/dev/zero

Your car dies.

We were on our way to a movie (any movie, to get out of the heat and kill some time before a party) after meeting her parents for lunch. I pulled into the Parks Mall and saw the LifeWay Christian Center and remembered I wanted a new Bible, as the only one I’ve got is falling apart (from age more than use). She wanted a copy of the Gnostic Gospels (or more information on them) anyway, so we went in. Did a little shopping, she found a necklace that she liked and I bought it for her.

We got out, got into the car and started it up. Only it was running kinda rough and wouldn’t respond to the gas peddle. It soon died. Repeat a couple more times, then it wouldn’t start at all. It would turn over but not catch.

One fuse was blown, which we replaced (with the help of a nice family who was heading into the store and stopped to see if they could assist us, then ran up to the auto parts store and bought the necessary fuse), but that didn’t fix the problem. It’s looking like perhaps the fuel pump relay has blown (better than the pump itself) or possibly a clogged filter.

Now I have the joy of getting it towed to a mechanic who can diagnose and fix it. And I don’t want to spend any more money than I have to on a car that I am going to replace ASAP.

Just got off the phone.

I aced the technical part of the interview. Part of it was a “break / fix” where they had me log into a server as root, reported various problems and I had to fix them. I got 2 out of the 3. (of which 1 actually had 2 things wrong.)

They wouldn’t tell me the answer to the one I didn’t get. “If we bring you on board, we’ll tell you how to fix that one. :)”
Should hear by the end of the day, or the end of the week at the latest.

Helped parents move to Austin this weekend.
Looked for new job in Austin.
Possible new job. In San Antonio.
2x my current pay. Great benefits. Relocation expenses covered.
Phone interview in 10 minutes.

Happy birthday, mizdandylynn!

Kestrel and I went to Mom and Dad’s house on Saturday to help packing things up and generally assist getting the house ready to move out and sell.

Kestrel managed to trip on the step up to the master bedroom and somehow cut her hand. We never did find what she cut herself on. It’s a hardwood floor with no rough edges of any kind and there was no glass or anything on the floor to cut her hand.

I cut out 3 more pieces of plastic to fit the light fixtures in the kitchen (the old ones were yellowed), then went to sand and paint the one remaining area in the garage where the drywall had been repaired and plastered, only to find mold. Yet another thing that will have to be fixed before the house is sold. It never seems to end. Every time they get the house all fixed up and ready to go on the market, something else breaks.

Mom surprised me when she asked if Kestrel and I were staying the night. We had actually brought changes of clothes with us, but with the idea that after working in the house all day we might want to shower and change before going out to dinner.

When bed time rolled around, Mom actually asked if I wanted her to make up the couch.. I asked if she would be offended if I said no and again, she surprised me by saying “No. Dad and I talked about it last night and decided it was OK.” Huh. Mom has changed.

Kestrel is now thoroughly convinced the house is haunted. She thinks whatever is in the house likes Mom though, and doesn’t like her. She thinks whatever it is doesn’t want my parents to move out.

I’m really happy how well Kestrel and my parents get along.

Sunday morning we went to church, even though the mention of it kind of scarred Kestrel. I completely spaced that it was the first Sunday of the month and thus we would be having Communion. Kestrel was comfortable with it and even took communion. That also made me happy.

godmoma, did you get the voice mail Dad and I left?

No, wait, I take that back. We need rain.

Looks like we might actually get it, to.