Well, my kids got their report cards today.....after my daughter was failing and I mean with a 45 average, she managed to get a 94 average, The only low grade was an 88 in art...everything was 92 and higher, with a 97 in math... We worked really hard since October, every night, most weekends and I was at her school 3 days a week. My son, boy wonder, got a 94 average, and got a 100 in science..... I love my kids. Its raining here, and my starter went in the middle of a busy intersection today, I managed to coast into an OTB parking lot, before it went.....Well, there goes my christmas present money, I need new brakes, new starter, new horn, and have an oil gasket thats leaking...and its a damned 88 pontiac. Okay....well, Im done ranting......

Kudos to your daughter, Syyd--and you. That's a lot of hard work and determination and deserves some notice. And your son--he deserves kudos too. Tough about the car----not going to make the winter any easier. You need to be down here in the south---we hit almost 80 today (too d*** hot) and you could bicycle if needed LOL. Well, we'll get our share soon I guess--rain we would love to see--possible tonight. We're in 4 year drought. Diane

:) Nice rant! You should have heard mine, if I had posted one today. I'll let it cool down, - and send some pleads tomorrow. Britt sending over a warm hug

applause applause (two rounds for Syyd's kiddies) :-)

YEAH KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now for a car....Fred I essentially think you are right, but thinking of Christmas, I am reticent to go full tilt with it...I only paid $600 I think for my pontiac and its run quite well for two years... Well, its an awful rainy day here, and I have banking, faxing, and mail to pick up and then to the bank, by my two little footies, Ike and Mike.....

Yah little tikes! $600 Wow. I apparently couldn't pick them. Mine was twice as much but lasted the same amount of time. Plus it was older. =:-| Oh. Well. Can Colm do any repair work? I figure a horn can't be too hard. Have junk yards will travel. A new gasket is about $10.00. IF IT"S THE VALVE COVER GASKET ( on top of the engine so to speak ) You can easilly do it yourself in 1 hour with $15.00 of parts. Any idea which gasket is it? ( Please don't say head gasket! ) The breakes and starter I know can be done by a non professional. However I have never done it. I have seen brakes done and I am confident I can do it alone. But... You can make it!! You can make it!!! Wth some luck you can even spend less money. Bsteph

Here's a solution I plan to follow for a long time. Don't drive. For me, the bus takes me where I need to go, theres never trouble starting the engine, it's always warm when I get in, and the passes are cheaper than gas by FAR. Either that, or get some roller blades. Been raining for 3 days here now, non stop. Freeezing rain at that. I slip on my ass on some ice, then get soaked by the puddle I end up falling in, and then my shoes (with way too many holes) freeze along with my feet. As for the kids, rawk on dude.

Top marks to the kids, Syyd!! As for cars, Alpha was right too - I've been driving for 13 years now, and have constantly had piles of rubbish - done all those jobs Bsteph lists, and more, learning from Haynes workshop manuals. Completely refitted the brakes once too. Last year I said Sod it, and bought a 5 year old car in decent nick, and haven't looked back.....been cheaper in the long run - but I also know where u come from with not affording it........ Hope something comes along to solve it 4 u.... (",)