After weeks of abusing Extension 17 (if you're paying someone, they should show up for work. And actually do some work) (I'm an exception, okay?) I'm now in his debt. Yesterday I left my headlights on when I got to work. That's the third time in the last six months. I think I'm getting senile.

Anyhow, Extension 17 kindly offered me a jumpstart and now I feel morally obligated not to abuse him again for at least a week. Grrrr.

This morning the beast wouldn't start again. Fortunately for my peace of mind (and my 9:00 appointment), Lynn hadn't left for work yet. I managed to push the beast back out of my parking space (just call me Muscles) far enough to use her car to jump it, but I damaged myself in the process. (Okay, I cut my finger. Battle injuries are battle injuries, okay?)

I need a new battery. Let's hope it's nothing more complicated than that. I haven't the faintest idea where to buy a battery for a car. When my toys break, I usually throw them away and buy new toys.

Fortunately for the apartment dumpster, Lynn suggested I call the dealership where I bought the car, so I'll be doing that in a few minutes. With luck, I can get an appointment to take the beast over there today and get all the little bits and pieces done. (Might as well have it tuned up while they have it.)

I have netmeetings at 9:00 and 11:00 today, but I'm free in the afternoon.

As I drove to work, trying desperately to get the battery charged while driving in stop-and-go traffic, I found myself wondering if the fool thing was going to start when I leave here today. I mean, I can hardly go down and drive it around the block a few times once an hour to keep the engine warmed up, now can I? And yet, I'm uncomfortably aware that I'm likely to find myself kicking a dead engine again when I walk about of here in a few hours. Which means I'll wind up owing Extension 17 another favor. I don't think I can take that.

As I drove to work, I also had fantasies of just leaving the beast at the dealership and walking out with a new car, but I'm thinking calm thoughts while I disinfect the wound I got jumpstarting myself this morning. I'm really not in the mood to take over $500/month car payments at the moment and there's nothing wrong with the beast that regular maintenance wouldn't cure. The occasional oil change, some new plugs, maybe wiping off the top fifty layers of crud under the hood, that sort of thing.

Anyhow. I'm in a bad, bad, bad mood.