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I should learn to keep my mouth and jokes to myself. Yesterday's blog is haunting me now.

I had mentioned 'Car repairs, ALWAYS car repairs' in relation to seeing a light at the end of the financial tunnel.

Tomorrow I walk in to Citi-Financial and make the final payment of $121 on a loan that literally I've had going month after month year after year since 1987!!!!

The normal payment has been $201 the past five years but about four years ago I was determined to free myself (by the grace and help of God) by refusing to give into the quick fix. Credit cards are a subtle trap of their own and the bloodbath there still rages. I had been paying ahead a bit and the last payment will put $80 back into the kitty.

January 2008 would be a new start and a frontal attack on the rest of what I call my go away bills--once paid forever gone. The light was bright.

But then I had to blog yesterday. If we were to go back in time I would have replaced the car repair joke with something along the lines of:

'Robinhood3000, ALWAYS Robinhood3000'

Thankfully we are very sure he never reads my stuff as I finally gave up commenting on his blog. Still waiting for his reveal.

So yesterday at 9:07 am my cell phone chimes in with a voice message being left. I jump up hoping it's the skin cancer center cancelling my apppointment for 11:30 and saving me $20 I have no intention of returning to the long suffering spouse. There are milky way bars in my future.

Nope. It is the long suffering wife.

9:07. Should be in class. I should really be handsomer what else could be wrong. Did she run out of fuel again?

Nope.

Ran out of water and antifreeze on the highway two miles from school and Charlie's Towing is already on the way to take the Neon to WW Auto where they carry me on an account.

I start to channel Jonah--I do well to be angry Lord.

Better not--God is nicer to you then you deserve. Go for Job.

Nah, better not. He was an upright man.

I know--the Israelites during the 40 year march in the dessert. Whine whine whine.

Sigh. Go get her. The beauty sleep wasn't taking affect anyway. We clean up--no shaving--wanted to show her a bit of concern and anxious here I come to watch the day be saved.

We meet up at WW. I beat the tow truck by two minutes. It's one of the drivers from Charlies who has never seen the Mrs. and I go through the usual introduction.

"Hey thanks for helping my wife and no I did NOT knock the front tooth out."

Yes the long suffering one has an obvious tooth missing and I am occasionally glared at by lady shoppers and cashiers when we are out. I guarantee Ruth can clobber me to Pennsylvania hands down if she's of a mind to. Yes, we are a bit aware that this is inappropriate humor at the expense of the Mrs. but people just seem to think we are so cute together because of it. Unfortunately dental work is enormously expensive and out of the question at this time.

WW Auto says two days (we'll see). Off we go the skin cancer clinic (early) to have the first checkup. We arrive there. Ruth had dropped me off two weeks ago but never went inside. The office is on the second floor and my introduction there to the receptionist is "I'm here to give you $20 to have you tell me I'm just simply charming." Darn copays. We insert the term follow-up care implying that isn't this part of the overall service but they are savvy to this. Nope we'll gladly take your money AFTER the exam.

During the exam the doctor was horrified that I had stopped using the band aid after two days, But you'll scar with that scab (that's doing well by the by she affirms). I inform her that sad to say I was never pretty to begin with and it will be a manly scar indeed. But that reflects on the clinic she drily replies.

I almost busted out laughing. She was serious. I envisioned the rest of my life being stared at by the many people that are taller then me and getting way too close for comfort (unless you're Logos) and constantly wanting to know what barbarians of a medical facility left me in such a sad state of repair. Alas it was that Dayton Skin Cancer facility. I have cast a stain on their reputation and I can no longer bear the shame--blah blah blah.

She cleans me up, bandaids it again and sensing a false convert to the faith enlists the long suffering one to the crusade. You'll make sure he behaves. Must have read my file--he brought that blond hussy he SAYS is his work partner with him the first visit and he was just as dismissive of our concerns. Brandy's not a hussy she's the one I want to marry my son Dan.

Having completed the task I'm escorted back to the receptionist where another appointment is made six weeks later and now it's pay up time. As I hand her the $20 I note various parts of the bill that covered the cost of Three Musketeers, Milky Way bars etc. that would have garnered more smiles if her darn phone hadn't kept ringing.

We leave the facility and then Ruth mentions leaving all her books in her car. Good upstanding condemner of the brethren I totally gloss over the fact that I hadn't noticed the serious lack of the knapsack and toss out the phrase that Ruth is genuinely getting tired of hearing as part of my contribution to her future career in the medical field--"Attention to Detail".

So back to WW Auto. I spare her in my one way. I stay in the car while she gets her books -- the real reason I had no good jokes. We arrive home. I read the paper & Spurgeon for the day and go back to bed. I skip file day at the Bookery leave at 2 pm and do night shift where the only excitement that night was a lady that was so convinced she was in danger of being hit on the side of the road that she was outside her car in pajamas directing cars to go around her.

On the ticket I noted she was in a state of disarray (this in case she's drunk/doped out or on the prowl) to protect the tow driver from being accused of prolonged observation of an indiscreet fashion driving outfit.

She got by with a jump start. I asked the driver no questions.

And so it goes.