Presque Isle, MI
September 10-16, 2011
Our trip to Presque Isle was quite uneventful. That's the way I like it! We stopped half-way there at a rest stop to eat our lunch and rest a bit before venturing onward. Upon approaching Posen, we needed to stop for gas. I told my husband to just stop at the Marathon station we normally stop at on the corner of M-32 and M-65. Well, turns out that gas station closed sometime between the time we visited in May of 2010 and this day. Sad to see a business close...
The next nearest gas station was in Posen. My husband had to do some creative driving to manuver into a spot in order to pump gas. That's one busy gas station!
After getting to my cousin's house/my aunt's apartment later that afternoon, we decided to just take it easy for the rest of the day.
The next day was Sunday. St. Casimir's Catholic Church was having their annual Polka Mass to coincide with the annual Potato Festival. Upon arriving I stopped at the restroom. While waiting in line I met a woman who lives in Monroe, Michigan. I told her that I used to live in Allen Park, Michigan, not too far from Monroe. Small world. She said that she was visiting relatives in Grayling, Michigan. Another thing we had in common: this was our first time coming to St. Casimir's for Mass.
After church we went back to my aunt's apartment to eat lunch and rest a bit before heading back into Posen to stake out a spot to watch the Potato Festival Parade. Well, apparently we got too comfortable because we ended up leaving late and the street was already blocked off. The policeman let us through the barricade but told us to go no farther than the high school. I told my husband to park at St. Casimir's and then we can walk to the parade. After all, we did that a couple of years ago, or so I thought. Well, it was quite a hike from St. Casimir's to the parade. And, in near 90 degree heat with no shade, it was not fun! We didn't know where the parade ended, so we decided to take the lead of some locals (or who we thought were locals) and sit under a tree in front of the high school. Then we waited for the parade to get to us. And, we waited... and waited. Then a woman came by and said that the parade turns into the high school parking lot. I debated going farther south, but was too tired to do so. Not to mention people were standing or sitting six or seven rows deep along the parade route. And, with me being nominally 5 feet tall. I figured that we were probably in the best spot for me to see anything.
I didn't take any parade pictures. Since we were at the end of the parade route, and most of those in the parade route stopped parading about a half-block before where we stood, I figured there was no point. I told Dan that next time we come, we definitely have to make it a point to come way earlier!
From our vantage point, I did notice a few things. First, most of the floats and groups of participants were the same as last time. There were fewer marching bands. The Republican Party was heavily represented, of course. The Democratic Party was not represented at all this year. The best parade marchers (in my opinion) were the employees of Glens Market. They were dressed up in funny hats and pushed fancifully decorated shopping carts. The best float had to be hands down the entry by the iron workers. The Alpena newspaper did a full-page story on the artist that builds these sculptures, Tom Moran. A couple of years ago, the last time we were at this parade, he designed an Abraham Lincoln bust. That now sits outside the Brush Creek Mill in Hillman, Michigan. Last year, which we did not get to see, he designed an iron man that spoke, shot smoke, and twisted his head. This year, he built a replica of the Lexington, a ship used in the Revolutionary War. The cannon fire pyrotechnics and smoke, and can launch T-shirts into the parade crowd. We didn't see any T-shirts being launched, but we did see the pyrotechnics. And, whoever they recruited to be the ship's crew was spectacular, especially the Captain in his full uniform and smoking a cigar. He was just so into the role! It was funny! After the parade, the ship dry-docked in St. Casimir's parking lot. Here's a picture:
Our trip to Presque Isle was quite uneventful. That's the way I like it! We stopped half-way there at a rest stop to eat our lunch and rest a bit before venturing onward. Upon approaching Posen, we needed to stop for gas. I told my husband to just stop at the Marathon station we normally stop at on the corner of M-32 and M-65. Well, turns out that gas station closed sometime between the time we visited in May of 2010 and this day. Sad to see a business close...
The next nearest gas station was in Posen. My husband had to do some creative driving to manuver into a spot in order to pump gas. That's one busy gas station!
After getting to my cousin's house/my aunt's apartment later that afternoon, we decided to just take it easy for the rest of the day.
The next day was Sunday. St. Casimir's Catholic Church was having their annual Polka Mass to coincide with the annual Potato Festival. Upon arriving I stopped at the restroom. While waiting in line I met a woman who lives in Monroe, Michigan. I told her that I used to live in Allen Park, Michigan, not too far from Monroe. Small world. She said that she was visiting relatives in Grayling, Michigan. Another thing we had in common: this was our first time coming to St. Casimir's for Mass.
