So yesterday I had police officer stop by to check up in a compliant that my neighbor made.
My neighbor claimed that I hade welded on a home made hitch onto my car, and that my “little” car shouldn’t be towing a boat. They also claimed they saw me welding on my car, and that the hitch had broken several times….
The cop took one look at my car, and brushed it off. I told him it was a bolt on Curt brand hitch and I had it professionally installed at a local place. I also told him my car is rated to tow 1700lbs, and that hitch is rated for 2,500 much more that the 1400lbs my boat, and trailer weights.

The thing that really gets me is that an e90 3 series is not a little car. It’s a 3800lb, 15ft long, AWD sedan, with a 3.0l inline 6. Any car that size should be able to safely tow a 14ft boat. But lots people think you need a pickup to tow anything.
As for me “welding” on my car I did have it hooked up to a battery charger the other day. I was fixing the lights on my trailer, and had the car’s lights on without it running for a bit too long. Maybe that thought it was a welder? The thing is, even if I had DIY welded some square tubing to my car and built my own hitch, that isn’t illegal! At least not in Wisconsin.

Not breaking news but I haven’t told the tale.

Saturday night I found this 1991 Civic for sale about 80 miles away in Wilmington NC. The price was too good to ignore. So I messaged the seller right away. And asked my brother in law if he could come with me and drive the X3 home.
Things didn’t go as planned Sunday afternoon. I needed to get cash out of my checking account. Well turns out my debit card has a limit. And I only had 900 in cash. Talked to my bro in law, and the seller, and she agreed to let me pay the rest on CashApp if need be. And we’re off… an hour late. Now leaving at 3 for a 2 hour drive to look at a car in December.
Be it pragmatism or superstition you’ve probably heard some one say “never look at a used car in the dark.” So the race was on to get there before dark.
We made the drive found the condo complex, navigated through it, found the car juuust as the sun was setting and had about 5 minutes of day light to check it out.
After looking the car over, I was not disappointed, not impressed either, it was just what I expected.
The seller had already warned me that she tried to jump start the car, and it wouldn’t turn over fast enough to start.
But I brought a jump box, let it sit for a few minutes and tried to start it.
No dice. This battery was clearly TOAST. The car had been sitting for 3 months so not hugely surprising.
So I told the sell I was willing to go buy a battery, but I wanted to talk price first. We agreed on 1600 of it starts and runs, or 1000 if it doesn’t, and if rent a Uhaul dolly to get it home.
With a hand shake on that we ran to the Advanced Auto down the road, and got a battery.
Came back threw the new battery in, and it started right up.
Went to back out and it died, and died and died. It kept falling on its face anytime you have it throttle.
I noticed the gas gauge was on empty, had no clue of the gauge works or not, butI figured “might as well try to drive it to a gas station, and put gas in it.”
Put 3 gallons in, and it slowly started running better, and better.
Got back to the condo. And realized we need to find a notary. At 6pm, on a Sunday.
We contacted 3 24 hour services and finally got a hold of one. At an office 12 miles away. No biggy. Figured it’ll be a good test drive before the deal is finalized.
The office park the notary was in had big speed bumps, which was how I learned how low the Civic is.
Didn’t get stuck, but rubbed the belly on the speed bump that’s for sure. Lol
Waiting for the notary to show up me and the seller had a good chat. She talked about how she planned to wrap it pink, and she had wheels already, and she was super bummed she wasn’t going to be able to make it what she wanted. I told her I wouldn’t make it pink but I’ll get a link sticker for the back window in her honor.
After getting the title notarized, exchanging funds, having cashapp flag the transaction as fraudulent and going with PayPal instead. We went down town and got dinner.
My nephew road with me the whole time. He loved it. On the way to dinner we had to try out the subs. Not that I doing say sound system. I’m pretty sure the rest of the speakers are 30 year old paper cone speakers.
Anyway, they slap. Too much. They are obnoxious. But it was fun driving around a city center in a lowered Honda bumping stupid amounts of bass. I was grinning the whole time.
After dinner it was time to make the trek home.
And thankfully it wasn’t eventful!
There was one point where we got separated from my bro in law in the X3, which was brave racking it’s always nice to have a support car when your on the Highway in a 31 year old car you just bought. Plus all my tools were The other car! We did some how meet back up tho.
The civic had working headlights, but horrible LED things that were as effective as strapping those 99 cent flashlights to the hood. That got scary a few times, but I either follow the X3 or had him right be hind me. Either way it’s modern headlight made up for the Civics lack there of.
The car got home in one piece, didn’t get pulled over for the multiple blinker out, taillight out, brake light out, or the fact that it has expired out of state plates.
Oh there was the oh gas overflow thing. gas didn't come back up the fill tube, so the nozzle didn't shut off. either the base of the fill tube is cracked, or the vent tube. My money is on the vent tube.
Today it got an oil change, a good inspection, all the light bulbs it needed, and air filter, and I picked up spark plugs, and a valve cover gasket set. Oh and I ordered tires too. It’ll need them to pass inspection.
Here’s the list of things it needs.
Engine/mechanical
Valve cover gasket set
Engine bay cleaning so we can maybe figure out if there’s other oil leaks.. let’s be honest, there’s more
Something has to be done about the exhaust. Has to be quieted down
Gas tank vent tube I think? I believe thats what caused the gas overflow.
Suspension/steering
Outer tie rod ends
Tires
Eventually passenger side CV
Interior
Driver’s seat belt. Some ones dog chewed this one.

