10/20/13
A week ago (which is what I'm writing about), my parents drove up to A2 because my truck was leaking power steering fluid big-time. Like, it turned out to be a fantastically large hole in one of the hoses. Happily Dad was able to get the hose off, I was able to purchase a new hose and some clamps, and Dad put the new hose on. Awesomely, it was less than $20. Not awesomely, the guy at the store kept directing his questions to Dad until it finally dawned on him that 1) I knew the answers about my vehicle, as it was my vehicle, and 2) that I was the one paying for the parts, and thus he began talking to me. I paid Dad with lunch (I also bought it for Mom and D, and that took a nice chunk of money out of the bank account, but it was nice.)
So no more worries about the leaking power steering fluid on Grune. However, the 'Check Engine' light is still on and he doesn't like going up hills AT ALL and so when I'm in MC for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I think I might have my transmission flushed or whatever the process is there. I want to keep this vehicle running indefinitely.
On Monday I had to work, and I was learning how to do pick-up and discharge. Big whoop. Tuesday I spent all day doing my reading for 581, wearing several layers of clothes and wrapped in blankets. I don't want to turn on my heat until I absolutely have to. I like sleeping cool and I like saving money, so unless I can see my breath, all is well. Besides, if my landlord (who lives on the bottom floor) turns on his heat, well, heat rises.
On Wednesday I talked to the cute bus-stop guy (who is indeed my next-door neighbor on the top floor), and he spent 11 hours each day of the break working on a project. He's a biomedicalsomethingorother graduate student. And then I went to class and group meeting and then I walked around Kerrytown and visited the Farmers' Market and Hollander's. Maybe I'll eventually buy something from one of those places.
More later.
Showing posts with label truck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truck. Show all posts
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Off-Campus
8-22-12
So I've been back in Tennessee since Monday evening. I got to go hunting for the apartment that I will be sharing with Lindsey and Tamara in the near-dark. I even ended up calling Lindsey so she could get her brother (the former occupant) to explain where he hid a key for me.
Yesterday I emptied my storage unit in one trip, which was nice. That saved gas, anyway. I carried everything upstairs (since that's where my room is) and now I'm sore. I'll probably have to bring all my kitchen stuff up as well (the kitchen is tiny and doesn't seem to have any room for my stuff). I might buy a fridge. I'm also looking for a twin bed because the one in here is like a full sized bed and it dominates the room and I don't like it. Nor do I have sheets that fit it.
Today I vacuumed my truck out and discovered that I have tiny spaces under the backseat. Nice. I also bought my textbooks (not the most expensive semester, but a lot of books; the cashier guessed that I was a history major. I'm English, but she wasn't far off). I bought some plastic drawers and some food and some school supplies.
I think I'll go out for supper.
More later.
So I've been back in Tennessee since Monday evening. I got to go hunting for the apartment that I will be sharing with Lindsey and Tamara in the near-dark. I even ended up calling Lindsey so she could get her brother (the former occupant) to explain where he hid a key for me.
Yesterday I emptied my storage unit in one trip, which was nice. That saved gas, anyway. I carried everything upstairs (since that's where my room is) and now I'm sore. I'll probably have to bring all my kitchen stuff up as well (the kitchen is tiny and doesn't seem to have any room for my stuff). I might buy a fridge. I'm also looking for a twin bed because the one in here is like a full sized bed and it dominates the room and I don't like it. Nor do I have sheets that fit it.
Today I vacuumed my truck out and discovered that I have tiny spaces under the backseat. Nice. I also bought my textbooks (not the most expensive semester, but a lot of books; the cashier guessed that I was a history major. I'm English, but she wasn't far off). I bought some plastic drawers and some food and some school supplies.
I think I'll go out for supper.
More later.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Truck Adventures
10-21-11
Today I had lots of adventures! I actually had most of the adventures with Brooke, since she texted me right before I was ready to go and asked me for my plans and I said, "Why don't you come along?" and she did.
We went to Great Clips and we both got haircuts, and I'm pretty pleased with mine, enough so that I think I'll add myself to their database when I go back for another haircut while I'm here in Collegedale. When I take pictures of how I look now, I just might post some. Both of the housemates who are here freaked a tiny bit; one said, "You chopped it all off!" (Which is untrue and exaggerated on several levels. I did nothing to my hair; the stylist did. Also, it was not chopped, it was cut, and I still have plenty left.)
