Car Registration Fiasco

I got the notice that the Kia needed to have its registration renewed about two months ago. It was due on Sep 30. I also got two letters about recalls for the Kia about a month ago. I knew I would need to take the car in to the dealership which is about 30 minutes away. But I decided I would call and make the appointment for that during Fall Break when Jason could come get me so I didn't have to stay there for hours. That turned out to be a good idea for another reason - these recalls were new and so they were swamped with people wanting to take their cars in. The soonest they could get me in was October anyway.  The two things to be fixed due to recalls were the front seat power motor and the high beams.

A few weeks ago I went in to get the safety inspection done so I could get the registration renewed. I was not expecting to have any problems with it as the car is only a few years old. However the technician came back and told me that the car had failed and that was due to the high beams not working. That was one of the recalls. Sigh. So I had to call the dealership and see if they could get me in sooner because I needed to register the car. They said they had one appointment on Sep 23, which was cutting things closer than I wanted but I took it anyway. 

So I went in on Monday and dropped the car off. Elder McDaniel had to ride his bike to his morning service and cancel his afternoon one so I could do this. I went across the street to the mall and wasted three hours and when I came back they told me that they had completed one of the recalls. They had to order a part for the other, and that was the high beam fix. Sigh. So I was supposed to come back in on Thursday and drop the car off for what was supposed to be a four hour fix. By now I was less than a week away from the car registration being lapsed.

Again, Elder McDaniel had to ride his bike to one of his service areas but we were able to find someone to give him a ride to the afternoon one as it is farther away. I dropped the car off again and this time went to go see a movie in the mall across the street. I arrived back after four hours but they told me that they were having problems with the software and that my car wouldn't be ready for a while. They asked if I wanted a loaner car and I told them I'd rather wait in the off chance they could get the repair done by 3pm so I could pick up the kids. So I waited in the lobby for another hour until the receptionist came to tell me that there was no way it would be done by 3pm. She explained that this was the first time they had ever done this recall and were running into problems. Well, because they said that the loaner would be free and that they would deliver my car to me at my house tomorrow morning, I said yes. Keep in mind that each time I drive to the dealership it is a half hour one way.

It was nerve wracking to drive a brand new car that didn't belong to me in El Paso traffic, not to mention that I didn't know where anything was and took quite a long time to set up the GPS. I couldn't figure out how to work the air conditioner so it just blew strong and loud the whole way home. But I'll admit it was a little fun to drive a new car as well. 

They were supposed to deliver my car to me on Friday morning by 10:30. That worked with Elder McDaniel's service schedule so I went to go get groceries early and then we just waited. And waited, and waited. Finally around 1:30pm they brought the car. This was well past the time he needed to go to his next assignment so he had to cancel. Sigh. But at least I could get the safety inspection done, right? Nope. Because they had to mess with the battery in the repair the car had to be driven fifty miles before it would pass inspection. Also the driver told me that he had to adjust the mirrors as he was quite a bit shorter than me. When I went out to readjust the seat and mirrors I discovered that the front seat wouldn't move, which was the very first recall repair they had done. Arghhh! I directly called the service manager (I had his number by now) and told him. He said I should bring it in any day and they would take a look at it. 

Jason and I spent our date driving over fifty miles to get the car in shape for the inspection which would take place hopefully the next day. I decided to not worry about the seat until next week. But in our drive Jason and I found a super tasty Salvadorian restaurant albeit it is very far away from us. 

The next day Jason came with me to get the inspection. We went to another place because it was closer and it turned out to be better (cleaner and quicker). The car finally passed!! They told me that I would be ballot register it until a business day (Monday) but I decided to try at home online anyway. And it worked!!! The car is finally registered with two days to spare.

Today I went in to get the seat checked. I dropped our missionary off and then went over so he wouldn't have to miss any more assignments. I hoped that it would be a short fix so I wouldn't have to borrow another loaner.  Do you see all that red in the picture of the map? That's heavy traffic. There was road paving construction outside all the entrances to the dealership that I could see so I did something I am sure is illegal, or at least in the way of the construction workers. I found the most dry, complete looking part of asphalt and drove right over it to get to an entrance to the dealership. I didn't see how else to do it. They took my keys and drove the car back and in twenty minutes it was returned to me all fixed. They said it was a loose connection. 

