My current project is due to noise I had been hearing from my front end while driving. After examination I narrowed it down to the outside tie-rod end on the driver’s side.
After I finished I took for a spin and the noise is gone, it handles better and now I have to get a wheel alignment.
A expected project done unexpectedly.
#whatruworkinon
It’s the end of the month and that time has come
Registration renewal, DMV was packed and them some
I walked on in and hung my head to the floor
The first stop was a line stretched back to the door
The information desk I go, to say why I’m there
That was done quickly, without much despair
I received my number, found my way to a seat
Took out my PSP, played games with a beat
Every now and again, lifting my head to look around
So many faces…some smiles, but more with a frown
Time ticked away, from beginning to an hour
Quiet it was…children there, but not one scour
Not long past the hour, my number is called
Strolled I to the counter, not in the least appalled
The time with the agent was done very fast
On my way out the door, DMV time was past
To continue from my previous post, there is one thing that I do miss about my job and that is I didn’t have to worry about transportation. We were allowed to drive the vans home after we were finished for the day; that was a big savings in fuel costs, maintenance costs and insurance costs I didn’t have to worry about.
So now I was in need of some wheels. My first thought was what I would be doing and what type of vehicle would best suit the purpose. I already knew what I wanted and needed but I had to go through the routine because it wasn’t just about me and what I needed it for. Price of course comes into play because the funds are very limited so I had to stay within that certain range. Something that would get decent gas mileage which would have to be a car, but would be too small in the long run. I started looking at mini vans and suvs while still looking at cars. As it turned out, the prices for cars were about the same or higher than the vans, so that’s where I turned all of my focus although I did test drive a mini van or two.
I’ve always liked older cars, not sure why. Maybe it’s because I can work on some of the problems that may arise on my own.
What I really wanted was an older Chevy van. Back in the early ninety’s I had a 1977 Chevy van. We loved that van; it had four captains chairs and an area in the back with a table that transformed into a bed if you would. The seating area around the table was in a U shape and lifting the table top off of its post and laying it into the U opening would give you a bed.
I like vans because they are versatile such as bad weather when you need to haul something. So I come across an ad for a 93 Chevy van, must see the add said. I pass it up. I was about $500.00 more than what I wanted to spend. I continue shopping and begin to get more and more frustrated. Days turn into a week and then more. The van is still on the market with a price drop….hmmmm. This looks promising. I decided to rent a car for two days because it’s crunch time and my timeline is slowly dissipating; the longer I have the money, the more chances it will also shrink.
I drive onto the lot looking for the van as I pull in, I spot it. After parking I get out and walk straight to it. It’s clean and no dents, but it’s a window van….ugh! I like vans but window vans are not on my list of favorites. I ask for the key and it fires right up. There is nothing inside but two front seats. It has air, I check it and it’s cold….looking better….I look it over inside and spotless is how to describe it. For a van this old I was expecting some damages, but nothing major that I could see.
Now it’s time to negotiate. I knew coming in I was $200.00 short of the new price but I go for it. He said he would have to make a phone call and…bingo! I get it for $600.00 less than the original advertised price!
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| 1923 Ford Model T Convertible 1 door |
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| 1937 Pontiac Coupe |
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| Chevy BelAir |
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| 1969 Chevy Camaro |
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| I forgot the year and model of this one he was currently #workinon |
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| Mercedes Benz |
#whatruworkinon
I’m not sure where to begin…I’ve started this thing four times already.
The drive…the friends…the aches and pains…or the need for more sleep.
Well, Reg and I got the majority of the truck loaded Saturday night. There were just the last minute items that seemed to take forever to finish on Sunday.
Sunday morning we all head off to church. New Life Worship Center. It had been…oh gosh…I believe at least five years since we were all there together.
It was as if we had never left.
There were some people in the church who knew we were coming that morning and we figured the word had gotten out, but to our surprise, the ones who knew must have kept it to themselves. The look on the faces as we walked in were priceless…really priceless. As we began to find a place to sit, we were greeted with handshakes and hugs.
