Armed with a pile of paperwork and the inevitable feeling that it all might be more complicated than we hoped, we headed to the DMV yesterday. While I was in Florida, the title had been signed over to me and a visit to Florida’s DMV provided the paperwork we would need in NY, as well as a temporary license plate, since Dad’s insurance was expiring that very day. The car was transferred to my insurance carrier.

Since the car was a gift, no sales tax was required in Florida and I hoped that would be the case in NY. Long lines awaited us, and I filled out the Registration application while I was waiting. There was one more form required, the form to waive sales tax, and I worried that it would need my dad’s signature. It didn’t and everything went smoothly.

Until, we saw a crack on the windshield, which had magically appeared in the interim.

What?

Since we were on the way to a Honda dealership to enlist their help in attaching the front license plate holder (Florida only requires a rear license plate) we asked them about the crack. Since it was over 11 inches long, they informed us that the windshield would have to be replaced before the car would pass inspection.

Crap.

I was frantically fretting about where we would get the money to replace it. Don encouraged me to call our insurance company. I, being ever the worrier, doubted they would help as surely we would have to pay a deductible. But I called them.

They informed me we had full glass coverage and it would be replaced for free.

Huzzah!

I do remember something hitting the windshield when I was driving home from Florida, but I didn’t see anything and forgot about it.

It will be replaced on Friday afternoon.

Today, our 14 year old car has to be inspected. I fear the news won’t be as good. That car is a trooper and we’d like to hang on to it as long as we can. Don has already decided it will be his music gig, bus station, recycling, and general errand transport. We love you CR-V and we need  you.

Cross your fingers, okay?

Scout desperately needs a bath. The lawn needs mowing. The cottage always seems to need cleaning. (I find this to be true of all the old houses I have lived in – they just seem to attract more dirt.) I just finished The English Spy  by Daniel Silva and have to start a new book slated for review next week. Don’s playing his guitar as I write this. I’m sipping Peet’s French Roast.

A slice of life at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Short, but sweet, post on Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Happy Wednesday.

Well, it’s been a week of all things ‘eye.’ Last week, I had my eyes examined for a new prescription and I’m picking up the glasses this morning. The day after my exam, I experienced another big floater event that was very unnerving, so I went to the Ophthalmologist on Monday and a Retinal Specialist yesterday. No tear in the retina and no detachment. Whew. I had been rather a worried mess since Friday.

We waited about 2 hours in the specialist’s waiting room yesterday. I hadn’t eaten enough and was dehydrated and nervous, besides, so it made for a very stressful afternoon. I feel like my eyes have been through the wringer!

I am taking a sort of break for the next week or so. When I say ‘sort of’ I mean that I probably won’t be posting every day, so don’t start worrying when you don’t see a post. I’m flying down to Florida today to visit my dad and my sister and her family. I’ll be there about five days, which isn’t all that long, so I know you’ll understand that I want to spend as much time with everyone as I can.

My dad, who will be 92 next month, is giving up driving. This is a very hard transition for him, as you can imagine. He is giving us his car. It’s an unbelievably generous gesture on his part. Let’s be honest here, we can really use an additional car (and one that isn’t almost 15 years old.) We’ve been a one car family for a while and most of the time that’s fine. But sometimes, it’s a real hassle.

So I’m driving the car back here at the end of my visit.

Lots going on. Don is very disappointed that he can’t come with me, but this is the way of our world these days. Scout can’t be left alone or in someone else’s care. He’s also filming an episode of The Good Wife  tomorrow, so even if he’d been able to go, he would have had to scrap his plans.

There you have it.

You’ll hear from me, but maybe not tomorrow. I have to make the acquaintance of the youngest member of my sister’s family, my nephew, Little Z.

Happy Wednesday.