After church we went back to my aunt's apartment to eat lunch and rest a bit before heading back into Posen to stake out a spot to watch the Potato Festival Parade. Well, apparently we got too comfortable because we ended up leaving late and the street was already blocked off. The policeman let us through the barricade but told us to go no farther than the high school. I told my husband to park at St. Casimir's and then we can walk to the parade. After all, we did that a couple of years ago, or so I thought. Well, it was quite a hike from St. Casimir's to the parade. And, in near 90 degree heat with no shade, it was not fun! We didn't know where the parade ended, so we decided to take the lead of some locals (or who we thought were locals) and sit under a tree in front of the high school. Then we waited for the parade to get to us. And, we waited... and waited. Then a woman came by and said that the parade turns into the high school parking lot. I debated going farther south, but was too tired to do so. Not to mention people were standing or sitting six or seven rows deep along the parade route. And, with me being nominally 5 feet tall. I figured that we were probably in the best spot for me to see anything.
I didn't take any parade pictures. Since we were at the end of the parade route, and most of those in the parade route stopped parading about a half-block before where we stood, I figured there was no point. I told Dan that next time we come, we definitely have to make it a point to come way earlier!
From our vantage point, I did notice a few things. First, most of the floats and groups of participants were the same as last time. There were fewer marching bands. The Republican Party was heavily represented, of course. The Democratic Party was not represented at all this year. The best parade marchers (in my opinion) were the employees of Glens Market. They were dressed up in funny hats and pushed fancifully decorated shopping carts. The best float had to be hands down the entry by the iron workers. The Alpena newspaper did a full-page story on the artist that builds these sculptures, Tom Moran. A couple of years ago, the last time we were at this parade, he designed an Abraham Lincoln bust. That now sits outside the Brush Creek Mill in Hillman, Michigan. Last year, which we did not get to see, he designed an iron man that spoke, shot smoke, and twisted his head. This year, he built a replica of the Lexington, a ship used in the Revolutionary War. The cannon fire pyrotechnics and smoke, and can launch T-shirts into the parade crowd. We didn't see any T-shirts being launched, but we did see the pyrotechnics. And, whoever they recruited to be the ship's crew was spectacular, especially the Captain in his full uniform and smoking a cigar. He was just so into the role! It was funny! After the parade, the ship dry-docked in St. Casimir's parking lot. Here's a picture:
After the parade we were quite thirsty, so we headed on to the festival grounds to look for a stand selling lemonade. First we passed a rather large flea market, then we passed a few vendors selling crafted goods. We then made our way to the midway where there were vendors selling food and drink. We stopped to buy some pop at one, since we couldn't find a lemonade stand. Nearby was a bench, so we sat there while we drank our pop. I then looked to my right and what do you know, a stand about 100 ft. away selling "Fresh Squeezed Lemonade." If only we were willing to walk a little farther... Oh well. The cold pop tasted good. I watched as some kids won goldfish. I refused to look behind me where the ferris wheel was. I'm afraid of heights, even if I'm not actually in the air. Dan finished his pop before I did. And, sitting in the sun was getting a bit much in that heat, so we decided to go and see the polka band in the pavillion.
Last time we were there, anyone could walk in and out of the pavillion whenever they wanted to. We could bring in food and non-alcoholic drinks (the alcoholic drinks were sold at the pavillion for consumption there only) and consume them while watching the band. This year was different. They had guards posted at every entrance. Signs routed visitors to a single entrance where patrons would be carded and since no one that went in was carrying any food, beverages, or bags, presumably those things were not allowed anymore either. Oh, yes, now there was an entrance fee. That caught me off-guard. I decided that (1) I did not want to throw out my pop, (2) if bags were not allowed, there was no way that I was going to walk the mile to our car and back to lock it up there, and (3) I had a problem with charging an entrance fee for something that used to be a free part of a public festival. Admittedly, the fee was nominal, but still. The musical entertainment was the only thing that was open to everyone, rich or poor, and now it might be closed to some who don't have the money to pay. That's not right. I was quite disappointed.
So, since I like looking at all the crafty things we went to look at the stuff they were selling at the booths. Well, compared to two years ago, this was pathetic. Very few booths, not much to look at. The flea market was the biggest "booth" in this area. Oh well, again, disappointment.
