family

How do you define family? the people who raised you? the people who you share genes with? the people you can go home to? the people you can always count on to be there when you need them? the people you make plans to visit with when you've been gone a long time? All of the above?

I've met my biological mother, and now much of her family. Now, I finally have contact info. for my father, and I don't know what to do with it.

That's all.

the bumper

I have so many stories about the poor little red car. I only want to write the latest story here, I'll fill in with the rest later. So... we had a hard winter, we'll just leave it at that for now. As a result, there's a hole and decent crack in the front bumper, the back bumper has several cracks and a giant hole in it. So, for a summer project, I decided that I would get a new bumper. I dragged my brother to Pull N'Save with me and we got a new bumper (and a new seat - another good story). We put the seat in and I took the bumper back to my temporary apt. and maneuvered it onto the patio. It's baby blue (my car is red). The guy at Carquest back home told me to make sure if there were any breaks in it to make sure it couldn't flex and to use a scotch brite pad to "rough it up a bit" so the new paint will stick. He also mixed me one aerosol can of paint. So... I spent days cutting, filing, sanding, and washing the bumper (made a huge mess in the bathroom and on the patio). Finally, I was ready to paint. I maneuvered the bumper into my car(not an easy feat) and took it to my dear friend's apt. (she has a garage I can use). I also bought a camouflage tarp (very excited about that). I got the bumper all set up and began to paint. Honestly, it looked like shit. I called my dad. He said, maybe you need another coat of paint. Okay, easy enough. I went to Carquest - it was closed, went to another, it was closed too. So, I went to Carquest, the next day on my lunch break. They could mix the paint, but not put it in an aerosol can, but, the woman said, you oculd use this sprayer - it works just the same and it's pretty cheap. Ok, that's doable. So, Monday, I put a second coat of paint on. It looked really good, if I do say so myself. But.... it was a little rough and I had enough paint left to do another coat. So, Tuesday, I try to put a third coat on. I ran out of propellant 2/3 up one side of the bumper. Three beers and 2 cigarrettes later, I was ok with that. I went and bought more the next day. Wednesday, third coat of paint. I thought I ran out of paint halfway through - so annoyed! But, don't fear! I had enough, until I ran out of propellant with a strip left across the top of the bumper. WTF, really. So, another day of being pissed. Thursday, I decide, F. this Shit. The SOB is going on the car. So, I proceed to attempt unscrewing the two screws on the drivers side. no luck. I went to Schucks. Got a stubby screwdriver. Still no luck. Ok, I'll take off the tire. Found the jack. Rusted shut. WD40 is my hero! Jacked the car up. Oh wait, I need to loosen the lug nuts first. Back down she goes. Can't loosen the lug nuts. OK, new plan. Cut down the stubby screwdriver. Cut my finger. I'm laying on my friends couch when she shows up. "you look like you want to die!". No, just annoyed past the point of frustration. So, her friend says he will help. I wanted so badly to do this project without some male helping. But, enough with the pride - he worked on it for a good hour and a half before giving up. Not the right tools, so frustrated. So... the bumper is now on my parents deck. Tomorrow I'm getting another aerosol can of paint. Also, I have sanded off the bumps and my dad gave me an adapter for my socket wrench, so I'm hopeful!