My minivan needs a new power steering rack. It's $700. It could be worse but the van has less than 49K on it. Feh. Still, explains the annoying noise when I turn.

My minivan needs a new power steering rack.

Could you buy a used one?

Could you buy a used one?

Probably not. DH isn't mechanical and we just took it to the dealer here in town to get it checked out. I may be able to call another mechanic and get a quote.

I also know a super long one about a rude clown that I don't have time to type up now.

So the Lone Ranger gets captured and the bad guys tell him he gets 3 last requests.

For his first request, he asks to speak to his horse. They allow it, and the Lone Ranger whispers in Silver's ear who promptly gallops off and returns moments later with a beautiful blonde.

The bad guys are impressed and allow the Lone Ranger and his lady friend some alone time.

For his second request the Lone Ranger again asks to speak with Silver who again after a whisper in his ear gallops off, this time returning with a beautiful brunette.

For his last request the Lone Ranger once again asks to speak to Silver who he grabs by the ears and shouts, "P-O-S-S-E!"

For a second I tried to think about what joke had a punchline about power steering.

I was at a party once and was bored, and looked at a nearby young man, waved my hand and said, "Amuse me." (I was sitting in a fancy chair at the time, so I guess that leant me power). He blinked at me for a moment, then spent the next ten minutes telling a story about a streetcar conductor, his beautiful daughter, and his descent into crime and poverty and shame. The punch line was a horrible pun, and I laughed like a loon. He grinned and said, "No one's ever let me finish that before, thank you." Apparently we had bemused the whole room, with his story and me egging him along in all the right spots.

I may be able to call another mechanic and get a quote.

Probably a good idea. If it's a noise and not extra effort it sounds more like a failure of the power steering pump, but it's not like I'm an expert.

I remember hearing a joke years ago that was rather long, but had the great punchline, "If the foo shits, wear it!" I wish I can remember the rest of it.

Reminds me that I should probably shop around for estimates on replacing my timing belt and water pump. I'm hoping that will stay under $900.

From the Rock Cats article:

Martin remains single, quipping that "you can only hide this many cats for so long." She shares her modest, two-story home in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood with 20 cats, four raccoons, three groundhogs, five chickens, two kinkajous, a Chinese bear cat, one African serval, two chinchillas, one hedgehog and an alligator named Arnold Schwarzen-gator who, in the winter, lives in her basement. (Yes, she's licensed.)

I love cheesy pet names.