My son brought his truck home with a leaking heater core this weekend. What a pain! I've never fixed one, but when the mechanic told me $800 to install a $45 part, I got REAL interested. Took us 10 hours, pulled the dashboard and all the other stuff hooked up to it. Two weekend shadetree mechanics with no experience "got 'er done". All told, only cost $60, and 2 days. The guys who design these things are sadists. ($800 is about 6 months of Sam's meds)

My daughter brought home a little dog a few weeks ago. He weighs in at a whopping 3 1/2 pounds, full grown. Chihuahua/Pincer toy thing. I thought he was a monster, didn't listen, afraid of people. Turns out he's had 4 previous owners, been on "doggie death row" at the pound twice. She got him from a "friend" who didn't take care of him. Fleas, worms, the whole deal. She cleaned him up, his hair grew back, and he's starting to come along. Sam loves him. He lives in her lap. Why people get beautiful animals and treat them poorly is something I will never understand.

Sam starts speech again next week. Therapist called today to make sure she would be back. They really love her over there. Kids learn a lot, and she's improved every semester. GREAT!! Got 2 at OSU, one in grad school, and a wife going to "college". No wonder why I have to be my own mechanic!!