This is reminding me that I need to change the oil, air, and fuel filters on the Minivan. We have a pretty nice dealership really close to our house, but their prices aren't very good. They just send a newletter that avertised they would replace a fuel filter for only $50. I can buy a fuel filter and replace it with no tools for about $5.

Unfortunately it's also due for a radiator flush and transmission fluid replacement. Gonna to have to pay someone for that. I thought about doing the radiator flush, but I've go no clue what to do with the waste.

Except, I've been meaning to do that for months, so paying dealership prices for getting it done is better than the other plan of dying in a horrible accident.

I do this as well. Which is why I put up with high or off on my fan for close to a year. Finally got it fixed when I had a massive tuneup.

I am the sort of consumer whose lack ot discipline leads to dependence on one stop shopping

This too. Though I DO get oil changes from the one JiffyLube my mechanic trusts, simply because they are open saturday and my mechanic isn't and it is less of a hassle to wait 30 minutes than to drop my car off for a whole day. Plus, they are right next to a carwash.

My mechanic is probably pricier than some (gets the best in baltimore award frequently and underwrites parts of the local public radio station) BUT it is close to work so easy for daylong repairs and they explain everything they are doing and why.

This latest interaction with them has been demoralizing, but that's not really their fault. Simple problem turned out to be much more complex and weird. Their term.

They should really call me about now....

ACK! I'm WAAAAY over for our oil change. DH can do the filters and I need a new left headlight. We should really take care of this before the weekend.

And last night the mystery of how they combine the audience vote with the judges' scores was revealed.

Oh, good. I recorded it to watch today.

I thought about doing the radiator flush, but I've go no clue what to do with the waste.

I think recycle centers can take it. One thing to watch out for - antifreeze is poisonous but cats and dogs like to drink it.

and they explain everything they are doing and why.

That is very important. I had mechanics like that in Minneapolis and San Fransisco, but have yet to find one like that in Chicago/Evanston. So I'm trying to do more mechanical repairs myself, which is easier with old cars. (Plus many mechanics aren't very good with old cars and/or refuse to work on them.)

Changing the oil is going to be tricky this weekend. My wife won't watch the kids while I do it, so either Leif has to take a nap (and my daughter assists me) or I have to have grandparents watching the kids. Both sets of grandparents will be out of town and I already need one Leif nap to mow the yard. Getting two Leif naps will require some luck.

Happy Birthday, askye!

Loved the Dalek story, especially the fact that it was recovered in such a picturesque place as the Tor.

Had to read Ulysses in my Modern Lit class in college, and I really hated it. The final for the class involved writing a paper comparing any aspect of that book to any of the other books we read that semester, so I pulled the final chapter (Molly's stream of consciousness stuff) and compared her with Leonora from The Good Soldier, whose actions I defended rather passionately in class (a male classmate stuck up for her asshole husband). Ended up with an A- on the final, so Ulysses isn't all bad, I guess.

One thing to watch out for - antifreeze is poisonous but cats and dogs like to drink it.

Yeah, I only use low-tox antifreeze, but the stuff that's already in there ain't.

Oh, and I love Molly Ivins:

I was watching the PBS science program "Nova" the other night and spotted the liberal bias right away. I knew it would be there because Ken Tomlinson, the Bush-appointed chairman of the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), says the network is riddled with leftist leanings. Sure enough, in a program on tsunamis and what causes them, the show blamed it on shifting tectonic plates in the earth's surface. Then the graphic shows these two tectonic plates grinding against each other -- suddenly, the one on the left sort of falls down, and the big, aggressive plate on the right jumps on top of it, causing a killer tsunami. See? Wouldn't have happened on Fox.

Happiest of birthdays, askye!

Maybe I’ll include a shatter-and-hum event to the evening.

I would so go to that.

The binary manicure is cool. You should get one. And share pictures.