Glory glory! What a day yesterday was. Super excited!! I moved Matilda from the spot she was in the last half a year!
It was totally and epically the fuel distribution. Wiring a switch from tank fuel pump to the battery to reprime the system. Once she ran I hit the shrader valve until she sounded healthy again. She certainly didnt sound enthusiastic about starting, but I said to her that she doesn’t have to do it happily as long as she does it! And then she did!!
So I let her run a little, turned hr off to arrange movement because I was so positive she would start again without problem. And I was right. She fires like a dream! Have a leak at the lift pump, so I’ll be doing an oil change and checking the gasket on that bitch. I was certain I put one on but I also vividly remember having a fresh gasket floating around…. so maybe I spacey.
Before I tried starting Matilda, I had to thaw a strawbale frozen to the ground infront of the exhaust. Half of it came willingly, the larger half I ended up hacking into pieces to remove. I much apppreciate how much straw is baled into one rectangle! So I spread it a bit around the escape path for Matilda to get reparked.
And unsurprisingly I got stuck in the snow! My mom and brother came out with shovels and a rubber mat. We were shoveling and rocking Matilda. A neighbor on their way home from their walk saw us struggle and brought his truck for a tug. He tried going into the opposite part of the yard and got himself stuck too! it felt like a counting song in the making. My brother’s truck pulled him out and then he gave me a tug and got Matilda onto the drive way! A minor game of rushhour the parking lot game and we were all arranged!
My kids grabbed the sleds and helped me move most of the strawbales, leaving only the frozen ones in the encroaching night, tarped with a couple straggling outdoor things (my folding chair and tool box)
So I have a lot to do in the next week! Annd it’s all glorious!
Literally feels like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. As if life is righting itself.
Though I may not have any more food stamps coming in, my hope is floating! We may survive beyond surviving.
I should probably mention that we had a wonderful christmas! I was beyond worried in multiple instances of having the kids perception shattered somehow through my incapabilities or insecurities. Carrie, the designer of our Bugus logo, sent us a walmart pickup order full of love! and a squishmellow with rainbow hair for Galixy! And Kim and Immogene also sent us some holiday love! I got the coolest umbrella and the kids the gross workbooks to encourage writing!
So christmas eve we had a little fondue. Atreyu almost ate the meat raw cause they sometimes are overeager children with little patience. My niece was present which is a present in itself! Maybe she felt the same about our presence. It almost seems that way since when I complained about bus nt working a weekend ago, she was like “d’aw you poor things must remain here….” in the sarcastic tone to make auntie proud!
And then there was New Years. I haven’t seen midnight at new years in years! I even think the year before Atreyu I just slept through. Catie came over and we had a wonderful time chatting, trying to build a fire. We couldn’t really get it going in all the snow so we walked away for a little and when we looked out of the window the flames were licking at the wood more lively than the entire time we were trying to enjoy it! I’m glad Caties demeanor took it with humor, which was partially why I chose to spend my new years with her, especially when I wass receiving pressure to do as someone else wanted. On that note, I don’t want to say much except that I won’t be letting anyone manipulate me even slightly or push me into the boundaries of their expectations. And that I feel I gave way too many chances and stayed on the emotional roller coaster way longer than I should’ve with benefit of doubt and hope for humanity and self. Talk about squeezing the life out of something….. I am grateful for the time that was lovely and enriching. I guess I’m also grateful for the chance to see my growth in this area of life and seeing myself as worthy of respect and good things too.
Sooooooo what else? Tomorrow the switch for Atreyu SHOULD arrive! Two months of waiting so my fingers are super crossed and Atreyu is left unaware to keep his hopes level. By now he can almost afford both Pokemon games, so I may just subsidize the little he’s missing. We will see as it plays out.
Today Imma start organizing and packing with a short social break for coffee and a walk with a cool human I haven’t seen since high school! That’ll be interesting and exciting!
The kids have been so amazing with their homework. I feel like they’ve done a lot of growing. I’m minorly surprised that neither said anything about attending public school while we’ve been here. Maybe they’ve already gathered their fortune and luck of a varied and diverse education with multiple perspectives instead of just curriculum to upkeep 20+ kids. And if they have that capability of perception….. Go them!
Ok ok I think I might have to move on to the next tasks for the day! Hip hip! hooray!
Thank you so much for supporting our journey and life! Maybe we’ll see you on the road soon!!
Stay grateful and share those smiles!!
Matilda the Bugus 