Take What You Can Get

Well, it looks like the Subaru will need a new fuel pump, at least to our best guess. We put the injector cleaner into the tank and attempted to get it to the gas station to fill it but couldn't get it out of the lot. I'd still like to think that, if we can get some gas to flow through the system, that the injector cleaner will make it work... but if the pump is malfunctioning and gas can't get through, the cleaner won't do a damn thing. I can't really say I'm shocked by this fact. It is exactly like my appendectomy two years ago: the doctor came into my emergency room, leaned on the bed, and said that I needed to have the surgery that afternoon. Matt and I simply responded with an "okay." The doctor seemed a little surprised by our response, and we told him that, if he'd had the August we'd had, he wouldn't be shocked by this either.

I know that things will eventually get better, but it's hard to remember that when things get so dire. The only thing I can think of to fix the Subaru is to sell the Beetle and fix it with what remains after the loan is paid. I mean, we were planning to be a one-car family for awhile so it doesn't really make a difference that the Subaru is down and out, but it's just stressful. I know that Subarus are workhorses and will run 300K miles if they are taken care of; that's the reason we got the Subaru. I was just hoping we'd have a bit more time (and a better financial situation) before we'd need to put some expensive work into it.

I went to a job interview for Bath and Body Works today, and I can't imagine why I wouldn't be hired. The major downside is that the hours would be insanely low - anywhere from 3 to 9 hours a week - but there's a strong possibility to get more hours in November and, depending on work performance, a chance to stay on past the holiday season. It's definitely better than sitting around at home all day, but if the hours do stay low I'd have to find a second part-time job. I actually did already take a part-time job: a former co-worker of mine (who was hired after me but managed to survive the layoff I was in) asked me to work with him at the coffee kiosks at the convention center next week. I wasn't going to do it (mainly because I was hoping that vet clinic job with come through, but also because it seemed pretty awkward) but I quickly realized that it was stupid to turn it down when our financial situation is so dire. If it isn't too bad I may just keep up with it until I go back to school. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

I have a hair appointment tomorrow morning that I'm pretty excited about. I know, it seems terribly hypocritical to talk about our financial situation in one breath then turn around and spend over $100 at a hair appointment, but my hair has always been my one splurge. I'm planning to put the payment on my credit card (which doesn't make me terribly happy either) but I feel like I need to keep one thing that will make me feel good. My diet hasn't been coming back as easily as it was before my parents visited... I desperately need to go buy some fruits and vegetables in order to keep on track. I've also been trying to walk the dogs every day, but that's been a bit difficult with the heat of summer continuing. If I were really smart I'd get dressed and take the dogs for a walk at 7:00 when Ozzie wakes up to go potty... but usually I just want to go back to sleep. At any rate, I want to make sure my physical self-esteem doesn't drop too far amid everything that's been happening.

Ozzie's training has been going exceedingly well the last couple days. He hasn't had an accident since Tuesday and he responds to the basic obedience commands. We're going to work more this week on "stay" and "come." He is still struggling with crate training, but I guess I can't knock on it too much since Mirabelle never took to it 100%. At least he settles after a short while and doesn't destroy the blanket in it. His teething has been getting better, although he keeps chewing on his tail instead of on his toys! I guess I should be thankful he's not chewing our furniture. I just wish I could train him to do something when he's got to go outside. Mirabelle will sit by the glass patio door and usually scratch at it when she's got to go. I guess I'll have to read a bit more and see if I can get him to do something like that.

Sunday and Tuesday next week Matt and I are attending our first Colorado Avalanche games of the 2010-2011 season. We're huge hockey and Avs fans and I'm lucky enough to get free tickets through a former co-worker. At the job I had previously, before I was laid off at my most recent job, I worked indirectly for Kroenke Sports, which owns the Avs, the Nuggets, the Pepsi Center, and several other local businesses. The only positive about that job was the free tickets, and eventually my misery won out, hence the reason I quit. If I'd known that this was the course life would take I probably would have stayed at that job till after the 09-10 season and then would have gone back to Caribou full-time till the fall semester, but what can I do about it now? I'm so happy that I'm still friends with a few former co-workers so we can go to a few games a month. It's always a lot of fun to see them now that I don't work for that company anymore.

I promised myself I wouldn't talk much, if at all, about politics on this. I guess I can't really help myself sometimes; I'm pretty liberal and while I know that both sides of the spectrum have their flaws and their strengths I am completely appalled by the current debate over Bush-Era tax cuts. I often find myself arguing with my sister, as she is very right-conservative, but I can't wrap my head around the bullshit the Republicans are trying to pull right now. Basically, the current administration wants to renew the tax cuts for families making less than $250,000/year but wants to let them expire for those in the 95th Percentile. This means that the Richie Riches of the world will need to, god forbid, pay more in taxes than they did in the last 8 years. There are approximately 400 billionaires in America. FOUR HUNDRED. And they make more in one year than I probably will in my adult lifetime. So why the hell is it so terrible that they pay more in taxes? Republicans are threatening to block all efforts to extend tax cuts to those of us on the ground floor, meaning the Republicans will be to blame if/when my taxes increase this year, all because they want their billionaire donors to continue to pad their own greedy pockets. I guess I'm not a greedy enough person, because I can't wrap my head around that idea. If I were to suddenly become a billionaire I know I'd happily pay more in taxes - it's my duty to do so, to give to those who need and to help in any way I can. I guess I just have too big a conscience. And I know that, if this extension of tax cuts doesn't get passed (if Republicans are big enough assholes to block it because of their rich buddy billionaires) the Dems will be to blame. It's infuriating.

Whew - that was a rant! I can't help but feel pretty down and out about politics. I'm turning more into my mom (and many others) and getting very pessimistic about it all. People are always going to be greedy, selfish asses, and I don't know what could possibly happen to change that.

Anyway, that's about it for now. I should hear about the B&BW job by Wednesday, but in the meantime I'm applying for a few admin assistant jobs and other retail jobs just as a back-up. I'm hoping to get something, anything, soon so we can start to get back up on our feet. Right now we're just waiting and taking things as they come.