Major Personal Victory

I'm proud to report that my speacial lady friend's car now has a variable speed AC fan. Until tonight, it had been malfunctioning, and only operating on low.

After pouring over Volvo forums, and hemming and hawing with parts guys, I took a deep breath, and took the plunge. I bought a part, sight unseen, had it UPSed and got under way with no hope of a software rescue.

Success. The Volvo is not a mystery, it's a car, a complicated car, but a car. Say the Volvo is like one of those movies where everyone is afraid of some bad-ass warrior villian (car), and they are all starting to think he's superhuman. Then along comes the dynamic brave savior of the village (me!), and wounds the bad-ass warrior and says, "see I made him bleed, he's only human." Then the village (Wife and maybe six month old daughter, though I'm not sure she's seen any of those movies)regains hope that perhaps the monster can be bested, by the hero(me, again).

Well, we are at that point. I've drawn blood. I've replaced the plugs, cleaverly hidden behind armor--ok it was just a plastic cover plate. I've fixed the fan motor resistor, a bona-fide electronic component. I've not slayed the dragon yet, but we are becomeing friends, or at least equal nemesees.

I'm going to take a stab at the sun-roof tracks next!

Shifting Gears

I can barely type because my hands are so cramped. The economic downturn has fostered some new developments at work. I could go into to it, but in short, and insensitively, lots of people have been layed off, there are less projects, and less people to do them. So I spend less time on the phone, and more time with a hammer. I cannot complain, I prefer actually doing things, to spending time on the phone trying to convince other people to do them for money. However, as resident jack-of-all-trades, I can get into a pretty precarious position.

Today for example. I demoed a bathroom, and framed an outside shower. Satisfying, quantifiable work. Enjoyed it. I also, placed a couple warranty orders, and checked on a defective door. Then I picked up some material and headed home. At home, I was greeted by a smiling UPS box filled with auto parts for my special lady friend's car, a volvo, in case you haven't heard.

I'm not one to walk away from a challenge, and to tell you the truth, I'm terrified of this software basted vehicle. Every repair requires a software update. New wiper blades . . . software update! Anyway, I got right into it. I love working on cars, and I love building stuff, but today, I was faced with a serious problem. I'd been stripping a bathroom most of the day. Pounding on a crowbar, extensive use of a reciprocating saw, I think there might have even been a sledge hammer in there. All of the sudden I had to wedge myself into the passenger's floor boards and remove six tiny hard-to-reach screws (torx drive, of course). The last one was a real bitch, and the crux of it was, I just couldn't get my thumb and forefinger to do what I wanted.

There was this massive cramp in the pad of my hand. Not the debilitating, I can't move it cramp, but he debilitating I look like a loser that's never held a tool before cramp.

I'm not sure why I've said all of this. Do I wonder if it's ok to shift gears like this. I obviously vote yes. Am I looking for pity? I don't think so. I guess I'm just looking for tips. There is a phrase jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none. I don't believe in that. I work in the trades. They are difficult, honorable, and interesting. But, they are not impossible, or all that mysterious. To be a jack-of-all-trades, and master of them all is possible, it just requires being comfortable with shifting gears. . . . and maybe a hand massage.