Before leaving, I wanted to buy my aunt a kielbasa sandwich for dinner. Since she can no longer come to the festival, I thought that I would bring a bit of the festival to her. She loves kielbasa. So, we spot this large food truck that has a big sign painted on it advertising many different kinds of kielbasa sandwiches. When we get there however, the only thing they're selling is hamburgers. They tell us to go back across the street and south about a quarter mile to that other stand there. We look. What a line! Ok. So that's where we go and stand in line. Apparently this particular kielbasa company is local and famous for it's really good kielbasa. More and more people get in line, including a few that went to the other stand first. It's good we got there when we did. Eventually we got to order and then taking the kielbasa sandwich we treked the mile or so back to our car and headed back to my aunt's apartment. She was very grateful for the kielbasa with mushrooms. And, she too could understand my disappointment at the new arrangements to see the polka band. I told her that next time, we'll probably just leave after the parade and not even bother with going to the festival at all.
Monday we went to the NOAA Shipwreck Museum. Someone my husband knows told him about it. My cousin said that they have tours in glass bottom boats and that we should go. No way am I going on a boat, but I told Dan that he could go if he wants. First we explored the museum.
Last time we were there, anyone could walk in and out of the pavillion whenever they wanted to. We could bring in food and non-alcoholic drinks (the alcoholic drinks were sold at the pavillion for consumption there only) and consume them while watching the band. This year was different. They had guards posted at every entrance. Signs routed visitors to a single entrance where patrons would be carded and since no one that went in was carrying any food, beverages, or bags, presumably those things were not allowed anymore either. Oh, yes, now there was an entrance fee. That caught me off-guard. I decided that (1) I did not want to throw out my pop, (2) if bags were not allowed, there was no way that I was going to walk the mile to our car and back to lock it up there, and (3) I had a problem with charging an entrance fee for something that used to be a free part of a public festival. Admittedly, the fee was nominal, but still. The musical entertainment was the only thing that was open to everyone, rich or poor, and now it might be closed to some who don't have the money to pay. That's not right. I was quite disappointed.
So, since I like looking at all the crafty things we went to look at the stuff they were selling at the booths. Well, compared to two years ago, this was pathetic. Very few booths, not much to look at. The flea market was the biggest "booth" in this area. Oh well, again, disappointment.
Before leaving, I wanted to buy my aunt a kielbasa sandwich for dinner. Since she can no longer come to the festival, I thought that I would bring a bit of the festival to her. She loves kielbasa. So, we spot this large food truck that has a big sign painted on it advertising many different kinds of kielbasa sandwiches. When we get there however, the only thing they're selling is hamburgers. They tell us to go back across the street and south about a quarter mile to that other stand there. We look. What a line! Ok. So that's where we go and stand in line. Apparently this particular kielbasa company is local and famous for it's really good kielbasa. More and more people get in line, including a few that went to the other stand first. It's good we got there when we did. Eventually we got to order and then taking the kielbasa sandwich we treked the mile or so back to our car and headed back to my aunt's apartment. She was very grateful for the kielbasa with mushrooms. And, she too could understand my disappointment at the new arrangements to see the polka band. I told her that next time, we'll probably just leave after the parade and not even bother with going to the festival at all.
Monday we went to the NOAA Shipwreck Museum. Someone my husband knows told him about it. My cousin said that they have tours in glass bottom boats and that we should go. No way am I going on a boat, but I told Dan that he could go if he wants. First we explored the museum.
Dan was fascinated. I was bored from the outset. But this large ship intrigued me. One can go on it and explore. A tape plays of people talking (and screaming) when a storm comes up. It's interesting to see how people lived on those ships, their living quarters.
Another view of the ship from the second floor of the museum.
After exploring the museum Dan went to inquire about the boat tours. Turns out they last 3 hours long (bring a snack) and that we missed the first one for the day. There was another going out at 5 pm that evening, but since my cousin was barbequing that evening, there was no way that Dan could come back for that trip.
We decided to check out what was along the bike path behind the museum.
We decided to check out what was along the bike path behind the museum.
Noon. The church bells are ringing.
There are plaques like this all along the walkway here. In the museum there's a tapestry of this one picture. It intrigues me for some reason. I'm quite drawn to it.
A gull swimming to check out something in the water. It later swam away when it determined it wasn't anything of importance
Later we ventured across that bridge to a little park. Then since it was lunch time we didn't want to explore anymore and decided to stop and get something to eat and drink to supplement the sandwiches we brought with us.
