$400.63 for a New Wheel!

I can not believe that the wheel which I had welded last August for over $200 has broken, and caused a flat, which I noticed after I had driven 5 blocks to Safeway's this morning. I did wonder what the noise and steering problems were as I had just paid $330 plus for two new tires and a fucking alignment - Excuse my language, but the whole wheels, which I know are integral to one's car's performance, thing just makes me so angry. All I want to do it make my car move from A to B. With the help of course of my trusted Tom Tom. So, you see it pains me so, that I have been compelled to blog about it.

The dreaded red check engine light came on the other day too. Don't even get me started on that one. That light has caused too many trips to the cash machine and not even the love for my car Joy can allow me to spend any more cash on her. She is getting sold. Along with Matt's Toyota truck, Tracey - they are both being swapped for a hybrid number, dunno which one yet - research is getting done as, well, it isn't actually so any tips form anyone.? Do any of my mates own one, or know anyone that does?

So, it is May. The middle of, Monday at 5.44pm in my new 'hood, the Mission in San Francisco. Matt and I moved in together, and we have been living here just over a week, well, two weeks on Wednesday, that went quick. The sun is shining still, the window to the office, where I am faces East, but the sky is still blue - with the rays hitting the back deck. I love this flat.

There are some obviously hit you straight in the face, which were of some concern from the initial viewing, no no's about the 'hood, like the fact some one had been shot and two people stabbed a week or so before we moved in. We actually discovered later, from the owner of the building, when he came to fix the dodgy lighting, that in fact a kid had been shot on the bench directly under this office window, which is bang your leg on it close to the door step. Well, the lease had been signed.

The whole house hunting thing was a night mare from the start, as Matt was undertaking a huge gig he had planned, which spread across 5 venues over the city, it was the build up and he was glued to his cell and laptop. So, it left me looking at about 15 properties in one weekend and then a scattered few for a nights over two weeks. I am so glad that I did not opt for the 1st one I saw in Noe Valley. Lovely 'hood, but the flat was a cellar basically, the living room floor was tiled (me thinks good for flooding- mind you after earthquake, it would take more than a Swiffer to clean up the mess).

This flat, is a flat, not a 1/4 -ered Victorian botch job, with the bedroom off the kitchen, it is a lovely - above a laundrette kind-of -flat! You go in the front door, up the wooden, painted (mole) steps. There is an original painting of a purple cat, with yellow high-tops running round the corner, classic. Then a landing. I like this as it means all the rooms go off in different directions and are separate. The floors throughout are wooden 3" oak, with a matt varnish - The 1st room to the left is the bedroom, which has an original painting of a blue bear. These paintings are directly painted on the wall, and are the only remnants (well, except a few tiki mugs, a purple glass bowl and nice water jug/vase) from the previous tenant who is an artist. It is cartoon/graffiti-fied, really cool simple lines and colours. Anyway, I move on - The kitchen is big, with a pantry, but all the action is in a long line, starting with a single sink, granite worktops, and an oven. There are plenty of cupboards, but they are high up. I need to stand on an chair to get to the mixer and juicer - I need to get a ladder (where from?). The main problem is that there is no draining board. I did notice this when looked at the place originally, but it's other features were a slight distraction, like massive wardrobe in the bedroom - which turned out to be all mine, because my love has his stuff in the office, which is supposed to be a second bedroom, so that is where the closet is. Plus his '30's dressers look ace in here. Then there is the wonderful original fireplace, complete with mirror, two shelves and columns, but sadly only producing a redundant gas pipe which was an update of the wood burning instead of a real fire. Come on doesn't that sound cosy? Anyway, it turns out that heat is not a problem, because as long as we are living above this laundrette those tumble dryers are gonna keep us warm, and probably send us deaf too!

The bathroom is new, it is small, but has storage for towels and my plastic boxes of utter crap. You know I have lived here for nearly three years and when I moved last week from the suburbnes of San Mateo to the Missionnes of the Mission I found a Boots brand bottle of hair mouse. Now since when exactly has mouse been extinct? I mean come on - when did you last use it? I had a moment of nostalgia, I must admit, but only for the Boot's logo. Boots did some great sandwiches. Hope M&S's did not bag all that business and Boot's is still going strong. Oh, I love the one at Heathrow Airport. Er, bathroom - yeah, nice dark granite floor tiles, and white for the shower. The shower is above the bath, not my favourite, but it it the norm here.

Then through the kitchen is the back storage room, which leads onto the deck. I am gonna get 5 galvanised dustbins, slimmish though, and plant bamboo - this will stop wind and block out the ugly flats to the left. The view straight is OK - There is a cafe and it's patio is there, with little picnic tables, tucked under a canopy of fruit trees. Not seen much action out there yet. I am just waiting for rats - I know a bit of a drastic switch- 'cause it brings me on to something else that I must remember to do - Get a cat. I know, ironic isn't it? I found one a few blog posts ago, Milo - Only had two emails from him, and he forgot about me, see how fickle can one be? I found two catnip stuffed mice in the move too - he was so spoiled, the ungrateful sod! So, yeah - I have been looking on Craig's List for a cat, I want a tom, indoor or out - he can do what he pleases. So, I have signed up with an adoption agency and have also been looking at spoiled little kittys form people who are going to abandon them! There are some lovely ones about - but none I have bonded with in Cat Cyber space with yet.

I am looking for a job as well as moving. Why is my life chill for ages then BANG, gets all hectic for a while? So, I am still working for JP - The Landscape Architect, but it is only part time, because I left my other job to start a restaurant, which I am no longer part of, long story, nearly at the end of this!, So yeah, I am here in San Francisco, in a really lovely part of town, bordering Protrero Hill, I really like it - looking for a job in the landscaping industry, doing anything but heavy lifting- Prefer site surveying and 'rendering', only partial bending and slight wrist movement! Go figure. (in a So.Cal. accent of course).

So yeah it is all good, except for tomorrow when I see that dreaded red check engine light gawping at me at 8am when I am off to work!

See ya x