I've taken all the pictures I took during The Trip and put them online-
you can now view them with some random commentary Here.
I will say- all the exciting things that happened- I was too busy dealing with to take pictures of... I wish I had a shot of Norman and I doing paper work in his little shop... the friendly folks at the Tire Store... the hotel parking lot where I changed my fuel filter... but alas- I don't. Certain memories will have to remain solely in my mind.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
How or Why...
did I end up with Selma Lee???
Dave and I moved to our current location for a job he'd accepted, after being essentially itinerate for some nine months- since the fall after I graduated college. By my count we traveled through 15 states in that time including a longer stay at his parents house in Ohio at the end, as a home base while Dave solidified job offers and we planned for a more permanent move.
Before we left on this adventure we sold Callie, the fuel efficient VW Jetta, and bought and modified Josy- the XTerra. Josy made fine living conditions during a number of those months when we weren't semi-settled somewhere else (like our two month stay in St. George, Utah- home of the one hundred foot tall retaining walls, but that's another story).
So we lived a blissful life with only one vehicle for quite some time. I like being able to live somewhere with only one car and not have it be a nuisance... when we lived in Moab we still had two cars, but more often then not we would drive neither of them and either walk down the street to the grocery store- or- if we were in a real hurry- we'd ride our bikes, as during Jeep Safari you could actually get around town faster on a bike then in a car... now that's my kind of town.
Anyway- when we settled in the current area- The Tri-City Area... it seemed like we were going to need to get a second vehicle. As the Tri-Cities are twenty minute drives away from each other, and no one city has everything you need... plus Dave's work was thirty minutes out of even the closest of The Cities. However- Dave's work provided some transportation that was a good bike ride away and I started working in our town and could take the bike path in front of our house half the way to work, with a nice big shoulder along most of the rest of the way. We were living a fairly blissful one-car life again... sort of... except when one of us needed to make a run into an adjoining town for anything... and then winter set in- and Dave's work transport became more complicated- and after a month of waking up early to spend an hour driving Dave to work and back, getting home with barely enough time to get myself to work... we decided to stop talking and actually get a second car.
Now in the mean time, one of our neighbors, several blocks down our street, had had a car parked out for sale. It was an amazing car- a mellow but happy shade of pale olive green, older and boxier... but with just enough curves to be truly pleasant on the eyes. It was old, but was still an automatic- with only 120,000 miles, a sunroof, and an adorable old factory roof rack. And it was a diesel- how charming, and what options for fuel use!!! I was in love.
The car was a 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300D.
Well they were asking $2,100- with both the A/C and power windows broken. I was charmed by the car- but we hadn't been in town all that long and hadn't totally decided about getting another car. I put it on the back burner... but every time I drove that way down the street I'd check to make sure it was still there. I did a little research, found that really- the price was reasonable... except Dave kept joking that I'd have to pick up the car at 4am, once the interior had cooled down with the evening air- and drive it immediately to a repair shop, because you can't drive a car with no A/C- windows up- around the desert in August.
I finally decided just to call- ask a few more questions about the vehicle... and was told it had been sold- $2,000...
At this point I was heart broken... my car!!! My perfect car!!!
So I started stalking eBay. And the discussion of whether or not to get a second car continued... and the more cars I saw sold on eBay- the more I realized I should have grabbed that beautiful green hunk of metal when it was just steps away from my house- but so be it.
Eventually it became obvious that we wanted another car. I won't say necessary and I won't use the term Need- because perchance those terms don't apply... but the convenience factor was too high and we gave in.
We started looking locally for a car. I still wanted one just like the one down the street- which meant a 300D sometime between 1976 and 1982- but I was open to other possibilities. However- this was a golden opportunity for me- we weren't going to spend much on the car. It just had to get me to work and back- as anytime we left town we'd want Josy for her sleeping capabilities and her four-wheel drive. This was going to be my little around town car- and as long as it ran I could get what I wanted. Now you'll have to consider that I've never really picked out a car before... my first car was handed down by my parents from my sister (that's the one that caught fire being driven through Nebraska at 2am by friends while we were several states away...) but we still had Dave's Subaru (which was lovely and I liked, but I also killed it against a highway barrier driving back from cross-country skiing in Minnesota). At which point we needed a car, fast, with great gas mileage as Dave's commute from our little college town to his work wasn't small my senior year- so we got the first thing that fit in our price range- Callie the Jetta. Then we needed a vehicle with four wheel drive and enough space in the back for us to lay down- plus we were shopping for this vehicle in Iowa- not out west- so the options were a bit more limited in the used market (not so many 4WD anythings). In the end, I wanted this Isuzu Trooper we found as it had a bit more room in the back- Dave wanted an XTerra which I thought looked utterly pompous and ridiculous... we have Josy the XTerra now- so you know who won that debate... so- when an opportunity arrived to pick out a car- and it just so happened the the car I really wanted was also totally within the price range and other requirements... how could I not take advantage of this most fortuitous occurrence.
But Dave was getting frustrated with my day-dreaming and lack of results- so I made a deal with him- in the next five days there were four Benz that met my qualifications closing on eBay. One in our state, one in a nearby state- and two on the other side of the country- South Carolina and Georgia. The one in Georgia closed last. I told him- if I didn't have a car via-eBay in the next five days I would buy the first local car I could find- which was most likely going to be a Very-ugly Volvo station wagon (there are cute ones- but this was an ugly one) for $1,500 that I passed every day on the way to work.
The first two were in great condition and quickly cleared my budget... in the last 36 hours I had a decision to make- of the two cars- South Carolina and Georgia- South Carolina looked like it was going to close somewhere Very close to my limit, probably a couple hundred dollars over- Georgia was harder to call- it closed 12 hours later, but knowing the eBay market at this point, my gut said it would finish within my range... adding to this the procurement cost of Georgia being quite a bit less then South Carolina I had a difficult decision to make. Should I bid South Carolina above my goal but guarantee myself the car I want... or take a chance on Georgia and possibly end up with the Very-ugly Volvo if it exceeded what I was willing to pay for it. Considering Georgia wasn't in as good of condition as South Carolina- and the limit I was willing to pay for Georgia was not the limit I could possibly spend- I knew I might end up wanting to spend more then Georgia was worth because I could- but if I was going to spend a couple hundred more than I wanted to- wouldn't it be wiser to spend more on South Carolina and get, potentially, the better car...
