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Car trouble (1)

 

The last week of my vacation here started with some anxious moments. My baby was supposed to go to work at 8:30 am, but less than 2 minutes after she left her home, she pulled back in to the carport. The car was running real weird and it didn’t even want to stop running when she turned the key off.

 

A little panic struck me (and her too I’m sure). One bad thing is, that I know absolutely nothing about car mechanics. I do understand how they work and stuff, but whenever I pull the hood open I can barely distinguish the battery from the other parts. Sure, I know how to fill up the screenwash or put some more oil in there, but other than that I’m pretty lost.

 

Now, my brother-in-law on the other hand is a bit of a car wizz. Lets put it this way: what I know about computers, he knows about cars. He is rebuilding an old BMW 3-series right now, and he really is doing a great job.

 

So, when Carrie pulled up there I could only give her a sheepish look and try to think what the heck might be wrong with the car. I checked (so I thought) all the fluids, and they seemed ok. Now there was one little thing that should have warned us: the engine had been running pretty hot and when I pulled the hood open (before we left for New Orleans), I saw some smoke coming of the engine (oil burning). Also, there was a huge puddle of what looked like water and oil beneath the car under the carport.

 

However: since we checked the oil before (when we left for New Orleans) it seemed like that could not  be oil, but radiator fluid – or something. Carrie told me that the puddle started to grow when she had her oil changed at Superlube some weeks ago. We talked a couple of times about it over the phone and I suggested she would check if the bolt that is underneath the car was screwed on the right way.

 

Anyway, we decided it was best to have the car towed to Action Auto and have them look at the problem. I feared the worst, since it sounded like a major problem (maybe a belt or something). So after waiting for more than one hour for the tow truck, the guy asked us what was wrong with the car and checked the oil again. And sure enough: there was no oil left in the engine.

 

Now, as everyone knows, that is a sure way to kill your engine. So we could only hope that this wasn’t the end of the car. Luckily Carrie drove it only for 2-3 minutes. Any longer and it would have died for sure. So after the tow truck left she took Zach’s (her son) car to work.

 

Mosquito cost

 

While waiting for the verdict on the car, I mowed Carrie’s front lawn. Since I had taken a nap for 1 hour (hey, I’m on vacation you know) it was about 12:30 when I started to do that. The middle of the day and probably the hottest moment. Boy, I think I lost a gallon of sweat there. The grass was pretty high and the lawnmower – that otherwise works great – died on it about 20 times. And sure enough: the mosquito’s really started to follow me around and were trying to eat me alive. They even follow me around while I’m in the pool!

 

Funny thing is: I never ever had a problem with mosquito’s – in Holland that is. Ever since I visited Florida for the first time however, it seems that I am allergic for the American version of this pesky little critter. And what a drag it is: once bitten the bite mark turns into a huge purple/red spot and itches like crazy. I know a thing or two about how mosquito’s work and I am sure I am allergic to the stuff they inject into my bloodstream in order to prevent my blood from clogging up. It works to good I guess, so that’s why it looks so bad. Not to mention it itches like hell.

 

Car Trouble (2)

 

Finally Carrie called me and told me what the verdict was on the car. First she tricked me and said it was 4500 dollars to get it fixed, but then she explained that in actuality it was two bolts (or nuts) on the engine that weren’t tightened up enough, so the motor had been leaking oil all the time! The big puddle under the car, after all, was oil. The charged some 80 dollars for fixing it. Not bad, considering things could have been a lot worse!

 

Indian Dinner

 

The day ended with us having a nice dinner at Curry and Wine. “Us” included Carrie’s girlfriend Denise. Denise used to work at the same place Carrie is working. While Denise was having some vegetarian food, Carrie and I chowed down on some chicken curry. I had the spiciest version of the Chicken Korma, but compared with what I am used to it was actually the mildest dish I had in a while. Nice, but not as spicy I was into.

 

Afterwards we dropped a video at Blockbuster (Mystic River – excellent movie) and proceeded  home to watch the movie Monster. One of the saddest movies (next to Mystic River and Monsters Ball) I have seen lately. And so ended the day.