Somebody still posts around here ...

Oh look. It's everybody's favorite long-lost nursing student. She's going crazy, because she's realized that the object of nursing school is to break those who can't hack it.

It's a brand new year, is anybody still here?

A pretty red car!

Yeah, really, there's about always something more that could go wrong. As of late, I haven't been too sure about that, though.

Yesterday afternoon, my check engine light came on. The temperature seemed a little bit higher than usual. Made arrangements with my boss to not work and take it to the dealer first thing this morning. Cool? Cool. Or so I thought. One of my buddies wanted to hang out and needed a ride from work. Aight, it's only like 2 miles to his work, and his house is on the way back to mine. I can do that. On the way there, nothing seemed too wrong, and I was on the phone with daddy, so I didn't notice too much.

So, I went into his work to make sure that he was done and stuff, and when we came back out, he asked me why I left my car running. "Haha, ok."

"Do you seriously not hear that?"

"Oh. That's bad."

(hold down #2.)

"Daddy ... ?"



So, daddy tells me what I already know: take it to the dealer first thing in the morning. So, I plan to drop Boogie off and then park it and baby it up to Edmond in the morning.

About a mile late, about 5 idiot lights start flashing, and the temperature guage whirled past the bad-bad edge of the red into the superhot blackness past the red.

"Oh, $h!t."

So, I pulled it off the road and killed it.

And started digging through the glovebox for the roadside assistance number.

And digging.

(2...)

"Daddy .. ?"

....

So I called Saturn, and they got a tow-truck on the way. Oh, and meanwhile, my favorite local Bethany officer pulls up behind us. Yay.

Eventually, it cooled off a bunch, and the towtruck was STILL not there. Boogie needed to get home, so I figured I'd just get it towed from his house. Supposedly, when your car's getting hot, your turn the heat on full blast and it helps it cool, right? So, I didn't want it blowing on me, so I turned the defrost on full blast. Then, I started to notice little freezing spots on the windshield that kept getting bigger. So, I put it on my feet. It felt good to have air that's colder that normal AC blowing on my feet when it was 80* and muggy as heck outside.

But then I remembered that I had the heat on.

Oops.

Apparently, Boogie's dad's a mechanic. So, we got there and popped the hood, and started poking around. You know that one big bottle that's supposed to be full of coolant. With a radiator cap on top? It was, uhm, bone dry. So, we filled it up with the hose. And started it. And listened. Then Boogie sr. got a flashlight out of the truck, and instructed Boogie jr. to put the hose in the hole. And we listened. And then started looking ... at the water spurting out the back of the engine.

Eventually, the towtruck got there, and I got to ride the vue up the ramp, and one of my other friends picked me up and took me back to my house. Since the dealer was closed, as this was taking place after 10PM, they towtruck driver was to keep the Vue locked up overnight and deliver it to the dealer at opening: 8AM.

Oh dear. The problem becomes how I'm going to (1) get back to my bed (2) and how I'm going to get to the dealer to get my loaner.

Hmm.
Riiing

"Hello?"

"Hey, are you busy?"

"I just finished watching a show and have to take my friends home. What's wrong?"

"Uhm, remember how I was going to take my car to the dealer in the morning?"

"Yeah, where is it?"

"I'm waving goodbye, and it's rolling away, and turning the corner ..."

"Uh oh."

"So, I was wondering if you might want to pick me up from my friend's house and take my back to my apartment, and then maybe get up bright and early 3 hours before you have to work to come pick me up again and take me up to Edmond to the dealer?"

"Ok. I'll drop my friends off. Where'm I going?"

"You're amazing."


This morning, 8 rolled around, so I called the dealer to see about getting the loaner covered in my warranty. Of course, they want a non-working vue in exchange for a working something. Anything. But, alas, no extra Vue with Washington plates. So, I called Larry and said that I wouldn't be needing that ride. Awesome friend that he is, he reminded me to call if I needed anything else." <3

I looked up the tow company's number and gave them a shout. Apparently, the vue was still there and they were waiting on a flatbed to get it to the dealer. At this point, I'm still exhausted from the night before, so I head back to bed to take a nap. The dealer had my number and was supposed to call as soon as the keys were in the dealer's hand. My phone was right next to me and on loud.

