Well, dear readers, here’s what I have learned the hard way: Oil and water don’t mix. As you may recall, I thought my car might need some water (apparently cars no longer take water, but coolant), so I found the only cap that seemed like it might be the water thing, I opened it – it had an icon of what looked like a gravy boat, like I’m supposed to know what THAT means. So, I put water in the thing and then was told that wasn’t for water, but oil and I might have done harm. But the car started, and other than an odd high-pitched noise that lasted for two seconds, it seemed okay.
But yesterday, after getting seven hours of sleep, I arose, answered e-mails, had telephonic conversations, then went and had a chili, cheese, and onion hot dog. After that, I went and picked up a package and some mail at the mail place. No problems at all with the car. But, pulling out of the mail place the engine stalled. I got it started up and headed to the bank. It stalled again just before getting there. It was already my intention to go to Jiffy Lube, so after banking I began that mile-and-a-half drive down Ventura Blvd. Naturally, it was stupidly crowded for no reason and I almost stalled several times, especially when traffic was stopped. I passed Woodman and was approaching Hazeltine, which I stalled again. The jernt is on Ventura just past Hazeltine, but I knew I wouldn’t get there, and I went to turn right on Hazeltine and stalled, and it wouldn’t start again. Luckily, I had enough momentum to then turn left (thankfully cars let me do so) and I rolled into Jiffy Lube as far as I could, then we pushed the car over to where they do the servicing.
I was told that there was no assurance that draining the oil/water and then putting in new oil would guarantee everything would be fine, especially if the water and gotten into other parts. So, no warranty or anything. Anyway, I told them to try, and twenty minutes later they came to me and told me the car started and that I’d just have to monitor how it was handling in the next few days. If it becomes troublesome, then I’d have to take it somewhere and get it all cleaned out. But I’m hoping that because I really only drove about three miles, that it might be okay. I got home fine and didn’t go anywhere after that, although I did start the car a few hours later and it started up fine. So, my strong advice is not to put water in the oil thing because they don’t like each other and that’s all there is to it.
I did a little rummaging in the garage and got lucky and found quite a few fun black-and-white stills from The Creature Wasn’t Nice, and even a few color ones. I have no idea where the color slides are – I may have them where we store everything, and I guess I’ll check that at some point. I did some work on the computer, ate a tuna sandwich, then I took a brisk two-and-a-half mile walk around the neighborhood, marred only by an idiot driver almost creaming me because he was speeding and turning right without even looking. Once home, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a 1989 PBS Great Performances thing someone had given me on a home-grown DVD – An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner. It was a nice concert, with friend Don Pippin conducting. Among the performers were John Cullom, Robert Goulet, Hal Linden, Jane Powell and Lee Roy Reams, Liz Robertson, Richard Kiley, Georgia Brown, and others, and, of course, the one and only Julie Andrews. It was a fast ninety minutes.
After that, I relaxed.
Today, I have to get a list of audio fixes to the engineer who recorded GEE. Dear reader JohnG was gracious enough to listen to it and proof it for me. It’s all minor stuff, but important to fix – probably about eight things in all, I think. So, I’ll get those and a copy of the book and my flash drive to them. I’ll also eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and then relax. I’m sure I’ll do another walk of some sort, too.
Tomorrow, I think that Marshall Harvey will be done with the little adjustments to The Creature Wasn’t Nice, so I’ll pick that up from him. Otherwise, I need to rest up for my busy week ahead, which includes the Kritzerland rehearsals and a bunch of other stuff.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get audio fixes to the engineer for fixing, I must eat, hopefully pick up packages, walk, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – I have no idea. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have learned the important lesson that oil and water don’t mix.