Whew!

We're up early today so that B can take me down to the mechanic's before work to drop off my key and tell them what happened this weekend. Hopefully they'll be:
a. willing to diagnose it (and not ask me to bring it to the dealer or an engine service center).
b. look at it today.
c. find something un-complicated and not too expensive so that I don't need to get a new car.

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Yesterday was my brother's graduation - it was on the grounds of the Gore Estate in Waltham http://www.waltham-community.org/GoreEstate.html . Here are some pictures (including ones of the animals in the little 'farm' that they have there): http://www.shaghaus.org/photos.php?view=show&album=random_family_stuff/dancers_brothers_graduation .

Appropriate to the accents of the day ("We are glad you could be heeeah to celebrate this day with us") I got one wicked sunburn ;)

Wow, I can't believe that my baby brother is so old!

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And B finally scanned a picture that the drummer from Salem Fires took at our last party - neither of us remember doing this, but it looks like we were having fun :)

http://www.shaghaus.org/photos.php?view=single&image=1&path=assorted_stuff/assorted

Car Update

So its been confirmed, the Head Gasket is blown. I can't drive the car very far since there is combustion gas mixing with the antifreeze and its leaking everywhere.

And there is a chance (due to high temp and speed) that the cylinder head may be cracked too. The Head Gasket alone could cost between $600-$800 to replace; add in the cylinder and its an additional $1200 or so (blech)!

So tonight B and I get to be all forceful and go to the Ford Dealer again. If they had replaced the Head Gasket last month (like I asked them to) rather than just tightening a bolt this wouldn't have happened. I will not pay for more diagnosis labor (since I did that last month) and I will not pay for that cylinder. If there are problems I guess I'll be contacting the Better Business Bureau for the first time.

It looks like I may be in the market for a new car after all (unless its just the head gasket) . . . hopefully this will be straightened out soon :/