The unemployment rate has fallen so much that Texas can stop paying extended unemployment benefits.  This hits me hard; they stopped paying me. April 30 was my last check.

I had a plan to use one of my last checks to put a new battery in the car and then drive it to Payne’s to see why it got hot last year.  Today I called AAA and had them test the battery.  The guy got it started and said the old batter only had one volt left but at least the alternator is good.  The new one cost $100.

I added water and ran the car for about ten minutes.  It didn’t get above median temp so tomorrow I aired up the tires and drove it to SRO that night.  Discount Tires showed me that one of the tires was showing the metal on the side.  The next day I bought a used tire and put in $20 worth of gas.

I drove it for less than a week and it started overheating again.  I started it and watched the engine this time.  The radiator had a hole at the top.  I researched leak products hoping I wouldn’t have to replace the radiator.  I even talked to my brother about it.  I didn’t get any major negative feedback so I bought some.  I started it up again and the hole had grown to two one-inch slits.  I’ve called my mechanic and his estimate is $380; not much as car repairs go but depressing when you have only $12 in your account.