Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Lessons Learned

A few things I have learned over the years, and even quite recently, that have been crucial.

1. CAR DRAMA: Don't trust unlicensed/"mobile" mechanics. Fork out the money for a shop- particularly a shop that specializes in your make. 

(Unless you have a knowledgeable or rich Daddy who can fix it or will feel guilty for breaking it and will pay for repairs or a new car. Also, can he adopt me?)

If its a small problem DO IT YOURSELF. You can change your own oil, change headlights, radiator hoses, fuses, etc. Yes, you can, even if you're (especially if you're) a woman. Get yourself a manual for your car and learn it. Save that extra money you thought you were going to save with the Mobile Mechanic.







So, I went to this guy- unlicensed mobile mechanic. I had gone to him before for more minor stuff. Already knew he was a little on the shady side when I had him change the radiator and while he was at it, change a headlight. He forgot- I had to go back for headlight- and he charged me for part (ok) and over an hour of labor. I decided I would figure out how to do it myself from then on. Turns out it actually very easy. 

When the transmission died I should have learned my lesson. I didn't. I have paid dearly for the lesson. I gave him money (cash-1st mistake-always get a receipt!) around a thousand dollars for a transmission. He ordered it. And I had to wait till I got the rest of the money for clutch and labor together. When I had it he went to put it in. Well, this idiot didn't know what he was doing. He spent a whole day trying to get to the transmission and couldn't. This day, of course, went down as labor on the bill. Finally after a week of having my car on car jacks on the street where I live he comes back after having spoken with a real mechanic. Hyundai's have a pan that must be removed before they can worked on from underneath. Moron. 

But the real kicker is that when he went to put the transmission in he found out he had the V4 version and he needed the V6 version. He tried to return it and the warranty (supposedly) had expired. I also found out it was a used transmission, not a new one. My car was on jacks for another week, collecting leaves, dust. Finally he calls me and tells me I need to buy ANOTHER transmission or get another car b/c he can't get the right tranny for it. Another thousand dollars? Sure, let me just sell a kidney real quick.

After talking with a few older friends, they assured me that I had hired him to a do a job and he couldn't do it. That HE was the mechanic and is responsible if HE got the wrong part. Meanwhile, he blames the company. In the end, I'm the one assed out on a vehicle. I talked to a lawyer for a small claims case but in the end I had no paperwork to prove anything. Even the transmission order with the store was in his name.

I ended up with a dead car. It still sits on the side of the road. I have been trying ever since to get the correct paperwork in order so I can sell for a hundred(!) dollars to the pick n pull place. He killed my car.

Meanwhile, I have gotten my hands on an old SAAB who was always taken to a SAAB licensed mechanic who owns his own reputable shop. I will be taking it in for an oil change on Monday and he will take a look at the overheating problem it's been having. He was a pleasure to do business with. Like a fresh of breath air!!! LORD! So, moral of the story- It IS worth going to a shop. Trust me.


2. PROCRASTINATION- If your lazy bastard like me- its better to do what you have to do right then- when you think about it, otherwise it never gets done, and makes for a bigger issue down the road. 

Like this: I'm a lazy neat freak. I know exactly what needs to be done and know how to do it but really, am too lazy to do it. So, my car or room, or purse or whatever- gets really cluttered. So, finally, when I get around to cleaning my car, it's insane. I mean insane! When I'm done though, it's cleaner than most people's cars. I know how to clean. I'm just lazy.

Lesson: When you come home and you think about bringing in that jacket in the backseat or small bag behind the seat, etc. DO IT. If you can develop that habit, then you will have a clean car. Otherwise it just won't get done. Ever.

Same with my own place. When I have my own place I'm proud of it so I am always dusting, cleaning things up, scouring the bathroom. I have a very tidy house, but when I'm renting a room I just don't give a damn. No pride, no reason. It's just a room I house my body in. And so, the laundry begins to pile up. I wash it but then don't really put it away.

I don't feel comfortable in the rest of the house so I kind of hole up in the room- and the clutter begins. 

Procrastination is best dealt with head on. Start doing instead of thinking about doing.








3. It's not judgmental- It's JUZCH-MEN-TAL- SPEAKING UP
There are some selfish, cruel, and sick people in the world. And some people just suck. They have their reasons, maybe, for being how they are, but there is no reason I have to stand around and take crap from people. I don't have to choose to take on other people's stuff because I may have compassion for the person's obvious issues. But, I make a choice to engage with these people or not. I choose to take their snarky little looks/comments on -personally-or just chalk it up to the fact that they are twisted and it has nothing to do with me. 

Being the type of sensitive (sometimes overly sensitive) personality that I have, I struggle with people who are like this. I have had  to be ok with being a bit judgmental. It's about self-preservation. The last thing I want to do is not be a kind person available when a person who is hurting is reaching out. Hell, I came from the darkest places because there were people turned back to pull me up and out of the darkness. But, its ok to have a backbone and say "Oh no you di'in!" 

In fact, most of my personal drama can be traced back to a place and time when I didn't want to speak up and cause problems, when I should have. As simple as "You will not talk to me like that". Or "What was that look for?" Etc. In my old ghetto mentality- I lay low and then feel like I have to back myself up with my fists. Which I could- but adults don't fight. I have to speak up.






Monday, September 6, 2010

I have no idea what this one is gonna be about. Probably random blabbering.
It appears that I have far surpassed the thousand mark, so thanks for tuning in.

It has also become apparent that videos- and I've posted some good ones- do not hold ya'all's interest! But the little stories and write ups- quick little ditties- do keep you coming around. So, I will try to lean more this way.