I went and got The Green Machine an oil change, which it apparently REALLY needed, since the Vavoline data sheet I got back indicates that it had been over 100,000 miles since it had had an oil change. (So I was pretty proud of the fact that I took that $20 coupon and took the initiative and got the oil changed. The next thing on my list is probably going to be that back window. Even though the duct tape and plastic make it distinctive in a parking list, it's not super secure. That'll be more expensive to fix, however.) Changing the oil made the truck work SO MUCH BETTER.
Brooke and I then went to Panera, ate lunch, and then "surprised" Alan at work. (He'd told me his hours and suggested that I come by because he'd be bored.) Would you believe that he actually tagged me? (Tagging does not involve paint in this case; it involves throwing me a tag line when I walked into the store.) Brooke and I walked in the side opposite of where he was, and walked around the store because he was talking to someone who I found out later is his manager. When he saw me, he was like, "Ashlee! When did you come in?" and I was like, "We've been here for a bit. You talked to us when we walked in." He said, "Oh, I tagged you, didn't I?" I thought it was pretty funny, anyway.
Then Brooke and I went to Barnes and Noble (since it's right around the corner from where Alan works and since we're both English majors), and then we went to McKay, where I had my cheapest haul yet (I was very good). I got a copy of Death of A Salesman and Eats, Shoots, & Leaves for like $4. Awesome.
Brooke and I went back to my apartment and watched satiric videos and then I went back to the mall and met up with Alan when he got off work. We ate at Red Robin and then chilled in Barnes and Noble for about half an hour before he drove back to his grandma's in Calhoun and I to Southern Village.
I'm glad to announce that the replaced lightbulbs work! Also, I connected a few more roads in my mental map of the area, since the only time I took the highway was when I was driving back after dark tonight (it's the route I actually know the best, so I took it instead of the curvy backroads).
All in all, it's been a great day. I was remembered by friends, had good truck adventures (which is way more preferred than bad vehicle adventures), and ended the day with a phone call to my mom and writing this blog post. GREAT DAY OF BREAK. And I still haven't worked on my Pirates, Captives, and Slavery paper. (If I had regrets of my day, that would probably be it. But I don't.)
Now to bed, since it's almost midnight and I do plan to go to church tomorrow. More later.
Today I had lots of adventures! I actually had most of the adventures with Brooke, since she texted me right before I was ready to go and asked me for my plans and I said, "Why don't you come along?" and she did.
We went to Great Clips and we both got haircuts, and I'm pretty pleased with mine, enough so that I think I'll add myself to their database when I go back for another haircut while I'm here in Collegedale. When I take pictures of how I look now, I just might post some. Both of the housemates who are here freaked a tiny bit; one said, "You chopped it all off!" (Which is untrue and exaggerated on several levels. I did nothing to my hair; the stylist did. Also, it was not chopped, it was cut, and I still have plenty left.)
I went and got The Green Machine an oil change, which it apparently REALLY needed, since the Vavoline data sheet I got back indicates that it had been over 100,000 miles since it had had an oil change. (So I was pretty proud of the fact that I took that $20 coupon and took the initiative and got the oil changed. The next thing on my list is probably going to be that back window. Even though the duct tape and plastic make it distinctive in a parking list, it's not super secure. That'll be more expensive to fix, however.) Changing the oil made the truck work SO MUCH BETTER.
Brooke and I then went to Panera, ate lunch, and then "surprised" Alan at work. (He'd told me his hours and suggested that I come by because he'd be bored.) Would you believe that he actually tagged me? (Tagging does not involve paint in this case; it involves throwing me a tag line when I walked into the store.) Brooke and I walked in the side opposite of where he was, and walked around the store because he was talking to someone who I found out later is his manager. When he saw me, he was like, "Ashlee! When did you come in?" and I was like, "We've been here for a bit. You talked to us when we walked in." He said, "Oh, I tagged you, didn't I?" I thought it was pretty funny, anyway.
Then Brooke and I went to Barnes and Noble (since it's right around the corner from where Alan works and since we're both English majors), and then we went to McKay, where I had my cheapest haul yet (I was very good). I got a copy of Death of A Salesman and Eats, Shoots, & Leaves for like $4. Awesome.
Brooke and I went back to my apartment and watched satiric videos and then I went back to the mall and met up with Alan when he got off work. We ate at Red Robin and then chilled in Barnes and Noble for about half an hour before he drove back to his grandma's in Calhoun and I to Southern Village.
I'm glad to announce that the replaced lightbulbs work! Also, I connected a few more roads in my mental map of the area, since the only time I took the highway was when I was driving back after dark tonight (it's the route I actually know the best, so I took it instead of the curvy backroads).
