March 7

.

The 7th was one of *those* days. One of those days that results in a "journalistic" rather than "artistic" post, and which wasn't much fun. Do skip it if you are in search of uplifting eye candy.



The first item on my list was "get the car dealt with." The newer car needed an oil change.  It had pulled left since the moment we first got into it, so it was time to get that straightened out. So to speak.

We did not buy the car in Ann Arbor, as the dealership 35 miles west of here was more responsive than the local one when we attempted to open car-buying negotiations. We hadn't thought we'd be driving all the way there for maintenance, but since the alignment issue was there "from birth," we figured they should take care of it. Part one of the "get the car dealt with" item on my list was "drive to Jackson." Luckily the weather was fine -- dry and clear.

I brought Julia Child's My Life in France with me. So far I am really liking this book. She was an enthusiastic and energetic person, and she loved France. I am enjoying seeing France, Paris, food, and cooking through Julia's eyes.

Glancing up from post-war France:

In less than an hour, they told me the car was ready. They had washed it.

Washing it is all very well, but what I really wished was that they had fixed it.

I got on the road in front of the dealership, and 3 times out of 4 when I took my hands off the wheel, it pulled left. I'm not wanting to go back in there, so I get on the highway to go home, and still, it's pulling.

)#($&

So I go back.

And they mess with it.

And I get back in, and go home, despite the fact that it is now pulling WORSE than it was the first time I headed home.

Because the second item on my list is "be home for the plumber"...........

I'm sure it's small-minded of me, but I really hate having strange men in the house. Even when they are entirely personable and unobjectionable and seem to know what they are doing.

The pipe that was dripping has been fixed, and we also have a new water heater. We believe that water heaters are only supposed to last about 15 years, and the old one was there when we bought the house in 1985.  Replacing it was a preemptive strike.



All seems to be fine in the basement, for the moment.

("You really ought to get the shut-off valves for the whole house replaced. They won't turn, and when you need them, you're going to wish they worked, rather than needing to call the city to shut off the water to your house."   Sigh.)



I'll be going back to Jackson on Friday, when I have nothing else on my list and can camp out there until the car doesn't pull left more than half the time when I take my hands off the wheel............................



The good part of the 7th was supper -- leftover cassoulet, and more cake.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

.