ohbloodyhell8

That’s what I am.  A worst-case scenario-ist.  This past Tuesday one of my worst cases came true.  I was driving to work in the ’92 P.O.S. (actually, it is a ’92 Chrysler LeBaron.  Yeah, living the high life).   The rear axle of this particular P.O.S. has been breaking for about four years.  Each day it would clang, clang, clang like a trolley, ding, ding, ding like a bell, noises to make one’s heart patter, and making my commute to work hell.  Tuesday morning I heard a new ping, checked that the rear tires were still on, and rode to work.  As I drove from the parking lot next to my staff job at the university to the parking lot next to my faculty job at the university, I heard many new and exciting sounds.  I figured by the time I was done teaching at 10:00pm, the tires would be tilted in and I would be waiting for the tow truck.  But to my joy, the car looked fine!  I headed to the highway.

Once the car went over 50 mph it was not good.  Sounds of breaking metal echoed through the automobile.  I pulled over, called Hubby, and told him I would be late.  I also mentioned that I was pretty sure the rear axle had finally gone.  Hubby offered to drag the boys out of bed and come get me, then sending a two truck for the car-I declined.  An hour and ten minutes later, I pulled in the driveway after driving 40 mph with flashing hazards down the highway.  People seemed to think that because it was them driving 75 mph coming up behind me  in the right lane that I would move.  No, no I wouldn’t.  Wednesday morning the mechanic (who is sometimes called Tim) confirmed that the “hub went which broke the axle”.   I have no idea what a hub is.

Well, the P.O.S. is back in action.  We have now replaced the  rear axle, a hub, the transmission, the driver’s side window, some kind of shaft thing that was apparently really important for one of the tires, part of the air conditioning system, and installed a thermostat (since it didn’t have one).  We’re almost done rebuilding this car.

I’m going to dress Christine up with new floor mats, a steering wheel cover, some Jolly Roger decorations to show how bad to the bone she really is.  Yes…Christine is officially her name.  No, she doesn’t actually rebuild herself, but clearly she thinks we’re game for it.

Oh, did I mention the radio doesn’t work?