Now I'm really f**king pissed off.

[Diabolique]

Unfortunately, I can't expect unemployment welfare, since I had only done a so-called "Minijob" (earning less than $620 per month). But I can get financial support for my applications, plus they had offered me free physiological and psychological support to estimate whether I'm fit for certain jobs or not.

Of course, I will also apply for those Minijobs - like you have said, every little bit helps. But my main focus is set on either getting into a regular job or a job training.

Ever considered providing in-home computer services? Are those in-home services common in Germany?

[wavemeister]

Ever considered providing in-home computer services? Are those in-home services common in Germany?

I could plaster the ramp to our driveway with them.

If possible, I want to go back where my job career has once started...cars. With a bit of luck, I can get a job training on becoming a car mechatronic (the follower of the good old car mechanic but with more electronical knowledge under the hood). Well, I'll be 42 or 43 when done - but with the gouvernment expecting me to work till I'm 67 unless I want to receive a drastically cut pension, there are still 25 years laying before me.

[Nakor]

I didn't know about the Japanese car inspections either (although I was aware of the German ones and the difficulties they pose), but it doesn't really come as much of a surprise. Driving is a big luxury in Japan, really. Public transit is the most common method of getting from place to place by a huge margin. I only can dream of having such an excellent transit system here in Canada.

[wavemeister]

Being f**king pissed off, part two...went to the garage yesterday to estimate what's coming up for us (that's why I had left the chat yesterday, Ingrid - have you noticed it? ). Oh boy.

If the inspector is finding all faults today (missed him by half an hour yesterday), the car is virtually lunch if the costs of fixing are exceeding about $1250-1400 with the car being worth about $1800. This sucks as the decision we have to make is kinda difficult: sticking the wad into the car we know without knowing what comes next, or selling it for about $1250 and get a replacement of about the same value of which we know virtually nothing but only hoping that it will be in a sufficient shape?

At least we know that our next vehicle will be smaller than the Passat which we had bought when our situation looked a good bit better. The 2.0 engine is just consuming too much gas, so we have to waive the bigger space inside. We do need a car to take care of the parents pf my g/f, as they live 25 miles away from here and public transportation is rather bad.

The "Plan B" is currently looking like this:



It's a VW Polo II, being built between 1990-1994. If "Plan A" fails, we have to contact the owner for more details about this car.

[Nakor]

Ugh, lovely. I take it then at this point passing inspection is next to hopeless eh? Well, we've got our fingers crossed. In the mean time, try to keep your spirits up; it's hard not to get stressed out, I know, but if you can try to take it easy despite this, you'll feel better and be in better shape to plan around whatever happens.

[Frong]

Blargfa... so how does the Plan B look? Does it at least run without sounding like it's going to burst into flame at any moment? Having a backup plan is invaluable when life just randomly decides to boot you upside the head for no particular reason.

I didn't know about the Japanese car inspections either (although I was aware of the German ones and the difficulties they pose), but it doesn't really come as much of a surprise. Driving is a big luxury in Japan, really. Public transit is the most common method of getting from place to place by a huge margin. I only can dream of having such an excellent transit system here in Canada.

Yeah, the bus/train/subway system in the Kasugai-Nagoya area, where I went to school in Japan, was excellent. Everything ran on time, the trains and whatnot were cleaner than the mass transit I've been on in the US, and the public transportation there goes pretty much everywhere, at least in relatively urbanized areas. There's really no alternative when there's so little space to put cars and the things cost so much to begin with.

[wavemeister]

Luckily, it seems that "Plan B" doesn't have to spring into effect. Murphy had been gracious and looked for another victim, as the inspector didn't found as many faults as expected.

We knew from the beginning that the car wouldn't pass the inspection at the first attempt due to the defective ALB sensor and the cracked windshield, the other items being found faulty are just peanuts. Okay, still hurts to put about $700 into the car to make it pass the inspection, but way better than the "Plan B".
Gotta call the garage on Monday to discuss the matter with the master technician, but I think that the car will get a fresh inspection sticker on Friday.

[Diabolique]

That's good news, Wave! Even though $700 is a rather big expense, at least you won't have to worry about this issue for...another year or two, right?

How often will you need to take it for an inspection? Is it every year?

You've been through so much lately...so about time you get a break!

[Frong]

You've been through so much lately...so about time you get a break!

Ya rly. You can only have so many bad breaks in a row before it gets to break some kind of karmic law or something. In any case, now you just have to hope your current car lasts long enough for you to find the money for a less sucky one in the next few years. I take it this is the last inspection this car is going to go through before you run it into the ground, right?

[Nakor]

Reminds me of the explanation at the beginning of Ah, My Goddess about Keiichi being born under an unlucky star that follows him throughout life. Indeed, it's about time something went right for you.

I guess the idea going forward would be to have a plan well in advance of the next inspection. Maybe a savings account, so you can afford a replacement vehicle at the time (if this one is as near the end of its lifespan as it seems to sound).

[Frong]

I think life just likes to kick dirt in people's faces sometimes, but it never does it forever. The same thing happened to Shawn, remember? He couldn't catch a break to save his life for a while, but that basically ended along with 2007, and now things are looking up. It must have shifted to taking shots at wave now, instead. Hmm... must figure out some way not to be the next target when life gets sick of picking on wave...

[wavemeister]

First...thanks to you all for your kind words. They are really helping me when the the odds are once again aginst me.

That's good news, Wave! Even though $700 is a rather big expense, at least you won't have to worry about this issue for...another year or two, right?

How often will you need to take it for an inspection? Is it every year?

You've been through so much lately...so about time you get a break!

The technical inspections are mandatory each two years, except for vehicles being registered for the first time (3 years).

Ya rly. You can only have so many bad breaks in a row before it gets to break some kind of karmic law or something. In any case, now you just have to hope your current car lasts long enough for you to find the money for a less sucky one in the next few years. I take it this is the last inspection this car is going to go through before you run it into the ground, right?

Reminds me of the explanation at the beginning of Ah, My Goddess about Keiichi being born under an unlucky star that follows him throughout life. Indeed, it's about time something went right for you.

I guess the idea going forward would be to have a plan well in advance of the next inspection. Maybe a savings account, so you can afford a replacement vehicle at the time (if this one is as near the end of its lifespan as it seems to sound).

We do have a savings account in which we put in a certain amount of money regulary, at least what we can afford to save. Let's keep the fingers crossed that bad luck is really on the look for another victim now.

[Frong]

Ooo, I know! See if you can't manage to somehow pass it off onto your old boss. That would serve as some nice karmic justice.

[wavemeister]

Ooo, I know! See if you can't manage to somehow pass it off onto your old boss. That would serve as some nice karmic justice.

If time and space allows, I will visit the bureau of the company next week. Officially for my papers, inofficially for asking how my replacement is coping with the job.

[Frong]

So what do you do if you find that your replacement is going completely insane? Do you express sympathy for the poor zhlub (good Yiddish word; look it up ), or do you just kind of secretly laugh about the fact that your old boss is likely going to have to go looking for a new driver yet again?