random thoughts - Day 1,999 (Saturday) - oil and water

The morning's schedule included coffee with Mom and then the oil change appointment at the Jeep dealership that was made yesterday. The dealership is a seven minute trip from the house, so there are points for convenience. 

The customer lounge was smaller and less inviting than at the dealership I used to go to near Lowell. The coffee table had marketing materials and lacked the lazy Susan loaded with granola bars and chocolate candies to which I had become accustomed. Snacks were available from a vending machine. There was a coffee machine, but I had fully caffeinated before leaving the house.

Customer lounge.

The big TV screen mounted on the wall, which usually plays home decorating shows no matter what waiting room I'm in, but the Jeep Service lounge TV was showing a scene of a quaint town on a purple background. It was very quiet. I tried to put a show on, but the Roku TV remote and I didn't get along. An older guy in dealership logo wear passed through, commented on the now blank screen and said he'd get someone to take care of it. The tech who checked me in showed up and got the TV to a channel menu and I managed to get to an episode of Two Broke Girls with no sound.

The oil change for the Jeep took came with a surprise estimate of about $3,400 of work needed. Luckily, it's for multiple things that don't need to be done all at once. There was supposed to be a tire rotation with the oil change, but some of the lug nuts are jammed and so they couldn't get the tires off. New lug nuts are the first item on the list, because the tires need to come off to do the rear brake pads, making it the second item on the list. The oil pan is rusted, but expected to last through the winter. There is also an exhaust issue, which explains the car running louder. Holy crap on a cracker.

Rainstorm.

Back at home, dances for a troupe performance next Saturday were practiced followed by lunch, and then I hung around the house. At 3:00, the wind picked up and thunder rumbled in the distance. There were a couple turkeys on the lawn making their turkey calls. By 3:40, heavy rain was falling with sheets of water streaming from the roof. By 4:00, it had relaxed to a softer, quieter rain, and at 4:05, sirens wailed in the distance. And then, it was back to peace and quiet. And yes, I sat around noting the times like some sort of amateur weather watcher.