carbonel

My car is in the shop. Yesterday, when I tried to start it to go to dim sum, it went *click* a couple of times instead of going *vroom*, though it did eventually consent to start. It did the same thing leaving dim sum. I should have taken that as a warning sign and driven straight to the repair shop. However, a) it was Sunday, and b) I had

arkuat with me. Oh, and c) I had the damned Yuletide story to finish. So I didn't. This morning, when I got in the car to go to the gym, I couldn't get it to start, no matter what I tried. So I called AAA, and the guy arrived after an hour or so. He tried a number of things, but failed to get it started, so he towed it the Portland BP. It's probably something starter-related. Or possibly the alternator. Something that costs money, but not too much, I predict.

I have a shopping list of other stuff that needed attention in the car: the heating system hasn't been heating sufficiently; a rear light warning light has been lighting up; it probably needs an oil change; my brake light dashboard light has come on twice over a period of several months, and though it's subsided each time when I added brake fluid, it's probably indicative of some underlying problem; and the tires need air. Mike the excellent mechanic wrote down my list, and I expect to hear from him later today with an estimate.

The timing is annoying, but then it's always annoying to have the car not be available.

And something completely different: creating the universe with cookie dough, including Ikea shelves and okapi. Via

copperbadge, whose awesome icon says "The Internet isn't going to surf itself, you know."