Big News in a Wiggly Package

I am adopting a dog! I pick him up on Saturday. He's 8 months old and a bundle of energy. I'm naming him Parker. Wish me luck!

Adventures in Auto Repair

I knew something was up a few days before it happened – the Silver Bullet had been making strange noises and shuddering a little bit at stop lights. And I was paranoid because I had just given the car a good report to Mom and Dad. But I still wasn’t prepared for the shrieking sound I heard as I turned off the highway at Thunder River Market.

I am supposed to be on my way to the Colorado Mountain College for a Latino Youth Summit. When I hear the shrieking, above the sound of my tiny speaker system, I make a pit stop at the gas station to pick up some radiator coolant.

When I get out of the car, I see clouds of white steam billowing out from under the hood – accompanied by a hot smell that seems like it can’t possibly be a good thing.

I go inside and ask the cashier where the antifreeze is. As I pay for it, he looks out at my car and says, “Ma’am, you need to let that cool down before you put this in, you know. It’s overheating and it’s leaking all over the place.” Then he proceeds to describe in graphic detail what will happen if I try to remove the radiator cap while the car is warm. His advice – pop the hood and wait a while.

But it turns out that popping the hood -- something I learned to do on my cross-country drive (see All Signs Point West) -- is like sending up a flare, drawing crowds of men who want to root around under the hood of your car and consult each other (not you) about what could possibly be wrong with the vehicle.

They flock to the Thunderbird, one after another.

“Is this your car, ma’am?” In several cases this opening statement is even accompanied by a tip of the cap.

“Yes, it is.”

“Are you all right? Do you have someone you can call?”

“Yes, thank you, I'm fine, I’ve called AAA and they’re sending a tow truck.”

“ Let me just have a look here…” Man proceeds to stick hands under hood, leans down to put ear close to radiator to determine where the leak is originating…

I’m happy to report that by the time the tow truck arrives, all but one of the passersby has diagnosed the problem as a lower radiator hose. And the cashier has come out, waved me away from the car, and poured in the coolant for me. The tow truck driver works his magic, clears his passenger seat, and off we go to the local AAA-certified shop in Glenwood Springs.

At the shop, the diagnosis is confirmed – a blown radiator hose. So I leave the car, which the mechanics dub the Thunderchicken, and head down the street for some companionship and a trip to the bank.

When I return an hour and a half later, the car is idling out front. The mechanics tell me they need to take it for a test drive to determine the engine temperature. No one is pleased when I explain that the temperature gauge in the car has not worked since I’ve had it, and that the other gauges are similarly quirky. Out they go, as the customer service guy tries to tell me that he’ll charge me 146 percent of his original estimate. He tells me that he attempted to contact me but couldn’t reach me – which is baloney, since I point out to him that my cell phone never rang.

I become paranoid that he may be doing this because I’m a girl, which is probably not true, but still makes me angry. During my adventure, I have learned that a AAA certified shop is required to charge within 10 percent of the original written estimate. So I bring this up, then fold my arms and make a very stern face. I stare him down until he reluctantly revises the bill. I am very proud of myself.

By the time the Thunderchicken is returned to the shop, the deal is done. I climb behind the wheel, move the seat back up, and drive off for Carbondale. When retelling the story later, I will be chided for not calling the gents, all of whom have mechanical expertise, it seems. The lesson of the day seems to be, learn to change your own hoses. And it’s a good reminder of how quickly life can change – from TTC and high heeled boots to hiking shoes and do-it-yourself car maintenance.