In one of those things that makes weekends so fun that they creat guilt, I took off early Saturday morning on a junkyard jaunt, ostensibly to find a new (heh) timing belt cover. The old one I put back on the car had a spot worn through by the water pump pulley, and I wanted something uncracked.
I don't know why.
Anyway, I got there and after exploring around a bunch, found several likely candidates, and finally one that looked quite nice--for something out of a junkyard. Got it, paid, and was on my way back home, where it was time to take a shower and get ready to take us all over to celebrate Ashley's great grandmother's 95th birthday.
Of course, since I had been away for all of two hours, none of the kids had gotten ready when I got home, mainly because a certain mother of theirs seems to think they should know to go get ready without being told, much like she believes they should have shame enough to clean up their rooms or be nice to each other without being told. Needless to say, they needed telling, so having done that and gotten them scrubbing, I got my shower and ready to go.
Time to go, and a certain mother of theirs was not ready, nor was the oldest child.
::sigh::
Managed to make it and only be five minutes late, which was nothing short of miraculous. Ate lunch, came home, and it was time for Round Two of fun with the car. Had to put that cover on, you know, and I had decided before putting back on the new splash pan on the underside that I wanted to clean more of the dirt and oil off.
First things first though--that cover.
I found out it can be much more easily removed than installed.
After close to an hour, I wound up having to take the stinkin' fan and pulleys off to put it on. But it sure does look nice now!
Next, the degreasing of the underside, using some Gunk brand engine cleaner that promised to be a nice clingy gel. It wasn't. Looked like the same old stuff they've always sold. Nice thing it was "lo-odor," because if the "hi-odor" stuff had been used, I think it would have caused the whole neighborhood to get high or blow up. Anyway, sprayed that on and got a goodly amount of goo off the underside. It's almost clean. Ish.
Next, the plastic pan underneath, which went well, aside from having to use my old creeper that has plastic wheels that don't turn very well, and the fact that two of the bolts wouldn't work. Which required more up and down and bad words directed at both the bolts and at the creeper.
Finally got everything squared away much later than I thought I would, ate supper, and took my second shower of the day.
Saturday is, after all, my bath day.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at July 17, 2006 10:28 AMGlad you made it as five minutes can mean a lot at 95 years of age.
Posted by: jim at July 17, 2006 11:19 AMShe's spry enough to where I think even ten minutes wouldn't have been too much of a risk.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 17, 2006 11:28 AM