Wheels within Wheels

Woke up this morning to the first snow of the season, here in town, anyway. There’s already been snow in the mountains and north of here. Just a light dusting, but it’s still snow.

It improved my mood … last night, I was trying to install a new range hood. I replaced the stove when I moved in, and pulled the extant range hood because it had been damaged by a grease fire the previous occupant had suffered. Sanded the burnt paint off the cabinets, had the paint matched, repainted the sanded areas, and then last night tried to install the new range hood.

Had to go back to Lowe’s to get pieces that weren’t included in the box (wiring, lamps, etc.), and got everything ready. Then, trying to put it in place, I found out that the mounting holes weren’t in the same place as the prior range hood – I can’t mount it without modifying the cabinets or using bolts, rather than the mounting screws. Where the screws are supposed to be is a void space, because the holes are too far inward to allow the screws to go into the wood at the bottom of the cabinet sides.

Ah, well. One more thing to deal with later.

Last evening, Marion and I went to see The Drowsy Chaperone at the DCPA. I enjoyed it more than Marion, which may have been because the “Second City” heritage is pretty obvious.

After the performance, we got to my car, and were going to go for a late dessert. Pulling out of the parking lot, though, the feel of working the gearshift was different. I mentioned it to Marion after I’d shifted a couple more times on the way through downtown. I pulled up at the stoplight at 15th and Platte, and was unable to put the car into gear to move out again – there was absolutely no resistance to movement of the shift lever. With the help of a bystander, we got the car around the corner and parked, then we called AAA.

Marion “flicked” the shift lever up and watched it fall back a couple of times. I told her that it happened to every guy sooner or later, which lightened the situation a little bit. Since AAA told us “45 minutes,” we went across the street to My Brother’s Bar. Marion got her dessert, and I had a beer (Kronenbourg 1664). It actually only took about 25 minutes for the tow truck to arrive, and we were able to get a taxi easily. If we’d gone with the tow truck to my mechanic’s garage, we’d probably not have been able to get one. (No, my car is not of German manufacture, but I’ve been going to Joe since about 1981.)

So, I’m currently overstocked on houses and understocked on vehicles. Not the best situation to be in. Could be worse – at least the car was in neutral when this happened. It’s going to put a short-term crimp in my style, though.

So, my daughter took me out for dim sum this morning, and then to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Silly and stupid, but fun. I do have a slight problem with one of the actors – every time I see his name, I think of this guy. It’s only a resemblance in the sounds of their names, but …

I spent the rest of the day packing – I’ll be moving soon. Not leaving the Denver area, just buying a different house.

So I was planning to do some garden work today. I’ve got flower beds that need weeding and watering, my lawn needs edging and watering, and there are too many dandelions coming up.

I think I’ll postpone all that, though … it’s snowing.