Terminal...

It's been a rough week! I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that my 11-year-old Honda Civic, with 268,000 miles is terminal. She may have two weeks, two months, or a year left... but the end is coming. I've signed a DNR and we will let her go off quietly into the night when her times come. No more heroic measures will be taken.

It all started on Saturday afternoon when I was driving downtown to meet Bunker and friends at Third Base to watch the Texas/OSU game before all of the Halloween festivities. Over the last few months, my car has occasionally run hot. Usually on road trips, and usually all things were fine once water was added. I had noticed that my car was starting to run hot earlier in the day, so I had filled up the radiator with water before leaving my apartment. About 5 miles away, the temperature gauge suddenly spikes. I end up exiting Mopac and pulling into an Extended Stay America parking lot to put water in my car. I pour the water, and the temperature doesn't drop. Deciding that 5 pm on a Saturday (Halloween, too), is not the time to find a mechanic, I call Bunker and they come pick me up. The temperature spiking continued for the rest of the weekend anytime I tried to drive my car.

I decided to take my car to the mechanic first thing Monday morning. I arranged for my friend Michelle to meet there so she could drop me off at the Capitol, since she works across the street. I get to my mechanic, as my temperature gauge is spiking, to find out that he has retired and gone out of business! It's vacant! Not knowing where the nearest mechanic is, I leave my car at the gas station across the street and have Michelle bring me to work so I can figure this out. This is where the tears started. And continued for most of the day. I called the mechanic's number, and it turns out he had forwarded his phones to another auto place that he did a lot of business with. Tony takes me to my car and follows me to the shop so they can take a look at it.

The guy runs a diagnostics test to see what's wrong with the car and he determines that there's a crack in the RADIATOR, of all things. Do you know how annoying it is to know that you could easily have the problem fixed in about an hour if only you were in Lufkin? I call my dad and have him call the auto shop because I don't make any decisions about my car without him, seeing as he has been a radiator mechanic for over 50 years now. The guy wants to charge me $345 dollars for the repairs, and my dad is outraged. He calls the guy a cheat, but ultimately we decide that this is going to be the cost of repairing my car in Austin. Made me miss small towns just a little.

The guy puts a new radiator on and then calls to tell me that there is a leak in my water pump and it needs to be replaced as well. He also says that while he's replacing the water pump he should go ahead and do the timing belt and a whole list of other things. I ask him how much this is going to cost and he says with the radiator, about $1250. The blue-book value of my car is currently around $950. He says if he just does the water pump it will be about $850 total. I tell him not to touch another thing on my car, and that I'm coming to pick it up. I couldn't justify spending that much money on my car. I love my car, but it's just not worth it. My parents and I had many conversations about my car that day, and decided to just get the car out of the shop and see what kind of condition it is in.

I am sure that there is a leak in the water pump, I can't imagine that this guy (who also has East Texas roots), would have made it up. But, since I've gotten my car out of the shop, the temperature has run even, minus running a little hot when I was sitting in traffic.

So, it looks like the end is coming soon. My mom has Jay scouting out cars for me. I was absolutely distraught on Monday (Tony thought someone had died, I was that upset when he came into the office), but I'm coming to terms with the situation at hand. This has been weighing on my so hard that I've had dreams about my car two nights this week!

For the good news, I have a new baby cousin! William Seth Siegling arrived last night at 6:21 pm weighing 8 lbs 2 oz, and 20.5 inches long. Mom Kathryn and Dad Noel are excited and everyone is healthy. Can't wait to meet the newest edition to the Durham family!

Least Changed???

My high school reunion was a blast! It was good to see everyone and catch up. I think everyone who was there had a lot of fun. I somehow managed to get myself voted the "Least Changed." People tell me this is a good thing, but really? Not something I expected at all... I wanted to the Hoopty of the Decade award for still driving the same car I did in high school!

It's been a very busy week. The boss-man was in town for a few days, and so our schedules were busy with various events. It was the first trip he's made since I've come on-board here, so it was nice to spend some getting-to-know everyone time as an office. I also got to take a tour of the Capitol dome this week, it was so cool! I can't believe it's taken almost 5 years of working here to take a tour. You have to make a special request because the tour involves climbing a lot of very narrow stairs, plus it's REALLY high up. Did you know that the top of the Capitol dome is made mostly of tin? I had absolutely no idea before I saw it in person!

I'm looking forward to a very quiet weekend. Spending tonight on my couch and catching up with all of my shows since I haven't been home before 10 at ALL this week. Tomorrow I'm heading to San Antonio to have lunch with Col. and Mrs. Metts and some friends. Looking forward to spending some time with them, I think March was my last visit.

I need suggestions for a Halloween costume. I never dress up, but I have two different parties to go to... so I figure I should at least try to get into the spirit.

I will leave you with a few fun pictures from my reunion!

Friends at my house for a Pre-Reunion "pre-prom" Picture on the stairs.

