writing briefly from work… and only because it’s either take the time to do so or pop.
as you read (if you read it), my truck was dead as a hammer this morning. i suspected it was the battery.
not knowing a mechanic here, i called my friend and asked for a referral. he gave me the name of a dealership that offered towing. so. ok. got it towed over and waited to hear.
they called about 11ish to say it was the battery. whew. relief. batteries aren’t that expensive. gave the go-ahead to replace it and hung up and went to lunch.
got a call about 2ish. it isn’t just the battery. it’s the starter.
starters are much more expensive than batteries.
like, $500 more expensive.
mr. wallet screams. i scream. my budget screams. i hang up with ‘marvin’ the service manager and spend a few minutes chanting.
ok. this isn’t the end of the world. they’re willing to let it sit until i can afford to get it fixed. or until i can find someone who can help get it towed (my co-worker says they have AAA and can see it towed to the apartment for no charge) or until i can get it towed somewhere that isn’t going to charge me a total of $700 to fix it.
i’m staring at the desk thinking, ‘so much for being ahead.’ i’m also thinking, ‘so much for getting my clothes out of the suitcases and into a dresser.’ and i’m also thinking, ‘so much for being able to make it to my friend’s son’s birthday party on saturday. or the sangha meeting on saturday. or pretty much anywhere else.’
co-worker/friend (the one who got me the interview/job/etc.) offers carpooling, of course. i am thankful. very. so at least i can get back and forth to work.
like i said, not the end of the world.
just an annoyance.
the odd part is, i had a dream just last night that the truck blew up.
i’m tempted to dig up the schematic and do it myself. heck, if i could rebuild my own carbureator (circa 1989) and replace a rocker arm on a ’88 bonneville, replacing a starter shouldn’t be such a big deal, right?
we’ll soon see. hah. yes. now i am smiling again.