OK - you guys are killing me...

I have to say I'm REALLY REALLY missing my MINI and I would even rather the spouse be driving her now. Well maybe...
At work I have her parked right outside my window. I go out for lunch at the other end of town and take the long way back (though a neighboring town usually). This beautiful day is just not the same from my silver rental Kimberely - I've been getting more exercise when going to the stores as well.
So everyone - have a great weekend motoring - and don't think of me suffering in my just-a-car. At least I know I will have a little extra time because I won't be washing it.

 

We haven't heard from you :impatient - so let us know that all is safe and sound.

 

Good Morning! Thanks, Kimberely~ last night all had calmed down, then when I got up at 4 for some water this morning and peeked out the window, the fires were back with a vengeance. They aren't closer, but now we have two that are equally the same distance away. . . about 4 miles to the north west and to the north east. So it's the same story still. . .edgy but no immediate need to worry. My SIL just called from Lake Tapps and like I told her: it's just weird to see your hills on fire, but not need to evacuate. All my dreams this week have been of fire!

Anyway. . .

Scoop is safely tucked in the garage, so no ashes on her pretty paint.

School has been closed for 2 days, and we 1. Get paid. 2. Don't lose ADA money. 3. Don't have to make up days at the end of the year! There IS a silver lining! The kids were in no mood to learn, and I was distracted every time emergency vehicles went past our school into our neighborhood or new plumes of smoke came out of canyons close by (I work less than 2 miles from home).

Mini2na- hope your evening went well at school last night! Those hours you administrators keep aren't fun! As I kindly remind my VP, that's why she gets paid those big bucks! Somehow she just doesn't think it's all that funny~

Minicounter. . . I think you should buy magnetic stripes for your rent-a-dent just for fun! You could overlay them on your baby for a change of appearance when you get her back from the spa!

Kimberely- need update on pugs and golf!

LilA. . .keep that wrist loose and those waves coming! I THINK Nov 2 will work out. Oceanside would be halfway for both of us, but the Friday night traffic will be bad going in both directions. Maybe. It's unpredictable.

Hope to hear about some good MINI excursions! Keep those fun photos coming, or tell us if you posted some in the gallery. I FORGOT my camera last Sat. when I met with about 25 other MINIs and had a nice drive through Fallbrook last weekend. Bummer.

 

I just got a cool box in the mail from MINI! A little surprise gift pack. Anyone else?
It contains:
Travel Journal
Pen
Assorted fun lit stuff-cards, booklet, and a nice mouse pad! It's like Christmas!

 

Good to hear from you Scoopmama. Glad you and yours are OK.
The Bingo Night went well... just late.
I got my box last week. Funny!
I hope to take a drive up in the hills tomorrow. I'll take the camera along. I got Frodo all spiffed up for a drive. Got my fingers crossed that it happens.

 

Can't wait to see pictures!

Our state auditor informed our school we are no longer allowed to raise money using Bingo. "Game of chance" was the crux of his order. We used to have really fun Bingo nights. Weird to have a state lottery and gambling casinos, but heaven forbid a public school try to raise money! Hypocrites! This next week we'll have our Family Fun night. Wonder what will be in the works this year. . .

 

I got a stencil in the mail that says "Mini Parking Only." No box though :(

Hey Scoopmama... 4:30 will be pretty tough for me to make. The conference ends at 4:00 but then we have a board meeting immediately following on Friday night. Since I'm the secretary I have to be there. I probably wouldn't be able to make it until 6:30 or so. Sorry... let me know if that's too late. We could meet for ice cream or something!!

Stand by... I'm downloading a pic or two....

 

Ok gang... here's Zorro's new plate...

 

Oops... having technical difficulties. I'll try again...

 

Cool!! The q's look like eye's!!

 

Lil A - nice plates. Wish that was available in WA.

Minicounter - when do you hear about your MINI?

I did NOT get away this afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and the yard together with "Obligation" called louder. It was nice to be outside.

 

Mini2na - boy that is showing some restraint if your weather was like ours today!

I hope to hear something early this week on my baby. I'm back to bugging my MA though because Ann (service adviser) went on vacation. He has already posted here on NAM a couple times that he is keeping an eye on her. Ann told me that sometimes the parts get held up in customs coming into the US so it's hard to say. I'm going to try to schedule the clear-bra install and tinting in Portland after we pick her up.

I just noticed - all I did was whine in this thread . I found out that it was the shifter that went out. They have to order the part from Germany so that is what we are waiting on now.

Scoopmama - glad you are still doing OK and keeping us updated. Next is the challenge of getting things back to normal. I like the stripes idea - you're right I could use them if my temperamental little girl wants to 'dress up' occasionally - I'm sure she'll let me know...

I haven't gotten any presents from MINI lately - but I'm almost a week behind you all.

Hope your Monday commutes are good ones.

 

I got my MINI package on Friday. What fun!

I spent today recovering from last night's Halloween Party. It has been a rough day. Everyone fawned over Kermit at the party though. He is such a ham.

Scoopmama - I am glad that all is still well with you and yours.

MiniCounter - MINI will be home soon. Reunions are always fun.

