Monday Moanin'

Well, in spite of me leaving the trickle-charger on the battery all night, Monday morning it was dead again. I checked and Murray's Auto Parts (about a block away) opened at 8:00 AM. So, I emailed my boss and told him I'd be a little late.

I changed back into work clothes and took out the old battery. In all fairness, it was the original battery and it's lasted about 8 years, so I can't really complain. At 8:00, I grabbed my cane and started over to Murray's. As luck would have it, a kindly neighbor stopped and asked if I needed help. In spite of my protestations, after I told him I was going to try and carry a car battery back home, he insisted on driving me there and bringing the battery back in his vehicle. Thanks!

After much huffing and puffing and some amount of skin flayed off my hands, I got the new battery in and hooked up. Bingo! It started!!

I left the car running in the driveway while I cleaned up, put on my office clothes (again) and then I headed into work. I got there about 9:15 AM. On the way in, I noticed the car radio displayed a sign saying "Enter Code" Since I never got an owner's guide with the vehicle, I had no idea what that meant, other than the radio wasn't working.

When things settled down at work, I went online and found that Volvo, in an effort to foil would-be car radio thefts, has a system where, when the battery is disconnected, you have to enter your code into the radio to "prove" you didn't steal it and install in some other car. Your individual code is in your owner's guide. Great! But, remember me? The guy with no owner's guide?

So, I called the closest Volvo dealership (15+ miles away) and found out that I have to bring the car in, with proof of ownership, and they can look it up. However, they CANNOT tell you it over the phone (because you might be a thief). So, I'll have to ride around without a sound until at least Saturday.

When I went home, I had to stop at CVS. Then, when I got home, I loaded up the old battery and drove it over to Murray's to get my $8.00 core charge back. Then I went home for good. I changed clothes, got out the line trimmer and started trimming the grass in both front ditches (kind of a pain, but better than screwing up the new lawnmower blades). Next I trimmed around all the trees and gardens.

Then I got out the blower and blew off the front porch and the garage apron. Then I blew off junk all down the sidewalk to the back yard. Next, I blew off Jake's patio. I coiled up all the electrical cords and took the blower through the house and out to my patio and blew it off, too. Finally, I got the hose and refilled the reflecting pool. I checked and it was 6:50 PM and I decided I quit for the night.

I warmed up some rutabagas and two ears of sweet corn as sides and a big bowl of Texas beans for dinner. Then I went in and watched TV until 9:30 PM, shut it off and went to bed.