11/9/09

Well, I finally got a chance to go see “Nadine” yesterday. “Wait,” I hear y'all saying, “weren’t you going to pick it up on Saturday?” Well yes, yes we were. However John had a model car thing he wanted to attend and I knew getting the TR was going to take all day. I went with him to Not Texas for the model show. It was cool, in a way, I suppose. It wasn't the sort of thing I'd want to do every lifetime, but it wasn't a total ass-whip either. We looked for a model TR-3 but no one there had one. From the car show, we went to a hobby shop around the corner. All I can say is, “Wow!” That was one impressive, packed-to-the-rafters place full of model kits and other stuff of that ilk. There we did find a TR-3 model, a red 1958 to boot, which I bought. John bought some stuff, but I don't remember what. We then met Roger and his girlfriend at Tokyo One for bait. I ate too much, as usual, and “let” John drive home. At some point in the evening, I got a call from Gregg saying he had a check for me for the engine out of Shichi. We arranged for him to bring his truck and trailer to my house where we would load Shichi and take it to the shop. I reminded him of the Versa wheels and he said he’d bring them. Sunday morning I sent him a text and waited for his reply. At 1045 h I finally called him. He called me back around 1130 h and we discussed plans. He was going to call me as he was headed in my direction. Mom came in from church and said she’d spoken to Nadine and it would be fine if I wanted to swing by and have a look at the car. I mentally added that to the itinerary and continued to wait for Gregg’s call. He finally called again around 1300 h to say that his uncle was in the hospital in Ennis and he wouldn't be able to make it that day. I wasn't too surprised and finally shaved my teeth and inserted my eyes to leave the house. I called Nadine and made sure it was OK to come by. It was and I did. The garage was open so I walked in. “Hmm,” I thought, “That’s odd.” There was no car to be seen. I literally had to search for evidence of a car in the garage. It was partially buried under almost forty years’ worth of stuff. I inched my way over to it for a closer look. It is much rougher than I had hoped, but not so rough that I was scared off. Oh, it is going to be the mother of all ass-pains, but I think it could be worth it. I dug around and looked at some bits and angles. I gave up taking pictures after three. Did Spider man post a link to them? Well, we talked for a bit and I said my plan was to bring muscle next Saturday and pick it up. I ‘splained that I didn't mind waiting one more week for it because if I picked it up on my birthday, I'd never forget “our” anniversary. I just had a thought, if I make next year’s birthday the goal for having it back on the road, I could consider it my “45^th Birthday” present to myself. Shichi was my “40^th Birthday” present to me and I made that goal with something like six weeks to spare. Damn, what will I do for fifty? Get a Ferrari or something? Maybe I ought to make my “50^th Birthday” present goal to have all the other projects “finished.” Well, we’ll see. Anyhoo, from Nadine’s house I went to the shop and assembled one pair of the car dollies mom bought me the other night. Oh, I never told that story, did I? OK, so Thursday evening mom and I are chatting. I mention that there is a certain tool I've wanted for some time but not enough to actually buy for myself. I ‘splain the concept of car dollies to her and how they were almost vital to the rescufication (yeah, I made up a word again) of “Nadine.” I went on to say I couldn't afford them at this time. She offered to buy a set so we headed out to Tractor Supply and bought two pair. They rode around in the hatch of Ms. Clio until Sunday. I assembled the first one and was working on the second when Marty Smith walked up. I showed him the picture of “Nadine” and told him the story. I also told him about the engine for the Roku-Hyaku and selling Shichi’s engine to Gregg. He just shook his head at me. When I finished with the second dolly, I was done for the day and went home. So there you have it. Hopefully this time next week I'll have a TR-3 in my garage, Shichi will be in the midst of an engine-ectomy, and... um, well I guess that’s it. OK, I have to go pee and it is almost 1600 h. I think I'm done for the day. Toodles.