I'm supposed to be in Dallas right now...

[rongravy]

I'm supposed to be in Dallas for a two week class, but my van is having issues. We were supposed to change the wheel bearing thangies in the front, made more expensive because you have to buy the whole hub assembly. Luckily, I just needed brake pads in the front, which we changed. The guy took it for a drive and realized it was one of the back ones needed changing, along with the brake pads there, too. Now I've got a tire that is just... barely showing threads, so they are going to switch it to the other side and hope for the best. I'm five hours away from Dallas, hoping to make it and change that stupid tire in the morning. Man, I hope I make it. It has been one hellish discovery after another, followed by cash register sounds and dollar signs swirling around my head. If I can just make it there, then I can get a stupid tire. I know I had all weekend or more to do this, but I was told all I needed, by my crack mechanic cousin in law no less, was the original stuff. Hindsight is becoming painfully 20-20. Maybe if I take it slow and not give it the old bat out of hell approach? Helpppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp!!! Sorry, just venting. It's been one helluva crap day. -- -------- Post added 16-Aug-2011 at 06:29 PM ---------- Previous post was 15-Aug-2011 at 07:57 PM ---------- Ok, I'm sure everyone was on pins and needles, but I made it. My tire was near shredded, but I had no choice. Got a nice, shiny new one today. Went to that tarded class today, swam and hung out in the jacuzzi, and then went to a meet and greet with free vittles and beer, which I did not drink. Six Flags over Arlington this weekend, yayyyyyyy!!!

[bassman]

Glad to hear you made it. If Six Flags in Arlington is anything like the one in Georgia, you should have a blast.

[Mr. Clean]

Damn....wish I was only driving 300ish miles....I got 1,392 miles to drive next week

[ProfessorChaos]

glad to hear you made it, ron. i read your post the other night and was feeling for ya. when i was stationed on the east coast (about 800 miles from my hometown), i'd make a lot of trips back and forth with my shitty ford thunderbird. had to stay overnight at a hotel once and fix my radiator in the parking lot the next day. another time i had to buy a new smog pump pulley and serpentine belt and fix it in the auto zone parking lot. also had my tranny drop out in the mountains of west virginia, a tire blow out in kentucky, etc. i was so fucking thrilled to get rid of that shitbox when i got the TA.

[rongravy]

Thanks, everyone. Yeah, my job was pretty much at stake if I didn't make it to class this morning on time. I've had worse, though. One time my friend's VW bus broke down in Indy and we had no money. Other Deadheads helped us out and we made it to the next show by the skin of our teeth, but it was touch and go for awhile. It's just a good thing you can rig those things with anything. Last night I just kept hoping for a miracle, and somehow I got it. Now I can finally enjoy some R&R. Anyone in the Dallas area?