It's Probably My Fault

 I have probably mentioned about taking the Youngest out for his first driving experience back on the 4th. If I had, then I mentioned how it ended, with the car nearly over-heating, and the 'collapse' of the AC system. Well, I still had not gotten out to see if I could track down the over-heating situation - it has just been too hot (17 days in the Valley of 110+ heat). But yesterday evening, after picking up the Youngest from band camp, I forced myself to do it. Of course, Youngest did most of the "work" as I was also teaching him how to check the fluids, and where to put them, etc. Checked the coolant - the overflow was bone dry (shouldn't be) so figured that could be a good reason. Checked the oil, and this I get mad about, it was also bone dry on the dipstick. So now I figured out why it over-heated... to a degree. I told Youngest I would try to get to the store today and get coolant and oil, then we would top them off. Then we check for obvious leaks (no marks under the car, so not sure). Then we test drive it again. Then I'll take it to the shop to fix the AC (and possibly what else is wrong). Sigh.

Then I went out for a bit. I got a couple hours reading in before one of my friends came to hang out. At one point in the evening, my cane actually broke. It is a heavy-duty one I bought about seven years ago, and has been through some tough use. I guess the adjuster peg sheared off finally, and when I went to put some weight on it, the cane just collapsed in on itself. I nearly took a tumble onto the (blisteringly hot) pavement, but with a couple quick shuffles, help upright. I do have a couple 'back-up' canes here at the house. One is a crappy one from the dollar store, the other is one I made many years ago from an old grape vine. It looks nice - de-barked, sanded down, and sprayed with a clear finish. Last night when I got home, I whittled down the end a bit, and attached a rubber grip. The handle is bigger than what I like, but it will work for now.

Which brings up my other gripe - about the two canes I ordered. They had been delivered nearly a month ago to the wrong address (one about 2 miles from home). I have written USPS (home the tracking site said delivered it) with no responses, and I presume one will never come. It was a business complex where it was delivered, so no idea what suite it would have gone to, considering it had a house number. All I can guess is the Chinese site it was ordered from couldn't read English and fucked up the address. Oh, and the website? It is no longer available. So I am done, and am going to request my bank work the account to get back the $48 dollars I spent. I have proof it was delivered incorrectly, and have no means to contact the seller. Another pain in my .....

Gees, did anything good happen on Monday? Sure. Middle Son stopped by and we got to visit a short bit. He has a birthday coming up soon (turns 21!) and we tentatively made some plans for a possible b-day breakfast meal. The Daughter and family are planning to be up this weekend - still trying to figure out plans for that. The Wife has finally agreed to go to the VFW for steak night, which happens to be this Saturday. Can't beat $20/person for a 20 oz ribeye, baked potato, green beans and a salad. 

Welp, spent too much time writing here today - need to get back to work.

PeacE

Another Monday

Monday has come around again, and as usual, I don't care for it. Not because I have to return to work (I wish) but just because it signals the start of another week, where something else will go wrong.

Saturday evening the Wife and I went out to dinner. We almost didn't. We decided on Longhorn Steakhouse near our home. Turning into the "Mall" entrance, we happened to see several fire trucks, and an electric company utility truck. Didn't think too much about it as where we were going was still 1/4-1/2 mile around the way. We get to the restaurant, and walk to the door. There we are greeted by the manager (I'm guessing) saying that the power was out, and they had no idea when it would be restored. Immediately we thought back to what we had seen, and thought, awww man.

Decided that since power was out around the restaurant area there, we would go across the freeway and try Outback. En route, one of the signal lights (near the Mall area) went out, but didn't change our idea to get out of the area. At Outback, we go in, and due to the social distancing measures, they were full, had an hour wait, and were not taking any more due to them closing at 8pm per the Governor's curfew rule. Sigh. We decided on Denny's a couple miles away. While heading in the direction, we passed Garcia's, and changed our minds. Luckily, we only had a 15 min wait, and they also were closing at 8pm. By the time we headed out the door after eating it was 7:50. Overall was not a bad night.

The weekend also found us out of black ink for the printer. The Wife ran up Staples about 6pm. they were already closed. Then looked online and found Walmart a few miles away had the cartridge we needed in stock, so drove there. Shortly after leaving they were back. Even though store hours said open til 8:30, they were closed as well (near 7:30-8:00) so no ink. Today finds me taking the youngest Son to a dental appointment at 10:30, then we are going to Staples to pick up the ink.

Bad things happening? Yeah. While at Outback on Saturday, the passenger side front door of my car, the lock/unlock toggle switch "popped out". Was able to put it back in place, but now it doesn't work at all. Trying the Driver side, it only unlocks, and won't lock any doors, so have to open, lock and shut all four doors. The key fob doesn't work at all (hasn't since I got it). I will be going to our regular car care place and seeing when they can get it in to get fixed. Be my luck will need two new sets of lock switch mechanisms.... sigh.

It's definitely summer here in AZ, with temps over 100 most days. Not bad as many years, but still too hot to do much in regards to outdoor things. The middle Son was nice and mowed the lawn this morning. I had been debating when to do it for the last week, and just couldn't get myself to do it because of the heat. Even if I did it in the morning.

Monday. It is just one of those days where you want to draw a circle on the desk and write "Bang Head Here" and do it repeatedly.

PeacE