All in all, it's been a great day. I was remembered by friends, had good truck adventures (which is way more preferred than bad vehicle adventures), and ended the day with a phone call to my mom and writing this blog post. GREAT DAY OF BREAK. And I still haven't worked on my Pirates, Captives, and Slavery paper. (If I had regrets of my day, that would probably be it. But I don't.)
Now to bed, since it's almost midnight and I do plan to go to church tomorrow. More later.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
die grüne Maschine
10-20-11
I've been avoiding driving at night because I only had brights and my dims had stopped working. Well, I usually avoid driving if I can help it. I don't like doing it, really. Something about other people being idiots and potential bringers of injury and/or death, at least three vehicles that have left me stranded on the side of the road, the fact that sometimes following the traffic laws does not stop cops from pulling you over [my first and ever warning; I'll tell that story sometime], and my lack of driving experience. I probably worry too much, but nevertheless, I need to drive occasionally to get rid of that lack of driving experience stuff.
Now, I have what my parents' mechanic/autoperson says is a "very decent little truck." I'm the owner of a dark green 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. I've discovered that it doesn't really like going up hills with a load of stuff in 90-degree weather, and that it leaks power steering fluid almost sieve-like, but overall I like it. I had to have something or other replaced so that it didn't leak transmission fluid anymore. It needs cleaned out, and I need to replace one of the back windows with glass or plexiglas. I'm going to take it for an oil change and fluids check tomorrow, which will cost about $20. (It's a deal. I'm going to take it.) Still, it runs and the radio works.
Today I learned how to take the headlights' lightbulbs out and replace them. Teri helped me, and I mostly did the second light by myself. She told me that they should last a year at minimum.
I wish I knew how to do all that car stuff; maybe it should be a required freshman class or something. I know I had Tech class in high school, but come on, that class really was a joke. The best thing we did there was learn how to do an oil change and build cardboard boats that we actually tried out in the pits.
I want to learn how to maintain my vehicle properly. Yes, I need to vacuum it out, but I want to keep it running as long as possible. I want to prevent stuff from happening as much as I have power to prevent it. Far better to spend some money now than sit on the side of the road and end up junking a van that you'd just spent money on the day before.
Also, I actually need to get out and drive. Granted, I still have more than half a tank of gas from the tank I got the day I arrived on campus in August because I walk more often when I'm on campus. However, I need to branch out a bit and stop being so scared of everything. 'Cause, let's face it, that's what I am, and I'll only be limiting myself and just existing unless I do something about it. Argh.
More later.
I've been avoiding driving at night because I only had brights and my dims had stopped working. Well, I usually avoid driving if I can help it. I don't like doing it, really. Something about other people being idiots and potential bringers of injury and/or death, at least three vehicles that have left me stranded on the side of the road, the fact that sometimes following the traffic laws does not stop cops from pulling you over [my first and ever warning; I'll tell that story sometime], and my lack of driving experience. I probably worry too much, but nevertheless, I need to drive occasionally to get rid of that lack of driving experience stuff.
Now, I have what my parents' mechanic/autoperson says is a "very decent little truck." I'm the owner of a dark green 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. I've discovered that it doesn't really like going up hills with a load of stuff in 90-degree weather, and that it leaks power steering fluid almost sieve-like, but overall I like it. I had to have something or other replaced so that it didn't leak transmission fluid anymore. It needs cleaned out, and I need to replace one of the back windows with glass or plexiglas. I'm going to take it for an oil change and fluids check tomorrow, which will cost about $20. (It's a deal. I'm going to take it.) Still, it runs and the radio works.
Today I learned how to take the headlights' lightbulbs out and replace them. Teri helped me, and I mostly did the second light by myself. She told me that they should last a year at minimum.
I wish I knew how to do all that car stuff; maybe it should be a required freshman class or something. I know I had Tech class in high school, but come on, that class really was a joke. The best thing we did there was learn how to do an oil change and build cardboard boats that we actually tried out in the pits.
I want to learn how to maintain my vehicle properly. Yes, I need to vacuum it out, but I want to keep it running as long as possible. I want to prevent stuff from happening as much as I have power to prevent it. Far better to spend some money now than sit on the side of the road and end up junking a van that you'd just spent money on the day before.
Also, I actually need to get out and drive. Granted, I still have more than half a tank of gas from the tank I got the day I arrived on campus in August because I walk more often when I'm on campus. However, I need to branch out a bit and stop being so scared of everything. 'Cause, let's face it, that's what I am, and I'll only be limiting myself and just existing unless I do something about it. Argh.
More later.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
My Mom Sent Me A Picture
4-19-11
This is my new truck. Just thought you might want to see it. I'm thinking up a name right now. :D More later.
-Ashlee
-Ashlee
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)