5/30/06: High Anxiety

First, I’m getting excited about my upcoming trip to Wyoming. My younger self wouldn’t have taken this trip alone. But now that I’m older, I must be getting tougher and more determined. I refuse to sit at home waiting for the right opportunity, or the right person.

Second, I’m getting excited about buying a new car. In order for you to understand how big a step this is, you need to know that I’m driving a 1986 Acura Legend. That’ right—a twenty-year-old car. It has about 205,000 miles on it, and it is, finally, becoming very ill. Clearly, it’s not worth costly repairs. So, I’ve been car shopping. I’m such a Honda fan, it’s hard for me to consider anything else. At first, I was intrigued by Honda’s newest car, the Fit. But after driving it and several other models, I’ve settle on the CR-V. Of course, I’ll have to eat humble pie, after I’ve prided myself on NOT driving one of those gas-hungry SUVs. In my defense, though, the mileage of the CR-V is decent—23/29. If everything goes as planned, I’ll take delivery soon after I return from my trip next Tuesday.

I learned very disappointing, frustrating news this week. I’ll turn 62 in September, and I’ve been counting down to this birthday for the last five years, eagerly anticipating the big social security eligibility. This is one of the reasons I’ve been trying to hold my car together, counting on social security to help make the car payment. Only now did I find out that I’m not, in fact, eligible for anything yet because I earn too much. If I tried to start collecting social security before my “full retirement” age of 66, then my monthly amount would be reduced by $1 for every $2 I make over about $12,000 annually. Well, guess what? I make enough over that amount to wipe out any monthly payment. Oh, how I wish I could have invested my contributions myself, and now have full control over it. Bring on privatization!

I guess I’ll just have to work even harder to boost my income as much as possible. It’s a good thing I enjoy what I do. Meanwhile, I’m willing to take money out of savings when necessary so that I can buy a car, travel to marathons, and pay my taxes. If not now, when?

For my tutoring service, visit http://WiseOwlTutoring.net.

For more information about my writing and editing, visit http://BettieWailes.com.

Skipped week, more cleaning, good run, graduation

Honestly, I don’t how the days pass so quickly. It was Thursday of last week when I remembered I was late with a post, but I didn’t have time then, nor Friday. By Saturday, I decided to just wait until this week.

Because the school is ending this week, and the seniors were out last week, I expected my tutoring schedule to lighten abruptly. I’m pleasantly surprised that some students are continuing through the summer, and that I have several new students. Speaking of seniors, I attended the graduation ceremony for Winter Park High School last Friday. I beamed with pride as current or former students walked across the dais. So I extend my sincerest congratulations to Alexandro Camacho, Kushal Chutkan, Asya Hill, Laura Jakiel, Chulho Jang, Yoo-Sung Lee, Kelly MacConnell, Andrew Tankel, Erik Tanner, and Amanda Vivo. Well done!

I had a good 24-mile run on Sunday, finishing strong and steady. I was relieved that the run went well, because my attempt at 22 miles the week before ended badly. I felt good until the 14^th mile, when I suddenly began all the usual symptoms of hyponatremia. I walked more than ran another six, giving me a total distance of 20 miles, but a disappointing performance. I still can’t tell when I’m going to have a good run and when I’m going to melt down. I just hope marathon day in two weeks is one of the good days.

I haven’t done much writing lately, although in my head, I’ve been busy revising. If only I could transfer my thoughts directly onto the paper. I hope to have new material for my critique group on Friday night. I need the pressure!

My “intense” housecleaning continues. I’ve made a remarkable improvement of my desk, filing, discarding, and rearranging. This morning I tackled the wall of my family room that holds various awards from road races. They are arranged on three small shelves, and on the wall over and surrounding the shelves. This area is often ignored when I do my normal dusting, so the debris from the air duct workers only added to an accumulation of dust. I got only about a third of the way through the job when the clock stopped me. It was time to get ready to go to the dentist. The job was delayed by one trophy which had come apart. It was constructed by putting together several segments, all held together by one long screw. It is a mystery how it the nut on the end of the long screw came loose, and quite a task to get the parts reassembled.

For my tutoring service, visit http://WiseOwlTutoring.net.

For more information about my writing and editing, visit http://BettieWailes.com.