In the end-as you know- I followed my gut and let South Carolina slip by- Georgia closed for about four hundred dollars less then I would have been willing to pay for her- and Georgia became Ms. Selma Lee Suiby (pronounced SUE-bee, for all those who haven't heard my pronunciation rants in person...).
Not knowing more about the condition of the Original Green Car- I don't know whether, in the end, I wish I had just bought her- but I do know I would have missed my 102 Hours of Adventure, retrieving Selma Lee... and in the end- Experiences are what it's all about- right???
Right.
Dave and I moved to our current location for a job he'd accepted, after being essentially itinerate for some nine months- since the fall after I graduated college. By my count we traveled through 15 states in that time including a longer stay at his parents house in Ohio at the end, as a home base while Dave solidified job offers and we planned for a more permanent move.
Before we left on this adventure we sold Callie, the fuel efficient VW Jetta, and bought and modified Josy- the XTerra. Josy made fine living conditions during a number of those months when we weren't semi-settled somewhere else (like our two month stay in St. George, Utah- home of the one hundred foot tall retaining walls, but that's another story).
So we lived a blissful life with only one vehicle for quite some time. I like being able to live somewhere with only one car and not have it be a nuisance... when we lived in Moab we still had two cars, but more often then not we would drive neither of them and either walk down the street to the grocery store- or- if we were in a real hurry- we'd ride our bikes, as during Jeep Safari you could actually get around town faster on a bike then in a car... now that's my kind of town.
Anyway- when we settled in the current area- The Tri-City Area... it seemed like we were going to need to get a second vehicle. As the Tri-Cities are twenty minute drives away from each other, and no one city has everything you need... plus Dave's work was thirty minutes out of even the closest of The Cities. However- Dave's work provided some transportation that was a good bike ride away and I started working in our town and could take the bike path in front of our house half the way to work, with a nice big shoulder along most of the rest of the way. We were living a fairly blissful one-car life again... sort of... except when one of us needed to make a run into an adjoining town for anything... and then winter set in- and Dave's work transport became more complicated- and after a month of waking up early to spend an hour driving Dave to work and back, getting home with barely enough time to get myself to work... we decided to stop talking and actually get a second car.
Now in the mean time, one of our neighbors, several blocks down our street, had had a car parked out for sale. It was an amazing car- a mellow but happy shade of pale olive green, older and boxier... but with just enough curves to be truly pleasant on the eyes. It was old, but was still an automatic- with only 120,000 miles, a sunroof, and an adorable old factory roof rack. And it was a diesel- how charming, and what options for fuel use!!! I was in love.
The car was a 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300D.
Well they were asking $2,100- with both the A/C and power windows broken. I was charmed by the car- but we hadn't been in town all that long and hadn't totally decided about getting another car. I put it on the back burner... but every time I drove that way down the street I'd check to make sure it was still there. I did a little research, found that really- the price was reasonable... except Dave kept joking that I'd have to pick up the car at 4am, once the interior had cooled down with the evening air- and drive it immediately to a repair shop, because you can't drive a car with no A/C- windows up- around the desert in August.
I finally decided just to call- ask a few more questions about the vehicle... and was told it had been sold- $2,000...
At this point I was heart broken... my car!!! My perfect car!!!
So I started stalking eBay. And the discussion of whether or not to get a second car continued... and the more cars I saw sold on eBay- the more I realized I should have grabbed that beautiful green hunk of metal when it was just steps away from my house- but so be it.
Eventually it became obvious that we wanted another car. I won't say necessary and I won't use the term Need- because perchance those terms don't apply... but the convenience factor was too high and we gave in.
We started looking locally for a car. I still wanted one just like the one down the street- which meant a 300D sometime between 1976 and 1982- but I was open to other possibilities. However- this was a golden opportunity for me- we weren't going to spend much on the car. It just had to get me to work and back- as anytime we left town we'd want Josy for her sleeping capabilities and her four-wheel drive. This was going to be my little around town car- and as long as it ran I could get what I wanted. Now you'll have to consider that I've never really picked out a car before... my first car was handed down by my parents from my sister (that's the one that caught fire being driven through Nebraska at 2am by friends while we were several states away...) but we still had Dave's Subaru (which was lovely and I liked, but I also killed it against a highway barrier driving back from cross-country skiing in Minnesota). At which point we needed a car, fast, with great gas mileage as Dave's commute from our little college town to his work wasn't small my senior year- so we got the first thing that fit in our price range- Callie the Jetta. Then we needed a vehicle with four wheel drive and enough space in the back for us to lay down- plus we were shopping for this vehicle in Iowa- not out west- so the options were a bit more limited in the used market (not so many 4WD anythings). In the end, I wanted this Isuzu Trooper we found as it had a bit more room in the back- Dave wanted an XTerra which I thought looked utterly pompous and ridiculous... we have Josy the XTerra now- so you know who won that debate... so- when an opportunity arrived to pick out a car- and it just so happened the the car I really wanted was also totally within the price range and other requirements... how could I not take advantage of this most fortuitous occurrence.
But Dave was getting frustrated with my day-dreaming and lack of results- so I made a deal with him- in the next five days there were four Benz that met my qualifications closing on eBay. One in our state, one in a nearby state- and two on the other side of the country- South Carolina and Georgia. The one in Georgia closed last. I told him- if I didn't have a car via-eBay in the next five days I would buy the first local car I could find- which was most likely going to be a Very-ugly Volvo station wagon (there are cute ones- but this was an ugly one) for $1,500 that I passed every day on the way to work.
The first two were in great condition and quickly cleared my budget... in the last 36 hours I had a decision to make- of the two cars- South Carolina and Georgia- South Carolina looked like it was going to close somewhere Very close to my limit, probably a couple hundred dollars over- Georgia was harder to call- it closed 12 hours later, but knowing the eBay market at this point, my gut said it would finish within my range... adding to this the procurement cost of Georgia being quite a bit less then South Carolina I had a difficult decision to make. Should I bid South Carolina above my goal but guarantee myself the car I want... or take a chance on Georgia and possibly end up with the Very-ugly Volvo if it exceeded what I was willing to pay for it. Considering Georgia wasn't in as good of condition as South Carolina- and the limit I was willing to pay for Georgia was not the limit I could possibly spend- I knew I might end up wanting to spend more then Georgia was worth because I could- but if I was going to spend a couple hundred more than I wanted to- wouldn't it be wiser to spend more on South Carolina and get, potentially, the better car...
