That's just how things are

Finally finished with fixing of my car. Long story short, I had to take off my water pump 4 times to get it right.

My cat decided to take a break from me, and get his butt kicked in a fight. XX dollars later, he's back from the vet.

I've gone to a fair amount of rummage sales over the last month or so. Not sure why, but it's kind of nice being able to buy crap I don't need now (but will need later) for dirt freaking cheap. Like recently, I've gotten about a dozen coffee mugs (nice quality ones) for probably a TOTAL of 1.60 (including one today for a dime).

I've gotten teaspoons/tablespoon measuring cups. A vodka shaker drink thingy (which works incredibly well, with Crystal Light) and today I bought a 1950's Fog Bowl Porcelain insulator. They're the things that go on powerlines, and some people collect. The one I bought is kind of big, but not overly rate. I paid a dollar for it, and it's probably worth 8 to 10 bucks. Why did I get it? I. Have. No. Idea.

All of the coffee mugs I got have either weird logos on them, or are random camps or company mugs. They each are thicker than the dollar tree variety, and should retain the heat from coffee or hot chocolate longer. But considering I don't drink coffee, and mostly drink hot chocolate in Idaho, these will probably be used as random decorations.

I saw a neat video on youtube of a 5th wheel trailer that you attach to the top of your smaller sedan car. In the video I saw, it was attached to a VW Bug, and actually looked like a pretty neat set-up. Not sure if I'd want to tow anything behind a bug (considering they're woefully underpowered while towing nothing), but it'd be nice to be able to camp with one of those while in a smaller car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0

Until we meet again.

The return of excitement.

Today I sat in on two of the classes I will end up teaching this coming Winter/Spring. I was, as usual, making it into a much harder issue to deal with than it really was worth. I hope I can look back on this post, years from now, and wonder some of the following things.

1. Why did I think it would be so much harder than it was.

2. Why did I love commas so much?

3. Did I enjoy the Blazers title runs of the 2010's?

4. Was I really this much of a dork back then?

It's so nice to have my car back running, but I still have an oil leak somewhere. I think I'll have to put it up on jack-stands and scoot myself under it, and check out some of the bolts under the engine. I'm not looking forward to that.

I wish there was more to blog about tonight, but there just ain't.

so...you like fixing cars?

I spent the last week working on my car. And as anyone who knows me knows, I have a car that needs to have work done to it. I currently own an 85 Volvo 245. I say that as if I've owned a lot of cars, but I've owned 3.

So anyways, I spent the better part of the last week fixing my car. I've had an oil leak since I got the car, but it got worse over time (that seems to the case, as I doubt they magically just get better on their own...although how cool would that be? A car that heals itself...anyways..). So I changed 3 engine seals and replaced the timing belt. And of course, because I changed the timing belt, I had to adjust the timing. That was a bundle of fun, but now that I'm done I could do it again in less time.

It took me 9 days to do it this time, whereas the next time I could probably shave a day off the time.

I'm hoping that my oil leaking stops, or at least slows down. It wasn't a TON, but it was enough.

I got help from my brother Jay, and my friend Dylan. Each made a big difference.

Word to the wise: It pays to be nice the elderly people, as my dad is proof. Not that I'm talking about being nice to him, but he was always helpful and nice to his neighbor. He died about a year ago, and his wife is moving to another state. So she's getting rid of a bunch of tools that she has no use for (nor do her kids or grandkids....wtf? If my grandfather died and I had a chance to get his tools and wrenches etc, I'd jump on it). She has given him (and he and I and my brother have bought) a roto-tiller (my brother bought), a radial arm saw (my dad bought) and a drill press (I bought).

And two full tool-kits with a MOTHER load of sockets and wrenches. And screw drivers. And files. And drill-bits (and drill-bits...and drill-bits...) and allen wrenches. And an electric blower, a gas blower motor, a propane cooking grill, a belt sander, a corded drill, a cordless drill, an electric chainsaw, a skill-saw and I got a nice floor-jack. And taps (to re-thread stripped bolts, etc), calipers and tape measures.

And today my dad got (and by-proxy my brother and I also, and maybe our older sister) another full tool kit with a socket set, hammers, screw drivers, at least 3 complete socket sets, open ended wrenches (several dozen), HUGE wrenches (like ones you can use to loosen a 1 7/8 inch big bolt), several breaker bars, hammers, and a rolling tool-kit. So my dad (et all) have probably quadrupled his socket collection, and tool collection.

All because my dad had been friends with his neighbor for 20 years, and was helpful when needed.

I took pictures of todays bounty and sent them to my brother. He was flabbergasted at the amount that our dad got (just today). My dad could filter out what he wants, I could filter out what I want, and my brother could filter out what I want...and our sister could probably get what she wants and our dad would probably STILL have tons leftover to sell.

As I said, it pays to be nice to neighbors.

Here's to the guys and gals who like to fly..

I had to go to Fred Meyer (a local store in Oregon for those who aren't aware) to pick up something for my car..and as I'm driving through the lot, I have to come to a stop (so pedestrians can walk)...when I do that, my car kind of jerks forward. Because of this, I do the head-bob that is unavoidable. And although in the grand scheme of life the following information isn't important, the guy crossing the parking lot was a black gentleman.

So he see's me with my shades on, doing that head bob thing (that kind of looks like I'm saying "whats up?") and flips me the peace sign...Now, I'm thinking "holy crap...does that guy think I'm saying hi to him or whats up? What if he see's me in the store, and recognizes me..do I act tough or walk with a strut?? crap! Then the guy will know I'm just some dork who, due to the force of braking, head-bobbed and wasn't greeting him or anything!"

But then I thought he probably was just throwing up the peace sign because it was his way of saying "thanks for not mowing me down in the Fred Meyer parking lot".

Yes, this is the kind of stuff that goes through my mind.