9/13/10

Ka-pwing! What the hell was that? Oh, it was this last weekend ricocheting off my life and whizzing off into oblivion. I don't think it could have gone by any faster if I'd been in a coma for the duration. Sheesh. Saturday morning I went to the shop with the Auto 5 so I could mount that Picatinny rail. I got there expecting to see John's car. Alas, no. I went in and got to work. I drilled the first hole for the rail and then noticed I was too close to the step inside and that the screw wouldn't clear. I drilled another right next to the first. I figured the rail would cover up the mistake. Yeah, right. I drilled a second hole and tried to fit the rail. The screw is too short. I grind off the stanchions on the bottom of the rail and try again. This time it fits. I drill the other holes and screw the rail on, nice and tight. I then notice that the screw heads sit proud of the surface and wonder if the ring on the bottom of the barrel is going to clear and function. I try to assemble the gun and find that it, in fact, will not clear. I disassemble the rail from the fore end and put everything back in the case. By this point I'm beginning to wonder if John is coming at all. I text him to ask. While I'm waiting I have a look at Nadine. Nope, I really do not want to work on that car at this time. I try to find something else to play with and finally decide, “To hell with it!” and have a look at the fuel level sender for Nadine. The Lucas sender is secured with six screws. The Autometer sender is secured with five screws. I ponder the situation for a bit. After examining the Autometer sender, I realize I can disassemble it and make a new plate with six holes. I find a hole saw and cut out a circle of aluminum. I use the Autometer plate as a template and file the center hole in the aluminum into a hexagon for the sender wire insulator. I drill a second hole off to the side of the center and, using the Autometer part again, file it into a square. I mark the holes for the mount using the Lucas sender as a guide and drill them. I test fit the part to the tank. What? Of course the holes didn't line up. I had to file some and tweak others, but I did finally get it to bolt to the tank. I assembled the Autometer bits to the DLR plate then dropped it into the tank for safe keeping. Well, not “into” the tank, in place where it will be bolted after I get a gasket and maybe some fresh screws. By this time it is noon. John finally texts me back and says his alarm didn't go off and he was just getting up. I ask if there are any further plans for “us” and when I don't hear back from him, I bail. Back at the house I hang out for a while until mom and I go out to dinner. Or did we eat at home? I don't remember. Anyhoo, I decide against driving over to Not Texas to Tony, Orlando, and Dawn’s for a pool party because a) I didn't feel like socializing and 2) I hate going outside Texas. They live in Plano, a suburb of Not Texas which I still consider to be a part thereof. While I'm settling in to a wasted evening in front of the TV, Kevin calls to say that there is a guy at Riscky’s Barbecue with a TR-3 and that he wants to talk to me about Nadine. I change clothes and run up there in Ms. Clio. Turns out it is a car show. Had Kevin breathed one word about that, I would have driven The Seven. The TR in question had a Ford 2300 out of a Pinto installed in it so I didn't have any problem talking to this guy. He wanted to know a little about Nadine so I told him the story. He asked me how much I wanted for it and I invited him to come to the shop for a look-see. I gave him my card and am waiting to hear from him. We'll see. He might make me an offer I can't refuse. Kevin and I walked the show and then it began to break up. There was a second car show at the Hooter’s on 183 between Hulen and Bryant Irvin road immediately following this one. Kevin followed me there and we walked it too. He then told me of another show Sunday at the TGI Friday’s on Jacksboro Hwy in Lake Worth. I made noncommittal noises about it and we went our separate ways. Sunday morning I texted Kevin and asked for more details on that show. I decided I was going to drive The Seven to it. I waited around for mom to get home from church and we went to lunch. When we got back I hopped in The Seven and rolled to the show. It was hot out. We walked the show and had to ‘splain The Seven to some folks then went our separate ways again. I took off west for a hoon out on FM 5. It was quite nice. Back at the house, I parked The Seven and went in to waste the evening. Now we’re back at work and I'm wondering what happened to the weekend. So, there you have it.