Weekend update

Insanely busy weekend for us, some accomplishments and some mix ups.

Saturday, I picked up the car from the dealer to get it inspected. It didn’t pass. First of all they claimed lights were out. Then they said the OBD diagnostic read it wasn’t ready for inspection. I was surprised about the lights, but figured we’d deal with the OBD after we get back from Connecticut (6 hours + car travel should do it). I then went into Motor Vehicles to get a replacement title (now that I had my marriage certificate) so I could get rid of the Escort. Was pretty painless, except for Alan’s impatience. I then noticed driving out of the Motor Vehicles area that my turn signals didn’t work. Umm..they worked when I got there. So I ended up fiddling with the turn stalk, they worked again and stayed working.

Next I met back with my husband who got a haircut at the barber. Then we went to drop off the broken microwave and off to my mother in laws. We went with her to my SIL in Jersey City. I fixed her loose shoe rack and towel rod with duct tape! My husband and I got her A/C out of the window and into her closet for storage and my husband went over some financial stuff with her. Alan was happy, but watched his Sponge Bob tape three times. We had Chinese there, but Alan didn’t eat anything.

We headed home after that. We saw an ad in the freebie TV magazine from a new pizza place – 2.99 for a plain pie for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We got there and they weren’t taking more orders as they had a backlog of 125 pies. I think they made their price too low. So we went next door to Stop and Shop and got a Betzio’s frozen pizza for Alan. On the way to the pizza place my check engine light went on again – well they opened the gas cap during the inspection to pressure check it. Needless to say I’m p*ssed – twice this has happened with SOMEONE opening the gas cap. Since NJ is not self serve gas, it’s not like I’m doing something wrong. I’m making sure the dealer REALLY tests the cap and the sensor, I suspect something’s not 100% right with either. I’m still waiting on the radio – it now looks like it works, but no sound comes out which is weird. (Before it said LOCKED when you turned it on.)

Sunday was a better day. First we had to go our friend’s Ray’s sister’s memorial service at church. My MIL sat Alan. It was actually a small portion at the end of the mass. (More about the services in another post). But I think his family (he’s known Ray since age 13, his sister used to live in our complex) was pleased we came. We didn’t go to the cemetery since we had to fix up the computer we gave our friends. So we came home, changed, ate lunch, drove out to Hackettstown (I held my breath when we went past the hills my car died on 2 weeks ago). Set up the PC, wiped out old personal data, removed a lot of junk software and spyware (this was my MILs old PC) and installed AOL for our friend. All she needs to do now is get her AOL password and she’ll be all set (it works with our account, she forgot her password). We went to Wendy’s afterward – Alan actually finished his chicken nuggets for a change. Home for all of us and a bath for Alan. I actually got the dinning room area tided up – all the art stuff is in a tray now, not a lopsided pile. Next task, the kitchen, then the guest bathroom and living room (playarea). I think it will look ok for the social worker (as long as she doesn’t go in the bedrooms or master bath…)

Observations on a church service

The church we went to on Sunday was an Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. (I think it is somewhat similar to Greek Orthodox, but our friend’s family is Syrian).

We came in for the communion part of the service. Apparently the first Sunday of every month they have the Sunday school children take communion. I had seen Catholic communions and this was different.

First of all, I saw all ages take communion (preschool and up). I know in Catholicism there is a big first Communion ceremony about age 9 or 3rd grade. So this surprised me. Even the form of communion seemed different. I thought it was sipping a glass of wine and eating a round wafer. It looked like cut up bread and everyone took the wine from a spoon held by the priest(s).

There was a small transfiguration ceremony at the end of the regular mass – 2 families were having a 9 day one, Ray’s family the 40 day one (I don’t know the difference). I saw they blessed some bread – there was a baked cake in a foil tray, Ray’s family had pita bread and one family brought a framed photo.

After the mass was over, they took the 2 big bowls of bread and just left them on the side of aisle. People took them on the way out. I didn’t think Mark and I should since we are not Christian, so we didn’t. I thought they’d not leave the leftover communion bread out?

Also, I wore my Jewish star to the mass – I always wear it. On the way out people passed the priest and some kissed the cross. We just passed by, I hope my star showed I was just visiting – we headed over to give our condolences to Ray’s family, passing by the row of other mourners.

All in all it was interesting, but I always feel slightly weird in Christian services.

Downs and ups

So I wind up calling the car guy today. He comes over and looks at the car yet again. Why doesn't the radio work - someone took the speakers out in the back (and the front I think also). He didn't notice it, we didn't notice it, Chevy (whom I am going to complain to) didn't notice it - I'd asked them to unlock the radio. Anyway my husband yelled at him and he will get speakers.

In good news, I cleaned the kitchen tonight. No more stuff all over the counter. Just a few things (and an odd space where our microwave usually is). Also all medicine is out of the way in the kitchen and almost all out of the way in the bathroom. Next is to cleanup the living room area where the toys are.

I also got a call that Alan needs a hearing and vision check as part of the evaluation. No idea how I'll do it - I may have to have my MIL take him? Unless they'll go to the daycare or do it first thing in the AM.