Honestlyl that’s a pretty short list of needs. But they really are just the needs. The bare minimum to make it a legal, and livable car.

Well that’s a real thing now! I went over there yesterday. Took an half day at work, and worked for the afternoon. I ended up just cleaning the shop the whole time. And still had more fun than my desk job.
When we finished up my friend the machinist that teaching me said if I can make it work he’d like to to come over one day a week and work for him, with the plan to eventually have me work more and more as I learn and become more capable. He typically works 12-7 and if I get a half day I leave when every one else gets back from lunch at 1. So then I’ll work 2-7 for him.
We agreed on Wednesdays to be that day. This morning I talked to my boss, and he said it wouldn’t be a problem, and he understands how big of an opportunity this is for me.
I can’t wait to learn more and put what little head knowledge I do have into practice.

Divorce sucks. hug you're spouse if you have one, and thank them for they're patience.
also this.

Feeling pretty relieved right now. I got an apartment here in NC. It’s 5 miles from my work, and a 10 minute drive to the beach and a biking trail.
Finding temporary, or permanent housing was the second BIG to do on my list before my son, and cat get here at the end of the month.
I even almost bought a trashed 50 year old trailer just to have something, and I’m glad I didn’t pull that trigger.
This apartment mean I can keep looking for a house to buy with absolutely no rush. Because home buying is NOT something you wants to be in a rush to do.
This place is recently remodeled and 2-3 hundred buck less than most apartments around here too. And there’s a grocery store a few blocks away. I LOVE being able to run a few errands without getting in a car.
I don’t plan on this being a long term situation. I’d like to buy a house in the next 18 months, but having a place to, and not having to give up my car, and have my kid couch surfing at relatives indefinitely makes me fee a lot better.

So my son is 12 going on 13, he learned to ride a dirt bike this spring. And he likes cars like me, well maybe not in the obsessive way i was at his age.
Any way tonight we were driving home from hanging out with family, and I decided to see if I could get him into the driver's seat of the e90.
I took him over to the high school parking lot, a big empty area. And told him I wanted to give him a driving lesson. I spent about 15 minutes going back and forth along the lot showing how get the car going with out using the gas. Just letting the clutch out slowly, feeling it engage, and slipping the clutch until you have enough momentum to let it out all the way. I kept to dome light on, and put my phone down in the footwell with the flashlight on so he could watch my feet.
Then I told him about the first time I drove a car, how I was TERRIFIED, just like he was. but my brother took me to a parking lot, put me in the driver's seat and let me drive. and it was awesome.
He was clearly scared, and told me he didn't want to do it. But he is a very scared kid, he will shut down and tighten up physically when he's scared. It's taken me a while, but I've learned how to help ease him out of that. Eventually he did switch seats. We got the seat position set up for him, he's 5'4" now geeze. I let him know I'd take control if he got scared, that I had the shifter, so I could take it out of gear, I have the parking brake so I can stop it, and I can steer for him If I need to.
That did help him relax a lot. Then I had him put his hands on the wheel, and look forward. he put his foot on the clutch, and I put it in 1st for him.
then he stalled. And I smiled. I'm my mind I was like "HE DID IT" just the fact that he could get over that fear wall and try was HUGE progress.
I told him that he was doing great, stalling was just part of learning.
So he started the car, and tried again. this time he got it going for a few feet, and stalled. Again I told him "you're doing great!" then he started the car again, and gave it another try. this time he got going and went the last 150 feet or so just idling in 1st.
Coming to the end of the parking lot I think he got tunnel vision on a post that was dead ahead of us. so I pulled it out of 1st and pulled the parking brake so we stopped.
We talked a bit about what he learned, and I asked him if he wanted me to turn the car about so he could give it another go. he said not today and I didn't push it.
Anyway I'm once again a proud Dad. Also passing on the art of rowing one's own gears!