As I sat in the pew, listening to the singing, memories began to flood my mind with the moments I had enjoyed when we attended…the worship, the fellowship…that too is priceless.
It still has that at home feel to it. It was really nice to catch up with what’s going on in the lives of those you haven’t seen in years. They were having their Christmas program and a dinner afterward.
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| Courtesy of Photobucket |
I’m probably a few hours into the trip by the time you read this.
I’m hope to have updates at least on Twitter about the travel conditions.
Be Safe…
…and I hope you have a good Friday.
We all have experiences that we remember at some time in our lives that may have had a significant impact in our lives that caused us to make a change or to at least, step back for a moment and re-evaluate what’s going on in our lives.
The first one I will share really has no dynamic impact in the outcome of my life as it is today, but it is something I now know, I will never forget. I believe it was in the early 90’s when we were on a church retreat in Columbus, OH. I was the Youth Director at the time and it was one of our annual meetings, setting dates and planning for growth. It was in the fall and very windy. This day in particular caught my attention because there was a flagpole that was almost doubled over. It had a huge flag attached and it was almost touching the ground. I stood there in amazement how the pole was able to withstand the strength of the wind pulling that flag downward. I just knew that pole was going to snap…but it held, and stood upright when the winds calmed. Until that moment, I never saw anything like that before…as flagpoles go. That thought triggers many other memories from that time….
The second experience I want to share, has been life changing for me. This one is going back aways…early 70’s. I was dating this really hot chick and we always had a good time together. That was back in my wildin’ days….every day was a party. Well, we were out late one night. My cousin was with me and my girl brought a friend along, sort of a double date kind of a thing. We had a few drinks and decided to head out to another location. My girl was driving, we were in an industrial area with rail road crossings. I wasn’t really paying attention about her driving because there was no traffic, and it was dark, but I did notice she was picking up speed. I was looking out the passenger window and sort of in a daze anyway. You see, I thought I was staring at the side of a building, but what it had turned out to be was a train with box cars stacked. It was at that moment I realized we were almost at the front of the train….all I could do was yell for her to stop!!!
At that moment, I realized I had a second chance at life and I was going to take it. I decided to call it quits with ole girl. Good times….but life was more important to me. Did I find God right away after that?…no…but, I did begin a new chapter in my life. I began to settle down and to look at things a lot different than I had before. Even now, I think of the kids–now grown–and the grandkids with another coming soon…
Looking back on that now, without a doubt, I was given a second chance at life. We came within 5 feet of making contact with that train. My cousin and I talked about that during those days, we laughed about it, and we both were very thankful to be able to continue on in life. I have so much to be thankful for. I have had other experiences that have created new chapters for me, but you know how it can be…sometimes it’s a “simple” and “traumatic” experience that sometimes go hand in hand. When I think of the flagpole experience it reminds me of those days as the Youth Director…I remember the plays we had, the car washes, and of course there was Bible study and prayer meetings. Good times….all because I was given an earlier experience in life to remember.
This may be an eye opener for some. I stop for breakfast at a drive through on my way to begin my day. I order, drive up to window pay, get my drink and I’m already thinking about getting this portion of my day over with. In my head I’m already thinking of the types of installs I have ahead of me. I drive up into an empty spot to park to make a few calls and to start my breakfast. I shake my orange juice, pop the opening, drop in the straw and take a good sip. I set it down ready to dig into my……where is the rest of my breakfast?…..I laughed out loud at myself. So now I have to walk into the lobby to get the rest of my breakfast and we all got a good laugh out of it. It may not be the last time I do that. After getting myself situated, calls made, now ready to finish eating as I drive….I remember a thought I had a few days ago about concentrated driving. I was thinking how distracted we have become in getting from point A to point B. I thought, how am I going to accomplish the visions I had in my head about my installs, if I can’t remember the proper steps at picking up at a drive thru.
Whatr U Workin On 
Written
on July 26, 2013