"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." - James A. Garfield

Camo truck

I'm writing this post throughout the day. At least that's the plan at 5:30 a.m.. I may not get any further than this first segment, and if I'm not back you'll know things went south. The big item on today's list is replacing the sagging, worn out leaf springs on Sally's rear end. They're a common problem with vintage Mustangs, which is why it's not uncommon to see an old Mustang that looks like it's driving uphill all the time.

I've watched how-to videos online and in each case they warn me that this is not going to go well. The front eye-bolt rusts in place and can be an absolute bugger to get out. Plus, for their demo videos they've got the car up on a lift and all the tools of a pro garage available to them, like oxy-acetylene torches, impact wrenches and fancy post jacks. I'll be laying on my back on a dirt floor with the car resting on jack stands and the springs about 4" above my nose.

I had interesting conversations with the pacemaker tech and the PA about the programming of my device and why I still have problems on some flights. The tech changed the kick-in point from 40 to 45 beats per minute so it will intervene sooner if my pulse drops. The PA suggested I stop flying (can't) or try compression stockings. I'm not thrilled with that, but if it forestalls an episode I'm certainly willing to give it a try.

The well pump came with no instructions for wiring it in but I followed my nose and .... ta-da! ... it pumps water at a pretty good clip. Now I need the fittings that will allow me to hook hoses and lines up to the 3-valve PVC manifold I made and deliver water to the fruit trees, the veggie beds, and the goat barn.

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It's 4:30 and just I spent 7 hours on Sally. I did get the old springs off, and the front eye bolts that were supposed to be the huge issue actually came out with only a minor struggle. The rear shackles and the U-bolts were a different matter.
But there's a holdup: the springs I was sent. There's a 1/4" diameter pin that goes in a hole in the axle and keeps the spring from wandering side-to-side. That pin on the original springs is 1/2" tall but only 1/4" tall on the springs Eaton Spring sent me, and the way the thing works...that shorter pin won't. I called Eaton and they're sending me new pins at no charge, but they're coming from NY, so it will be the end of this week or the first of next before they arrive. So Sally is laid up until then.
I think the install should go smoothly (famous last words) because I got all new bolts and shackles, so I won't be fighting rust.

UPS delivered three boxes of parts today, so I can work on the doors while I'm waiting on the pins. I got new hinges for the driver's door, new door cards, and some small things like door handles.

We're headed into Lowe's now so I can get the PVC fittings for the well pump and to make more covers for the veggie beds. Then pizza on the way home. I'm bushed and need food I can eat with my hands. We don't have any significant precip for the next six days so I should be able to get lots of projects done before our trip to Phoenix.

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It's 7:55 p.m., we're bak from pizza (with BACON), and watching Midsommer Murders which we recorded. Each story is two one-hour segments and their complex enough that we watch them back-to-back or it gets too confusing. Except I'm pretty sure I can't stay awake for that long tonight.

There's a story behind this, but that part doesn't matter. Somewhere I read (I think it was "How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth") that when reading a narrative section of the Bible you should always ask three questions:

1. What does this narrative teach me about God?
2. What does this narrative teach me about the characters?
3. What does this narrative teach me about me?

Those questions have to come in that order. The Bible is, after all, about God, not me. Alas, our human inclination is to think about the narrative first in terms of how it relates to us, how everything relates to US. 

Try it with a narrative you know well. For example, the killing of Goliath, or Adam & Eve's fall. Maybe Daniel in the lion's den. Write down three things for each of the questions.

By the time you get to the third your responses will be informed by your answer to the first two, which is as it should be. 

One of the reasons people come up with some of the kooky stuff that baffles us is because they start at #3 and...end at #3.