Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Serenity Now


Do you remember that Seinfeld episode where George's father tries to master his stress by chanting the words, "Serenity Now?" 

I think I'm there.

Over the past couple of weeks, my son's car has been acting up.  He is at school, so my daughter and I have been driving it in his absence.  Sometimes it will not move when you put it in drive, sometimes  all the dashboard warning lights go on all at once, and sometimes it just plain won't start.  It's a six-year-old Honda Accord that we bought secondhand because of Honda's reputation for reliability.  It only has 25,000 miles on it, but because it is six years old it is no longer under warranty, and we're still paying it off.

Serenity Now.

Our neighborhood mechanic thinks it needs a new transmission.  Honda had some problems with transmissions in the early 2000 models, and has extended the warranty on those cars to 8 years/80,000 miles.  Unfortunately, our car is not covered by this extended warranty.

Serenity Now.

We have read online that Honda has given some models not covered by the extended warranty a "good faith repair."  However, the car must first be given a diagnostic test by a certified Honda service provider.  Our car will be getting that test this morning.  Because the problems have been intermittent, we are  worried that the  test might not indicate a problem.  Then we will be stuck with a car that we cannot trust, but are still paying for.

Serenity Now.

We have also been having some trouble with our three-year- old KitchenAid refrigerator.  We have already had to replace the icemaker.  Now it seems to be "overheating," -- the body where the doors close sometimes gets so hot that it hurts when you touch it.  Of course, it is no longer under warranty.

Serenity Now.

The repairman said to try cleaning the coil first.  How embarrassing is that?  Well, we did vacuum the coil, and it seemed to remedy the problem for awhile.  But this weekend, it started again, and the freezer would not stay cold enough to keep the food inside frozen.  All my sugar free fudgicles melted.

Serenity Now!!!

So last night I was reduced to eating semisweet chocolate chips straight from the bag to calm my nerves. (I'm sorry, but it was an emergency.)   And this morning I am just going  to chant "Serenity Now"  until my blood pressure goes down, and I hear from the Honda dealer and the KitchenAid repairman. 

 And I may have a few more chocolate chips.





 


32 comments:

  1. Mary

    Oh gosh--don't you hate when this stuff happens? And you lost the fudgesicles? The worst!
    When I was off from blogging, our septic tank needed scraping--truly $ thrown down a hole!
    Keep chanting--it'll work!Keeping my fingers crossed for the Honda!

    :0)
    Tara

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  2. Ugh! I hate problems. Do you have a large size bag of chips? Do I need to bring you some chocolate?

    Good luck!

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  3. Wow, when it rains, it pours! I hope everything works out for you.
    I had to laugh when I frist read your title, because it made me remember that Seinfeld episode! LOL!
    So here is to hoping that you find real serenity!

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  4. Chocolate chips can cure just about anything. They are a stable at our house... right there with the tylenol, milk and bread....

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  5. Hang in there! Boy, do I understand. You feel powerless, don't you? I'm sure it will all work out and you'll soon be just fine.

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  6. Uh oh. It's terrible when things like that happen. You've got the right idea though, just eat more chocolate!

    Hugs,
    Donna

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  7. Oh...I'm sorry that so much is hitting at one time. It seems thats how it goes. Hang in there...chin up...and eat more chocolate! Hope the day turns to roses!

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  8. Well, that certainly s***s, I am thinking that you switch from chocolate chips to frozen( whoops) thawed Mudslides!

    Janet

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  9. Now....NOW....Stinking Serenity Now!

    I know Mary. It's all enough to get on your last nerve. Been there, still doing that.

    That's totally ridiculous for a car that only has 25,000 miles. If the oil is changed regularly a car should get over 200,000 miles and a Honda for sure. I certainly hope the diagnostic turn out in your favor.

    We went through the refrigerator thing too. And it was just a month past the warranty cut off. My neighbor and I have both had problems with our Maytag french door fridges. That's unbelievable....Maytag!!!

    I'm hoping for everything to begin to turn around today.

    - Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

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  10. I've also been medicating with chocolate this past week. My son blew the engine in his car. Our one year old no clog gutters (from that orange big box store) clogged. And the remnants of Fay left a stream of water flowing through our basement. My husband, who had taken the week off, was so, so glad to go back to work today.
    Lets enjoy our chocolate and believe this will be a less stressful week!
    Peggy

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  11. The car is the worst . . . like kids, they don't act up when you take them to the doctor or mechanic in this case. Then you get them (it) home and the problems come back. UGH!