And so now, I have a repaired car with complete registration and I don't want to go to the dealership again for a very, very long time. 

September

September has been busy, busy, busy. We have had a few half days due to teacher training and parent conferences. A lot of big projects and big tests have been due for the kids in school. The first quarter of school is almost over and they are really looking forward to Fall Break.

For Elder McDaniel things have been busy too. He started his online institute and Pathways classes. We also took pictures for his mission plaque which I will take back to the bishop this week to be displayed in the ward's glass case in the hallway at church. 

Also, one of his best friends, Joshua Ashby, had his farewell talk and Open House and is now in the MTC. I think Elder McDaniel will miss him but they both are missionaries now and is a happy thing. They have each other's email addresses and receive the weekly reports from each other. I hope they remain close. At the Open House it was great to talk with him and celebrate his choice for the next few years. The Ashby's are great people. They also have a rabbit which Paige spent a bit of time holding. ;)

Elder McDaniel is still working on driving around here but now the Mazda5 is not working properly so Jason has to take the Mazda3 to work and we advent had a car to practice on.  Elder McDaniel has had to use that time in other productive ways so last week he mowed the lawn for me.

El Paso driving is still as crazy as ever. We see strange things on a weekly basis - cars reversing on a freeway, trucks pulling cars with people inside using just a long rope, cars with temporary license plates that expired in 2023 and a beaten up white can with Florida plates with Spanish written all over it in marker. It's funny that I am not surprised by much anymore. 

I also had some singular experiences this past week. Jason has a friend who needed someone to watch their two month old (mom was in a training program and couldn't get out of it and he was on paternity leave but had an important doctor's appointment). So I watched an itty bitty baby for a few hours. I still got it! I got him to sleep after a swaddle and rocking and paci. I had almost forgotten just how much you can't get done with a newborn around though. ;)

I also have a whole car registration fiasco to tell you but that needs its own post. 

Service

For YW on Wednesday the oldest class wanted to do some service for the stake's Day of Service campaign. They decided to add quotes to flowers and pass them out to people. These are the girls and leaders that showed up including a friend who wanted to join. 

They were going to go across the street to Walmart to pass them out but Sister Bandley had the great idea of going to the park and passing them out to the parents who were watching their little kids play baseball or soccer. That was an awesome idea and many of the parents were so appreciative. Eva was nervous about approaching strangers but soon warmed up as the parents were so touched by the kind gesture. Afterwards she told me how proud of herself she was at being brave and social. It turned out to be an uplifting activity for all.

 

First Performance

For Patriot Day (in remembrance of 9/11) the FHS Choir had a special performance. They practiced after school last week and early this morning before school. The El Paso Police Department led the pledge and then the choir sang three songs. They sang The Star Spangled Banner, Amazing Grace and The Lord Bless You and Keep You. They did this over the intercom in both the magnet and the main buildings one after another. Darby says that the intercom in the main building had feedback so they didn't sound as good as they could have. However, the officers and several other people told them that they sounded amazing. She is starting to feel that choir is becoming what she had hoped it would be.

 These are pictures I got off the FHS instagram page of the beginning and advanced choir as they all combined to sing in this performance. 

Forty Five

It was Jason's birthday today. Last week I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday. His requests were simple: Bahama Bucks, watch The Princess Bride, have reubens for dinner, apple pie a la mode and foot rubs. We were able to make all those come true.

He went running in the morning and then relaxed before jui jitsu class. After his class he met us at Bahama Bucks where he got to try their new Dr Pepper shaved ice. 

He played board games and video games with the kids most of the afternoon and even got to take a nap.  We gave him his presents before dinner. Eva made him a cute card and Paige gave him a red panda stuffy. I got him a travel neck pillow and a Funko figure of Aragorn. 

Dinner was reubens as requested and the girls made him an apple pie. We watched the movie and I rubbed his feet. He also received many texts and phone calls for his birthday as well from friends and family throughout the day.

Later, before bed, he told me that it was one of the best birthdays ever. I didn't believe him as we didn't do anything totally amazing. He said he was just contented and happy and had everything that he wanted for his special day. What a guy! 

Happy birthday Jason! We are so lucky to have you in our lives!