Life is just too interesting

[jpskewedthrone]

Haven't posted much recently because life is just too interesting. Last Thursday, after the gym, my partner and I went out to his truck . . . and it wouldn't start. But it didn't sound like an electrical issue (like the battery was dead or something). We called someone to come pick us up, but while we waited he tried it again and it started. Huh. *shrug* Of course, alarm bells are going off in my head and I actually told my partner that I thought the truck was trying to warn us that he needed a new truck.

It seemed fine all weekend. And we drove it hard. Took it to an antique show a few hours away, all the usual driving, etc. Then, on Monday, after the gym we drove to Dunkin Donuts as usual (for drinks, people, not donuts). As we pulled in, I thought the engine sounded chuggy, but he parked, ran in to get the drinks, came back out . . . and it wouldn't start. So like last time, we waited, tried again. Still wouldn't start. We finally gave up and walked home. Thankfully we'd gone to the Dunkins downtown rather than the one right next to the gym, so could walk.

On the way home, I found a dollar on the ground.

So late Monday and all day yesterday he searched for a new truck. We went and test drove one yesterday and it seemed OK. I have no real opinion on the truck, since it's his car and he can get what he wants. I got a sports car. He seems to think we need a car that can hold more than 2 people so is looking at a quad cab, but doesn't want a big truck either. I'm hoping he'll get the truck today, but he's waiting, which I find to be a disaster when it comes to used car buying. He has his reasons though.

In any case, aside from the truck fiasco, we hit the antique show, which was fun. I cam eback with an empty wallet. It would have been emptier except I made sure I only took so much and kept myself to that amount. We've gone before and found nothing (except halfmoons, which are so totally decadent and not really antiques). And this year I didn't get exceptionally burned such that I could replace the redlight on the corner. I got burned, but not that bad.

Most of yesterday, I wrote, which was surprising since I didn't think I'd have time this week to write. I'm hoping to write again this morning and get at least half of chapter 10 finished before the dreaded school starts. I also have to pack for the wedding and coming week, get the last few things for the wedding (such as, say, a shirt and a card), and pretend that I'm ready for the first day of classes. Here's the wordage:

62,775 / 100,000 (62.8%)

Vacant Throne

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That's a drag about the truck...but sometimes it's better to bail before an old vehicle starts piling up the fixit bills, and get a new.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we found out today that to fix the truck so it will start (it was the fuel pump) would cost as much as we'd get for a trade in with it running. So we ditched the truck at the garage (he's paying us) and not worrying about fixing it or getting a trade in on it. It was a 94 with 130,000+ on it.

He's out now trying to get financing and, hopefully, the truck we test drove yesterday is still there.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed on that.

We've driven crapmobiles thinking it a saving...but as soon as one big ticket item gets paid for, next month it's the trains, two months later the timing chain, the month after that the radiator....etc etc until you've paid out enough for a new car but you're still stuck with a worthless crapmobile.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I've only ever bought new cars. I'm in that camp. My partner is in the other camp and only buys used. He drives them into the ground (as you can see). I keep them for 10 years if I can, then get a new one.

In the end, both camps probably come out spending the same amount of cash for the cars.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I think you're right on overall cost--though I've only ever had one new car before this one. (And we drove it for 12 years, and would have kept on but some butthead yakking on her phone trashed it with her SUV with my daughter driving it.) The thing about new cars is the no worry factor. After decades of driving crapmobiles and white knuckling constantly, just to know that I can get across LA safely makes it worth it to be paying a monthly payment.

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

Good luck with balancing your writing with school. I understand how difficult that can be, so I wish you the best.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

It's going to be . . . interesting. Hoping to write in the morning, then teach the classes in the afternoon/evening. So all school-related stuff comes after noon, all writing stuff before noon.

Problem is . . . I like to sleep in. *grin*

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

I think that's one of the biggest obstacles for a writer is finding the discipline to make it a regular, scheduled part of our day. I think that's why it helps to have others cheering you on from the sideline, or in the case of me and my critiquing group. I rely on them so much, not the least being that they keep me focused on my writing since I know that I have to get something out to them on a regular basis. There have actually been days when I've been tempted to blow off my writing and remember that I haven't submitted anything for critiquing for a while. It prompts me to sit down and do the writing.

But, I'm sure a more disciplined and seasoned writer such as yourself doesn't have THAT much of a problem, right?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

HA! I should be writing right now, but NOOOOOO! I'm messing around on the net. I wrote this morning and expected the afternoon to be sucked up with errands, packing, etc. I've never been much of a morning writer, so this semester should be interesting. But I figure, with enough effort, I can get myself trained to write in the morning as well.

There are days where I blow off the writing though. I think everyone needs a mental holiday once in a while. Crit groups are good at keeping you focused though. Is it a local crit group? Something online?

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

Somedays I'm thankful for the internet because it makes research so much easier, but I often blame the internet for keeping me from writing. How can I write when there's so much other stuff on the net to do?

Yes, you definitely need mental holidays sometimes. I often need distance from my story especially when I'm trying to come up with a way to solve a conflict in the book. As for my crit group, it's a local one. I've done an online crit group too, but I prefer the local one better because it's easier to discuss what they think about what you've written, plus I hate trying to critique something on the computer rather than writing my notes on a copy of their writing.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

PS--Welcome to my LJ. Chime in whenever on whatever.

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the welcome. I discovered your LJ because a friend of mine doctodd met you at a writer's workshop and has mentioned you a couple of times. When I get the time/money/opportunity, I intend on purchsing your first book to check out your writing. I'll pop in from time to time, and I'm trying my best to get better about commenting rather than just reading a person's journal and not saying anything.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

It took me a while before I realized, "Hey, I can comment on this!" and actually get myself to do it. It's much more fun.

Nice to know how people found me. Let me know what you think of the book once you've had a chance to read it.

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely let you know. As a fellow writer, I understand how important that feedback can be. I try to wean myself off that need to know what others think of what I've written. My goal is to get to the point in my writing where I'm writing purely because it makes me feel good and I don't care whether I hear back what others think or not.

I'm not there yet. :-P