 

Lil-A ~ I LOVE the Q's! Ok, now that Zorro has HIS plates, I am allowed to share Scoop's : it's. . .SCQQP! It looks really cute on the CA plates! Thanks, Lil A!

Minicounter - whining is not only acceptable, it is expected when MINI is not in your life! In fact, I think we should have a whining contest! Figure out something fun for the winner to get!

Kimberely- cool about the box, huh?

Life seems to be returning to normal. First day with students tomorrow since last Wed. Scoop is just begging to come out and play~!

 

Well I don't think a whining contest would be very fair right now cuz I don't see how any of you could win when you have to break the pity party with a motor in your MINI's - unless it's how you had to 'coop up your scoop'. (maybe we could add lame comments to your contest ). But hey - whining loves company- give it a try!
OK so you gave me permission. I should be making my first payment this next week without my baby. I heard today that my part is currently being made :impatient in Germany! I wonder if a reorder would be quicker? (oops did I say that - sorry Bluebell... ) Are you all ready to track my part with me through the panama canal? At least it probably means this is not a common problem since they didn't have the part on hand (or even close)
I'll tell you it's sooo bad I'm almost ready to listen to a country song (Oh my MINI died and I'm soo sied twang twang...) At least it's raining... wowsy wowsy woo woo...

(so if I win do I get my baby back?)

[whine off]

The Q's are great!! Must be great minds...

 

Only 1 great mind. Lil A's idea. It was a stealthy suggestion, so PMs went back and forth, along with a solemn vow to stay quiet until he got HIS plates, then I could share mine!

Ok, let's see if Multi quote worked. . . well, it didn't. Oh well.

 

Ah ha!! So you two were whispering behind our backs huh!!

The quote thing - I just end up copy/pasting a lot of stuff and using that wrap quote button...

I think this might work as a rap as well.

So today I had to pick up something in the neighboring town and finally saw a live MINI! 2400 miles of motoring in mine and I've only seen one other. So I wave wildly from my invisible looks-like-everyone-else car and she didn't see me! I was sooo bummed. So when your out motoring - take pity on the MINIless ones and wave back!!

I'm not sure how this writing turned purple ...

I hope all you educator types have a good day tomorrow - I know it's one of my teacher/sister's favorite days Anyone dressing up?

 

No costumes (ooh, we're back to black now!!), but I've got bat and skull earrings that I'll switch around, and a bat pin that I'll wear with my black and orange combo that comes out ONLY one day a year! And maybe some crazy head thingy. . .

 

No costumes here either - but I did carve my pumpkin last night. The girls at work were in contemplation of costumery, but it was nixed at the last moment. Just not festive!!!! My last place of employment really got into it, with tons of costumes, potluck, contests.....always fun. I had enough fun on Saturday.

 

Sounds like it - complete with fashion show for Kermit - so what did you go as then?

I thought about it here at work but we never got it going. I just sprayed my son's hair spikes red - but that's more or less normal for him

 

Today I am wearing orange and black and have bats in my hair. 'Tis as good as it is going to get. But, I am still the most festive at work. No one else did anything. Scrooges, the entire lot of them.

Saturday I was a vampire! without teeth. A toothless vampire! ( I couldn't get them to stay on.)

 

I think we may be the last public school in America that does Halloween. Kids have costumes in bags for the afternoon. We have the library and ELL rooms set up for those who do not celebrate. We also have a large portion of certain ethnic populations absent today.

I am going to dress up as a ROCK. I just couldn't figure out how to dress up as a MINI.

I think some of the fun of the day is driving down the freeway and seeing the adults dressed up. The other part of my fun is answering the door at night and first offering a trick. One year was vegetables, another was leftover containers, last year was various pieces of household hardware, tonight will be the innards of my pumpkin.
The year I offered veggies I had a 2 year old grab and bite down on a stalk of broccoli. I learned to hold the plate AWAY from the kids.

Happy Halloween

 

That is a great idea!!! Now you've got my brain going!!! Have a great day at school!

Happy Halloween All!!!

 

When I was at a high school, we ALL dressed up! I'll never forget walking into my classroom and sitting in a student's chair with my Taz Devil costume. Everyone wondered where the teacher was, and the kid whose seat I was in was a bit upset. When he realized he'd asked the teacher (rather rudely!) to get out of his chair, he turned white! We all had a great laugh!

Now, nobody dresses up at the junior high. We're in a rather conservative Christian area, and it's easier to just play it cool. BUT. . . I wore a bouncy pumpkin headband and sparkly orange sequinned sweater. Forgot about the bouncy headband-it's really comfortable, and wondered why the students kept giggling. Lots of fun!

 

Wonder hubby took Scoop to work to day for her first oil change. Hubby is a good, if enthusiastic driver, but takes break-in very seriously!
Where he works is a 20 mile drive on crowded freeways and BUSY Garden Grove, where red lights can be optional at times.

I just want my baby (Scoop, not Hubby!) back with no dings, scratches, dust, or grime tonight. Is that too much to ask? MINI moms and dads, did you survive the spouse-pilot experience????