It's hard to explain puns to a kleptomaniac because they take everything literally.

We have DishTV, the only way we can get anything. We have the smallest package they offer, but it still includes a channel that's showing Hallmark Christmas movies 24/7. The only good news: my night owl wife waits until I've gone to be before switching over there. 

I readily admit I know nothing about the qualifications of anyone Trump has (or will) choose for his cabinet. But it irritates me to hear Democratic Senators and Congressmen denouncing those he's appointed even before hearings are held. Why bother with the hearings? 

I can't remember the circumstances, but I do remember President Obama replying to Republicans complaining over something he'd done shortly after the last election by saying, "This is what you get to do when you win." 

I was "gone" for a couple of days last week and now I can tell you why.

I've mentioned that the truck hasn't been running well, refusing to start when "hot" (up to running temp, as when I stop at a store briefly). It also started leaking gas out of the bottom of the carburetor when sitting for any amount of time. That's a particular problem because the carb sits over the top of the exhaust manifold. 

I decided the best place to start was to rebuild the carb, a tricky job that requires ordering a $20 rebuild kit that comes with no instructions but lots of very tiny parts, including springs half the size of what's in a ball point pen, and little metal balls half the size of a BB. 

It arrived, and I set about disassembling the carb, taking lots of pics as I went. I've done this task a half dozen times over the years on a variety of cars and always find it stressful. The only option is to take the carb apart, carefully noting the position of all the tiny parts relative to all the other tiny parts. The main body (three separate pieces) then gets soaked in a special and very caustic liquid, rinsed off in a bucket of water, then blown out with compressed air. Time for reassembly. 

I learned years ago to do the disassembly and reassembly on a table covered by a bath towel. It holds all those tiny parts secure and makes them more visible. We don't have a table in MoHo so I used a folding TV tray with a towel; did the same thing. 

Except when I began reassembly I discovered I was missing a part, a small piece that links the accelerator pump to the main throttle linkage. Pam helped me and we turned this place up. side. down. 

Without this small piece of linkage the carb is worthless. The engine requires this carb, and this carb hasn't been manufactured in decades. I found one on eBay; it went for $278.00 That's a lot of money to pay for one small piece of metal, and it's more than I can afford.

I was, as they say, in a state. 

No state to write blog posts. 

I posted my problem on Facebook and the forum for old Chevy trucks. The former brought a solution in the form of a former student who now lives in Seattle and is the son of a car guy. That car guy knows a guy - an 80 year old man who has been rebuilding carbs since the third century A.D.

We talked on the phone and had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation. He's the son of Scandinavian immigrants so we talked Sven and Ole jokes. I told him how I got his number, explained my problem, and he knew immediately which piece I needed.

Today I got a package in the mail. Tomorrow I'll install it on my 1959 Rochester Model B carb and put the whole assembly back on the truck. 

Then we'll find out if my diagnosis was correct. 

I'm feeling much better tonight. Tomorrow night? We'll see.