Marvelous Monday...

*Warning! Actung! Avviso! Advertissment! Waarschuwing!*

Whining and complaining ahead!

For a couple of weeks now (month or so), my car has not been able to stay in 6th gear. Yeah, that's right. SIXTH gear. I should be on Top Gear. (UK version, of course...)

So, I had my local mechanic take a look at it a couple weeks back and he said it was just a link, but that I had to order it from Toyota to save money. I was still able to put the car in 6th but just keep my hand on it to help keep it in gear. Meanwhile, I totally lost 6th gear, which causes my RPMs to go up to 4000 or 4500 on the interstate (going 70-75 mph...) My dad thought I should go to Toyota in Rutland to get a second opinion on what they think. Last week I stopped by and had to make an appointment for today at 10am. Off I went this morning. 2 1/2 HOURS LATER... they tell me that a need a new transmission. A used one is $1650 PLUS $640+ for labor (8+ hours to do this... "2 days" he said)!! Oh snaggles.... that's not good. I am still paying for this car!

Tomorrow, I am planning to bring my car over to my local mechanic again and ask him to check again and to tell him what Toyota told me. I also want to know if I don't do anything, will it ruin my car to run high RPMs in 5th gear? I really don't want to put in a new (used) transmission... I don't have that kind of money!! And the guy at Toyota didn't even give me anything (a free car wash?) for WAITING 2 AND A HALF HOURS for him to tell me I need a new transmission! WHINE WHINE WHINE!

Speaking of wine, it's five o'clock in Nova Scotia. Time to go!

Hello Summer!

Here it is my first full week "off" for the summer. Last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, (June 16-18) I spent all day at school cleaning, organizing, ordering, and meeting with teachers about next year. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I was home working on the farm raking and tedding hay, changed my oil, and worked in the veggie garden. Sunday I pulled weeds and planted beets and worked on my summer burn/tan. This week I've worked on cleaning the calf barn on Monday and yesterday... did some running around/errands on Tuesday,  did NOTHING on rainy Wednesday. Today I had a dentist appointment, car inspection, and had to pick up a book I ordered (and get 3 used books). I'm going to work in the garden when I finish this (now that it's a bit cooler...)

I was thinking how weird it is that I'm not "working" this summer. When I worked in Florida, I came home in summers and worked as an outdoor product tester (one of my favorite jobs). Last summer, I worked at a State Park as an assistant Ranger until I got my teaching job and had to quit. This spring I was starting an application to work at a State Park again, but didn't follow through because I wasn't sure if there would be summer school, and if I had to do other training this summer.... Yes, I do have to work this summer at some point- developing a reading curriculum for our second grade (with the other second grade teacher, of course) but I'm not sure when that will happen. Also, my dad tore his rotator cuff and had major surgery in April or May, so I knew I would need to help out here on the farm. I love the farm and I'm so glad I can be here to help!

We've got almost all of our first cutting of hay finished. We had a great stretch of weather for it, but now it's looking harder to get the last field done and the weather to cooperate. You'll have that. I can't believe July 4th is next week already! The week after that is our Park Family Reunion in Maine. Not all of my family will be there, which is too bad. The ones that will be there, we'll have fun and we'll try not to pull too many shenanigans... there might be a potato gun, fireworks, a lobster hat, a midnight run to LLBean.... we'll see! Can't wait!

No matter what, this summer will be great!  Relaxing, fun, full of work and ideas for school- all great!