heart! precious heart!!!!

What a weekend,

Saturday afternoon I had to drive to the big post office to pick up a package and run a few other errands. I stopped by a gas station in south ypsi to grab seven bucks worth of unleaded and while I was getting ready to leave I saw a guy that made me downright uneasy. Make no mistake, I’m no stranger to some of our more entertaining residents; sometimes even on a first name basis with… but woooahhh

This guy walked around the corner with a full skimask on. Granted it was a bit chilly but by no means subarctic. He was briskly scanning the area and scoping out all the cars; certainly looking like someone searching for some kind of opportunity. About this time I decided to curb my curiosity and stupidity and just be on my way. As I was leaving he headed back where he came from. I thought about calling this in but realized he was gone and i might just be using my imagination and even if he wanted to he wouldn’t be able to rob the place through a lucite pane.

I get on 94 and go for a few miles when i notice the temp is a bit higher than normal. I decide to play it safe and head back via the 23 ramp back to ypsi. Well I get no more than halfway down this ramp and the temp is about pegged. At this point it’s do or die and i get to pick between stopping in a terrible place or likely melting my engine. i pick the former and kill the power. not a minute later my phone is out and calling AAA to lug me to someplace better.

a better place would not be a difficult bill to fill here. In the middle of the I94 to US23 ramp i’m conveniently located on a modestly sized shoulder right after a curve; cars were flying by rocking the car enough to reminisce about my days thrashing about the detroit river in a sixty foot fiberglass vessel the width of my forearm.

Alas I’ve got to call for a lift. The lady on the phone is friendly enough and nonchalantly says due to the snow they’re a bit busy today and should be out by 5:30. A quick glance confirms that it’s about 3. She says I can call someone to come give me a ride but i would need to be back with ten minutes notice; both this and trying to walk somewhere are out. I can also call enterprise out but this is something that fell off my budget decades ago…plus I’m remembering that you need to be at least 42 to rent a car anyway.

Fortunately I’ve got a new book to thumb through but am still essentially in an abandoned refrigerator on the freeway with the temps dropping and the need growing to offload some of the mornings coffee. Fortunately they were able to get someone out a bit faster so I was only waiting 45 minutes or so. He drops me off at the shop, i drop off keys and catch the 5 back home. That fiasco cost me a good chunk of saturday. Sunday I didn’t get too much done except clean my place up and get some laundry done (kudos to the laundry pickup/dropoff service here in town for saving me a mile+ walk with a trashbag full of clothes.)

Today i get a call to confirm my theory: a coolant tube finally broke from a decade of salt spray and potholes. they quoted me more than i figured that job should cost but its not as though I can just drive it to get a second quote or find a place to do it myself. Fortunately though the engine appeared to be fine after this was replaced and refilled. I’ll count my blessings that I caught it before the engine melted. If I werent paying attention I bet it woulda cooked in less than a minute longer. I should be going to pick her back up wednesday morning.

Not the most exciting post or weekend  If you haven’t seen the last few office’s do so; especially the one with dwight as safety officer