In the end-as you know- I followed my gut and let South Carolina slip by- Georgia closed for about four hundred dollars less then I would have been willing to pay for her- and Georgia became Ms. Selma Lee Suiby (pronounced SUE-bee, for all those who haven't heard my pronunciation rants in person...).
Not knowing more about the condition of the Original Green Car- I don't know whether, in the end, I wish I had just bought her- but I do know I would have missed my 102 Hours of Adventure, retrieving Selma Lee... and in the end- Experiences are what it's all about- right???
Right.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Opportunity Cost.
Selma Lee's been getting a bit neglected in the job finding effort. Like usual she's decided to demonstrate her concern- this time in the form of a slow leak in her back, passenger tire. This would be the tire that I changed by the side of the road on dark Wednesday night 10 miles outside Montgomery Alabama. Which also means it's the tire that was then replaced at the Friendly Tire Shop in Selma the next morning.
Not sure what's up- but later I'm going to be driving it very slowly down the street to the nearest gas station and fill it back up. Then access.
In the meantime she's still not starting right- and I'm getting conflicting reports on what might be the main problem. I'm loath to act if I'm not certain- but at some point in the very near future I may have to.
I'm also getting a deep popping noise when turning, which I think might be an issue with the passenger, front ball joint. Research has commenced. Results forthcoming soon.
Not sure what's up- but later I'm going to be driving it very slowly down the street to the nearest gas station and fill it back up. Then access.
In the meantime she's still not starting right- and I'm getting conflicting reports on what might be the main problem. I'm loath to act if I'm not certain- but at some point in the very near future I may have to.
I'm also getting a deep popping noise when turning, which I think might be an issue with the passenger, front ball joint. Research has commenced. Results forthcoming soon.
Monday, April 16, 2007
At long last.
So- with the computer back- I present the last two pictures taken, two Saturdays ago-
Our illustrious accomplice-
Dave and I-
With some plumbing above our heads there. All the light in both pictures is from the flash- the room was dark, as we had turned off our headlamps- but as we were a whopping foot apart the flash was sufficient to fill the room with light. The emergency blanket in both pictures in the same one, as our illustrious accomplice was the only one of the three of us smart enough to include an emergency blanket in our first aid kits (a deficiency since remedied). Thanks to our accomplice again for sharing :)
Why Dave is smiling is beyond me... except it might have been part of one of the spontaneous bursts of laughter caused by us finally being out of the canyon and dry- and in such a ridiculous position.
In the immortal words of someone no longer identifiable-
Canyoneering- its like fun- but different.
Our illustrious accomplice-
Why Dave is smiling is beyond me... except it might have been part of one of the spontaneous bursts of laughter caused by us finally being out of the canyon and dry- and in such a ridiculous position.
In the immortal words of someone no longer identifiable-
Canyoneering- its like fun- but different.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Ouch.
It hurts to move.
That is all.
Ironically what hurts most is not actually from the canyon but from the position I was attempting to sleep in after we got out of the canyon, but couldn't get back to the car.
We were about 12 miles from the car. The bathrooms had heat- though the windows had been left open, it still provided a warmer, wind-proof place to pull off the wetsuits and get back into normal (and dry) clothing. If it weren't for the horribly decrepit shoes I wear canyoneering (because I've cut them apart and they're now big enough to fit my neoprene socks in them) I almost would have walked/jogged the four miles to the Canyon Lodge (where other's experience tells us I could have phoned a ranger, who would have driven up to pick us up and taken us back to the visitor's center- near our car). But the idea of putting those sand/rock filled soaking wet shoes on, getting my dry socks wet, and spending another hour and a half in the cold windy, main canyon- just wasn't worth it. Especially because even after we got to our car we would have had to either find a hotel room in Zion at 2am during Easter Weekend- or drive another hour to where the other car was spotted and not get to sleep until 3am. Had I known I wasn't going to sleep a wink anyway- I probably would have done it- but such are the decisions we make.
Anyway- now I get to move around and figure out whether different parts hurt from overuse, misuse, or actual scraps and bruises... it's a discovery process.
Selma's sad she missed seeing Zion... maybe next time.
That is all.
Ironically what hurts most is not actually from the canyon but from the position I was attempting to sleep in after we got out of the canyon, but couldn't get back to the car.
We were about 12 miles from the car. The bathrooms had heat- though the windows had been left open, it still provided a warmer, wind-proof place to pull off the wetsuits and get back into normal (and dry) clothing. If it weren't for the horribly decrepit shoes I wear canyoneering (because I've cut them apart and they're now big enough to fit my neoprene socks in them) I almost would have walked/jogged the four miles to the Canyon Lodge (where other's experience tells us I could have phoned a ranger, who would have driven up to pick us up and taken us back to the visitor's center- near our car). But the idea of putting those sand/rock filled soaking wet shoes on, getting my dry socks wet, and spending another hour and a half in the cold windy, main canyon- just wasn't worth it. Especially because even after we got to our car we would have had to either find a hotel room in Zion at 2am during Easter Weekend- or drive another hour to where the other car was spotted and not get to sleep until 3am. Had I known I wasn't going to sleep a wink anyway- I probably would have done it- but such are the decisions we make.
Anyway- now I get to move around and figure out whether different parts hurt from overuse, misuse, or actual scraps and bruises... it's a discovery process.
Selma's sad she missed seeing Zion... maybe next time.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Reverse.
Selma has a leak.
Well, several leaks, actually. But only one that's causing my starting problem right now (I think).
Unfortunately, unlike the other ones, I can't put a piece of paper underneath her and see where from and what is leaking. Partially because what is leaking is Pressure- and I'm not sure what color that is.
Partially because nothing is actually leaking out. It's leaking In.
In my engine- low pressure is created which causes a pressure vacuum, this vacuum gets used to power multiple things, including fuel injection, the power brakes and the ignition mechanism.
Often- when you have a vacuum leak- you can't get the engine to shut off. This is common with old diesels. Gas engines have spark plugs which continually go off to ignite the fuel/air in the engine- but diesels use the pressure in the engine to ignite the air and fuel combination. So a diesel engine doesn't need continued electricity to continue running, to get it to stop you have to physically cut off the flow of diesel to the engine.
