Poof Goes the Money

 So more excitement.

Had a good start yesterday, nice thrift store shopping and such.  Went to go buy groceries because our fridge contains the following contents: milk (probably expired), vodka, and condiments and the freezer contains: one severely freezer burned package of chicken, half eaten bag of garlic toast and ice. The cupboards contain: some ramen noodles, and lipton rice sides or something...and of course car all of a sudden (even though it was driven earlier in the day) beings making horrible engine ticking.  The ticking gets louder the faster you rev the engine.  I look it up. Timing chain and timing chain tensioner is probably the culprit.  Oh, yay. Now I know what that check engine light was for.  Since I don't want to blow up my engine, which is good, just needs expensive new parts, it is parked and is a pretty yellow driveway ornament, which is sad making.
 
Lots of stress later, we have kind of figured out a plan.  Is it a good plan, eh, not really. Will it work, I hope so.  So I am unexpectedly off work today because I can't hitch a ride with anyone because I live far far away and I don't have access to another car.  Jon biked over to his mom's house and borrowed her car to take himself to work but has to have it back by such and such a time, so I couldn't have driven it to work anyway. 

Called work, they were surprisingly humane, explained the situation, I lose my holiday pay, which sucks, but nothing can be done about it, and have put plan into action with the help of Ruth and Joe, whom are saving my ass whether they know it or not. 
 
 I went all drama queen on Jon last night, because I understandably upset, and he was very nice to me and listened to me be ridiculous and figured out most of the details.  I don't often do that to him, and its a credit to him that when I am falling apart he can hold it all together.  I guess that's one of the many reasons I married him.  It works both ways, though.
  
Everything is messed up at the moment.

Even my power bill.  I went online to pay it because I neglected to buy stamps again.  The paper statement conflicted with the online statement. On paper, I owe $99; online I have a credit of $52. I know which I like better, but I figure I better call customer service so this too won't bite me in the ass unplanned. I told the guy the meter reader came out, I let him read the meter, then a week later another meter reader came out and read the meter, which I thought was odd, but eh, whatever, right?  And he said, "Oh, well, that's what happened, we've been estimating your bill for a while and its finally gotten corrected. So, you ignore this statement, the meter readers will be out again soon and then you'll have a bill minus the $52 credit." Okay.  I'll take a $52 credit any day. I'm just glad I don't owe SOMEONE on this planet a jillion dollars.  To be fair, a jillion dollars to me is anything over $200.

 I owe Wells Fargo a jillion dollars for buying my house, I will owe Ruth and Joe a jillion dollars for a Jeep...and will owe a jillion dollars to the mechanic to fix my car (or my parents or a credit card company depending on which option I select to pay for the car). I should select my parents but that sucks and makes me feel like a kid who can't solve her own problems, but, as far as I know, they don't charge interest.
  
My old neighbor in Ohio died. Makes me soooo sad.  He died sometime between yesterday and today which makes me wonder if it was during my freak out period in which I told Jon, "I feel like someone died" and cried a lot.  He had Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease
  
He had only been diagnosed a month ago. Melvin meant a lot to all of us, and, growing up, he was one of the small handful of people I knew.  Living next door in the country means having bigger boundaries but you get to know your neighbors more thoroughly.  He was a good man and I am sad I won't get to see him at least one more time.

I found out on Facebook.  Melvin's wife had posted it.  I hate the use of face face for the purpose of death notification.  Seems an unecessarily cold way to find out that someone died.  My cousin, Erin, did text me as well.  I'd still prefer a phone call.  But I am glad someone thinks to tell me these things since I am not just a half an hour down the road anymore.