12/07/09

I guess I ought to mention Pearl Harbor Day. There. Well, I finally got the tubes and tires mounted on the wire wheels for Nadine. Here’s the rundown, Friday evening I took Fifi to the shop and loaded them up. I also took the harnesses for Shichi and thought about messing with them. It was butt-assed, butt-butt cold though. I went home and ordered a pizza. Saturday morning I headed to John's to “help” him with the 510 in his garage and take the tires to the Kreblechistani tire store. Pat came by and borrowed Fifi to take a load of trash from the back of his pickup to the dump, long story. We set the stack of wheels and tires out while he was gone. When he got back, we reloaded them and went to lunch. John and I dropped off the wheels, tires, and tubes at the Kreblechistani tire store on the way. After lunch, John and I went back to check on them. They weren’t ready yet. “Can you give me one more hour my friend?” Habib asked. I'm easy so we went to the Shooster’s Club to see what they would offer John as trade in on a gun he wants to sell. We hung out there for a while and then went back to the tire store. “Please, please,” Habib implored, “one more hour. I am so sorry!” Again, I'm easy so we went to Blood Bath & Beyond to get an appraisal and shop. Back at the tire store, Habib begged us, “I finish them tonight and you come tomorrow?” Again, again, I'm easy so we left. On one of these trips, I noticed a set of new All Terrain King tires with a tread similar enough to my favorite BFG All Terrain T/A in the 245/75-16 size. I pointed them out to John and said, “That’s what I want on Fifi!” Well, while I wasn't looking, he asked a price. He was quoted $375.00 mounted and balanced, “For you, John!” I contemplated it but decided against it for then. Back at John's house, “we” did a few more things with the 510 and called it a day. I'd been invited to join some folks at The Railhead for Barbecue and then some Christmas show for that evening. Amy T. had called to remind me while John and I were returning to his house. I said I was totally grubby from car work, which was only half true, and that I was probably going to have to pass after all. She shamed me a bit and I said, “If I show up at The Railhead, I made it. If I don't, I didn't.” Well, I figured I was just clean enough to hang out with them at The Railhead so I stopped in. Besides, A) it was on my way home, and 2) I had to pee. We ate and hung out until they had to leave for the show then I went home. OK, there was one more reason why I was willing to stop at The Railhead, Amy J. was supposed to be there. She never showed. Whew, dodged another potential bullet. Since I'd blown mom off lunch and dinner on Saturday, I figured I ought to wait for her for lunch Sunday. This I did. When she finally arrived at 1330 h, we went to Papadeaux’s for seafood. T’was quite the tasty treat. While dining, mom mentioned that my cousin from California would be in town the week of Christmas and was going to rent a car. When she was informed of this, she volunteered one of my spare vehicles. I’m easy. Besides, it gave me a chance to scam some new tires for Fifi! I told her the story of John asking the price and she agreed that it seemed fair. Back at the house, I tried to mooch it in cash from her but she didn't have it. We agreed that I didn't need them immediately and I went to pick up Nadine's rollers. When I got there, three were ready but the fourth was “missing a valve stem.” somehow he mounted it all up without getting the stem to protrude. He apologized and asked if I could come back. I said, “Well, if I have to wait anyway, how much for those 245/75-16 all terrains?” He quoted me $395.00 which was twenty more than his buddy quote to John and ten more than his “usual” price for John. I mentally shrugged it off and haggled with a $385.00 offer. He came back with $390.00 and we shook on it. I didn't mention knowing about John’s quote and let it slide. His minions got to work on Fifi. These tires look so much better. I paid up and went on home to get ready for the Japanese Old School Car Show at The Purple Cow. I hosed down Lil' Wiggly's air filter with ether and gave the key a turn. It sputtered. I tried again. It sputtered a little longer. Eventually, before the battery gave out, it lit well enough to keep running so I pulled it around to the front of the house. I let it sit and warm up while I unloaded Nadine's wheels into the garage then went for a “battery charge” hoon. I parked and took a nap until 1815 h when I headed to The Purple Cow. I was not surprised that no one but Jeff, John, and I showed up. Well, the Honda guys rolled in and went inside pretty quickly and one more dude showed up while we were inside. After we ate, we hung out in the parking lot for a while then all went our separate ways. And that gets us caught up to today. I've got a little more but I think I'll save it for tomorrow.