When you have a vacuum leak you can turn the key to off, but since you no longer have the full power of the pressure vacuum, it's not enough to stop the fuel flow and the car just keeps on running.
Obviously- I have a slightly different problem- but at least I'm pretty sure it's the vacuum system.
I'm looking for a diagram for my specific model and then I'll go through testing all the various parts of it until I find where the leak is.
There will also be several side benefits of this- including fixing my breaks (I currently have to use extreme force on my breaks as the Vacuum Assist is not initiating properly) and starting to deal with the three power windows that don't work- it's getting warmer out- I need all my windows down until I figure out what's up with the A/C... a large chunk of which (the servo) is no longer even connected to the car.
Now off to Welding.
Well, several leaks, actually. But only one that's causing my starting problem right now (I think).
Unfortunately, unlike the other ones, I can't put a piece of paper underneath her and see where from and what is leaking. Partially because what is leaking is Pressure- and I'm not sure what color that is.
Partially because nothing is actually leaking out. It's leaking In.
In my engine- low pressure is created which causes a pressure vacuum, this vacuum gets used to power multiple things, including fuel injection, the power brakes and the ignition mechanism.
Often- when you have a vacuum leak- you can't get the engine to shut off. This is common with old diesels. Gas engines have spark plugs which continually go off to ignite the fuel/air in the engine- but diesels use the pressure in the engine to ignite the air and fuel combination. So a diesel engine doesn't need continued electricity to continue running, to get it to stop you have to physically cut off the flow of diesel to the engine.
When you have a vacuum leak you can turn the key to off, but since you no longer have the full power of the pressure vacuum, it's not enough to stop the fuel flow and the car just keeps on running.
Obviously- I have a slightly different problem- but at least I'm pretty sure it's the vacuum system.
I'm looking for a diagram for my specific model and then I'll go through testing all the various parts of it until I find where the leak is.
There will also be several side benefits of this- including fixing my breaks (I currently have to use extreme force on my breaks as the Vacuum Assist is not initiating properly) and starting to deal with the three power windows that don't work- it's getting warmer out- I need all my windows down until I figure out what's up with the A/C... a large chunk of which (the servo) is no longer even connected to the car.
Now off to Welding.
Friday, March 30, 2007
You do the hokey pokey...
and you turn your fuel tank around- and that's not what it's all about-
cause Selma Lee's came out- got cleaned- and went back in with a few new hoses and all- verdict-
Didn't make a bit of difference in how she starts.
Presumption is- the issue is one of Fuel Delivery.
Once I hit the gas and get her the requisite amount of diesel she'll run... so she's not getting enough fuel during ignition. This could be caused by several things. All of which are not going to be nearly as easy to deal with as the fuel tank.
I also can't find the biocide fuel treatment I need to keep the Algae (it's actually fungus and various bacteria, cause algae needs light to grow, fungus not so much, and the fuel tank is obviously a light free region) from coming back.
Either way- there was an issue with biological growth in the fuel, which was clogging the fuel filters... there was just also something else- which still needs to be resolved.
Doesn't mean taking care of the fungal infestation didn't serve a valuable purpose. Just doesn't seem all that important considering I still can't trust her to start when I get off work at night.
But that's the adventure I was delighting in- so, can't complain when you get what you asked for... or at least not as many people will listen to your complaint and empathize with you, and what's the point of complaining without a little empathy- so.
I'm going to go watch Grey's Anatomy, via ABC.com... though I really keep thinking to myself- Why on earth would the Elder Dr. Grey have had her house decorated like that???
It's like Country Charm... as differentiated from the much more sophisticated French Country... which almost would have made sense... her house however- was just a bad scenic designer trying to go with what's cool on sitcoms right now- which is the whole- old/dilapidated chic... which doesn't make sense in most television contexts, but certainly doesn't make sense for a world renown surgeon... really now- what's the priority of the set designer??? What ever happened to using the set to add to character development???
Is this just me???
cause Selma Lee's came out- got cleaned- and went back in with a few new hoses and all- verdict-
Didn't make a bit of difference in how she starts.
Presumption is- the issue is one of Fuel Delivery.
Once I hit the gas and get her the requisite amount of diesel she'll run... so she's not getting enough fuel during ignition. This could be caused by several things. All of which are not going to be nearly as easy to deal with as the fuel tank.
I also can't find the biocide fuel treatment I need to keep the Algae (it's actually fungus and various bacteria, cause algae needs light to grow, fungus not so much, and the fuel tank is obviously a light free region) from coming back.
Either way- there was an issue with biological growth in the fuel, which was clogging the fuel filters... there was just also something else- which still needs to be resolved.
Doesn't mean taking care of the fungal infestation didn't serve a valuable purpose. Just doesn't seem all that important considering I still can't trust her to start when I get off work at night.
But that's the adventure I was delighting in- so, can't complain when you get what you asked for... or at least not as many people will listen to your complaint and empathize with you, and what's the point of complaining without a little empathy- so.
I'm going to go watch Grey's Anatomy, via ABC.com... though I really keep thinking to myself- Why on earth would the Elder Dr. Grey have had her house decorated like that???
It's like Country Charm... as differentiated from the much more sophisticated French Country... which almost would have made sense... her house however- was just a bad scenic designer trying to go with what's cool on sitcoms right now- which is the whole- old/dilapidated chic... which doesn't make sense in most television contexts, but certainly doesn't make sense for a world renown surgeon... really now- what's the priority of the set designer??? What ever happened to using the set to add to character development???
Is this just me???
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
My Hero!!!
I went down to the garage this morning to try to remove the vent hoses, again. I didn't want to open the garage door for fear the torrential winds would blow away the various parts of Selma I currently have scattered about. Though the by-product of this decision was having to lay underneath an almost two ton vehicle with all sorts of creaking noises swirling about the place... yes I know... Selma is securely jacked up- she's not going anyway... I'm just not used to being under cars yet.
I was almost immediately frustrated... I had let them sit overnight hoping the various substances I had sprayed on them would sink in and lubricate the process- but they didn't seem to be making any different. The hoses are up in a really awkward position, my arms were getting tired of holding my hands up, trying to push, pull, wiggle, or otherwise maneuver these hoses off (and every time I would use extra force something would creak somewhere and I'd irrationally pause for a second to figure out what it was). I could feel the skinnier hose starting to shred from my wiggling it so much and a small tear was developing at the end where it connected to the tube.
