Perpetual Ruminations

Wednesday

It got real late for me tonight and I not only missed the date in WdC but I'm almost an hour after midnight, my time. Not that it's really my fault today, I have a good excuse for running so far behind. See, today was my second day off, of three. I work longer shifts through the summer, but then I get three days off during the week. That means I work Friday through Monday, then have Tuesday through Thursday off.

Yesterday I worked on the van and hoped to have if fixed, but no such luck. So, I ordered the part that the codes say is causing the problems. Yesterday we pulled the cowling off and cleaned the computer plug and checked all the connections and vacuum lines that I could find, hoping that it was a dirty connection or a lose vacuum hose. But, the connection seemed fine, however there was a lose vacuum hose that I fixed, and hoped had corrected the problem. Nope.

The only other idea we could come up with, was the low idle valve, and the code the mechanic got indicated this is likely the problem. We had illuminated about 75 percent of any other problems with the plugs and vacuums, so this seemed the likely choice to move on to. But nobody had  one in stock. Advance Auto had the best price, and could have one in by this morning, so we placed the order and then had a relaxing night.

This morning we got up kind of late, called and found that the part had indeed come in around nine this morning. We had a couple cups of coffee and then drove in to pick it up. We also had to pick up a few things at the grocery store, and I wanted to take Rhonda out for lunch. We both worked on Sunday, Mother's Day, so we didn't do anything special. On top of that, the kids didn't do anything special for her either.  They wished her a happy day, but only with posts in Facebook, and I knew she was kind of disappointed.

So, after we picked up the part, I drove her out to Ihops and surprised her with a nice dinner. Then, after a leisure dinner, we stopped and picked up a few groceries and drove home. I had no more than come into the house and the phone started to ring. Now, I had planned on taking Rhonda out for dinner, and I knew that it was likely that I would be int erupted if I had my cell phone along, so I had left it at home. I use it primarily for work, and it's something like Murphy's Law or something that says if we go out or do something that we prefer no interruptions, we will be interrupted. That's why I left it at home.

Anyway, the phone started ringing as soon as I was in the house, so I answered it. My boss at the home office was calling, so I knew it was something that needed attention, and I found out that another store, one hundred miles away, had a guard quit and needed someone to work the rest of the day. This was at two this afternoon, so I told him I would leave in a half an hour and fill in. It was only for tonight, and only a hundred miles from my home, but close to three hundred or more from the company office. In fact, we are the closest store to the one that needed help, and I didn't hesitate to get dressed and head out.

I got to the store by four this afternoon, making real good time driving up, then worked until ten thirty. I headed for home and was about thirty miles out when I came to a little town. Of course, I wasn't familiar with the drive, it was dark, and I missed the sign that said speed zone ahead. The local speed limit for the highway I was on is 70 mph, but I was only doing about sixty, since it was dark. I notice the sign that said, "Speed Limit, 35" about the same time I seen the police lights come on behind me.

I was busted dead to rights, and when the officer came up to the vehicle I had my registration, insurance and drivers license ready. I apologized for going over the posted speed limit, admitting I did not see the sign until I was passing it, and waited for my ticket. He took my information, told me he treated everyone the same and didn't make any exceptions. I told him I understood, and waited while he went to run my plates and call it in. I was surprised when he returned and told me he was just giving me a warning since I had a clean record, and then told me to drive safe and keep the speed down.

I did just that, and since I wasn't sure of the roads, kept it ten miles under the posted limit just to be safe. That put me about twelve thirty getting home, and after grabbing a quick bite to eat, came in here to write this entry, which I did not, so I'm off to bed.