June 07, 2006

Well, because I'm a moron, that's why.

I got to musing last evening, and I turned to Reba as I sat watching the news and said, "You know what I want to do on Saturday? I want to go to the junkyard."

I have grown tired of the tiny electrical fault that lurks in the instrument panel on the Volvo that causes the tachometer and clock to stop working if the panel lights are on--if I turn the dimmer all the way off, they both work, but of course, when it's dark you can't see that they do. I thought it might be the dimmer, but that doesn't make sense. It's something in the printed circuit, and the best way to fix it (aside from ordering a new one, which are built one-by-one by a wizened old Swede in Goteborg from special unobtainium) is to go pull one out of a junker.

But, really? I just have an overwhelming desire to simply go off and plunder around and see what I can find. It's just that simple. Oh, I might be able to find a replacement panel, but I might not. I really just need some time to be undomesticated and get all dirty and stinky and tetanusy.

I sure hope it doesn't rain between now and Saturday.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 7, 2006 02:28 PM
Comments

One bit of advice- add a can of wasp and hornet killer spray to your tool kit. Something about summertime and lots of unattended trunks and open door panels always seem to be really appealing homes to buzzing and stinging critters. Most of the yards around here keep cans of spray right by the door going into the yard for the parts searchers to carry along for self-protection.

Posted by: Nate at June 7, 2006 03:34 PM

Do you expect to find more "wheels"?

I see in Lee's AARP magazine that Colin Powell has moved from Volvos to Corvettes.

Posted by: Larry Anderson at June 7, 2006 04:03 PM

Nate, isn't that why you're supposed to carry a hammer?

And no, Larry, no more wheels--unless they're REALLY cool!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 7, 2006 04:08 PM

I enjoy that kind of thing as well.

Except when I'm dumping stuff. The other week my wife made me dump my first colour TV - a Toshiba, the one I bought to watch fellow Melburnian Robert de Castella win the LA marathon in 1984. (He came 5th.)

It still worked, except for the sound which I fixed via a diversion through the earphone socket to an old timber Thorn stereogram speaker. She made me dump that too.

Wives!

Posted by: kitchen hand at June 7, 2006 11:05 PM

Some people just have no appreciation for expedient engineering skills.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 8, 2006 07:51 AM