Spring Cleaning

I wrote last week about having the air ducts replaced in my house. Naturally, drywall had to be cut to allow installation of new return vents, and just as naturally, drywall dust settled on every surface, large and small alike, in the entire house. This is certainly not the only reason for a thorough cleaning, but merely the most recent. So, one room at a time, I’m cleaning every surface, every item. This requires picking up each book on each shelf, as well as a host of other items. I’m taking this opportunity to throw away unneeded or obsolete items, and to store properly all the things I want to keep. I consider this a long-term task, expecting it to take up to four weeks to complete. But I intend to have my house clean and organized throughout, perhaps for the first time in my life.

The same bug has followed me to my office this week. I’m on a roll now, having organized my books and notebooks, files and records. Wow! It feels good.

After everything is in place, I can spend much more time writing. (This is a story I keep telling myself; the only variable is the task that must be finished first.) When I’m busy doing something else, I plan what I’m going to write, or how I’m going to mend something already written. But somehow, I can’t settle down to write until the to-do list is empty. Anyone got any suggestions for how to get over this?

Several students who have been with me for two years or longer (Kelly M. has been with me for four years) are graduating this year. I’ll miss them even as I wish them well as they embark on new adventures. And I’ll start the attachment process with their replacements. (Gee, that sounds just like a teacher, doesn’t it?)


For my tutoring service, visit http://WiseOwlTutoring.net.

For more information about my writing and editing, visit http://BettieWailes.com.

5/3/06: The Air Duct Story – Air Concepts of Central FL, Good Guys

I’ve made a marathon decision. I’m going to Casper, Wyoming for a June 4 marathon. On Friday, June 2, I’ll fly to Denver, hope to see my friend Beth, and drive up to Casper either Friday night or Saturday morning. After the marathon on Sunday, I’ll drive up to the Yellowstone area and spend Monday there. Monday evening, I’ll drive about halfway back to Denver, and finish the trip Tuesday morning, then fly home Tuesday afternoon. I’m excited about another marathon, but just as excited to be going to Yellowstone.

I had a strong 20-mile run on Sunday, too. As I was walking back home, I thought, “This is the way it should be. I get up, go out run 20 miles, and come back home. Nothing to it.”

Meanwhile, I had an interesting experience on the home front. The air ducts in my house were failing-- partially disintegrated, caved in, unattached. So I got the standard three estimates. One company stood out from the rest, so I asked them to get started. The job started on time, and the workers were polite and respectful. I was especially impressed when they asked if there was a vacuum they could use to clean behind themselves. The original time estimate was Wednesday, Thursday, and a half day on Friday.

I returned home at nine-thirty Friday evening to find a doubled crew still working. There was some mumbling about some unexpected problems, but the supervisor was smiling and expressed confidence that the job would soon be completed. By ten-thirty, he asked if they could finish the last little bit on Saturday. I agreed.

On Saturday afternoon, I got a call from a worker saying he was delayed and asking if it would be okay to come Monday instead. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday all passed with no word and no work. I still hadn’t paid anything, so I wasn’t alarmed, only disappointed at the inconvenience. During the week since the project started, we had lost all or part of the use of our garage, and this was beginning to be quite annoying. Also, the air conditioning system was working efficiently, and not at all in some areas.

I called on Thursday to find out when to expect someone. I got a call a few hours later asking if I could meet with the company president the next day. I agreed, but grew apprehensive. Could this have anything to do the “unexpected problems?” Are they going to want to increase the fee?

The next day, four company vehicles crowded into my driveway and out piled a large work crew, along with the company president, his father/former president, and the supervisor of the job. They began with humble apologies and an offer of free maintenance on my air conditioning system for two years, plus a two-year extension of the warranty of the air duct system. And an offer to do whatever else would make be happy.

Over the next few days, and employee was fired, the job was completed to my satisfaction, the price of the original contract was reduced, and a commitment made to repair damage to a piece of furniture. I’m happy with the job and the company.

I recommend this company without reservation. They are highly professional, they do detailed estimates, and they do good work. If you’re in the central Florida area and need air conditioning or air ductwork, call Air Concepts of Central Florida. They’re a class outfit.

For my tutoring service, visit http://WiseOwlTutoring.net.

For more information about my writing and editing, visit http://BettieWailes.com.