Journal of a Sabbatical

September 10, 1999

those leaky radiator whiny alternator blues

Today's Starting Pitcher: Pedro Martinez

Pedro's strikeouts today: 17!

Pedro rules!

Today's Reading: Danube by Claudio Magris, Outside the Crater by Richard V. Fisher

The first order of business today is to deliver the Auntmobile to the Honda Barn for the long-awaited appointment to find out why she is running so hot. Wicked hot, as I said to the guy in the service department on the phone. In the back of my mind lies the nagging thought that flushing the radiator isn't gonna do it. The suspicion that there's a hole in the radiator keeps gnawing at me.

I'm glad I have today's appointment because yesterday when I started the car I noticed a high pitched whining noise that definitely spells trouble of some kind, so I figure I'll just add that to the list along with the radiator and the stupid fuse box cover and the air conditioner.

Of course, I have to get up early having made the appointment for first thing in the morning to maximize the amount of time they have to work on the radiator - and I arranged for a rental car to meet me there at 8:00. So I haven't even had any coffee before explaining my list of woes to the service manager. Somehow, I manage to get it all communicated and get the rental car.

It's pouring rain and I feel wet inside and out by the time I get some coffee. The rain continues all day, harder and harder with flood warnings out.

When the Honda Barn finally calls with the bad news, I'm puttering around trying to put together a new format for the MRFRS volunteer newsletter and fix the IDRI web page and make a scrapbook of my trip... So, the service manager tells me the news is bad. The radiator is leaking and needs to be replaced - which I kind of suspected - and that high pitched whine is the alternator going to pieces inside, which I didn't suspect (although the noise did sound familiar because I had this problem 2 Hondas ago). And they don't have a radiator in stock.

I ask if they can just do the alternator and give me back the car until they get a radiator. They tell me I shouldn't be driving it with it overheating like that. I know they're right but I don't want to have this stupid rental car all weekend. I resign myself to it and call the rental car company to keep the car for the weekend, then go on about my errands for the day including toting a bunch of stuff up the cat shelter for Sunday's yard sale.

To take my mind off the car, I stop in for a veggie burger at the Tannery Cafe (actually, that was lunch - I'd somehow forgotten to eat ) and a long browse at Jabberwocky. I came across a book in the travel section entitled Danube, and having just returned from the valley of the Danube I had to pick it up and browse. The author follows the Danube from its source to its outlet in the sea, stopping in used bookstores and cafés and ice cream parlors (ice cream parlors?) along the way making witty and erudite observations. I must have this book. I buy it, read some in the cafe and take it home for cozy reading in the rain, which has intensified even more.

Shortly after I get home, the phone rings. The Honda Barn has found a radiator and put it in. It is now 10 past 5 and they close at 6. They haven't fixed the air conditioner yet, but I don't care. I tell them I'll be there as soon as I put my shoes back on.

On the way home, in my non-overheating, non-whining car, I stop for groceries. The heavens open up big time as I run for the car with a cartful of groceries. I am soaked to the skin and I do mean soaked. But I have my own car. I repress how much money this has cost and pretend I'm still rich.

Back at home I strip off the wet clothes and hang them over the bathtub to dry, then settle in to watch Pedro Martinez totally dominate the Yankees. He's even better than Clemens in his prime.

OK, so maybe that was a Baird's sandpiper the other day - today's RBA is reporting two of them at Plum Island (some golden plovers too) - but I don't put anything on the list unless I'm sure of it.