I HATE CARS! Part 3 and SOFTBALL SEASON

Well, I got my car back again last Thursday and you will never believe what happened! (Can you feel the sarcasm already?) Now something else is wrong. When I turn right or left the thing squeals. How about that? I don't even have the car for a day and something new is wrong.

I left a message with the mechanic to let him know. Of course, I haven't heard anything, yet, and it's now the end of the day Monday. They tend to wait until I call, but I am going to wait them out this time. I have a feeling that it was towed incorrectly this last time. They towed it without my permission, even though I probably would have granted it, but I also wasn't told what the cost would be. I have a regular tow guy (well, by now I need one) and since this was just a few blocks from the mechanic, they went ahead and pulled it down the street.

I had been told the ignition switch would have taken about an hour when he replaced that last week, which means it should have been done last Monday, but apparently it took quite a bit longer. Now I wonder what he is going to charge for that!

I did drive the car to work today. I'm curious if the towing did something to my brakes. I've always driven this car slow in town, but with the noise it is making, I'm just curious as to how safe I am now. I hope to hear something tonight or tomorrow about getting this repaired.

I had my daughters with me this weekend. We had a great time. I know they were a little bored on Saturday as I had a job for 5 hours that day. They were good sports about it as the office I had to work in was wide open and they had a TV to watch. They played Hide N Seek and had races and pretended to be dentists. It was funny, but I had to work. I thought it would take about 3 hours, but it went a lot longer. They were so well behaved so I treated them to Culver's and DQ, since those are their favorites.

I hate working when they are here. With all the recent car problems, I didn't have a choice. I have to make some money to pay for this stuff. They did get to play outside on Sunday and even went to the park. I also let Brittany make a German Chocolate Pie, which was FANTASTIC! She really had to twist my arm, though. NOT! The recipe was one that was in her hometown cookbook and very easy to make. She and Paige were given recipes to submit by her mother or grandmother. It was cook to see the cookbook with their names in it.

I've been attending the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ since August, but made my membership official yesterday. Membership really doesn't mean anything except that you can vote with the congregation on things, attend and speak up during congregational meetings, and play church softball! Now I didn't make it official for softball. It was just time to make it official. I've been attending for 8 months so it may have been past due. I am playing softball, though.

We had our first softball practice yesterday and I am sore! My thighs hurt from catching a bit and my left side hurts from swinging a bat. The practice was at the same park I always take the girls to. Brittany did some catching and chasing balls that went past the backstop and Paige just went to play with some other kids on the playground equipment. They had fun, but I'm sure that Brittany would have loved to take a few swings. She won't be on the team due to age and we had to let those that are playing do the practicing. She was glad to help out.

I really did pretty good! I hit several line drives off of the young lady that was pitching. She was pitching flat, which is great for hitters, but illegal in slow pitch. I traded places after catching and did a pretty decent job pitching. I have never pitched slow pitch before, but I understand the dynamics and surprised myself at how well I did. I surprised the team, too, as they don't know me well. Most of them attend the newer style second service and I'm there for the traditional one at 8:30AM. If you were to see us all, you'd think it was the other way around.

I'm a pretty good hitter. I can put the ball pretty much where I want it. I'd be good batting first or 6th or 7th in the order. I'm not great at advancing people unless they are on second or third, but I'm good at getting on base with singles through the infield. I'm also a good third baseman and could play second. I don't have the reach of a first baseman or the range of a shortstop. I'm also not good at judging pop flies, but have played Left Center on numerous occasions and do pretty well there.

I will play where they need me. It sounded like I could do some pitching, too. I just enjoy the sport. Baseball is my favorite, but softball suffices in my advanced age. I mean, really, I don't have the bulk or energy to keep running as football and basketball would require! I would love to play some hoops, though, but I need to get in shape for that. I hope to find a walking partner soon.

Who knows? Maybe this summer will be the one where I finally get in shape! Ah, but I say that every year...