I decided to use the long handled flat-head screw driver that was sitting near by to try to pry the hose off. I figured, if it makes the tear worse, so be it- I think I'm putting new hoses on here regardless. And then it hit me. If I don't care if I accidentally make the tear worse... why not Purposefully make it worse!!! (You were just privy to the thought process of Genius...)
I had already taken the clamp off in it's entirety... so I fetched the above pictured Tool of Brilliance... and started carefully cutting the hose, until it popped off with ease.
I then pulled the hose clamp off the larger one, which is harder then you'd think with the weird angle and all that flaky black stuff clogging up the Phillips head and making it slip. I cut it off, then loosened the clamps on the other side of both the hoses and pulled them off the pipes they connected to.
The hoses. A lot of trouble for such small things.
My cut- you can also see bits of the fraying that was occurring a little below the cut.
There's a warning in here for all you air vent hoses out there- don't get between me and a happy, clean Selma Lee!!!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Trouble.
I'm having issues removing the fuel tank air vent hoses. I can't get the tank out until I get them off.
They've obviously experienced some suburb dry rot... they also have this weird pliable rubber material surrounding where they come out of the fuel tank. I can't find any pictures/diagrams of what's suppose to be going on up there... but something is wrong- because the screws in the hose clamps, as well as the outside of the hoses were covered in stuff that immediately started flaking off as I unscrewed them... they were coated... why would anyone coat hoses/clamps in anything??? Non-the-less this weird semi-permanent looking stuff that's now flaking off.
There was obviously something done intentionally here and I have no idea what or why... regardless of that... the clamps are loosened to wear they spin freely around the hoses, but the hoses still won't slide off the pipes. Various persuasive techniques have been employed and I will reattempt in the morning, in the mean time- here are the two troublesome hoses.
Here is their positioning in the grander scheme of the undercarriage. They're in that black void on the right, upperish side of the picture.
Just for fun- here is the screen that fuel must pass through on it's way out of the tank and along to the engine.
Here's that screen as it should look.
And last but not least in this post of pictures... I was using Metric wrenches on Selma, and someone pointed out that I might want to check that... maybe, just maybe the Germans were using Standard measurements in the 70's... don't ask me.
Well- while pulling the lining of the trunk out to access the fuel tank, I found this wrench, lost in a corner of the trunk for who knows how many years now... it says "Mercedes-Benz Made in Germany" on it- and is sized 11 and 13mm. So- I think I can officially make a positive Metric determination.
They've obviously experienced some suburb dry rot... they also have this weird pliable rubber material surrounding where they come out of the fuel tank. I can't find any pictures/diagrams of what's suppose to be going on up there... but something is wrong- because the screws in the hose clamps, as well as the outside of the hoses were covered in stuff that immediately started flaking off as I unscrewed them... they were coated... why would anyone coat hoses/clamps in anything??? Non-the-less this weird semi-permanent looking stuff that's now flaking off.
There was obviously something done intentionally here and I have no idea what or why... regardless of that... the clamps are loosened to wear they spin freely around the hoses, but the hoses still won't slide off the pipes. Various persuasive techniques have been employed and I will reattempt in the morning, in the mean time- here are the two troublesome hoses.
Here is their positioning in the grander scheme of the undercarriage. They're in that black void on the right, upperish side of the picture.
Just for fun- here is the screen that fuel must pass through on it's way out of the tank and along to the engine.
Here's that screen as it should look.
And last but not least in this post of pictures... I was using Metric wrenches on Selma, and someone pointed out that I might want to check that... maybe, just maybe the Germans were using Standard measurements in the 70's... don't ask me.
Well- while pulling the lining of the trunk out to access the fuel tank, I found this wrench, lost in a corner of the trunk for who knows how many years now... it says "Mercedes-Benz Made in Germany" on it- and is sized 11 and 13mm. So- I think I can officially make a positive Metric determination.
Yesterday.
This was my view as I tried to find the fuel tank plug.
This was what I used to siphon the fuel out of the tank... that is a little pump so I didn't have to start the suction by drinking fuel. That is also several parts of a coat hanger attached to the siphon hose with green electrical tape, as the hose wasn't stiff enough to be forced all the way into the tank on it's own.
Those little bits of brown particulate in the hose are algae. The first suction drew a little bit of algae into the hose, but the rest of the 8 gallons of diesel flowed out clear. When it stopped, I manually increased suction to dredge out the bottom of the tank as best I could... I let that drain into an empty juice jug- below is what came out.
You can see the almost blue color at the top is pretty clear fuel, then there's the tan layer of diluted algae sludge... and the really dark brown color at the bottom is pretty much solid algae particulate. This is a gallon sized juice container, mind you, that's a pretty fair amount of sludge... we'll see how much is still stuck in the tank later...
I cringe thinking my poor baby Selma had that... that... Eww!!! inside her!!!
Then it got dark and I stopped working... I'm going to try to get the tank entirely out today and clean out whatever bits of sludge are still in the bottom of it.
Fun times.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Motivation.
Even though the work on Selma gets done in the garage- as it's the only level ground on which to position her- somehow Blue Skies make a world of difference in my motivation.
I noticed something pink under our mailbox and went to investigate. Yes- that beautiful blue sky is what is outside out house right now. And the little purple flower on the left is one in several clumps of the first wild flowers of the season.
We let the yard go- last summer we had probably a dozen different flowers growing on their own. Plus huge Datura bushes in the wash/drainage ditch across the road, which open up large white flowers during the evenings, then close up into nondescript green bushes during the day.
We let the yard go- last summer we had probably a dozen different flowers growing on their own. Plus huge Datura bushes in the wash/drainage ditch across the road, which open up large white flowers during the evenings, then close up into nondescript green bushes during the day.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Revelations.
I've been pulling things out of Suiby... like her battery and the wires that connect the battery to the car.
I've also been cleaning things. That is why I pull them out- I pull them out- clean them- and I'm pretty sure tomorrow sometime I'll put them back in.
Santa and Simple Green- what more does a girl need???
A tooth brush and various other thin bristly cleaners, that's what. I have the equivolent of a pipe cleaner on crack. And I'm using it to clean Suiby's hood locking mechanism... which takes a bit of... umm... Force- to get to latch correctly. I'm hoping I can get it to close without the use of cruel and unusual treatment.
