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Nov. 28th, 2003 04:32 pmI got out today to get tires for the car. Opened the trunk, got the spare out, rolled/walked it to the corner gas station, and filled it up, hoping it would hold air long enough to get to the tire place. Went in and got warm and dry. Went out, jacked the car up, put the spare on, put the old one in the trunk, went inside and got warm and dry. Drove to the tire place (oddly enough, closer than the gas station I went to, though not by much (It's K-mart, tire place, gas station, 13 mile road), and bought the first brand new tires that car has had for as long as I can remember. I think it was time. We (my family) have just gone to a used tire place to get a replacement when a tire goes bad. I've never had two of the same tire on a car. Of the five I had, some were worn, some leaked, some seemed to have loose belts that made the car go *shunk shunk shunk* as I turned sharply (or maybe that was the ball joint; who knows)... So I finally decided that A: for once I should actually buy new tires so I don't have to worry about going to the gas station and filling them once a week, B: they were probably seriously damaged in my skid yesterday (at least one of them developed a big leak after that), and C: I have money right now.
They got the car up on the hoist, got the new tires on it, replaced a seriously worn ball joint (probably why it was making a strange noise going over bumps), and the whole thing came out to a bit over $400. I'd be freaking out if I didn't have a job coming up on Tuesday; I have the money in the bank, but it sure seems to go away fast, doesn't it? The job actually sound like fun; soldering work replacing transformers over at Lionel Trains again. I enjoyed my last job working there, installing the rear hand railings on (no joke) $1800 model steam locomotive and tender sets. Anyway, the car drives better, seems to have better traction, and doesn't make as many odd noises as it used to. This is a good thing.
I intended to go out to the AAA office next and see about buying car insurance; my membership in the Metro Credit Union gives me a discount. However, I called the office and they seem to be closed. This may be just as well. I'm worried they may want to do a car inspection and that will give me the weekend to take the wire I've spliced in to the tail lights and splice it into the headlight wiring so they'll come on with the headlights instead of me having to open the hood and twist wire ends together. Must remember to twist-tie the emergency brake lever too; the return spring is bad and it keeps slipping down and lighting the brake light.
In other news, my dear one found a likely e-bay prospect at a thrift store. A vintage 60's toy called Johnny Astro, in the original box with instructions. She thought it might be worth a few bucks. Looks like she was right. More information is available on it here at Johnnyastro.com. Seems like a really cool toy. If not for the fact that they seem to be pulling in over a hundred bucks on ebay, I'd try playing with it myself.
Off to study my book some more and wait for my raccoon to come home...
They got the car up on the hoist, got the new tires on it, replaced a seriously worn ball joint (probably why it was making a strange noise going over bumps), and the whole thing came out to a bit over $400. I'd be freaking out if I didn't have a job coming up on Tuesday; I have the money in the bank, but it sure seems to go away fast, doesn't it? The job actually sound like fun; soldering work replacing transformers over at Lionel Trains again. I enjoyed my last job working there, installing the rear hand railings on (no joke) $1800 model steam locomotive and tender sets. Anyway, the car drives better, seems to have better traction, and doesn't make as many odd noises as it used to. This is a good thing.
I intended to go out to the AAA office next and see about buying car insurance; my membership in the Metro Credit Union gives me a discount. However, I called the office and they seem to be closed. This may be just as well. I'm worried they may want to do a car inspection and that will give me the weekend to take the wire I've spliced in to the tail lights and splice it into the headlight wiring so they'll come on with the headlights instead of me having to open the hood and twist wire ends together. Must remember to twist-tie the emergency brake lever too; the return spring is bad and it keeps slipping down and lighting the brake light.
In other news, my dear one found a likely e-bay prospect at a thrift store. A vintage 60's toy called Johnny Astro, in the original box with instructions. She thought it might be worth a few bucks. Looks like she was right. More information is available on it here at Johnnyastro.com. Seems like a really cool toy. If not for the fact that they seem to be pulling in over a hundred bucks on ebay, I'd try playing with it myself.
Off to study my book some more and wait for my raccoon to come home...
