Developer Or Mechanic?

The truth of the matter is that I'm a bit of a Jack of all trades, but master of none. Today I woke up feeling like an author/developer, but then the day took a sudden turn. I was still working through my e-mail when Dad E. called wanting me to go with him to the Pull-A-Part again. He had decided that we better go back and get that transmission. After all, even if it was messed up he could rebuild it and use it in one of the vans. (He bought Kateri's the other day and so now he has two of the same van. She ended up getting a new car, so it worked out for everyone.)

I do want to explain that we took a picture of the cereal box because that was “our brand” in Dominica. :)

By the time Dad got here to pick me up I had finished my e-mail and written up an update for the Kickstarter about having hit our first stretch goal. (Yes, we've now raised over $10k more, thank the Lord.) We had to wait around a few minutes to get an e-mail from Les, but we were still out of here by around 9AM. Sadly I didn't manage to get a book submission sent off today. I spent around an hour on it, but couldn't find another publisher that I felt was a good fit. Still, tomorrow is another day. In any event, we headed out to the Pull-A-Part and the transmission was still there. So, it was just a matter of getting it out.


I switched over to mechanic mode and started helping Dad pull out bolt after bolt. We removed the starter and disconnected the transmission from the engine before it was time to find a gantry. It was at the other end of the lot and it took me a great deal of effort to get it moved about fifty feet. The tires were low and by the time I had moved it that far I was poring sweat. There was nothing for it. I was going to have to get Dad to help me. So, I walked back across the yard and explained to him that it would take both of us and that it would still be difficult. However, the Lord smiled on us. Before we had gotten very far one of the fork lift drivers came by. I asked him if he would move it for us and he gave me a wink and starting driving off to get it. He noticed the tires were low and filled them with air before he dropped the gantry off right in front of the van. A couple of hours and a hand full of bolts later we were able to lower the transmission right out of the van. Just moments later we had it lifted up and put in the wheel barrel. Mission accomplished :)


When I finally got back home at 2PM I had to write an update for the first KS campaign, post the one for the second KS campaign, and write an e-mail that's being sent out to our PayPal backers. So it was time once again to become “Writer Man!”. That was probably for best because that's the same persona I use when I'm doing my blog, as I am now. Still, I'm about to switch over to “Lazy Man!” and try to play some SWTOR (at least for a few minutes). Before I go, however, I have one more picture to share.


That's a dishwasher and after around five months without one we are very happy to have one again. Lord willing we'll be able to get the drain pump on the washing machine fixed soon as well. Then we will almost be “applianced up” again. We just need to get a new toaster (and see if we can't get our old coffee machine back from Dotty, lol).

Either way, that's enough for tonight. Keep me in your prayers. I have a lot going on and am a little worn down. For now, goodnight from South Carolina!