Back in Cali-for-ni-yeah!

     Well blog friends, it's true! I'm back in Cali *with* my VW! The grease monkeys at the auto repair shop had a few tricks up their sleeve and it looks like (as of right now) the VW will live. I'm sure God had that planned all along, He just wanted to make sure I would trust His plan (not my own). 
     After my last post, the mechanic called me and said he thought the "oil sludge" they found was stuff leftover from when they cleaned and soaked my oil pan. They cleaned it out again, ran an engine cleaner through it, and then took it for a long test drive. All looked good! They gave me the car back with these words, "Drive it around a few days and see how it goes. If the oil light comes on and starts blinking again, you probably shouldn't drive it to Cali. If the oil light stays off, go for it (with no guarantees)! Get an oil change every 1000 miles the first few times and if the oil looks good, you can add 500 miles until getting another one until you work back up to 3000 miles!" I was apprehensively optimistic but decided to change the flight once again ... now SFO to DFW ... and Angie was so gracious about the last minute change! I really NEEDED her to help me pack my VW! Check out her mad packing skillzzzz!

Angie was able to fit all this (above) into my teeny tiny VW trunk. I have no idea how she did it! 

Check out what she packed in the back seat (below).

Wait. Wha-a-a-a-t? How'd she do that?

Yes, all of this was in the trunk and the back seat of my little beetle!

Wowza Wow Wee Wah!

     Angie and I left Sherman, Texas on Monday morning (December 20) and arrived in San Jose, California at 8:30AM on Wednesday. The only problems we had were my "new tires" because they kept having balance & alignment issues, but the engine ran great. I will admit, I did go a little postal when we were in LA and had only traveled 5 miles in ONE hour during commute traffic!!! Luckily Angie was driving ... but I did utter these words from the pit of my stomach in almost a growl, "Get off the freeway now!" Angie said, "You mean, go the opposite direction on Highway 5 than what we are supposed to go?" I said, "Yes, that's what I mean. We MUST end this insanity NOW!" So, we did. We got a hotel, slept for a few hours and then got back on the road at 3:45AM WITHOUT traffic. It was a beautiful thing. Angie could not have been a better traveling companion. Huge thanks to my sister for caring so much about me and sending Angie. I will be forever grateful. Another shout of gratitude for all my pals in Texas (and Cali) who prayed and texted and checked-in on Angie and I during our journey. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
     For now, I'm not sure where I'll be living or where I'll be working ... but I am certain of a few things: I have lots of friends and family who love me and care about me ... and a God who has great plans for my future. Until next time ... TTFN.

Heavy Heart Tonight...

     Hello Blog Readers. What do YOU do when things fall apart and "your plan" is no longer an option!?! It seems as though, I cry. And yes, I have cried lots of tears today. As you may remember, my VW was parked on the street at the garage sale (about a month ago) when the neighbor kid backed into the drivers side door and crunched it. While I was in Cali over Thanksgiving the VW was in the shop being repaired. After I returned, I picked it up and the door looked as good as new. On my way home though, the oil light started blinking and beeping again! Ugh.
     There aren't many auto repair shops that work on VW's here, but the guy at the body shop told me about one that did. I took my car to them and they said they would need a day to look at it. REALLY nice people! The gal in the office drove me home since they weren't going to be able to look at it right away.
     First bit of bad news, it was a defective oil screen that needed replaced but the part needed to be ordered. Part arrived, replaced, tested and all looked good. Until I drove the car home. The oil light started flashing and beeping again. Back to the shop. The mechanic told me the car was probably not well-maintained before I got it, and the oil was in really bad shape. This time they told me the oil pump was faulty and needed replaced. Part ordered. VW should have been ready today. Bad news arrives this afternoon. From just the short drive (repair shop to my apartment), the oil looked like jello sludge again and it seems to look that way throughout the engine. Mr. Mechanic did some research with other VW mechanics on cars with similar problems and found out that they tried to run "engine cleaner" through them and only 1 out of 20 was restored to good health after the engine cleaner treatment. Not very good odds. :-(