I also attempted to wash the windows. You would think right- that it's not a big deal to take some Windex and wipe down the insides... not my windows.
Really now- they looked like someone misted them with olive oil... or maybe used Selma's front seat as the base for a deep fat fryer... and when I sprayed on the Windex and went to wipe, it created suds on my window, as if I was using Dish Detergent instead of Windex... I'm going to finish up that project in the morning- as my arms got tired about half way through.
So- as I've been cleaning around my engine compartment- I've been making some delightful discoveries- this is what my battery was hiding-
I've also been cleaning things. That is why I pull them out- I pull them out- clean them- and I'm pretty sure tomorrow sometime I'll put them back in.
A tooth brush and various other thin bristly cleaners, that's what. I have the equivolent of a pipe cleaner on crack. And I'm using it to clean Suiby's hood locking mechanism... which takes a bit of... umm... Force- to get to latch correctly. I'm hoping I can get it to close without the use of cruel and unusual treatment.
I also attempted to wash the windows. You would think right- that it's not a big deal to take some Windex and wipe down the insides... not my windows.
Really now- they looked like someone misted them with olive oil... or maybe used Selma's front seat as the base for a deep fat fryer... and when I sprayed on the Windex and went to wipe, it created suds on my window, as if I was using Dish Detergent instead of Windex... I'm going to finish up that project in the morning- as my arms got tired about half way through.
So- as I've been cleaning around my engine compartment- I've been making some delightful discoveries- this is what my battery was hiding-
Yeah- that's flaky, rusty, fun. There's a few leaves there on the side... if you're looking Suiby in the eyes, this is in the back, left side, under the hood- here's a photo for placement.
It's a shelf that the battery sits on. The mildly rusty round thing to the right is the air filter- it's actually in pretty good condition, but the flash in the photo accentuates the bit of surface rust it has. Obviously this battery-shelf rust hasn't been causing any problems... I'm just not sure what to do with it now... leave it??? Clean it up a bit??? Try to take it out and find a replacement shelf to position the battery on???
I'll look at it more in the morning.
It's a shelf that the battery sits on. The mildly rusty round thing to the right is the air filter- it's actually in pretty good condition, but the flash in the photo accentuates the bit of surface rust it has. Obviously this battery-shelf rust hasn't been causing any problems... I'm just not sure what to do with it now... leave it??? Clean it up a bit??? Try to take it out and find a replacement shelf to position the battery on???
I'll look at it more in the morning.
Fleeting perfection.
So- not to be outdone by the Illustrious Dave (except in pursuits requiring physical prowess), and attempting to type expediently with only one hand, due to holding a tasty ice cream bar in the other... I present My Fleet-
Consisting of Selma Lee, M'Lady, and last and certainly least, My God.
Here's a better picture of M'Lady-
(that bright pink bit around her head tube, being her 2005 Ragbrai bike band), you also can't see very well that her tires have pale blue sidewalls... and my pedal cages have pale blue straps that I got for 50 cents at a bike shop booth along the Ragbrai route. She's also a six speed.
Back when Dave was still running a whole compliment of gears, I told him I only wanted one chain ring (I had eight or nine gears for Ragbrai, I can't quite remember). Note her singular down tube shifter. Then he later realized the genius of fewer gears and runs single, or two/three speeds now... yes, that's right, Dave's just copying me.
My God is the single speed mountain bike in the back. She's named that, because more prayers cross my lips in one hour on her, then in a month of regular living. She's currently non-operational, as my bike mechanic (Dave again) over extended his privileges and pilfered several crucial pieces for use on his monstrosities... and then didn't tell me... details.
Anyway. I think Selma Lee would look particularly adorable with a roof rack... but Yakima's "Fit Your Car" feature doesn't go back to '77... to be honest, Selma Lee's model uses the same chassis up through '85, so I could actually find a roof rack based on that year... but I don't really have any need to drive the bikes anywhere... regardless of how Awe-some she would look.
Maybe I'll go do some actual work on her, instead of writing about it...
Consisting of Selma Lee, M'Lady, and last and certainly least, My God.
Here's a better picture of M'Lady-
(that bright pink bit around her head tube, being her 2005 Ragbrai bike band), you also can't see very well that her tires have pale blue sidewalls... and my pedal cages have pale blue straps that I got for 50 cents at a bike shop booth along the Ragbrai route. She's also a six speed.
Back when Dave was still running a whole compliment of gears, I told him I only wanted one chain ring (I had eight or nine gears for Ragbrai, I can't quite remember). Note her singular down tube shifter. Then he later realized the genius of fewer gears and runs single, or two/three speeds now... yes, that's right, Dave's just copying me.
My God is the single speed mountain bike in the back. She's named that, because more prayers cross my lips in one hour on her, then in a month of regular living. She's currently non-operational, as my bike mechanic (Dave again) over extended his privileges and pilfered several crucial pieces for use on his monstrosities... and then didn't tell me... details.
Anyway. I think Selma Lee would look particularly adorable with a roof rack... but Yakima's "Fit Your Car" feature doesn't go back to '77... to be honest, Selma Lee's model uses the same chassis up through '85, so I could actually find a roof rack based on that year... but I don't really have any need to drive the bikes anywhere... regardless of how Awe-some she would look.
Maybe I'll go do some actual work on her, instead of writing about it...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Ownership.
Miss Suiby and I made the big trip into the Motor Vehicle Division offices today.
She passed her inspection (very basic, you only have to do smog testing if you live in the Metropolis- which we do not).
Then we had a minor hang up with the fact that she's changed hands four times before me, without ever being retitled. Typically you need to show both the signed title and a bill of sale when you re-title a vehicle. Since the last four owners didn't re-titled it, there's no way to be certain there ever was a legal sale or transfer of the vehicle- therefore there's no way to prove that the person who sold it to me had the right to do so... I need to establish that right.
I now get to contact the bank that was the lien holder on the 1988 title and have them send me evidence that they had a legal right to sell the car (probably a statement of foreclosure, or similar).
Then I get to track down the Used Auto Place they sold it to, and get a notarized bill of sale from them to Tim. The I get to see is Norman knows where Tim is, so I can get a notarized bill of sale from Tim to Norman- then I'll send my bill of sale back to Norman for him to get notarized and sent back to me.
At which point- I can return to the MVD and title and register Selma Lee in my name.
