Bits and Pieces

Update on Car Repair: took the car to a local mechanic specializing in foreign models, especially Mercedes. He replaced the failed suspension bladder and its companion on the right rear wheel, too. He cleaned and removed rust from control components of the air suspension system. The repairs were tested overnight, and all is good. The system is good to go. He did all of this at half price. Still, it was costly, $1,010. 

He is also checking out a 4-wheel drive front differential replacement. The right front axle assembly needs replacement as well so he will check on available rebuilt parts. If successful, we will attend to all of these issues at one time. Left to do is getting the air conditioning working again. I doubt we will be able to handle all of that, but we shall see. I will post an update with more results. Before leaving the premises, I was introduced to the owner of the auto brokerage and repair operation. They promised to work with me on using rebuilt parts at lower labor rates. Total repairs remaining would be $3000. That includes the air conditioning. Now to ponder how to do this!

Update on Cable Cutting: installed a Google HUB on the TV set. That will support streaming and access to other programming. Some streaming services we already have and don’t need any more. Installed the 5-G Wi-Fi unit. So far only driving my computer. Yet to install Rocky’s computer to it. Then pair it with the Google HUB. Once that is done, we should be able to detach the Comcast connection. Then a call to Comcast to cancel service and return equipment. I will post an update when that is all done.

Why I Love/Hate Spring: when asked which season I like best, I usually respond ‘summer.’ That is because it is green, warm, and pleasant. Yes, it is also hot, sticky, and stormy, but the warmth is the thing along with verdant greenery. Following summer is the cool, crisp relief of fall, but that is not my favorite second season. I still like spring for that ranking. Why that is has more to do with the relief from the awful weather of winter. Spring has its own awfulness: up and down temps; return visits of snow and ice; on again off again weather patterns. It is crazy and frustrating when our expectations are so needy of winter respite. Yet it is that bridge from winter’s gray to spring’s budding green and fresh blooming flowers. The greening of lawns is another wonder so appreciated. Spring is the harbinger of life and renewal. That is its allure. Fall may be the cooling from summer’s heat, but it is also the march to death of flowers and greenery. Fall colors are beautiful but then come the many months of gray, nude trees, and cold. Not a pleasant reminder of the winter that races toward us. No; spring beats fall in my book. Frustrating but hopeful.

April 22, 2022

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more