Dear Reader,
Today is Monday… MLK day and a holiday, otherwise classes would be starting today. As it is, I start my new Spring/06 semester classes tomorrow. Won’t that be nice?
You would think that would be enough for someone my age. I am re-taking Calculus 1 since I did not pass it the first time. < I have not gotten used to the way these college professors fail to actually teach you anything. You’re expected to figure out about half or more of it on your own. > I am also forging ahead with Chemistry. I will have had a full year of chemistry with a lab when I’m done. That is not required by BSU for my degree, but it is required by other Universities, and I want to have that block filled in incase I ever get the chance to transfer (move). These are two heavy classes, and you’d think that would be enough…
My parents have given me a project in the form of a 1976 light blue Mercedes Benz. It has been in their garage for about twelve years. Dad was playing around with various engine/transmission options. He finally was convinced that he should just return it to the original OEM spec’s. So it now has a rebuilt 5 cylinder diesel engine and the 4 speed automatic transmission like when it was new. But it has sat around for so long, almost nothing else worked. Only two of four power windows move when you hit the buttons. The automatic door locks keep it unlocked at all times. The trunk lock had to be repaired, the ignition switch was falling apart. The defroster did not work because the system is locked into A/C mode. The turn signals didn’t work, the dash lights still won’t. The fuel filter plugged from all the years of accumulated Idaho dust before the first 1/8’th of a tank had been used (I can only guess how many of those I’ll burn through to start with.) So this is a work in progress to be sure. It has some paint issues, some body work (a lot of little dents from being used like a work bench/storage shelf for so many moons,) and some upholstery issues too.
It may be worth the time and effort however. New, the 300D sold for twelve grand. Right now the car might be worth about 2 grand (as is). But restored, they go for about 6 grand. I’ve been told that on E-bay they can pull twice that… but as far as I can tell, that is only a rumor. The only way to afford these repairs, however, is to sell my Tracker. Then I’ll be stuck if the MB breaks down on me. And going 50 miles round trip to school is a top priority right now. ?? Which car to trust & keep; which car to sell?? That is a puzzle. The Tracker is far newer, but has 136 k-miles on it and is also in need of some garage/mechanic time. I’d have to sell the MB to afford it’s repairs, such as a new timing belt, and some ignition work (it isn’t idling well.)
So you’d think that is enough to put on my plate right now, but…
My wife has decided that we need to build our own dinning room table. This is an honor! To be trusted to build what is probably the most important furnishing in the entire house! Wow! When you think about it, the dinning room table is where you have most of your family time. It is where you entertain guests. It is where you go to work on a project, do some art or craft, or work on some food prep. It is very visible and very functional. Your choice of table says a great deal about your living style. If the table is too fancy; it says your life is all a show, a mask you wear for people to see. If the table is cluttered, dusty, or miss-used, it says that your life is lived else-where, outside your home, on the go, on the road, or at the office; that you’re not at home, at home. If it is small, you are probably lonely. If it is huge, you either have a lot of family or a lot of friends. I think this table, more than anything, reflects our attitudes and ideas about how life is lived. –Just a side bar thought here.
My wife wants a table, built in the traditional Castilian style. These are thick rugged tables, a bit rustic and not very ornate. Had she wanted anything too fine, I’d have had to decline building it. But rugged and rustic are good! We bought about $150 worth of redwood for it, and spent another $350 on tools and equipment that I’ll need for this. So far I’ve gotten a router, a table saw, some 4 ft. clamps, and two roller stands out of the deal.
Perhaps that is enough to put on my plate for awhile. Yet, somehow, I’ll bet someone finds room for more… I might even find some time to post on my blog!
Smile! Life is good!
One parting idea, on a completely different topic, --- “If being black is all that, why haven’t they opened an African Food restaurant?”
Grins and giggles!