She does now have a 90-day temporary registration so I can legally drive her around in the meantime. When I asked for it the gentleman that was helping me said- You can only get so many of these, ya know. At which point I responded saying I thought 90 days ought to be enough time. He found that amusing.
We'll see.
And the adventure continues.
She passed her inspection (very basic, you only have to do smog testing if you live in the Metropolis- which we do not).
Then we had a minor hang up with the fact that she's changed hands four times before me, without ever being retitled. Typically you need to show both the signed title and a bill of sale when you re-title a vehicle. Since the last four owners didn't re-titled it, there's no way to be certain there ever was a legal sale or transfer of the vehicle- therefore there's no way to prove that the person who sold it to me had the right to do so... I need to establish that right.
I now get to contact the bank that was the lien holder on the 1988 title and have them send me evidence that they had a legal right to sell the car (probably a statement of foreclosure, or similar).
Then I get to track down the Used Auto Place they sold it to, and get a notarized bill of sale from them to Tim. The I get to see is Norman knows where Tim is, so I can get a notarized bill of sale from Tim to Norman- then I'll send my bill of sale back to Norman for him to get notarized and sent back to me.
At which point- I can return to the MVD and title and register Selma Lee in my name.
She does now have a 90-day temporary registration so I can legally drive her around in the meantime. When I asked for it the gentleman that was helping me said- You can only get so many of these, ya know. At which point I responded saying I thought 90 days ought to be enough time. He found that amusing.
We'll see.
And the adventure continues.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Hints.
By the way- the Suiby Fuel Removal Program is doing well... tank should be ready to flush by Friday.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Ya gotta start somewhere.
Apparently Selma Lee didn't think my Peep Masterpiece was nearly as cute as I did... I think there was a little jealousy on her part about the fact that I didn't spend yesterday working on her.
She apparently thought she should express her displeasure with me at 10:15 this evening, on a dark side street of DownTown, after I got off work at The Wine Cafe.
She decided to give me quite a start- by not doing so.
Now- I've been anticipating her not starting... I'm carrying around extra inline fuel filters and the tools needed to change them, so that anytime- anywhere, if the current one gets clogged and she won't start, I'll be able to fix the problem.
This was not that.
I got into the car. Turned the key, and the dashlights (the little ones at the bottom- Brake, Seatbelt, Glow Plugs... the only ones that light up) came on- and them flickered to a slightly dimmer state. I waited for the Glow Plug light to go off- turned the key- Nothing happened.
Nothing.
Not a sound. Not a breath of a chug-chug. Nothing.
I try again- and again. And again. Each time returning to the Glow Plug lighting position, waiting for it to go off, turning it to Ignition.
Now- I've told Dave to go to bed with his phone next to his ear- so that if I ever needed him (in a situation just like this)- I'd have a chance he'd hear his phone... the boy goes to bed early. I call- it rings once, and goes straight to VoiceMail... I think- He can't possibly have his phone off... I try again, and again- it rings three times, I leave a message... I call another dozen times, hoping the continual- Singular Ring- might catch his subconscious and wake him up.
No luck.
I consider the 9 mile walk from DownTown through the Hinterlands to the Blight of Sprawling Suburb that I live in... I consider whether or not any of the kitchen staff might live in the Blight of Sprawling Suburb... I look up and down the deserted street and decide to try to start Ms. Suiby one more time.
I turn the key to Glow Plugs... the dashlights are bright this time. The light goes off- I turn the key-
Chug-chug, chug-chug-chug- I slam the gas petal to the floor- she catches. I throw her in reverse and fumble with my phone to call Dave again and leave a less threatening message letting him know I'm on my way home.
Tomorrow I'll be taking a nice long look at her battery connections, and a few other things. I hoping the problem is there, and not in the key/ignition unit. It would make sense that it's the battery connections... I just can't imagine it could be that easy.
Anyway- things to do.
Got home and checked- Dave's phone was right by the bedside- not turned off- not out of battery- not anything. No idea why it did what it did- but at least I don't need to physically harm him for having done something wrong in my time of need.
Prior to this my night had been Perfect. Perfect. Everything clicked- I was in an excellent work mood- here's a snippet-
(we occasionally- as a special- offer a monsterously large burger, which we stack quite tall, and stick one of those foot-long bamboo skewers you can get at the grocery store, through. I served a couple their food and came back a moment later to refill their ice teas)
Man (brandishing the skewer at his defenseless companion)- I was saying, this is one awfully large tooth-pick.
Me- You could use it as such, but you might get some odd looks. You could always take it home, where there might be fewer to do the looking.
Man- No really, you could go hunting with this thing.
Me- We actually killed the cow we used to make your burger with it, then carried it through to the presentation. It's creative re-use.
Chuckles.
Man- You use your sense of humor. That's nice.
I think I blushed. You may all be thinking- What??? She blushes??? I've never seen her blush... it's not like he was hitting on me. They seemed like a really great couple and I had been joking with them both previously- the entire exchange was very low key, not exaggerated and sarcastic- it was just such a genuine comment of appreciation. Appreciation of my sense of humor, by a complete and total stranger.
I think I blushed.
She apparently thought she should express her displeasure with me at 10:15 this evening, on a dark side street of DownTown, after I got off work at The Wine Cafe.
She decided to give me quite a start- by not doing so.
Now- I've been anticipating her not starting... I'm carrying around extra inline fuel filters and the tools needed to change them, so that anytime- anywhere, if the current one gets clogged and she won't start, I'll be able to fix the problem.
This was not that.
I got into the car. Turned the key, and the dashlights (the little ones at the bottom- Brake, Seatbelt, Glow Plugs... the only ones that light up) came on- and them flickered to a slightly dimmer state. I waited for the Glow Plug light to go off- turned the key- Nothing happened.
Nothing.
Not a sound. Not a breath of a chug-chug. Nothing.
I try again- and again. And again. Each time returning to the Glow Plug lighting position, waiting for it to go off, turning it to Ignition.
Now- I've told Dave to go to bed with his phone next to his ear- so that if I ever needed him (in a situation just like this)- I'd have a chance he'd hear his phone... the boy goes to bed early. I call- it rings once, and goes straight to VoiceMail... I think- He can't possibly have his phone off... I try again, and again- it rings three times, I leave a message... I call another dozen times, hoping the continual- Singular Ring- might catch his subconscious and wake him up.
No luck.
