The Black Hole of Time

To my Brother & Sister-in-Law

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

Goals: 2x Arms, 2x Legs, 2x Cardio, Daily Abs
Sitrep: 2x Arms, 2x Legs, 1x Cardio, 5x Abs

Goals (10/1-7): 2x Arms (2 weights), 2x Legs, 2x Cardio, 6x Abs (Intermediate)

It's hard to believe that my brother and sister-in-law have been married for eleven years today. Sometimes I look around myself and feel a little bit like Rip Van Winkle. Or like I've been swallowed by some black hole of time. I blink, and seasons pass.

Or I pick up a book and that's the end of that!

Timing, as the saying goes, is everything..

A few months back, I started hearing this kind of rattling noise from my car when I'd start it. Or while accelerating or braking. But no one else ever heard it. I figured I was just being paranoid as I have a tendency to do sometimes, and since even I didn't hear it consistently, brushed it off.

Around that time (end of April/beginning of May) I had to go out of town for work to a city where there's actually a VW dealer. So since it was time for my car to be serviced, I made an appointment and took it in. The AC wasn't working well either, so I had them fix that. (Just needed to be recharged). But see, I didn't mention the rattling thing to them.

So. They serviced the car, fixed up the AC and sent me on my way. No mention of any rattle, etc.

By June I started to hear that rattling noise again. Then more often. The second week of July, I had a couple of people tell me they could hear it and I should get it checked out. But by then the convention prep was in full swing and no way was I going to have any time to get the car in to the dealer.

FYI, my car is a 2000 VW Jetta with just over 55,000 miles.

So. I called early this week and scheduled an appointment. The soonest they can get me in is this coming Monday. So I've taken the day off of work and will be going in.

A friend that "knows cars" came by this week to see if he could pinpoint the problem. He said it sounded like the exhaust system, possibly the catalytic converter, which wouldn't be covered under my power train warranty. So I went to the local mechanic he recommended. Who says my catalytic converter needs to be replaced. [I probably shouldn't drive my car so much off-road. lol.] He'll fix it for me, parts & labor, for $340.00. Which I can do, without too much struggle. Irks, but oh well.

Just to be sure it wasn't covered under warranty, I called the VW dealer. The service department guy says there's an emissions warranty that includes the catalytic converter: 8 years or 80,000 miles. I'm good on the miles part. But can you guess when the 8 years was up?????

JULY 29, 2007!!!!!

The technician couldn't believe it...he said to bring it in, and if that's what the problem is he'll call VW and see about getting it covered under the warranty.

So I called VW myself, and they confirmed that it was up on 7/29. Crazy unbelievable. lol. He started the process, but of course wouldn't guarantee that they would cover it under warranty. Sigh. There's a chance, though, but slim. But I definitely have to get it diagnosed by a VW service department. So I'm off to Bozeman on Monday. Definite bright side - they have a Barnes & Noble AND a Borders. :)

Anyway. I'm not freaked or upset. It's just ironically funny. Next time I'm just gonna go with my instincts...I drive my car every day. I know if it sounds off or not...

And also for timing - sometime next month the state is sending out $400 property tax rebates to all property owners. Whoo-hoo. So even if I don't get it covered under warranty, I'm getting money back that'll cover the cost....

Timing, as the saying goes, is everything. ;)

And speaking of timing. These people are leaving just in the nick of time, don't you think?