Car Saga

It's still ongoing, but I feel close enough to the end to finally it get out and leave it here.

On December 4th, Matt was rear-ended in a 100% the other guy's fault wreck.  Our insurance company closed out the file immediately.

Enter, Allstate.

The town the wreck happened in (Hanceville) has the vehicles towed themselves, so the first series of calls we had to make were to locate the car for the insurance company and have it towed to the dealership they use (Mitch Smith) for repairs.  Note, they are not an 'authorized' dealership, meaning they can't inspect their own work.  More on that later.

We were told it would be repaired by Dec 30th.  Allstate arranged for a rental car.  A week into the new year, they wanted the rental car returned.  The dealership was not finished with the car, so after 20 calls back and forth to and from Matt to and from the dealership, Allstate and Enterprise, the rental was extended.  After 60 days, the car was ready to pick up, so we returned the rental and the next morning, got the Forte.

It had subsequent damage from being cinched onto the tow truck after the wreck and the front end needed part replaced.  Then there were gauges that needed replaced, half an hour after picking it up, we returned it (never left the parking area in fact) because the airbag light was on, even when I sat in the passenger seat.

They checked it over and a couple of hours later, sent Matt home in a loaner car.

Allstate opted to total the car on Tuesday the 16th of February. We were asked to return the loaner car. Allstate refused any more help, cut a check to Redstone and said they absolutely would not pay for another rental while we looked for a replacement car.  Keep in mind, the rental and loaner cars were during the period of time we were told we'd be getting our car back, so we had not looked anywhere.

That Friday, Kurt offered us his extra car, so Matt had vehicle to get to work and back with.  We started calling, looking online and cruising lots when he was home from work.  Saturday the 27th, we went to Murfreesburo, TN to look at another Forte and ended up buying a 2014 Nissan Versa Note for what we owed on the Forte-so at least we are not in more debt.  It's a 5 speed, very basic (crank-down windows!). The plan is for Matt to drive it for now until he finds just what he wants, then it will be my car. The van is way too much car these days and I freaking LOVE a stick shift.  Plus, it gets nearly 40 MPG and only has 22k miles on it.   In the meantime, it will be paid off in 2 years, so that's a plus.

So, the Forte was scrapped, we looked at buying it and having it recertified as road safe with a salvage title, but the dealership can't actually do that, we'd have to pay someone else to look it over and then repair everything that may have been missed, then pay to have it inspected again.  Ad Nauseam.
We already knew the airbag sensor was bad, $1200.  Bam.

In the meantime, we went to get the new car registered and found out they need a copy of the title and some other forms sent directly to the courthouse, which the dealership could not comprehend.  The guy we bought the car from is out o town for a few days and has not started the paperwork.  The bank they talked us into using has never heard of us, I could not even get past the automated answering system.  I sent an e-mail, to which they have not yet responded.  We are having the loan transferred to Redstone, I can't deal with that. our credit rating is so chewed up by buying a car 6 months ago putting a chunk on the credit card out of the blue with the brake job in December and then again this week and now transferring the loan will ding it another 30 points.  The lady at the courthouse was nice, but she blessed my heart, which pretty much means, "Sucks to be you".

I called the dealership back and said they had until next Tuesday to fix this and woe unto them if I had to drive up there myself on Wednesday.  The other salesman acted like I was being an idiot and making up things, then the bank called him and he clicked back over to say they were sending the forms he needs and he would take care of it right away.  So, maybe it will all work out.  Maybe I will get to have lunch at Omar's again next week after I chew through a small car dealership.  Who knows?

I do know this much-I will not buy out of state again and I really, really hope I never have to buy another car from anyone other than Jeremy at Shaddix in Cullman because he is really nice and does not add fees or play games.  He just could not find what Matt wanted in the short period of time we had to find something.  And I do like the Nissan, I just could really do with it being a much smoother transaction.

UPDATE: They sent the title and all the info we needed in time to get the paperwork done, so yay!

So, fingers crossed that nothing else car-related will crop up for a while.  I just want to get the little car registered by the 15th and go on with life.  The crank down windows pleased Chandler quite a bit.  Now we can escape if the car goes into water!  Ack

It Got Cold

There's a 5k route marked off in some local fields for the high school's track team, but no one has told us to stop walking there yet.  The long hill is nice for working on my aversion to hills.  Plus, it's pretty back there.