3 hours later: "Caaaalifornia, rest in" "Hello? (fake-awake-sounding-from-dead-asleep-voice.)"

(Thiiiiink! Who's that voice calling me?!?!?!? WHO!?!?!)

"Hey Cat. How are things going with the car?"

(Ahhh. The boss-man.)

(nsert lengthy explanation here. Boss-man last knew that car was still drivable, hadn't been told by boss-lady about the events of the late night/morning.)

Ok, girl, stay in contact and let me know what happens.


Call dealer. No vue.

Call tow company. Vue just left.

Half an hour later, about 11:45: Call dealer: vue rolling off truck. (Good news! Still pushable! That's something.)

I inquire about the loaner that my extended warranty covers. Mr. Jake, now far too familiar with the Washington girl with the dead Vue, says that none of the service loaners are on the premise.

WHAT?!?!?! "Please tell me that I'm going to have wheels, unless you'd like to pick me up at 6AM on Monday for school, Jake, dear."

Apparently, If I could find a car to rent through enterprise, then I would be in luck. Yay, then I didn't have to worry about how to get to the dealer! (Reference commercials: Pick enterprise! We'll pick you up!)

Great. Google enterprise, okc-> find location. Oh, schnikes. IT's 11:50. Every location listed closes at noon, because it's a Saturday. Awesome.

It's worth a shot, right? Right.

Dialed up the first number I could find, who reminded me that he closed in 8 minutes. I gave him the Cliff's notes of my situation, and begged. He said that I was in luck, that the Saturn dealer at the airport is open until 11:30 PM. SCORE. Little, but at last, something going my way.

I dial up Mr. Airport Enterprise-rent-a-car-we'll-pick-you-up. "Yeah, we've got cars in stock, and can do that. You're 25, right?"

"Absolutely. In 5 years."

(Oh, please, no. nononono. Please no! Noooooo.)

"The vehicle is in your name, miss?"

"No, my parents'."

"You could have your parents take the rental car and drive one of theirs."

"Awesome. So, you guys take care of the star-trek style beaming your loaner car halfway across the continent and their car back across?"

"What?"

"My parents live 2200 miles away. I am absolutely on my own."

"You're screwed."

"DO WHAT? You're not allowed to tell me that."

"Actually, if you have full coverage insurance that transfers to a rental, then you can rent it, as long as you're 18."

"K bye, I'll call you back."

10 seconds elapse.

Ring-ring.

"Hello darling daughter"

"Daaaddy!"

"Take a deep breath, I can't understand you."
(Uh oh. It's never good when she's calls sobbing too hard to understand."

"Ican'tgetacartodriveunlesstheinsuranceisfullcoverageandtransferabletoaloanerIwon'tbeableto
gettoschoolandthenIwon'tbeabletotakemytestandthenI'mgoingtofailoutofcollege."

"Slow down, Catherine, I can't understand you."
(Take a breath!)

"I-know-the-insurance-is-full-coverage-but-I-can-only-get-a-loaner-if-it's-transferable-to-a-loaner"

"I still can't understand you."

"Daddy, the insurance. It hasta be transferable to a rental, or I can't get a car, and I can't check it."

"Ok, I'll call you back."


A very tense 2.5 min.

"Hello."

"Yes, daughter, it's transferable."

"I LOVE YOU DADDY"

Call enterprise back. Remeber how enterprise picks you up? Well, only the neighborhood locations do that. The airport one is SPECIAL. And doesn't. Insert another phone call here. Same awesome friend that picked me up at midnight last night shows up at my door an hour later to get my butt to the airport. On his lunch-that-he-doesn't-actually-get, because they don't take official lunches on Saturday.

Yay.

So, now I have a little red Stratus. At least it's a v-6. And the stereo is definitely better-sounded than the Vue. Although probably slightly less abused.

