Bizarre Car Results - What a strange day. First, I dropped off the car in the morning, and one of the guys (I'll call him Awesome Guy) greeted me by name as I walked in. The other (in this story called New Guy) looked confused, but asked if he could help me. I introduced myself, shook his hand and said, "You must be the New Guy." My Awesome Guy pulled up my car record and had all my car symptoms typed up, almost before New Guy had figured out I'm a regular.

Back at home, I didn't get a phone call until nearly 2 pm, when Awesome Guy told me (a) it's the clutch and (b) he couldn't get the work done until tomorrow. So I walked over to pick up the car, after just an oil change and the diagnosis. At the counter, New Guy greeted me (and had actually learned my name), and verified yes it's the clutch. I asked how long until they can get the parts and how long will the actual repair take. New Guy said he had all the parts already and they could repair it today. Today? Really? Oh sure, we can finish it today! Um, okay then go ahead and do that. So I walked back home, and New Guy said to be back at 6 pm.

5:50 rolls around, my roomie had just walked in, and she was willing to drive me over since I had let time get away from me. She dropped me off, and I wandered inside. Things didn't look good, because my car was still up on the lift, wheels off, hood open, parts disassembled, and no one actively working on my car. New Guy couldn't ring me up, because not all the work had been entered into the system yet. So I sat around. I paced. I waited. I worried. I had a 7:30 meeting to get to, 20-30 minutes north if there was no traffic. I was hoping to give myself an hour for the commute, just in case, or just to be there early. I still had to go back to the house for my computer.

At 6:20, still no action, but Awesome Guy was back in the office trying to update the computer for me. I paid, I signed the receipt, I kept waiting. Finally at 6:30 I went back out to ask how much longer this would take? New Guy said, "Oh, he's almost done reassembling and reconnecting everything, here I'll show you." Um, no New Guy. That's not why I pay you. I don't know what you're showing me -- it's either a working car or it's in your capable hands. So I repeat, "I've told you when I came in at 6pm, when your shop closes, that I need to jet out of here. How much longer until I can leave with my car?" and New Guy cheerfully replied, "Oh, just about 45 more minutes, that's all."

My jaw dropped. Awesome Guy noticed.

And here's where it gets good: Awesome Guy insisted I take his car. I don't even know his name!! He's just "Car Guy" to me most of the time, or "One of my Car Guys," and now after this story he's, "Awesome Car Guy." Of course, I did drive his car this evening, to and from the 7:30 meeting. And in the morning, I'm planning to fill the gas tank and learn his name. He completely rocks.

Another Round of Cooking - Ater soaking the lentils all day, I put together some more fresh food when I got home from the meeting. I tossed the other 4-ounce container of black-eyed peas in with the red lentils, and set them to simmer. In a skillet, I started with the ubiquitous chopped onions and garlic. Later I added some Red Curry Paste to the lentils and to the skillet, some dried maldive fish to both, and some coconut to the lentils. I sliced some tofu, and browned it with the onions, garlic, and curry. I added some diced oyster mushrooms, roma tomatoes, and eventually fresh spinach to the skillet, and some diced carrots to the lentils. The whole house smells heavenly of curry and veggies, and both dishes are both delicious and colorful.

Total time in the kitchen: One hour. Finished 3+ or maybe 4 meals. The boxes are more full than Monday's meals, so the food might stretch through both Tuesday and maybe one meal on Wednesday.
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Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Awesome Car Guy