We did several miles on Sunday and then came back, had Matteroni with veggies and headed into the woods to work on the trail.  It's about 80% done now, we flagged it headed back out so we'd be sure to keep up with the small reroutes.

Another lazy hangout at the campsite, feeding more debris to the fire circle.  Ben hung out a while but headed back.  Chan stayed home to bake, the first Sunday in February is Cake Day.

The trail is looking great!  I need to work on a few sections, but it's coming along faster than I expected.  I walked out an extension past the campsite to the next brow, there's a decent creek over there that might make for a better campsite-the flow of the water is so relaxing!
This time, we could hear TONS of traffic, it was like everyone jumped in their diesel trucks and drove up and down the road.  It's usually really quiet here.

Monday I got all caught up on my list of household tasks.  Tuesday it snowed all day.  They closed the bridges and overpasses, so  Matt and Jake zipped home just before lunch.
Nia was so glad to see her boy, it was almost too much, how she groaned and snuggled and practically purred.  Guess I should stop beating her with a stick when he's not around!  hahaha

I made wild rice soup for lunch, then added spinach (surprise!) and chickpeas.  It was gone before I made it in for seconds.    So yummy!  I am posting a pic to remind me to make it again.

It was a lovely weekend at home, we wanted to get out but Matt's car was ready Friday, we got the rental back, went to get it, the airbag light was on, they checked and it needed a new sensor AND a new front seat.  That car is so messed up, I can not imagine it will ever be okay again.  Insurance has now paid $12k in repairs, plus $220 for a busted drum stand (which Matt ran out and replaced IMMEDIATELY because, we super seriously need a highhat stand.  It's by his desk now.)
They still have to shell out for diminished value.
That took the entire day.  Seriously, from 10 in the morning until after 4.  They finally handed Matt the keys to a car with 110 miles on it and said they'd call this week.

Saturday, I was too sore to move because I decided what would be a great idea would be to do 100 kettlebell throws.  I routinely do 100 squats a day and 96 crunches because-backpacking is hard work and the more back, ab, ass and thigh muscle you can show up with, the easier it goes.  So I thought a squat with 10 pounds behind it-no biggie.  OMG.

Let me break in here and say it's in blocks of 25 for the squats and 32 for the crunches.  And it's 3 different kinds of crunches-one set upper, one lower and one for the back.  And I do it all twice at least 3 days a week.  I am not powerhousing for 2 straight hours in a sweaty sheen.  It's 3-4 15 or 20 minute sets because...stamina and I are not BFF's.  And when we are, Imma blank that bitch cause she don't want to hang with me.  I feel like I am the only one contributing to the relationship and that's never gone well.  Such a catch 22; I need her, I hate her.

Sunday, I was mobile again, so I did 50 and that's where I still am.  50 does not leave me having to use my pants leg as a handle to move my legs around when I first wake up or having to talk myself into getting up off the toilet seat because my muscles are screaming and just sitting there is so much easier.  I'll need to go again at some point, right?  Reading is fun!

Speaking of reading, I finished Station Eleven.

Then I read The One I Left Behind and Dismantled both by Jennifer McMahon.  Then I read What If by Randall Munroe, then Follow You Home by Mark Edwards over the next 2 days.  So, see why it's odd it took weeks to read Station Eleven, which isn't a long book at all.  I just did not want it to be over.
I am reading The Science Behind Jurassic Park (again) and Dexter is Dead at the same time right now (and typing!) and about to crack open The Library at Mount Char as soon as I finish the 10 Batman graphic novels I snagged at the library.  I read Black Orchid by Neil Gaiman and Death of the Family (dark, dark, dark) and Batman Noel already.  So...getting there.  

I get in a Batman kick now and then.  But as much as I love Bats, in a fight with Superman, he's dead.  There's no way, Superman just has to grab him and fly up.  Or throw him.  Or, you know...GRAB him.  Or look at him with the red eyeball thing or freeze breath him.  That Kryptonite ring contingency plan is whack.  Plus...Kryptonite.  That's like being weak to Earthonite-lame!  But then Green Lantern is weak to yellow and wood.  I could kill him with a No 2 pencil.  Which I saw Willow do to a vampire in Buffy once.  Using her BRAIN.  I don't mean she was thinking smart, I mean she levitated that bad boy.

Tomorrow is Baby Girl's 18th birthday.  I just...it's a hard one.

Sunday Walk in the Woods

But first, the Kia.