Behind me as I took the previous picture was this. A very large picture of a shipwreck attached to an old pulp and paper mill.
After picking up some chips and pop at Walmart, we decided to go to Kiwanas Park to have a picnic. Well, we couldn't remember where that park was so we ended up here. A school group was occupying the picnic pavillion, and there were a couple sunbathers on the beach (even though it was quite chilly that day). We picked out a bench along the beach and had our picnic.
Those specs out there are gulls. They didn't stay long. A couple with a dog came by and chased them away. I was bummed.
Clearly people feed the gulls here on the beach because as soon as a gull saw that Dan and I were eating (and that Dan, accidentally, dropped a potato chip), another one came and tried to chase the first one away. One won out and stood there staring at us while we ate. Coming closer, closer, but staying far enough away, just in case we weren't too friendly. When we were done eating, Dan got up to go to the restroom. The gull got more brave, since the "alpha" of the pack left. The gull came closer yet, getting now on the sidewalk. Dan came back, the gull moved farther away. We left and then turned back to see what the gull would do. Sure enough. He (or she) was eating the potato chip.
Tuesday was a cloudy, chilly, rainy day. It was my aunt's 89th birthday. We stayed back at my aunt's place. Dan spent most of the day reading on the covered porch. I stayed inside talking to my aunt a bit, channel surfing alot. The excitement of the day came after lunch. I went to wash the dishes and the faucet broke, sprayed water out of the side and gave my aunt quite a shower. We got her son over there to show him what happened. I told Dan since he's good at plumbing, maybe he could do something. He was willing to look at it, but my cousin told him no and that he'd call a plumber. Dan was hurt at this thinking that my cousin thought that he was incompetent. The plumber said that he would be out there later that day or first thing the next. So, we didn't have a faucet that we could use to wash dishes. And when I went to take my aunt's stuff out from under the sink, we found that something under there was leaking too.
The plumber came out the next day and determined that it only needed a new washer, but he wasn't sure so he'd have to go back to the shop to examine a similar faucet to make sure. He went back to the office, confirmed his theory, and said that since he's working at the house next door, he'll be there later in the day to replace the washer. So we waited, and waited, and waited. When my cousin brought his granddaughter home from school he went next door to talk to the plumber and ask him when he was going to come over and replace the washer. He said maybe Thursday. Well, that got my cousin mad. He told the plumber something and a short time later the plumber sent his assistant to my aunt's place to examine the faucet. He determined that the problem was not a washer, she needed a different faucet part. He would have to order it though. That would take a week to come. (I called my aunt a week later, and the plumber still hadn't installed it. Actually took another half week before my aunt could again use her kitchen faucet....)
Where was Dan on Wednesday while we waited impatiently for the plumber? He went back to the shipwreck museum to take a glass bottom boat tour. At least that's where I thought he was all day, until I saw him come "home" around 1 pm. He should've still been on the tour. Turns out there were gale warnings on the lake so the boat didn't go out. Instead Dan decided to go sightseeing in Alpena. He also stopped off at the farmers market and bought some wax beans for dinner that night. For lunch he bought a muffin from a "nice little old lady" at the farmer's market. The sign on the stand read "Baked in a non-FDA approved kitchen."
Here are a few pictures from his sightseeing tour:
Tuesday was a cloudy, chilly, rainy day. It was my aunt's 89th birthday. We stayed back at my aunt's place. Dan spent most of the day reading on the covered porch. I stayed inside talking to my aunt a bit, channel surfing alot. The excitement of the day came after lunch. I went to wash the dishes and the faucet broke, sprayed water out of the side and gave my aunt quite a shower. We got her son over there to show him what happened. I told Dan since he's good at plumbing, maybe he could do something. He was willing to look at it, but my cousin told him no and that he'd call a plumber. Dan was hurt at this thinking that my cousin thought that he was incompetent. The plumber said that he would be out there later that day or first thing the next. So, we didn't have a faucet that we could use to wash dishes. And when I went to take my aunt's stuff out from under the sink, we found that something under there was leaking too.
