a small car repair

This morning we, meaning my husband, discovered that one of the front low-beam headlights on the car was out, as in not lighting up.

If I had been home alone and discovered this, I would have called the dealer and made an appointment. Or I would have stopped in at the local auto parts to see if they sold, and then installed, whatever it was I needed.In the meantime I would have driven only during the daylight hours.

However, our handy glove box contained our car manual which, on page 83, showed in less than detailed detail, how to change this bulb at home, by yourself, without the added cost of labor. That appealed to my husband.

That would not have bothered me, paying the labor, having someone else under the hood, but my husband bless his heart, decided to purchase the bulb and change it himself. Please remember that my husband can write an iron-clad Will but missed out on the auto-mechanic class in high school.

He went out and bought two bulbs, with the thought that the second would soon be needed on the passenger side of the car and why not anticipate the need. He planned to replace both bulbs.

We have a foreign car; a foreign car built by nationals traditionally small in statue. And so when the manual called for my husband to reach in and release the dead bulb, by first grabbing both ends of the thingie and then pushing on the release button he ran into his first dilemma. Doing the math, that procedure would require three hands. That's where I came in, or out..to the garage.

First, I followed his instructions about how it should come apart. Then, after failing at that, I looked at the diagram in the manual. It was easier after that since I now knew what to push on to release the bulb which was not part of the oral instructions I was given.

After the bulbs were replaced came something called putting the panel back on with eight little black plastic thingies with came with a new set of instructions. One was supposed to squeeze the base, twist the inside, and the little plug would pop up. There was a video on this procedure which my husband had watched but I didn't want to get up from where I was watching "Undercover Boss" on TV to walk into the den to watch the video. I figured I could conquer this little implement. I turned the little thingie over and over in my hand, pushed, prodded, stretched and pondered. How would I work if I were this, I asked myself? By putting myself into the head of the little black thingie I was able to, quite by accident the first time, figure it out. My husband was happy.

He said that the whole procedure of changing the bulbs took him three hours. He guessed it should have been about a 45 minute job which included driving to Ace Hardware to get the bulbs. He thought that without my help it would have taken him four hours. To myself, I added two days to that estimate. If it had been me, I would have been at the Toyota dealer with my checkbook.

And that's what I think about it.

Farewell to Past Olympic Events

Even with the dozens of events at this year's summer Olympics, some events have not been offered in competition for decades. What ever happened to:

Solo Synchronized Swimming? From 1985 to 1992, this event featured one swimmer in sync with her music performing what could only be viewed as a lonely ballet in the pool.

Club Swinging? Clubs resembling bowling pins were used in a twisting, twirling kind of routine, the harder and more intricate the better. This was the precursor of the rhythmic hoops and ribbons. Club swinging ended as an event in 1932.

Live Pigeon Shooting? The 1900 Olympics in Paris had the great distinction of being the first Games where women competed. It also wore the ignoble badge for this sport, where athletes aimed to bring down as many pigeons as possible.  Nearly 300 birds were slain, historians say, leaving a bloody, feathery mess. The winner shot down 21 pigeons.

Swimming Obstacle Course? The venue was the Seine river, where swimmers had to dodge obstacles floating in the river and even climb a pole at one point. They climbed over and swam under boats and other flotsam placed there for the enjoyment of the spectators.

La Canne? Same as fencing but using a cane, yes the very type of cane used to steady one's wobbly legs as one ages.

Trampoline and Rope Climbing? Not anymore. Gym teachers took over these events and moved them into high school Physical Education classes.

How about long jump and high jump...for horses?

Only women could compete in croquet. This event garnered so little interest that only one spectator ticket was sold and the event was canceled in subsequent Olympics.


(thanks to CNN and npr on-line for most of the above information)

And that's what I think about it.