This morning a DJ declared that last week, we had temperatures WAY ABOVE AVERAGE! And now, this week, we're seeing temps BELOW average for this time of year! I wanted to call in and say, "Um, that's why they call it an 'average,' yes?"
In any case, the weather is beautiful, low 80s, low humidity, just lovely. And my bike has a flat. I took it to the local Schwinn Schopp yesterday, where the tattooed gent told me "Tuesday or Wednesday" for pickup. So today, Tuesday, I called on my way home. Some other feller asked, "Did he tell you it would be done today? Cuz we're all backed up on repairs. We probably won't have this ready until Friday."
Friday is a holiday, at the end of a week of beautiful weather. It's a TIRE! I used to watch my DAD fixing bike tires in the garage! Well, until he sent me away so he could cuss.
So I phoned The Touring Cyclist, where I bought the bike some years ago, and they said if I got there soon, they could probly fix it while I waited. So they did, while I did.
I need to learn how to do basic bike maintenance.
***
Meanwhile, I have two other vehicles in various stages of repair (besides Ol' Betsy, who's just out to pasture right now). There's my nephew's car, in my driveway awaiting a windshield; and my tractor, which was whisked away by the Gordon Connection today. And both involved unusual transportation itineraries ...
Matt was flying out of St. Louis to visit his girlfriend, but had a cracked windshield and an aversion to driving at Lambert St. Louis airport. Quick thinking by his mother put the car in my driveway, where Imaginary Lisa's (real) husband is replacing the windshield at the very low Friends & Family price - while I did the airport run.
Kenny was working on my tractor (after saying unkind things about Greg's efforts to fix it.) He got me a belt at wholesale, but when he put it on he noticed a couple other things: the drive belt (of which I DO have a spare) is about to go, and the "quill" is in bad shape somehow. Some bolt that thingy thing thingered and he hopes it's not too bad already because the aluminum housing is thingadingdinged. And one of my blades is on upside down. "Oh, that's GORDON!" I explained. "Gordon put those blades on last year!" Kenny was tickled.
So, I'm glad Kenny's fixing the mower, because it will be FIXED when he's done, not jerry-rigged. I asked him how I should get the belt to him. "Are you gonna be seeing Gordon?" he inquired. I got the impression he thinks I SEE Gordon, whereas I really just sort of RUN INTO Gordon now and then. "I can," I offered. "Well, have him drop it off in my truck," he instructed.
To my house and shed for the belt, and then off to Gordon's house, where he wanted to show off his "new" truck: a 1990 Chevy with power windows, power doors, AC, that he got for $125. What a dealer! I was impressed, so he told me he got a bike, too, for $25, but he's going to get rid of it because he got another bike he likes better.
I ended up buying the bike for R, whose Trek was stolen.
***
All this dealing with wheels meant it took me three hours to arrive home after I left work. Crazy! But I feel good about the progress.
And Matt's new windshield was gleaming in the sunset when I finally got home.
Wow! That's a whole lot of wheelin' and dealin'. At the end of the day, you lucked into a Gordon "bargain" AND got your bike and mower fixed. YAY!
Posted by: Nicole | July 01, 2009 at 05:59 AM