Flossie's Unexpected Gift

If you are a frequent visitor here then you know serendipity is one of my favorite things. I love finding something surprising and wonderful when I am expecting something less, or nothing at all. Well, Friday was a day of serendipity!

A few months ago during frigid winter temperatures I wrote about how the driver's side seat warmer burned out in my car, forcing me to suffer from cold buttism. Now, in the heat of early summer, the A/C is in a rut. I'd love some cool, but Flossie Ford is stuck on the idea of me with a warm backside.  I told her she's behind the times and cool air is where it's at, but she'll have none of it. I wanted warm and warm I shall have.

The outside temp was a whopping 92 on Friday, and Flossie teased me with air that alternated between lukewarm and warmer. Hoping for a cool cross breeze I drove with the windows down and the sunroof open, and that was when serendipity found me. My nostrils twitched from a delightful onslaught of scents from fresh cut grass to blooming things I cannot identify. Even the smell of tar reminded me of a long ago trip to Hampton Beach with my daddy. The wind whipped through the car's interior, my hair blew with no care for style, I heard tree leaves dancing, dogs barking, kids playing, and in those moments I thanked Flossie for gifting me with the sensuous assault.

Upon my arrival at home I closed up the windows and roof, turned off the engine and marched straight into my air conditioned house, because it was freaking hot out, y'all.  But I did appreciate the beauty of the spring day and I love that something as uncomfortable as a blitzed air conditioner resulted in one of the nicest car rides in my recent memory.

I am grateful serendipity hunted me down.  I am also grateful Flossie's extended warranty doesn't expire until January.  She better behave after that or we'll have words.

Have a serendipitous week!

Lisa 

Stinky Stuff Stinks in Twos!

Some things are just plain stinky, and they seem to happen in pairs.

A few years ago our washing machine hose burst and flooded two levels of our home.  One week later, with the carpet pulled back and industrial blowers still blasting away, a storm downed a forty foot tree…right on top of the house.  The eye-popping sight drew a crowd of neighbors, making my driveway the most popular spot on the street.  One guy showed up with a six-pack and a folding chair.

So now a few years have passed and except for the usual inconveniences nothing major has come our way.  Until this week. 

My car, a Ford 500 (the automobile equivalent of sensible shoes) decided to leak with the rain.  I’ve been noticing for some time a musty odor after heavy rains and blamed my umbrella for draining water onto the car floor.  Turns out Flossie Ford has some kind of drain thingy near her sunroof that clogged up.  Who knew?

But wait!  There’s more! 

In a nasty turn, the heater misbehaved, the CD player started skipping, and the brakes creaked.  Worst of all, the seat warmer on the driver’s side died, and I am not a happy lady without my seat warmer.  It is medically proven that we old baggers need warm butts to prevent crankiness.

So, the car is in the shop and I can live with that, because the nice, expensive mechanic is going to ensure a Flossie that neither leaks nor contributes to cold buttism (if that isn’t a word, it should be).  All’s well that ends well (and warms ends), right?

Not so fast, buttercup.

Enter a huge puddle of water in the garage.  Hubby spent the better part of an hour hiking up and down stairs and trailing water pipes with a flashlight until he discovered the culprit. It was the washing machine! That maniacal mechanism of household drudgery developed a leaky valve.  I’ve been nearly a week without a warm butt and two days sans clean laundry.  Talk about stinky! 

Fortunately, the week is close to over and so are my troubles.  The WM is spinning with glee since an intimate visit with a repairman today, and Flossie returns home tomorrow, seat warmers revved and ready.

To celebrate, I will sit clean clothed in my Flossie Ford, butt warming, while I sip a QT Toffee Latte and munch a bag of Peanut M&Ms. 

Ain’t nuthin’ stinky about that.

Til next time -

Lisa