Car Trouble...Part III

I guess I made it about 5 miles before the Mustang started to shimmy and shake once again. Maybe, it needed to run for a bit so the fluid could work it's way down into the engine. That seemed like a really good idea so I kept going. I went another ten miles or so before I realized that it wasn't getting any better and I better head back to the service station. Crap! Dang it! I pulled back into the service station and both Slim and Curly started shaking their heads. "It's doing the same thing," I said before they could ask. "Mmmm, I don't think there's anything else we can do for you here," Slim said. The next part of the conversation dealt with every mechanic within a 50 mile radius of our small town. You don't want to go to so and so because of this, that, and the other or you could go to them but they'll charge you an arm and a leg. We all agreed that it would be better to take it to a small shop versus one of those big name places or to even the Ford Dealership because they charge way too much money. They finally recommended a guy in the next town about 20 miles a way but I thought I would try a guy that Mom had used to fix her air conditioner for half the price of everyone else. I drove over to this fella's place and he listened intently as I told him what that problem was and what had been done so far. "I'm gonna be honest with you," he said. "I'm not the man for the job. There's a guy in the next town who you need to go see. He's not only a Ford man, he's a Ford Mustang transmission man...

Wordless Wednesday...I Think Someone Needs A Bath

Car Trouble...Part II

I got up early the next morning and headed on over to the service station. Slim, the tall, skinny guy sauntered over to me and asked what the problem was? I told him what it was doing and he asked to take it for a ride. I didn't mind and watched in slight disbelief as he got a wheel tearing out of the station parking lot. (I had just got new tires.) I stood and waited for a few tense moments until he came roaring back into the station. "Sounds like the transmission," he said. (Uh, oh) "I'm just learning about Fords, I'm not a Ford man yet. Let me get Curly over here to take a look at her. He worked over at the Ford place until he got fired. Hey Curly! Come on over here and take a look at this." Slim proceeded to inform Curly of everything that I had told him and what he had just experienced while driving my car. Curly turned his head to the side, stroked his beard and said, "Yep, sounds like the transmission to me. When was the last time you checked the transmission fluid?" he asked. "Never," I said. "I thought you guys do that when you change the oil; you know, topping off the fluids and such." He ignored my statement and told Slim to check the level of the transmission fluid. Slim pulled out the stick and pushed it back in then withdrew it one more time. I became a little concerned as Slim had to squint closer and closer to the dipstick, shook his head and showed it to Curly who also had to squint to see if there was any moisture on the stick. "Looks like you ain't got no fluid in there at all," Curly said. "That's your problem right there." Slim put in a quart of transmission fluid, slammed the hood down and tore out of the parking lot one more time. He pulled back into the station and with a nod of his head told me I was ready to go. We walked into the office to settle up the bill and he said it would be 4 bucks just for the transmission fluid. Shoot, I was so ecstatic that it wasn't the transmission that I gave him a twenty and told him to keep the change. His face lit up and with a big grin told me to have a good one. I climbed back into the Mustang and started heading west; I had an undercover assignment about 30 miles away...

The Friend's Birthday

Birthday wishes go out to the Friend that I mention in my posts. Friend has experienced several of the MA Fat Woman's mishaps and can always be counted on for a good laugh, a no nonsense quote, or a story that will upstage mine every time. Which reminds me of a story about Friend. Friend had a big time job and several underlings at her disposal for years. When birthdays and holidays floated around they always celebrated big. Everyone got cakes, presents, and usually taken out to dinner or the such. Well, Friend was really excited when it was time to celebrate her birthday. She had heard them planning and plotting the details of the party and was very excited. It didn't turn out that way. It seems the person that had done the planning had an emergency and all of the plans fell through. On the day of the birthday, there was nothing. No dinner! No presents! And no cake! Somebody realized what had happened and ran to Walmart to get an emergency cake. The day was a Friday and the office was scarcely staffed. After about 3 or 4 people sang Happy Birthday, each grabbed a slice of cake and scattered back to their respective offices. When it was time to go home that evening Friend went into the break room to get the cake to take home... ...it wasn't there! "Where's the cake?" she asked. "Oh, so-and-so took it with her. She said nobody had chipped in, so she was taking it home!" I know! Stuff like that happens all the time to her. Happy Birthday Friend! I hope you get a cake that is all yours...

Car Trouble...Part I

I like to think that I know a little something about cars. …I like to think that anyway. Mom and I were out loaferin’ (riding around) in the Mustang the other night when my engine started shuddering as I was going up a hill. Uh, oh! Crap! Shit! Is there anything worse than car trouble? “Sounds like it’s missing,” Mom said. It did sound like that, but it only seemed to shimmy and shake when it was going into or coming out of overdrive. “I hope it’s not the transmission,” I replied. My friend had just had her transmission replaced at a cost of 4500 bucks and there was no way in the world that I wanted to spend that kind of money. And these days, who has that kind of money anyway. I hate car problems. I know I already said this, but is there anything worse than car trouble? I dropped Mom off and headed back home hoping that the Mustang would make it home. “Want me to follow you home?” she asked. “Nah, I’ll be okay. She’s never left me stranded yet.” I was going to go to the local service station early in the morning; it’s where I usually get my oil changed. They don’t do extensive repairs but are pretty good at trouble shooting and would be able to point me in the right direction if major repairs are needed…

Seens From The New Porch

Nothing! That's right...nothing! I've had my new porch for about six months and haven't seen the first blasted thing. It now faces the road and all I see are cars and trucks speeding past. It's amazing at how much noise some vehicles can make, especially motorcycles. I've been thinking about moving my outdoor furniture back around to the way things used to be. Back to where I can enjoy the seens from my original porch. If you want to know the truth, I've been looking at a whole new different seen and hope to be there by the end of the year. That's our little secret, don't tell the landlord because he might want to come mess with the only seen I have left. ...my seens from the recliner.

Was That The Phone?

I don't get that many phone calls. It could be because that I'm on the Do Not Call List or that when asked to give my phone number on a registration form or something I generally give the wrong number. My number isn't unlisted...I'm too cheap to pay the extra fee. I have a cell phone (who doesn't) but I don't really like to talk on it. I'm always paranoid of going over my minutes. I got a friend who talks on the phone so much that she sometimes goes over her monthly plan which has unlimited minutes. I know! It seems that whenever I do get a call I'm always in the shower. When I was younger and more svelte if I heard the phone ringing while in the shower I would slip, drip and slide all the way to the phone to get there in time to hear a dial tone. These days...not so much! If I think I hear the phone I'll turn the shower off, turn my head and listen intently. Was that the phone? I always think I hear a ringing of some kind, or worse, I think it might be somebody knocking at the door. In my younger days I might've slipped, dripped and slid to get to the door wearing only what the good Lord gave me. These days....not so much...well, maybe? It could be the UPS guy! Yummy! What things do you think you hear in the shower? Tune in next time for Seens From the New Porch!