The plumber came out the next day and determined that it only needed a new washer, but he wasn't sure so he'd have to go back to the shop to examine a similar faucet to make sure. He went back to the office, confirmed his theory, and said that since he's working at the house next door, he'll be there later in the day to replace the washer. So we waited, and waited, and waited. When my cousin brought his granddaughter home from school he went next door to talk to the plumber and ask him when he was going to come over and replace the washer. He said maybe Thursday. Well, that got my cousin mad. He told the plumber something and a short time later the plumber sent his assistant to my aunt's place to examine the faucet. He determined that the problem was not a washer, she needed a different faucet part. He would have to order it though. That would take a week to come. (I called my aunt a week later, and the plumber still hadn't installed it. Actually took another half week before my aunt could again use her kitchen faucet....)
Where was Dan on Wednesday while we waited impatiently for the plumber? He went back to the shipwreck museum to take a glass bottom boat tour. At least that's where I thought he was all day, until I saw him come "home" around 1 pm. He should've still been on the tour. Turns out there were gale warnings on the lake so the boat didn't go out. Instead Dan decided to go sightseeing in Alpena. He also stopped off at the farmers market and bought some wax beans for dinner that night. For lunch he bought a muffin from a "nice little old lady" at the farmer's market. The sign on the stand read "Baked in a non-FDA approved kitchen."
Here are a few pictures from his sightseeing tour:
One of the last days that we were up north, we saw this rainbow across the lake.
On the day before we were set to leave, Dan got horribly sick. The day before, my cousin's granddaughter came home from school sick with a high fever, so we were thinking that maybe he caught whatever she has. Then Dan told us about the "non-FDA approved kitchen," and I determined it was probably food poisoning.
The next day, Dan felt good enough to drive, so we loaded up the car and away we went. Only this time we were taking my aunt with us. She wanted to see my house and she had a wedding dinner to go to the next day, so her son and daughter-in-law determined that her coming with us would probably be the only chance she'd have to get to see our house. They would come pick her up on Saturday to take her to the wedding dinner.
We stopped off in Pinconning for lunch. Well, since I can't eat anything at McDonalds, technically Dan and my aunt ate lunch. I thought Dan would at least get me a pop, but no. So, I went and got one at the gift shop in the same building (no way was I waiting in line again at McDonalds). I stole a couple of french fries from Dan and that ended up being my lunch. When everyone was finished, Dan brought the car around so that it would be easier for my aunt to get in. And, we were off..., or so I thought. As Dan accelerated the car on the entrance ramp to the freeway, the car would go 30 mph and that was it. Dan pulled the car over and waited for a bit, then tried again. This time the car got up to speed, but Dan was going to take it easy. We went 55 all the way to Clio. We were wary about stopping, thinking that maybe the car wouldn't start again, but we both needed a rest stop, and it would give Dan a chance to look under the hood. Maybe it was something simple. No, nothing simple. Dan closed the hood, and we were off again. Again he had to pull over and wait a while before he could get the car to go up to 55 mph. This time we decided to stop once more to pick up my cat at the vet's. The vet is only about a mile and a half from our house, so if the car decides to only go 30 mph, we could just put on the blinkers and risk it. Again the car would only reach 30 mph. Again, Dan pulled over and rested it, and then he was able to get it back up to 40 mph. After we got home, the first thing Dan did was to install a battery in his car. His car battery died two days before we were set to leave for up north. We bought a battery before we left, but he didn't get a chance to install it. Now, it was imperative that we have a working car, since we needed to go grocery shopping so my aunt would have her necessities: real (from a cow) milk and Special K cereal. Neither of us drink real milk. I'm severely lactose intolerant and my husband is allergic and neither of us eat Special K, so we didn't have these things on hand.
Dan got the battery installed and diagnosed the problem of why the other battery ran down in the first place (he left the lights on in his car!). He went to the store and got my aunt's necessities. Meanwhile I went through our stack of mail. Turns out I got a letter from my mortgage company saying that I have to inform them, in writing, within a week that I have insurance on this house. Well, the letter came a week ago. When we were gone. Luckily there was a PIN number that I could use to go through their online system to update their records. So, the cat kept my aunt company while I went upstairs and got this taken care of.
Having the cat keeping my aunt company was not a bad thing. You see, it was she that rescued the cat from near certain death. The mother of Calliope (my cat) used to hang out in my aunt's yard. My aunt felt sorry for her so she used to feed her. Pretty soon, she didn't see the mother, only a kitten hanging around. She still put food out. One day when I was there I saw the kitten, and saw that it had a collar around its neck. This wasn't a breakaway collar and as the kitten grew, the collar was choking it. After that the kitten became friendlier and friendlier with my aunt. One day she let my aunt take the collar off. Calliope moved in with my aunt. This was a problem because my aunt was moving in with her son. He has a cat that's very territorial. Her son tried to find the kitten's owners with no luck. I tried to find a home for it, with no luck. My aunt wanted to my husband and I to take her, but my husband is very allergic. Eventually my husband agreed after it was determined that the only place she could go would be to the pound and if no one claimed her, well, she would be euthanized. None of us wanted that!
