A Postcard From The Edge

What’s this? Tucked in amongst the usual junk mail today was a little hand lettered postcard with a smiley face sticker in the upper left hand corner. Oh, its an ad for a Summer Special Sale. 2 spaces for $895.00 in the Bronze or V.A. Gardens is being offered by the friendly folks at the Southland Cemetery of Aiken. How thoughtful. I know I am middle aged because I actually thought about it for a minute. Then I remembered we agreed to be cremated, so I won’t be needing any land. If you want to take advantage of this offer just email me and I’ll send it to you, it doesn’t say it is non-transferable. The City Fathers are trying to promote Aiken as a nice place to retire, I think it probably isn’t a bad place to be buried either.

Gets So Loose It Falls Off

The “Hot Weather Rattle” persists. Still sounds like it is behind the glovebox. I guess I’ll have to start dismantling it bit by bit until the noise stops or I could just not drive the car until winter….right. Or I could just live with it until what ever is loose, gets so loose it falls off.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 169

Where is my TV?

A few weeks ago a bolt from on high struck near enough to smoke check several electrical devices in the homestead. After doing all the song and dance the insurance company wanted we are still lacking in a big TV for the living room. We agreed to let the folks at State Farm replace it through the State Farm Replacement Service. Figured if they could save a few bucks some how on the deal they be friendly to me in future transactions. When we gave them the original OK to go ahead we were told 5 to 7 days. That was pushed out further because the model we picked could not be located anywhere in the local area. Unfortunately that meant delivery might occur while we were away on vacation, so I had them move the date out until next week. My mother-in-law was here, but I want to make sure this thing works good before I sign off on it, hopefully this week we will get it.

Fading Light Of The Evening

I only left the house twice – er, no three – times today. First, early morning before the heat, Donna and I went for a short 12 mile bike ride to go and get some fresh bagels for today and subsequent breakfasts. The second was in the middle of the heat of the day in the MSV with Mom in tow to go to the mall for sneaker shopping. And lastly in the fading light of the evening for our walk around the block. The Miata sat all day, we’ll find out if the fix for the “Hot Weather Rattle” worked tomorrow after work.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 169

Heat Index

At 3 PM today the Weather Channel site said it was 95 degrees outside but the heat index made it feel like 104. The term “Heat Index” is the summer equivalent of the wind chill factor and I think was invented by the folks at the Weather Channel because it makes the hot temperatures seem more exciting. Here is a quote from their definition: “The Heat Index is a function of temperature and relative humidity. The combination of the two results in an apparent temperature which gives an idea of what it would feel like under normal-to-low humidity conditions.” Here is my definition: If it is above 85 degrees it is hot. Simple, huh?

Where My Hunt Began

Just a few mile errand was all the exercise the Miata got today. It was like middle 90’s with the heat index way up in the middle 100’s so I drove around with the AC on. When I got home I decided to try and locate my hot weather rattle. Started as a mild annoyment towards the end of last summer. Disappeared for the entire winter and reappeared in late spring. The rattle only happens when the temperature is above 85 degrees and sounds like it is coming from the glove box. Donna has pushed/pulled/pounded on every possible surface on her side of the car. I even tried driving around with the glove box removed once a few months back, but the rattle was still there. Today I decided it must be under the hood somewhere, so that is where my hunt began. I pushed/pulled/pounded on a bunch of things until I got to the windshield washer fluid bottle – it rattled slightly! I tightened the two top bolts and lined a hole in the fender with duct tape where a plastic stud from the bottle sits. I’ll let you know…

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 169

Some Blue Goo

To make up for yesterday’s lack of attention we drove the Miata this morning to an appointment downtown and on the way home stopped at AutoZone and bought 4 quarts of Penzoil 10w-30. Came home and washed & dried the car outside and then pulled it in the garage for the interior cleaning and changing the oil. While I was at it I cleaned and conditioned the leather seats. Ooh, and tried somewhat in vain to remove all the bug guts of the nose of the car with some blue goo. Got most of it but I won’t win any car show. After that I waxed just the nose of the car. In a few minutes we’ll take a night time drive, because the heat index will possibly be back in double digits. As a consequence of that there will be a few new insect inards plastered to the front. 🙁

Started up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 169