    So, I asked him, "If this was your mom or sister - what would you recommend?" He said, "Well - someone would probably need to take apart or replace the engine so I would not recommend repairing it (unless I didn't have to pay for labor). I would probably clean out the oil screen again and drive it right to a dealership and trade it in. I'm so sorry. I know that is not what you want to hear and the news couldn't be worse, but I would NOT let my mom or my sister drive it back to California, that's for sure."
     So, it looks like I will be flying back to Cali on Wednesday, 12/22. I'll get rid of as much "stuff" as I can before I leave and I'll ship a few boxes back as well. I'm even more bummed because my sister had generously made arrangements to fly my youngest daughter Angie out to Texas so she could drive back to Cali with me! We changed the reservation from Angie to me; instead of SFO to DFW it's DFW to SFO. Sigh.
     I know God has a plan, and I will continue to trust that He knows what he's doing. I'm not sure what to do with my 2004 VW Convertible that I still owe money on (it's a 2004 which I've had for 1.5 years) which is now worthless ... and I'm also unsure what I'll do about "wheels" once I return to Cali. Maybe I will soon become a bus and light rail expert!! Only time will tell. For now, I will pray and trust God will provide for my needs (not wants or desires).
     On a happier note, we have performed "A Christmas Tale" three times and each time, we got better! There were a few glitches in the beginning (cast as well as sound & mics) but we ironed them all out by the third performance. Today in Spin Class a few gals were chatting with me before class started. They said they saw the show and they were quite impressed. One of the ladies said she brought her sons who were home from college and after the show they said, "Are you SURE all those people go to Sherman Bible? It was SO professionally done!" Music to the Director's ears (Frank, are you listening)!?! To God be the Glory! I can't wait for the next 3 performances!
     TTFN. (I tried for an hour to upload a photo from the show but for some reason it's not working. Ugh. Kinda goes along with this crappy day. I'll try again tomorrow).

THANKSgiving Festivities!

     My mom loves (and I mean, loves) to decorate for the holidays. As a matter of fact, it has been a "running joke" in our family that I have followed in her footsteps in the holiday decoration department. When I was working, I rarely had time to FIND the box of holiday decor much less, decorate the house. My mom would always ask me: "Do you have your house decorated yet?!?" I would always reply, "Of course I do!" Her next question would always be, "Really? Great. When can I come by to see it?" I would always reply, "You know Mom, I am *really* busy. Maybe next week. I'll give you a call!" Then we would both crack up. 
     Well, this year was no exception. When I arrived at my mom's house (after a very long United flight complete with "mechanical issues") everything was decorated to the nines. As you can see from above, the fireplace mantle was SCREAMING Thanksgiving! She even decorated the bathroom! :-D 

     We had Thanksgiving Day at my mom's and our Day After Thanksgiving celebration at my sister's house. My mom made "egg boats" and they were waiting for me when I arrived in Cali. It was a yummy treat at 2:45AM! Oh, and my mom was awake and happy to chat until almost 4AM! LOL. Needless to say I slept-in the next day.
     My mom also made a batch of her famous wheat free/gluten free cereal mix since there are quite a few of us who are gluten intolerant. We scarfed down that appetizer like we hadn't eaten food for days! 

     I had to borrow a sweatshirt from my daughter Angie while I was in Cali because I was so stinkin' cold! I just brought a lightweight jacket which is really all I have needed in Texas (up until recently). Brrrrr. I even turned on the electric blanket when I went to bed at my mom's. Brrrrr! It was c-c-c-old!

     One thing my mom and I both love to do is arrange flowers. While I was there, I made a few Thanksgiving arrangements and I loved the colors! I am a big fan of purple these days, even though it is not a traditional Thanksgiving color. I think it's the contrast I appreciate! 
     I didn't take many pics at my sister's house but here is one of my mom, my son Josh and my great niece, Samara. We had great time with our fondue-type dinner (we call it a pot party); it's one of those meals that lasts a long time because you cook your food and chat, cook more food and chat ... well, you get the idea. We enjoyed steak, shrimp & chicken at our pot party. Everyone helped clean up or played with Dylan and Samara which was AWESOME! I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration as well! TTFN.