The Manic Mechanic

I had forgotten all about this. Been busy with all sorts of way overdue tasks and projects in order to make good use of time. My apologies!

furr_a_bruin asks, "I know you're fond of Mayhem Manor and have your trailer for getaways - but if you were to pick someplace to have a second "sticks and bricks" home... where would it be?"

Honestly, I'm not sure these days. Generally, I've always been fond of New England-like seaside towns. I love being near the water, and prefer a quiet, low-density area. Being that most "seaside towns" are mostly, if not in the process of becoming, crowded. I've also gotten a bit spoiled by being somewhat out in the sticks yet reasonably close to a whole lot to see, do, and experience. So, if I can come up with a nice cabin on a lake, isolated enough to be silent night or day save for wildlife, dark enough to enjoy a starlit night, yet not too far from civilization (say, 50-100 miles or so), I'd be happy. A nice home base, one I can do some traveling from. Make sense?

maxauburn wants to know, "How is the *NEW* puppy doing?"

Right now he's at that unfortunate stage where his name should be Chewy Bitey McGnawton. Not so much tearing up furniture, but play biting when you pick him up, or attacking Kodi or Pinky until they finally snap and bite (or scratch) back, or littering the house with lots of rawhide chew things and doggie toys. He's a flurry of impossible-to-contain energy with an annoying (and dangerous) habit of not coming and staying when called. And he hasn't quite got the knack of being housebroken yet. When he isn't being a dynamo from hell, he's one of the most cuddly dogs imaginable. He usually sleeps the entire night, either in his crate or under the covers with us. He makes noises in his sleep that can be adorable or sometimes frightening. His feet, as awkward as they sometimes are, can one minute be cold as ice or delightfully warm, always a surprise when he's burrowed under the covers and pushing said feet against naked skin. He's done with all his (expensive) shots until next year. He's a typical puppy, adorable and frustrating, all at the same time.

meddler_inc queries, "How are you doing? How's the weather?"

I'm doing okay, after slowly recovering from a nasty, drawn-out cold-like mess that had both Jeff and I in its grasp for a while. The weather is slowly working its way to Spring, and I hope to be getting out and enjoying the weather soon, even if it's cleaning up from the past winter and bad weather. I love Springtime. So many pleasant memories.

Wanna sk me something? Go here, and fire away.

Been both hectic and full of apprehension here at the Manic Mechanic Orbiting Garage Headquarters the last few days. Yesterday I took Mom to GBMC in Balty for her cataract and glaucoma surgery at an ungawdly hour of 5am. Today's followup indicated that all went according to plan, and mom is already starting to notice a difference. As time goes on and things stabilize, the same procedures will be repeated on her other eye (for obvious reasons, the procedure is done on one eye at a time). The people at GBMC seem very competent and accomodating, which is both refreshing and assuring. I'll even put up with waking up with the chickens again.

The weather here has been gorgeous the last couple days. T-shirt and jeans, work-on-cars-for-fun-and-profit sort of thing. It does wonders for my mental well-being. I'm tired of hibernating and cold. Kinda pissed that some of my go-fast goodies did not arrive yet, I was hoping to do some suspension tweaking on the MINI and tearing up some roads. This Wedneday, MINI of Towson is having their 4th "MINI Night", a big, free event where they throw open the service bay for how-to's, chats with factory peeps, new products and free grub. This is so unlike any typical dealer events. Makes the 'new car feelgood vibe' continue for quite a while, with a big bonus of meeting and getting back together with fellow motoring enthusiasts and comparing notes.

I cant believe that I havent received any more questions for "March - Question Month". Either I answer everyone's deepest (or silliest) questions in my various entries here, or people couldn't care less. G'head, let 'em fly. I should get my ass in gear and hit some of you with some inquisitions of my own.