Friday: Addendum

So far today I have driven to the place I go to get the state inspection sticker and walked back–all downhill about ten minutes walking. Then I got a call from the mechanic asking me if I wanted an oil change since his records showed that he had done one every year for the past five years he has done the inspection sticker! He also informed me that this time, I can’t get the state sticker because my tires are cracking on the outside edge! Now, this was news to me but then I don’t think I ever actually look at my tires. I just get in the car and drive it. So I told him to hold off doing anything until I came and looked at the tires for myself.

So, off I go again, a twenty minute walk this time because it is all up a very steep hill. And, yes, he is correct! The front tires are the original ones on this 1997 Kia and they are scarily cracking around the edges. So, I tell him to go ahead with two new tires and an oil change and how long will it be. He says about an hour and so I walk home again.

Now I am waiting for him to call me when I will trek up the hill again with my trusty debit card. I am betting it will be very close to $200!

Well, I was correct. It was $200 and some few cents! I am glad to be in a position financially to be able to pay an unexpected bill like this. I can remember a time when I was on a very strict budget to meet the bills I had. I tried and tried to have a financial cushion but seldom managed despite working two jobs {teaching during the day and working in a chain bookstore at night} for a long time. It wasn’t that I was a spendthrift. It was that I was determined that being divorced wouldn’t mean having to move out of my house as it does for so many women.

Another way I economised was that I had no medical insurance therefore I was not allowed to be sick. My divorce agreement said that my ex had to have medical insurance on the kid and he did do that. I had to pay in full for any doctor or dentist visit or medication for myself so if I got a cold  I could not go to the doctor with it. Mississippi then was one of the few states that did not supply {or even contribute} towards medical insurance for their teachers. {That has since changed}.  Fortunately, we got flu shots brought to the school and given to those teachers who wanted them for a very modest price. As for colds, I had several boxes of tissues all around my classroom and woe befall any seventh grader who sniffled of sneezed without getting up and getting one.

Fred is getting organized to go out and get groceries and when he comes back with them, I will bring them upstairs and put them away. After that, I am officially through for the day! I still have vacuuming and dusting to do, but I will do that tomorrow before the company arrives.

Today I have:

• Walked up and down hilly Main Street to the garage enough that my leg muscles are aching.
• Washed dishes and put them away
• Broken down about 15 boxes of various sizes and put them in the recyclables bin. I also put two big ones I couldn’t break down {they are so big they will have to be cut up} in the shed out back and sent Mike an email so he knows to get them when he takes the trash to the recycle place.
• I have also filled a big plastic bag with non-recyclable stuff and put that in the shed to. I put this in the email, too. {The non-recycle bins are full.}
• Cleaned off the table and washed the surface of it.
• Made a salad.

I still need to :

• Put away the groceries Fred just went out to get
• Clean up around my side of the bed {I can do this while I am watching mindless TV tonight}

Tomorrow I need to:

• Clean the bathroom {I had almost forgotten this}
• Vacuum
• Dust
• Put away {hide in the bedroom} the coat and hat and gloves and other stuff I keep out for walks!

Until later…