Month: February 2023

Washer Heal ThySelf

Sometime in mid January when I pulled the clothes out of the washer they were exceedingly wet. Figuring that the load was unbalanced I spread the clothes around evenly and ran the “Drain and Spin Cycle.” It didn’t help much. Because we do just one load a day and have the time we just started allotting 75 to 90 minutes for drying instead of the typical 50 to 60.

Was our 3-year old washer broken already?

I looked online for what might be the issue with the machine and there were at least a half dozen reasons. I tried the first two. Rerouting the drain hose to go straight up immediately after exiting the machine instead angled like I had it with no change of clothes wetness. Dumping some liquid plumber down the drain pipe had no effect. The rest of the suggestions involved opening up the machine to check pumps and belts or troubleshooting the electronics.

We could replace it with the same model for just under $600. But did we need to? The extra 20 or 30 minutes really wasn’t a big hardship, except for possibly adding $10 bucks a month to the power bill. Maybe we should have a professional come look at it.

This Tuesday I called a local appliance repair place and set up an appointment to have someone come look at the machine next Monday. It was $95 for the house call, but then at least we could see whether to fix it or buy new or just live with it.

Wednesday morning when I washed the bath towels, the bath mat and our sheets, they came out of the washing machine just like they used to 2 weeks ago. Huh? So we rounded up some more stuff to run another load. Those too came out fine and everything came out of the dryer in the usual hour-ish time frame. The next day’s load, same thing, we were back to the normal wash day timing. I called and cancelled the appointment.

The weather was nice enough today that we drove the Miata to take Donna for her physical therapy appointment. It was even warm enough that we dropped the top for the leg home.

Times Miata Driven since 11/01/22: 8

 

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Short Month Edition of SORT
As of Monday, February 6, 2023 at 15:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
2022 Ferrari F8 Spider 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser 1954 Kaiser Darrin
With 450 miles on the clock it is hasn’t even lost the new car smell yet. There are 5 days left in the auction and the bidding is already in 5 figures. Fresh from starring in the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Sports: 1967.5 Datsun 1600 Roadster Sold for $44,000 on 1/31/23
Off-Road: 1961 International Harvester Scout 80 Bid to $67,500 on 2/3/23
Touring: Euro 1998 BMW 750i Individual Sold for $21,250 on 1/31/23

Everclean Car Wash

The photo above is from just after Thanksgiving the last time the Mini was clean. Since then we have had snow storms every two weeks like clockwork. Everything from a 1/2″ to 6″ and that meant the helpful folks of the Klamath Fall road department have been distributing cinders on the roads after each one. This has led to a very dirty car, especially the nearly vertical flat back of the car. It has become entirely brownish-red except for where the clean sweep of the rear wiper.

As much as I love washing our cars I am not about to go outside when the temperatures are below 40°, so this afternoon we ran out on some errands with the last stop being a drive-thru car wash. It is not perfect, so probably tomorrow I go down to the garage and break out the Mequier’s Quick Detailer and finish the job.

Times Miata Driven since 11/01/22: 7

 

Groundmiata Day

Backed the Miata out of the garage and it didn’t see its shadow so we are in for for an early spring no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says.

Times Miata Driven since 10/28/22: 7

 

25 Years Ago – Issue I 1998

In 1998 they started publishing six issues a year. I don’t remember exactly where in the year they came, but for the purposes here they will show up on the first of the even numbered months.

Got Milk?

By Norman Garrett
Founding Father

Among my favorite words after nine each night are, “Honey, do we have milk for the morning?”

Maybe only a Miata owner can understand, but any excuse for a short road trip is cause for glee in my book. Call it spontaneity in my otherwise predictable world.

Me, the moonlight, my Miata, and a short errand. Time to drive with the top down and the radio off. A little island of serenity at the end of a long, probably hard day, Sort of a half automotive yoga/half runner’s high kind of thing. Me and five speeds, no schedule, no ETA. A good excuse for a senseless drive.

And Candi knows it as well as I do. Maybe more, bless her.

Because the fact is, this drive is much more than senseless. As the cool night air tumbles over the wind-shield and my hair gets tousled, perspective falls back into place after 15 hours of absence. I smell the crisp mid-winter woods in hibernation. The cold air on the back of my shift hand feels tingly. The shift knob vibrates with a harsh-er tone over the cold trans-mission. The exhaust echoes against the naked trees, pinpoint stars dot the black winter sky. Hardly senseless, this trip.

In my small way, I’m out of the loop. I come into the store independent of the usual pressed schedule. Others are clamoring to get their weekly shopping done and get home. I’ve already been home. I’m neither here nor there; off the grid for a few minutes.

I stroll past the magazine rack, take a few minutes or ten to catch up on the rest of the automotive world. A little fix for my automotive habit. On to the dairy case, through the express line, back to the parking lot. I’m the only one getting into to a convertible — out of the responsibility loop again. Sure it’s cold out, but hey, I’ve got a heater…

Going home, mission accomplished„ my brain co automatic but in a good way — like a NI-Cad must feel on full charge. I follow may headlights along some yellow lines across familiar roads, bat peg my apexes and shift points flawlessly. Second, third, fourth, then back down again. Tap the brakes, drift the back end — it’s the sort of driving I never do during the day. Nighttime is the best for this, when you have no time to keep.

For me, an excuse to get out after the kids are down and the world is finally quiet is a coupon for peace of mind, a dose of the best kind of medicine. One hundred cc’s of Miata and everything is all better. I wonder if we need eggs…

Copyright 1998, Miata Magazine. Reprinted without permission.