So, he got smacked but he did 2 things I would never have thought of  First, he took his foot off the brake which let the car roll ahead since there was no one in front of him.  This, admittedly, was in preparation to floor it once he saw the guy was not stopping, but it still saved them some whiplash.

Also, he had his wheels straight ahead.  If I had gotten rear ended, it would lead to me being pushed over into oncoming traffic because I would have had my wheels cut to make the turn.  In this situation, that would have ended with Jake taking the full brunt of being T-boned, something that I try not to dwell on.

The rear passenger tire wheel well.

The other side...not so bad!

This is the trunk space from underneath.

Damage to the tire.  We JUST replaced this tire because Matt had gotten something in it on the edge and it could not be patched.  It's the only one that doesn't match!

All of his drum hardware was in the trunk from his $30 plastic case to the $400 bass pedal.

The only things damaged that we know of so far-he still needs to set up the whole thing and see-is that locker above and the high hat stand below.  AMAZING.

We got the call Friday night that they will repair the car and should have it ready by New Year's Eve.

Allstate is covering a rental for the duration, so that's nice!

On Saturday, I got my Cairn Obsidian box in.  I get Cairn (getcairn.com) (use roamschool at gmail for your reference!!) every month already. It's just over $20 a month when you sign up for a whole year and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  

It's seriously that same feeling I used to get at birthday parties when I just KNEW one of the boxes had just the thing I really, really wanted.  I get that EVERY MONTH. And it's always awesome and it's always backpacking/hiking/camping stuff I USE. Granted, I probably won't buy any of the snacks they include because $4 for a snack bar is INSANE, but I have used loads of the coupons for gear. And for things like free Mountain House meals, got new hammock straps for $22 (for the new double hammock in the Obsidian box!) It's been an awesome gift to myself.  Eep

When they offered Obsidian, which is $200 4 times a year, I gave it some thought and that thought was 'I WANT'.   So, I did it.  They gave me back 500 points, which is 2 free monthly boxes! And I was so excited when it arrived, I almost could not open the package. hehehehe  Totally worth it.

This is my new Prana hat, tags still on, that Ben took immediately and I will probably never get back.

I do share the goodies.  On occasion.  haha

I also got a waterproof backpack, a waterproof bluetooth speaker, 7 Picky bars, 3 chocolate bars, a full set of Sierra Sage outdoor products (I use their green goo bug spray and green goo first aid ointment and was STOKED to get more!) that hat and a 2 person Thermarest hammock.  $342 in goodies.

The backpack is awesome, we already came up with a half dozen trips to take with it, but the best thing other than kayaking was that we can take it caving with Park and it will spray clean!  The clay in the caves around Monteagle is STICKY.  I'm already booked on an overnight canoe trip this spring, so I can use it then, too!

Okay.  I guess I have wound down.  Even cooler is that-the regular December Cairn box has not shipped yet, so I still have THAT to look forward to!

Saturday afternoon we had to do some work on the fence because Murphy just leaves on a whim. He will have a new spot he can fit through soon enough, but while the gate was open and we were going in and out working on it, I promised Kuma I would take him out Sunday to the creek.  Because having the back gate open only means one thing and that's running around in the woods time!

8 a.m. Sunday morning, he's barking at the door, then under my window.  I poked my head out and he started jumping around like a bronco.  hahaha. I love that dog so much.

So, I crammed on some shoes and gaiters and Matt put on some orange and we walked down to the creek with all 4 dogs for the first time. I haven't taken Murphy yet because he's hard to predict, he spent the first few months running away, I wasn't going to give him free reign over 800 acres.  He's not my favorite animal ever, but I don't want him lost for good.

EVERY fire ant hill was covered in deer poop.

WHY?

The water is low!

View from our resting perch, should have brought a hammock!

I love all the poplar trees down in the hollow

My obligatory "WOW.  Mushrooms in December!" pic.  Because I have one every year.  hahaha

Nia awaits a snack

Murphy is horrified that he was made to sit, he wanted the goodie and human flesh.

He's a snatching little shit, still working on that bad behaviour!

LOOK!  All four dogs in ONE SHOT.

Jessie is always up for a snuggle.

She's 10 this month.  WOW

Planning a backpacking trip to this spot above the cliffs, looks like a good spot for many hammocks!

The pasture is SO overgrown.  We have someone coming to see about bushhogging, we picked a few trees to leave, though.

This is a SOLID wall of blackberry about 50 feet thick.  I told Matt I am getting the mowers out, that's miserable trying to get through!