So I have a new friend that is in my congregation who has been an engineer, and machinist his whole life. A few months ago he mentioned that he was looking to train someone to take over his business. He's 60 know and looking to retire, but wants to pass down the skills he has.
I obviously jump at an opportunity like that. He said he'd let me know when he had some free time to show me around the shop. He ended up being super busy with work and life, until this week. So finally last night i went over and he showed me the shop.
The plan right now is for me to just come over and shadow him in my free time. If I can catch on, and learn then I'll eventually start working there part time, and hopefully within a year work for him full time.
He showed me some of the things he makes, and its all very cool. Like for example (obviously I shouldn't name company names) he makes plastic parts for one company, that end up being what are essentially fingertips for robots that put automotive electric motors together. HOW COOL IS THAT. He has a standing order to make a batch of those every month as they are a wear item. I didn't even know you could machine plastic like that.
Anyway I'm excited, and I really want this to work out. I plan on taking some online classes as well. I'm not good at book learning, and I never will be, but I want to get every advantage i can. An I've been wanting to learn CAD and 3d modeling anyway. Both things that intimidate the hell out of me. If anyone has recommendations on resources for learning auto-CAD let me know.
Also he has a Tumbler Batmobile go cart project he's been working on. Even machined his own differential. its rad as hell.

Yesterday I shared pics of this Eclipse at junk yard.
Because of the C5 tails I also shared them on a FB group for Front and Rear end Swaps. well some one commented and shared the car in it's prime.

Just kinda neat that you can see a wrecked show car at a U-Pull It and then find pictures of what it looked like when it was finished.
Alost this car has PAINTED graphics!

On my way out of Wisconsin and into North Carolina.
Wish me luck.
Things are going smooth so far, except I did burn the shit out of my left calf on the muffler of my Suzuki as we were loading it onto the truck. Yeah, it didn’t sell, because I didn’t want to sell it….

So my cat mad the trip her from Wisconsin last on the 27th. And she stayed in the apartment for a almost a week.
She’s always been an outdoor cat, and I never planned for her to stay inside. On the 3rd while I was moving stuff around the back door got left open, and she got out. No sweat. Until she didn’t show up, for several days. I got a bit worried, but has faith in her instincts. Like I said she’s always been an outdoor cat, and she also suuuuuper clingy, so I didn’t think she’d just choose to run away.
I looked up some tips to get a “lost” car home. One thing they said was to make a shelter, or even set out a live trap with some of your cloths, and your pets food in it. I did that last night, and today when I got home I checked the shelter. She wasn’t in it, but the food had been eaten. Then I heard her yelling at me. And there she was. She seems happy to be home. ![180036AB-6301-43D4-847F-ED28F0810217.jpeg(/assets/uploads/files/1660010650827-180036ab-6301-43d4-847f-ed28f0810217-resized.jpeg)

@Darkbrador That's illegal in most states. Unless your'e a female near a beach. I'm only one of those things.

I've been looking into ways to make money on nights and evenings when. So that I can keep my full time job for now, and eventually have a odd hours job when my machinist apprenticeship goes from half a day a week to 2-3 days. Other option would be something like pizza delivery. I prefer the idea of being self employed. Doing something where if I have to work late at the machine shop, and have to start my evening/night job later I dont, you know, get fired. I just have to finish the job a bit later.
I found a lot of lightly used equipment for a reasonable price. About 500 bucks less than just the retail of the sprayer. Only thing I dont like about it is it has an electric air compressor which means fussing with an electrical cord, or having a generator in the trailer if needed. And on the flip side you never have to deal with a tiny carb thats clogged up with dried paint. But thats something that could be upgraded in the future is needed. As a one man operation I plan on targeting smaller jobs anyway.
Any one have experience with the business? have any tips, or reason I should forget it?

@Nicky-Chagrin-Janitor-of-SHIELD I guess if you dont have Life Insurance thats one way to take care of things. Absolutely horrible that we live in a world where that doesn't seem too far fetched.

@bison78 Having two mostly rust free 80s Toyota truck beds is just showing off.

@ash78 Right before I got married I made a 3 hour drive to my wife's apartment laying on a couch in the back of his van.
With all my personal belonging stacked up on the other side of the van behind the couch. Most comfortable drive I've ever been one.

@amoore100 and a lot of those big roads are horrible for driving.
The big straight roads all around me are why I stoped riding my motorcycle. They are too dangerous, and sooooo boring

@awesomeaustinv yup. Cars aren’t bad. Every single person relying on a car every single day, several times a day is

I started following the Strong Towns facebook page recently. I'd already been into the idea of better build towns, and living somewhere that you do not depend on a car every single day.
Come drink the Kool-aid with me. Here's just a few pics they shared.
These ones are about designing road ways to control traffic speed. Prioritizing pedestrian traffic.

Suburbia hell vs a functioning town made for people to live and work in.
This one, oh this is the town I live in. built for people to drive from place to place.
Housing crisis problems
suburbia hell vs a town built for people to live and work in.

@Chariotoflove you mean koalafications

@Ad-absurdum-per-aspera @ranwhenparked I always picture them in Desert Sky Blue.
or the more modern Thunderbird Blue