When I came down from upstairs, my aunt was playing string with the cat. Calliope, normally a very timid kitty, remembered my aunt from the very moment she saw her.
That Monday, I had my car towed to the nearest Ford dealership.
On Tuesday morning, at 1 am, my husband woke me up to tell me that he had severe stomach pain. Such pain like he's never felt in his life. My car being in the shop, and his car being a stick shift (I don't know how to drive one), I called his parents and said that they have to get here and take him to the emergency room. They came. He was in the hospital for two hours and they told him to go to his primary care physician for a follow up. He might have an ulcer or gall stones. We went back home and tried to get some rest. That morning I had to bicycle to my dentist's office for an appointment to get two fillings. I called Dan's work to say he wasn't coming in that day.
Because the mechanics at the dealership were so busy, they didn't get to look at my car until a couple of days later. My husband and I were prepared for it needing a whole new transmission, but in reality it just needed a shift solenoid and a valve cover. But, because my car was nine years old and had quite a bit of rust (rust fell on my husband's head when he opened the hood at the Clio rest stop), we decided that I should get a new car. I had my car fixed, then I spent the next week test driving cars. My first test drive was actually the day I dropped off my car. When my mother-in-law picked me up, she said that I should test drive a Focus, since I was already at the dealership. I reluctantly said yes, but once I test drove it, I liked it. Later that week, Dan drove me to the Hyundai dealership so I could test drive an Elantra. It was Ok, but I liked the Focus better. Saturday we got lost trying to find the Subaru dealership. Google led us on a wild goose chase, but Dan remembered from when he used to live in East Lansing where Williams VW was and since this was Williams Subaru, he figured they must be near each other. Sure enough they were. I test drove a 2010 Impreza. Loved the way it drove. The only problem is that this car is made for tall people. At its highest seat setting I could barely see over the steering wheel, and in order to be able to touch the pedals my chest would've been about two inches from the steering wheel. No good. By then, Dan was tired since he wasn't feeling well (we learned later that he does in fact have gall stones), so we decided not to go test drive a Cruze. I decided to buy a Focus. Then I spent the next week going back and forth to the dealership to work out a deal and see how much I could get for my trade in, etc. I picked up my new Focus on September 30th.
The next day, Dan felt good enough to drive, so we loaded up the car and away we went. Only this time we were taking my aunt with us. She wanted to see my house and she had a wedding dinner to go to the next day, so her son and daughter-in-law determined that her coming with us would probably be the only chance she'd have to get to see our house. They would come pick her up on Saturday to take her to the wedding dinner.
We stopped off in Pinconning for lunch. Well, since I can't eat anything at McDonalds, technically Dan and my aunt ate lunch. I thought Dan would at least get me a pop, but no. So, I went and got one at the gift shop in the same building (no way was I waiting in line again at McDonalds). I stole a couple of french fries from Dan and that ended up being my lunch. When everyone was finished, Dan brought the car around so that it would be easier for my aunt to get in. And, we were off..., or so I thought. As Dan accelerated the car on the entrance ramp to the freeway, the car would go 30 mph and that was it. Dan pulled the car over and waited for a bit, then tried again. This time the car got up to speed, but Dan was going to take it easy. We went 55 all the way to Clio. We were wary about stopping, thinking that maybe the car wouldn't start again, but we both needed a rest stop, and it would give Dan a chance to look under the hood. Maybe it was something simple. No, nothing simple. Dan closed the hood, and we were off again. Again he had to pull over and wait a while before he could get the car to go up to 55 mph. This time we decided to stop once more to pick up my cat at the vet's. The vet is only about a mile and a half from our house, so if the car decides to only go 30 mph, we could just put on the blinkers and risk it. Again the car would only reach 30 mph. Again, Dan pulled over and rested it, and then he was able to get it back up to 40 mph. After we got home, the first thing Dan did was to install a battery in his car. His car battery died two days before we were set to leave for up north. We bought a battery before we left, but he didn't get a chance to install it. Now, it was imperative that we have a working car, since we needed to go grocery shopping so my aunt would have her necessities: real (from a cow) milk and Special K cereal. Neither of us drink real milk. I'm severely lactose intolerant and my husband is allergic and neither of us eat Special K, so we didn't have these things on hand.