I consider the 9 mile walk from DownTown through the Hinterlands to the Blight of Sprawling Suburb that I live in... I consider whether or not any of the kitchen staff might live in the Blight of Sprawling Suburb... I look up and down the deserted street and decide to try to start Ms. Suiby one more time.
I turn the key to Glow Plugs... the dashlights are bright this time. The light goes off- I turn the key-
Chug-chug, chug-chug-chug- I slam the gas petal to the floor- she catches. I throw her in reverse and fumble with my phone to call Dave again and leave a less threatening message letting him know I'm on my way home.
Tomorrow I'll be taking a nice long look at her battery connections, and a few other things. I hoping the problem is there, and not in the key/ignition unit. It would make sense that it's the battery connections... I just can't imagine it could be that easy.
Anyway- things to do.
Got home and checked- Dave's phone was right by the bedside- not turned off- not out of battery- not anything. No idea why it did what it did- but at least I don't need to physically harm him for having done something wrong in my time of need.
Prior to this my night had been Perfect. Perfect. Everything clicked- I was in an excellent work mood- here's a snippet-
(we occasionally- as a special- offer a monsterously large burger, which we stack quite tall, and stick one of those foot-long bamboo skewers you can get at the grocery store, through. I served a couple their food and came back a moment later to refill their ice teas)
Man (brandishing the skewer at his defenseless companion)- I was saying, this is one awfully large tooth-pick.
Me- You could use it as such, but you might get some odd looks. You could always take it home, where there might be fewer to do the looking.
Man- No really, you could go hunting with this thing.
Me- We actually killed the cow we used to make your burger with it, then carried it through to the presentation. It's creative re-use.
Chuckles.
Man- You use your sense of humor. That's nice.
I think I blushed. You may all be thinking- What??? She blushes??? I've never seen her blush... it's not like he was hitting on me. They seemed like a really great couple and I had been joking with them both previously- the entire exchange was very low key, not exaggerated and sarcastic- it was just such a genuine comment of appreciation. Appreciation of my sense of humor, by a complete and total stranger.
I think I blushed.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The importance of spontaneity.
There was a short list of minor things I was going to do with Selma Lee today to get her in better shape.
Instead- I drove her to Walmart, and then Safeway (when Walmart didn't have the goods) to buy five different types and colors of peeps. So that I could build a Diorama and enter The Washington Post's First Annual Peep Diorama Competition.
I only heard about it this morning- completing it in just a few hours after I had decided on the subject matter and retrieved supplies. Selma performing her part as anticipated.
Next year... oh- next year I will be ready. Next year- will be something to behold.
This year- well it was worth the amusement I found in it.
I submit below- for your viewing pleasure- my rendition of This Comic.
Good night.
Instead- I drove her to Walmart, and then Safeway (when Walmart didn't have the goods) to buy five different types and colors of peeps. So that I could build a Diorama and enter The Washington Post's First Annual Peep Diorama Competition.
I only heard about it this morning- completing it in just a few hours after I had decided on the subject matter and retrieved supplies. Selma performing her part as anticipated.
Next year... oh- next year I will be ready. Next year- will be something to behold.
This year- well it was worth the amusement I found in it.
I submit below- for your viewing pleasure- my rendition of This Comic.
Good night.
Just Say No.
This is your Fuel Filter.
This is your Fuel Filter on Algae.
I realize it's blurry- but all you need to see here- is the color.
This is your Fuel Filter on Algae.
I realize it's blurry- but all you need to see here- is the color.
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.
The Good- I drove Selma Lee to work yesterday, as well as out to dinner tonight. She starts. She wants a little extra gas at ignition to do so- but that was to be expected.
The Bad- She has about 16 gallons of diesel in her- not the 12 I was hoping. Which is about 108 more miles until she's ready to have her tank flushed.
The Ugly- We cut open the fuel filter that I replaced- the mesh screens inside were Black, and quite clogged. I'm wishing I had my little red microscope from home right now- so I could examine the gunk and confirm an Algae diagnosis.
In the meantime, I pulled out her air filter and cleaned the massive, oily crude out of the air filter housing. The filter looking quite new. I topped off the radiator, and added some engine oil- as it was inappropriately low, and I should have kept a better eye on it during The Trip, but I can't re-do that now.
I'll be keeping an eye on it this week- and attempt to assess whether or not it is burning any/much oil. It was fun to buy oil the other day and have the employee at the store go- Diesel??? As if I might just be buying the wrong oil- 15W40, by the way.
I'll change the oil in the next week as well- as there appears to be a small oil leak coming from the oil-pan drain plug-bolt, and Dave's pretty sure replacing it will take care of that problem.
Tomorrow- cleaning the inside out a bit. Reducing the nighttime glare on the very unclean windows... taking some ArmourAll to the interior.
After having sat in the Classic Automotive parking lot for the last six months with only the occasional driving- Selma Lee's loving all the attention. Who can blame her.
Dave also took his first ride tonight, when we went to dinner. I believe Selma Lee officially has his blessing.
The Bad- She has about 16 gallons of diesel in her- not the 12 I was hoping. Which is about 108 more miles until she's ready to have her tank flushed.
The Ugly- We cut open the fuel filter that I replaced- the mesh screens inside were Black, and quite clogged. I'm wishing I had my little red microscope from home right now- so I could examine the gunk and confirm an Algae diagnosis.
In the meantime, I pulled out her air filter and cleaned the massive, oily crude out of the air filter housing. The filter looking quite new. I topped off the radiator, and added some engine oil- as it was inappropriately low, and I should have kept a better eye on it during The Trip, but I can't re-do that now.
I'll be keeping an eye on it this week- and attempt to assess whether or not it is burning any/much oil. It was fun to buy oil the other day and have the employee at the store go- Diesel??? As if I might just be buying the wrong oil- 15W40, by the way.
I'll change the oil in the next week as well- as there appears to be a small oil leak coming from the oil-pan drain plug-bolt, and Dave's pretty sure replacing it will take care of that problem.
Tomorrow- cleaning the inside out a bit. Reducing the nighttime glare on the very unclean windows... taking some ArmourAll to the interior.
After having sat in the Classic Automotive parking lot for the last six months with only the occasional driving- Selma Lee's loving all the attention. Who can blame her.
Dave also took his first ride tonight, when we went to dinner. I believe Selma Lee officially has his blessing.
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