To: believeringood I live just 11 miles east of Portland, OR and I haven't heard of any vehicle programs. But, there are great auctions where you can go and preview cars ahead of time and sit through the bidding process just to learn amounts and details. It would be good if she could take a friend who can tell if the car is basically sound. I bought my SUV at a local auction for about a quarter of what it blue-booked at. She could check with local churches to see if there are any mechanics who are willing to help her. Maybe she could barter house cleaning or babysitting, etc. if she asks around. Good luck and God bless. Sue

To: india riannon I was in your situation several years ago and did go back to college and earned AA, BS, and 3 yrs. post-grad study in ED & Counseling, specializing in rehabilitation. It would be helpful to know your age and ethnicity because of the federal guidelines for grants and low interest loans. It's easy. Just call your local community college or university that you are interested in and set an appt. with a financial aid advisor. I reccomend doing your first 2 yrs. for an AA at a community college because it can save a fortune and you can transfer your credits toward your bachelor's degree. You can also meet with a guidance counselor for free to help you discover the right field for you and at what level you should begin. Also, check out the college and county libraries in your area. My county library (main branch) had an entire room of catulogs listing thousands of grants from companies, non-profits, org., and private people. I even contacted Easter Seals in my area and found an attorney who dispersed funds from a private person's trust to help by part of my computer. It's an arduous task, but well worth the time spent. You'll be surprised by how many companies and people who want to help you succeed. That's is not to say that going to college will be free, but grants are out there, and you should qualify for low interest Stafford loans if needed, and you can also build work study into your aid package that will help with expenses. I could tell you so much more, but I don't want to overwhelm you, because I know how frightening the whole process was for me at first. I say, go for it! You can also look at fast-paced programs at very small focused schools depending on your interests. They also have financial aid available. If you start researching now, then go to counseling and financial aid meetings, etc., you will be more than ready to begin in the fall. Summer courses will be starting soon if not already depending on your area. Good luck! Sue

   I bought a '94 Ford Explorer at an auction and I need to put new brake pads on.  Once I've removed the wheel, what's the trick to removing the clips that hold the pads in place?  I have a manual, but it's not exactly written in laywomen's terms.  It took me all day to change the oil because of my dystonia (movement disorder).  It took me a couple of more days to tighten all the screws under the transmission that was leaking fluid and another to find all the vaccum hoses that had come loose.

   I'm sure the pads are almost completely gone and I need to do this so I can get my daughter who is multi-handicapped to her and appts. and to get meds and food.  If anyone has a quick tips please let me know. 

  It's running great for my errands, but I just need it to be safe for us and others on the roads.  Thanks!

Susan

ekikaseven, Hello to you too! That you for your message and prayers. Also, thank you for the Mother's Day thought. That's something I've never heard my girl say. Thanks again. Susan and Amy

Hello! I'm a woman with a multi-handicapped daughter who needs mechanical advice so that I can safely transport both of us around for necessary errands. I need information on how I can change the brake pads on my '94 Ford Explorer (V-6 4W Limited Ed.) that I bought at an auction. I have an extensive manual but the writers always seem to make it harder than I know it is. I can't afford to have it done at a shop. I know I have to jack it up and remove the tires, but what is the trick to removing the clips that hold the pads in place. I have dystonia in my neck (constant painful muscle spasms) so it makes it a little hard but not impossible. It just takes me a lot longer to accompishment a simple task. I change my own oil and filter but it takes me all day because I need to take breaks for my neck. I'm sure the pads are completley worn down. If I need to change disks I'll have to buy some allen or hex wrenches, but I know I can do it if I can just get by that one step of removing the old pads. I already fixed a major problem by finding several vaccum hoses that were disconnected and I had to tighten every screw under the transmisson because the transmission was leaking a lot fluid. A couple vaccum ports just needed plugs put on them and I got those at a junkyard for free. In the meantime I used the caps of my daughter's syringes to plug them and they worked fine. However, I prefer non-jerry-rigged solutions. Anyone with the knowledge that can help would be deeply appreciated. Sue

Desperately need financial help! Two months ago I was barely treading water, now I feel like I'm going under. I'm a physically challenged mother of a lovely and kind multi-handicapped 27 yr. old daughter. I get paid $300/mo. to take care of her along with SSI and $77.00 in food stamps. My daughter works (volunteers) at a local Fashion Bug. My expenses are rent($348.00), phone (10.00), emergency track cell phone (10.00), car and renter's insurance ($60), electricity ($100.00-$200.00), sunday paper for coupons and tv guide ($8.00), AOL ($28.90 for simple landline), overdraft fees at bank at end of month ($80.00), car and computer payment ($100.00), gasoline ($50-however much I can afford), car maintenance (can't afford), credit card debt is approx. $10,000.00 (can't afford to pay) food and misc. personal items ($200.00-$300.00), travel($0.00 haven't been anywhere since summer of 2003, but I like to watch Rick Steves travel videos), entertainment (free DVD's and books from the library, free community events, walks, local TV, and family get togethers), daughter's monthly dance ($3.50), daughter's comunnity outings with respite care provider ($5.00-$30.00 one to four times/mo., cable ($0), misc. cards, gifts, stamps, etc. ($0.50-$30.00),co-pays and over the counter meds ($2.00-$30.00). I buy almost nothing that isn't on sale, and I always use coupons, rebates, eat whatever is on sale, and get small sample freebies on-line when I can. I don't spend frivolously on haircuts or nails. I do both myself. We don't go to theaters, we wait for the DVD to come to the library. I just received my first ever utility shut-off notice. My daughter became delerious (visual and auditory hallucinations) two months ago and she still has not been diagnosed for this additional problem yet. She was born with nesidioblastosis (insulin producing tumors) that cuased massive brain damage, siezures, and mild psychomotor retardation. She is legally blind, incontinent at night, has POS (polycystic ovarian syndrome that causes hormones to interfer with her blood sugar levels, and acute episodes of stomache paralysis. She had her pancreas removed when she was four, so that left her a type 1 diabetic to avoid more brain damage, comas due to low blood sugar, or death. She was relatively healthy until the delerium started along with high blood sugars and weight loss. I screen my calls with an answering machine because I can't pay off my credit that was mostly accumulated before I got dystonia. I could use help with gasoline, utilities, food and or a gift certicate so I can take my daughter out to dinner somewhere other than Wendy's $1 menu for a treat, my tires are almost bald, my car needs basic maintenance that I used to do but can't anymore because of my dystonia, and a couple of new pairs of jeans for my daughter because of her weight loss. If I can just get caught up I can maintain monthly bills and have a little left over to take Amy on an inexpensive 2-3 day trip to the beach when she is able. If anyone out there can help financially, I would deeply appreciate it, but I won't lie and say I'll pay you back unless I get a miracle. I can verify everything I've stated if necessary. Even if I don't receive financial help, it felt good just to express myself a little a allow myself a tear, but definitely not a sad-fest. I don't need pity. If you can't help us financially, there are other ways to help me considering my state of mind. I love daily affirmations, inspirational poems (my favorite is "The Man in the Arena"), prayers, and good jokes. I could really use a good laugh. Some people say laughter is the best medicine, and I know for a fact that when I laugh alot my pain decreases. I'm overwhelmed by how many people need help. My prayers go out to all of you and especially our brave women and men who are serving or protecting our country, from police and firefighters to border patrol agents and all branches of the military. Thank you and God bless us all. Sincerely, Ms. Susan Moore, 16703 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97230-6257 USA