Dan got the battery installed and diagnosed the problem of why the other battery ran down in the first place (he left the lights on in his car!). He went to the store and got my aunt's necessities. Meanwhile I went through our stack of mail. Turns out I got a letter from my mortgage company saying that I have to inform them, in writing, within a week that I have insurance on this house. Well, the letter came a week ago. When we were gone. Luckily there was a PIN number that I could use to go through their online system to update their records. So, the cat kept my aunt company while I went upstairs and got this taken care of.
Having the cat keeping my aunt company was not a bad thing. You see, it was she that rescued the cat from near certain death. The mother of Calliope (my cat) used to hang out in my aunt's yard. My aunt felt sorry for her so she used to feed her. Pretty soon, she didn't see the mother, only a kitten hanging around. She still put food out. One day when I was there I saw the kitten, and saw that it had a collar around its neck. This wasn't a breakaway collar and as the kitten grew, the collar was choking it. After that the kitten became friendlier and friendlier with my aunt. One day she let my aunt take the collar off. Calliope moved in with my aunt. This was a problem because my aunt was moving in with her son. He has a cat that's very territorial. Her son tried to find the kitten's owners with no luck. I tried to find a home for it, with no luck. My aunt wanted to my husband and I to take her, but my husband is very allergic. Eventually my husband agreed after it was determined that the only place she could go would be to the pound and if no one claimed her, well, she would be euthanized. None of us wanted that!
When I came down from upstairs, my aunt was playing string with the cat. Calliope, normally a very timid kitty, remembered my aunt from the very moment she saw her.
That Monday, I had my car towed to the nearest Ford dealership.
On Tuesday morning, at 1 am, my husband woke me up to tell me that he had severe stomach pain. Such pain like he's never felt in his life. My car being in the shop, and his car being a stick shift (I don't know how to drive one), I called his parents and said that they have to get here and take him to the emergency room. They came. He was in the hospital for two hours and they told him to go to his primary care physician for a follow up. He might have an ulcer or gall stones. We went back home and tried to get some rest. That morning I had to bicycle to my dentist's office for an appointment to get two fillings. I called Dan's work to say he wasn't coming in that day.
Because the mechanics at the dealership were so busy, they didn't get to look at my car until a couple of days later. My husband and I were prepared for it needing a whole new transmission, but in reality it just needed a shift solenoid and a valve cover. But, because my car was nine years old and had quite a bit of rust (rust fell on my husband's head when he opened the hood at the Clio rest stop), we decided that I should get a new car. I had my car fixed, then I spent the next week test driving cars. My first test drive was actually the day I dropped off my car. When my mother-in-law picked me up, she said that I should test drive a Focus, since I was already at the dealership. I reluctantly said yes, but once I test drove it, I liked it. Later that week, Dan drove me to the Hyundai dealership so I could test drive an Elantra. It was Ok, but I liked the Focus better. Saturday we got lost trying to find the Subaru dealership. Google led us on a wild goose chase, but Dan remembered from when he used to live in East Lansing where Williams VW was and since this was Williams Subaru, he figured they must be near each other. Sure enough they were. I test drove a 2010 Impreza. Loved the way it drove. The only problem is that this car is made for tall people. At its highest seat setting I could barely see over the steering wheel, and in order to be able to touch the pedals my chest would've been about two inches from the steering wheel. No good. By then, Dan was tired since he wasn't feeling well (we learned later that he does in fact have gall stones), so we decided not to go test drive a Cruze. I decided to buy a Focus. Then I spent the next week going back and forth to the dealership to work out a deal and see how much I could get for my trade in, etc. I picked up my new Focus on September 30th.
As I type this, I've had the car for a month now. The only major thing that I don't like about it is its acceleration from a standing position, like at a stop light. My old Focus was much smoother to get up to speed. Other than that, so far, I really can't say anything bad about the car. Here's hoping it's more reliable than my 2003 Focus..
Created by Joyce P. Simkin
Last updated in HTML: October 29, 2011
Last updated in Weebly: April 4, 2016
Created by Joyce P. Simkin
Last updated in HTML: October 29, 2011
Last updated in Weebly: April 4, 2016