Happy Birthday

Coop Here,
Well I think it is my birthday, my person forgot to call my old person and she can't find my papers - oh bother. I guess my party will just have to wait. Oh well, I've been having fun anyway. See the picture, that used to be my favorite red ball. Now it is my favorite flat red ball. Yes, I must confess I finally flattened the big thing. I think I may throw it in my water next unless alas I find some other evil thing to do with it. I sure had fun with that thing but I proved I am the TOUGHEST!!! Boy have I been getting the business. My coat has lots of mats and my person is brushing, cutting pulling and pulling some more trying to make be handsome. Watch out all you young fillies. Soon I will be irresistible, well actually I am already irresistible, I will just be much more debonair. That's all for today. It was a beautiful sunny day here in the big evergreen.
If my heart had a voice it would be singing. -- Author:Jill from Starting Over

Memorial Day Thank You

From Cooper and his family. Thank you to all those men and women serving our great nation in the armed forces working to keep America free. You are in our thoughts and daily prayers. We also remember those who have come before them giving the ultimate sacrifice our freedom. "God Bless America"

I Thnink I am in Trouble.

Coop Here,
Greeting from glorious sunny Washington state. I was out all day eating and I think I may be getting fat but I know I am really sassie. My person is not happy with me and neither is her guy. Komet is just too mellow for my style. He comes when he's called and patiently stands still, he's a kind and gentle guy. I on the other hand just think I am the greatest gift to the equine species and I'm not afraid to let anyone know. Tonight at go home time, I didn't wanna and you can't make me when I don't wanna. Well I didn't wanna Komet to be good either cause then he gets all the kudos and I don't. If I'm gonna be bad then I want him to be bad with me too. It almost worked but then Komet went where he was supposed too even though I got him not to a few times. Darn that guy is so good, he is crazy. It's much more fun to be naughty and see how naughty you can be. Well I finally had no choice and went home but I think I may be confined to quarters tomorrow. My person wasn't too happy with me this mornin either. I almost got a good bite it but missed. She keeps using that funny shaped metal thingy on me to get my hair out and so I try and bite her. That is just how it works. Lately she is catching on because a lot of times I bite that stupid metal thing. I don't like to bite that. She has also been picking up my feet every day. Today she didn't put that rope thing on me and I gave he my best evasive, no hoof up action. It worked at first but then she made me do it. I want to do what I want to do and my person just doesn't understand. I am her boss but she just doesn't know it, or is it the other way around. She is my boss and I just don't know it. Well I like to think I am the boss and she just doesn't know it. My person keeps thinking biting is just a stage for my age but I think it is fun and I may just keep it up for fun. My birthday is coming soon. I wonder what she'll do for my big day. I will be one year old, maybe I'll get wise by then but I will never be like the big guy and comply, no way not me. I am too full of tricks. Well have a great day and enjoy the sunshine. Now for the big question?

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

Fun with the lead rope!

Howdy Y'all,

Coop here again. I am having fun. I have eaten lots of grass so I am not really hungry and just kinda bored so I am finding things to amuse myself. My buddy Komet helped me get the rope first and then boy was I having fun. It was a big, long black snake and I was getting it. It was that rope with the heavy snap and I was trying to chew it up. My person came and took it and wrapped it up on the fence but ha, ha, ha I got it again. Komet said watch out Coop here she comes again so I stopped playing for awhile. She made these funny knots and I can't seem to get it off the fence now. Well I moved on to other things. Just behind Komet is a faucet that is attached to the fence well I got my teeth on that. There was something on top of it but I got rid of that for my person. I am trouble in motion, leave anything around and I will search and destroy. Komet just looks at me an laughs. I think he has a little more sense (horse sense) than I do. He's been around the block a few times and I am new at this stuff. I do like to have fun. Yesterday I chased that black and white dog. I think I scared her. She didn't know quite what to do. Well let me tell you I sure surprised her. I was hoping she would play with me but it didn't work. Time to sign off I think it is time for more grub.

I haven't a clue as to how my story will end. But that's all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, you don't conclude that the road has vanished... and how else could we discover the stars? -- Author:anonymous