. That was an expensive thing to have fixed ($450). Turns out, the insulation wasn’t really set up right.
On the very same day, when my car started, it sounded like there was something metal rattling inside of it. It got worse each time I started it, and when I started it at the gas station close to our house right before I came home, it sounded like something large had broken loose and was now rattling around when I drove too. It was quite scary to imagine something getting damaged as I was driving.
We took it to get fixed, and I had to get a rental while they fixed it. A gear in the starter had stripped and was broken into pieces. When I got my car that night, I still heard a fainter version of the sound. So, I went back to the repair place and they had a technician ride with me. Right after we heard it and were just on the interstate off of where they were located, my car completely died and wouldn’t start again. Someone came and picked us up, they towed the car back to the repair place, and I got the rental again.
The next evening, they had the new problem fixed. It was completely unrelated and entirely a (fortuitous) fluke that it died when it did. If it had died when I was out in the middle of nowhere MN going to school, it would’ve been bad.
Now, we are looking for a replacement car. I will start driving HB’s hybrid, and he will drive the replacement. We were hoping my car would last until May when his was paid off, but this is just the way it is going to have to be.
On a happier note, I went on a faculty retreat for the faculty that are new and it was really great. I learned new teaching techniques and also got to know some new faculty really well. I also got to spend some time in a hot tub and eat some good food, which is always a good thing.
I also realized I’ve lost about 10 pounds. This is really 6 lbs or so that I had gained and then 4 more from my target weight. But still, really cool. I think it is because I spend quite a bit of time standing in front of the class giving energetic lectures. And the printer is quite far away, relatively. So, every time I print, I hurry down to the printer and back and get my heart rate up just a little bit more than usual. Cool, huh?
Squirl says:
Wow, it really has been quite a week for you. Plumbing problems really suck. They usually are expensive. And then your car, too. I’m just glad that it happened when it did. I hope you like driving the hybrid. I’ve never tried one.
That retreat sounds like a lot of fun. Hot tub, yes! New teaching techniques? Well, I guess that’s good, too.
And congrats on the weight loss. How nice when your job helps you lose weight. Mine’s been more active lately, but I’m still at my desk often enough to snack.
Jenski says:
Aside from the crappiness of your car dying and the plumbing, all very fortuitous, well, the unexpected weight loss and having the technician with you. Things can only get quieter from here, right?
Ern says:
You guys really have had a week! But, the new car looks good.