    Go treat yourself to real chocolate ice cream - you deserve it!!

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  12. Wow, I hope you have a better day today! :)

    Jennifer

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  13. I thought everyone ate chocolate chips straight out of the bag...

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  14. We all have 'those days.' -shakes head-

    Sorry it was your turn... though.

    Courage!

    Gentle hugs,
    Miss Mari-Nanci
    Smilnsigh
    Dans l'esprit d'une grand-mère

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  15. Oh, wow! I just made a chocolate run to Trader Joe's - they have the best truffles! Let me know if I need to overnight them!

    Good luck!
    Amanda:)

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  16. My 2 BFFs and I go around saying SERENITY NOW all the time (loved that episode of Seinfeld). I have a KitchenAid fridge five years old that had the ice maker acting up as soon as the warranty was off. I sort of took it part and it started working again--don't ask me what I did LOL! Every now and then I hear some weird noises but we always have ice so I say, if its not broke don't fix it. Hope all works out for you.

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  17. ooooohhhhmmmmmmm...serenity vibing your way....yummmmmmm...ooops, that was the chocolate. whatever works! let us know how it turns out. my frige is dying, and actually rusting from the outside in. (mindboggling)with no water line functioning. i use twink on it periodically. doncha just shake your head at the way things "work"? i wish you lots of peace and an unending chocolate supply! jkj

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  18. That's horrible that a six year old car with such low mileage is having those type of problems!!! I sure hope everything works out! Isn't it funny how chocolate can make you feel a little better!

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  19. Oh I've been there with the chocolate chips...LOL.

    We had 2 Honda Accords at one time once....the one my DH drove never wanted to work for ME..but was fine when he drove it. I think he knew all the little quirks and tricks...I hope you get it worked out soon!

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  20. ...I'm truly sorry that you are having these problems and I sincerely hope that everything works out in your favor. For having these problems you wrote this post perfectly! If I were you, I'd eat that whole bag of chocolate chips and never look back! lol... ;o)

    ...Here's to much better days ahead! Always remember, "this too shall pass"...

    ...Blessings... :o)

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  21. Don't ever feel the need to explain eating chocolate chips from the bag. Been there, done that . . . more than once!!

    May all your problems soon be solved.

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  22. Oh I feel so sorry for you. Eat another couple of chocolate chips, it's okay really. At least that's what I tell myself in times of stress. I hope that it all works out very soon.
    P.S. I love your pics from the post below. What a family treasure and you display it beautifully!
    *hugs*

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  23. Oh Mary,

    What a bummer you have to go through this. it is hard to believe that a car that is only a few yrs old has this problem. I hope it isn't the transmission. I know when it rains it pours right.
    Chocolate chips are great
    for stress! Take care, and don't stres too much. Hope things are better soon.

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  24. Oh the serenity inducing power of chocolate! I have been known to actually search the pantry shelves in hope of finding a chocolate chip that might have fallen out of the bag. Desperation thy name is Kathy. I hope the car acts as poorly as possible for the repairman. Sorry about the fridge. Have another handful of chocolate chips and keep chanting, it can't hurt:>)

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  25. Love your blog :-) There's an award waiting for you llynm.blogspot.com

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  26. I was calm until you hit me with the sugar-free fudgicles melting. That's when I started chanting right along with you.

    I can relate. This weekend our 1 year old dishwasher started leaking for the 5th time. I've had the Sears repairman in and out of my house so many times, I'm sure the neighbors are getting suspicious! Geesh...

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  27. This was hilarious. I well remember that episode. Try yelling those words while, at the same time, stuffing your mouth with the chocolate chips. I hear that works. ;-)

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  28. I'd be having a glass of red wine with the chocolate, or maybe two. I hope everything works out. Or maybe try saying "Goosefraba" (from Anger Management.)

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  29. You probably don't want to hear this, but you should have picked up an extended warranty for the Honda earlier. :(

    You can buy one from a number of online sources, usually at half the price or less than the same warranty will cost you at a dealership. And you can buy a warranty at any time.

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  30. I gave you an award because you mean a lot to me!

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  31. First let me say that I feel for you--having those problems. And then I want to tell you that I am so happy to know I am not the only one who eats chocolate chips right from the bag. I have kept it a dark secret--not even my husband knows. It truly does help, doesn't it?

    Judy

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  32. I'm sorry for all of your car problems, but this was a fantastic post - the writing anyway. Thank you!

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