Onward

 Car is in the shop now.  I should have it back Thursday.  Getting a bunch of little things done, plus the catalytic repair.   I hope this will produce good results long term, getting the little things done too, like the belts.  He will also put that bumper back on, but apologized saying he couldn't repaint or repair tears.  Big deal, I thought, I don't care about any of that.  

It's a piece of plastic, almost decorative in a way.  Car looks like it has half a crew cut missing half the rear bumper, since that tire straddling incident on I5, that took it off.  Just getting it clipped back on will be nice.  I tried to explain to him, almost apologetically, because I do always feel I should do things myself, that I used to do all those sorts of things but now I have some trouble doing stuff like that, getting down on the ground to change the oil or like work at reattaching the bumper, with my stiff joints and all, (old age) but he waved that off.  

After leaving the car off this morning, I walked the mile and a half home, through a very frosty morning.  The air felt crisp, clean, new and I had to watch for icy spots, but its not very far to walk.

So I'm limited until I get the car back but I'll just catch up here on cleaning and, haha, relaxing, since there's nothing can be done about it.

Christmas came and went and was unremarkable, really--quiet, pleasant.  I sat around, the day, then went to bed very early.  I was daydreaming before I slept, thinking about summer and being asleep on my raft and the sounds of the water lapping and birds in the trees and the warm sun flickering in and out..  And I just fell asleep that way, on my back with my cats around me, when I had no intention of sleeping so early.

 I heard from people via Christmas cards, mainly, some so lovely I don't want to throw them away.

I'll leave my tree up til this weekend.  I really love sitting by it, even though its fake and I had to brush cat hair from it, after taking it down from the rafters, this year, before I put its three pieces together in my living room and tied it off in three directions, to thwart the tree destroying cats among mine.  

The neighbor cat, Gigi, who has long orange hair, must have been sleeping in its plastic branches when stored up there, among the rafters.  She thinks she belongs in my garage now.  I've made her beds.  She has a cat door entry, since I don't want her ever again sleeping in the rain in driveway, depressed as all get out.  She does go home, I think, everyday maybe, for awhile.  I don't know.  All I know is I love her and she can come in out of the weather into the garage whenever she wants and I'll brush her, which she loves, and she can sleep on my lap and bug me to play when I'm out there in my sitting chair reading a book, which I tend to do often.

My battery tested out fine, at the auto parts store, where I got two headlights, to replace the one on my car that had burned out. And then the other one too, so they shine at the same brightness. I don't know if the starter is on its way out or not.  Time will tell.  The alternator tested out fine, too, which is a relief.

My cousin from Texas sent me a multimeter.  He's a motor head and I sure wish he lived closer.   I lost the leads first to the multi meter I had, then the knob broke off too.  The one he sent me sure is nice.  Now I can test out the battery myself next time.