My Class of '99 Cousins: Ryan and Jason

John won "Least Suprising Career Choice", Emily won "Life of the Party", and I won "Least Changed"

Apparently you could only win one award, so they gave Ashley the "Hoopty of the Decade" award, after they had put my name on the certificate!

We were obsessed with shaking our light-up tamborines. I suggest them for all parties!

10 YEARS!

This weekend I am heading home to Lufkin for an event that has been highly anticipated by me and my friends for quite some time... our 10 year high school reunion. It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since we graced the halls of Lufkin High School. And even though with the creation of sites like facebook and myspace I am well aware of what most of my classmates have been up to, it will still be fun to see everyone in person and catch up and reminisce. I am certain that I will come back with all sorts of crazy stories from this weekend. In true high school tradition, my house has been designated as the hang out location.... it's going to be just like old times! Just for some fun, here's a few pictures from my high school days.

One random Friday night we went around Lufkin taking fun pictures.

The infamous L Man and P Man, Jay and Luke... ready for a football game.

Lauren's surprise birthday breakfast at my house.

Girls before Junior Prom '98.

One afternoon we drove around Lufkin and squirted our friends with water bottles, then made them pose for pictures.

Talkin' about cats...

Check out this hilarious video of Bunker feeding my cats. He posted it on YouTube, and would love comments and ratings. My poor kitties, no wonder they hiss at everyone that comes through my door that isn't me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0MkCyozJSo

Job is going well. Life is crazy busy. I might take a nap instead of eating during lunch.

NEWS!!!

I'm sure by now most people who read this already know, but the waiting game is over! I finally heard back from the Capitol job yesterday and I am starting on October 1! I am very excited about learning a whole new area of policy, and also excited to continue with committee work... I really do love that aspect of the legislature the most.

If this doesn't work out, I think I will go into the engagement business. I seem to be quite the good luck charm. Now, not only if you live with me, but if you take me on your first date you can be engaged within a year! My dear, sweet friends Michelle and Angus got engaged last week and it was just last November when I went with them on their very first date to Wurst Fest. I knew at the time that it was probably one of the best first dates I had ever been on, so good things were bound to come.

The waiting game...

I had two job interviews last week. One was a second interview for a position at the Capitol. The other, a management opportunity with good ol' BBW. I am now waiting to hear the outcome of the Capitol job so I know whether or not I need to pursue the BBW opportunity. I have never been a patient person, so I have to say that I don't play this waiting game very well.

With the Capitol job, the whole process has been a waiting game, so I've gotten a little used to it. I first heard about the position in July, but didn't go in for an interview until the first of August. After the first interview, I didn't hear back until late August when they scheduled the second interview. They were hoping to have a decision made today, but I didn't hear anything. My interviews have gone well, and I'm very excited about this possibility, so hopefully things will work out... as long as I don't go crazy from waiting!

While I was waiting to hear back about the second interview, I was picking up some extra work at BBW. With my 9 years of experience, I've become quite the project guru, so I ended up going to a few other stores and working on marketing-pitch/back-room organization projects. While I was at one of the stores the manager mentioned that she had a co-manager position available and that I really should interview with it. I liked her, and I liked the store... it's a very different atmosphere from the lovely ghetto that I work at. Customers actually give you feedback and come in to spend money! I interviewed with her after my second interview at the Capitol and things went well. She told me to let her know what I decided about the Capitol job and we could move on from there.

After interviewing with her, or I should say, during my interview with her, I realized just how much I want to work in politics. I really hope this Capitol position works out. I think I could learn a lot. I'm not sure that I have the same learning opportunities at BBW since I've been there for so long and there's only so much you can learn when it comes to retail. I enjoy my work there, but I'm not passionate about it. So think happy thoughts for me while I continue to play the waiting game. Hopefully the outcome will be well worth the wait.

28 and a month...

I've been 28 years old for a whole month now, and I'm not so sure I'm a fan. First of all, there's nothing to be excited about... I'm semi-unemployed and single. Not exactly where most people picture themselves as they quickly approach 30. Hopefully the employment situation will work itself out soon, I interviewed for a position last week and am waiting to here back about the next round of interviews. The single situation is kind of depressing, but I can handle that. I'd much rather be single than have to deal with a loser boyfriend at the moment. And I'd much rather have a paycheck than a boyfriend.

While I don't really feel like a grown-up, I am finally starting to feel some of the effects of growing older. The grey hairs are starting to get ridiculous. Now, it's partially my fault since I can't remember the last time I got highlights, but still... I'm constantly pulling them out. I've also had quite a few injuries over the last month. That should be expected because I'm incredibly clumsy, but I will seriously wake up in the morning and not remember why I can barely walk. It could be worse though, I could have an 80 year old body like my good friend Molly. She has been experiencing aches and pains since we were 20!

Hopefully month 2 of 28 will pick up. Things can only get better, right?