Respectable Automotive Awards Nomination
It is hoooooooooooooottttttt in Napa. Let me just tell you. Mid to high 90s all week. SO HOT. And, aparently, clouds don’t grow in the air around here. It’s totally sweet.
Can I just say “Thank goodness for trustworthy mechanics”? Thank you!! I took Beatrice to the doctor’s today, as she was due for an oil change and also because I’ve been meaning to get her tires rotated and aligned (as per another mechanic’s strict instructions before I left for the cross-country road trip: “AS SOON as you get to CA, get the tires rotated and aligned!”).
So, I pull in to St. Helena Brake and Tire (after getting lost and having to call for directions) and explain to Mike that the tires have been pretty loud lately, and could he please check those out while he’s at it? He immediately checks the tires and informs me that three of them Are in a BAD way. Oh, Billy. Just what I want to hear. You know how tires are supposed to be round, solid, protective sort of beings? Well, Beatrice’s tires were completely rippled (rippled: technical term–NOT ROUND). Have you read the poem “Wavy” by Shel Silverstein?
Wavy
I thought I had wavy hair
Until I shaved. Instead
I find that I have straight hair
And a very wavy head.
Beside that poem (which appears in his book A Light In the Attic) there’s a picture that perfectly visualizes how round my tires are not.
So, Beatrice is getting totally pimped out today: three new tires and an oil change. What a spoiled brat.
For all of you not-so-automobilically-inclined out there, Mike gave me some advice today that I’d like to share with the world…He said, “Never tell the mechanic what you think is wrong. Let them figure it out.” I think that’s terrific advice! For several reasons; A) You probably don’tknow what’s wrong with the car in the first place, and B) Say you tell the mechanic what to fix. It’s his job to do what you say. You tell him to fix the muffler. He fixes it. Then ($200 later) he tells you that your muffler was fine, you just needed a new rearview mirror (or whatever). You’re out mo dolla’s because you’re a bad auto diagnostician. Not smart.
Thank heavens for honest mechanics.
Although, my new tires are costing more than the alignment and rotation. But Honest Mike isn’t charging me for the alignment and rotation that I never needed in the first place, so I guess it all works out.
You should totally pimp out Bea with a nice flame or something painted on her! 🙂 Or perhaps a nice mural of molten chocolate desserts? 🙂
Cars are highly annoying, aren’t they? Heyzoos. I feel anything having to do with cars is a huge rip-off. Too bad they are a necessity! 🙂
Mike sounds like a very useful guy with whom to develop a meaningful and lasting relationship. Does he eat brownies?
I wonder if Mike does like brownies…how could you NOT? I should bring him a tasty little treat for being so honest. It could be my good deed of the day.
P.S. As for the long-term meaningful and lasting relationship part…not so sure. I’m not really into the “40-years-older-than-me” type. It would have to be a Completely Platonic Relationship.
after all that booken didnt anyone teach you the correct spelan of “hot” ?
HA hahaa! I must have been day dreaming during that spelling lesson. Better luck next time!