Merry Christmas to ME!!

A couple of weeks ago Collin asked me to please leave the Hondmatic key out on my dresser.  He didn't explain why, but mysteriously hinted at the notion that he may need to get into the Hondamatic for some reason or another

A couple of days ago Collin mentioned that while walking Itsy he had seen some parking tickets on other cars in the neighborhood that had been parked on the street in the same spot for over 72 hours.  This has always been a fear of mine, that the Hondmatic would be ticketed or even towed for sitting in the same spot for too long.  Seattle parking enforcement laws...  It hasn't happened yet, our street is sort of obscure, but still, it could...  I'm glad my neighbors don't seem to mind.  So Collin suggested that he move the Hondamatic a few feet forward.  I heartily agreed.  Well later that night when I got home the Hondamatic was in the same spot.  Collin said that he wasn't able to push it forward so he just swept up the leaves and debris that had accumulated in the gutter around the wheels to make it look like the Hondamatic hadn't been just sitting there for ages and ages.  I accepted this reasoning without question, although I did mention that it seemed strange that he couldn't move the Hondamatic when we did so easily a few months ago.  It only weighs 2000 pounds with everything in it.

This morning Collin asked me to walk Itsy with him before he went away to run errands before going to work.  I got bundled up, put a leash on Itsy and stuffed a poop-pick-up baggy in my pocket.  We went outside and I saw the hood was off the Hondamatic.  In the first second I had a shock and thought a stranger had taken it off to mess around with the Hondamatic.  Then I saw the SHINY REBUILT BLOCK resting securely in its home!!!! 

OMG!!!  Merry Christmas to ME!!!

Super secret Santa-Collin had spent the past couple days (which were sunny, mild and perfect) re-installing my engine!!!

He says that I may have a fully operational Hondamatic by the New Year.

I said I'd be so happy to even have it before February.

Unfortunately, no pictures were taken in the process of re-installation.  We'll just have to rebuild another car to make another step-by-step blog. 

I have starter oil in it now, which is green, so once it's running I am not allowed to go over 35mph for the first 500 miles.  Just trips downtown, to my sister's new house, the grocery store and to Collin's place are permitted basically.  No freeways. 

Collin spent a lot of time on the phone with Robbie from the machine shop.  Apparently a rod was installed backwards.  Oops. 

There's even a new oil filter and brand new spark plugs in already!!!

This is so exciting!

Middle of December - Twenty-Eleven

Ack!  The year is almost over.  It's dark when I wake up.  It's dark when I go to work.  It's dark when I drive home and by default, when I get home.  When it's not dark then it's raining.  If it's not raining then it's cloudy and overcast.

Speaking of clouds...you're the reason I missed the full lunar eclipse last weekend.  Yeah, I'm talking to you!

Why am I blogging about the weather and (non-existent) hours of (null) daylight on a blog devoted to the rebuild of the Hondamatic?

Because the Hondamatic is not getting rebuilt.  It's still sitting there.  On the street. Alone. Pathetic. Embarrassed.
The engine is done and beautiful.  It's all in one piece now.  A nice long block.  Even the timing belt is on and ready for action.  But it's still at the shop.  Physically I am simply not able to lift the engine by myself.  Collin and I are never together before the shop closes.  I'm working, for the most part, up in Arlington at a salvage yard, so I don't get to Seattle until after six most nights.  Collin is always at one of his three jobs.  It's December, and the hospitality field is at its peak, you know.  The double-and-triple-shifts-7-days-a-week-for-an-entire-month will be worth it when there's no work whatsoever in January.  So in the meantime I can do nothing except wait for an opportunity to arise when we can get the engine back.  I paid for the work and parts already and they were very pleased.

The other night I saw Collin putting a bolt that was missing onto the engine hoist.  As far as I can tell it's ready to go.  Hmmm.  But we have a former roomates possessions (waiting for pick-up) blocking the front of the garage making it difficult to manuever the hoist out...or the Hondamatic in.

I drove my car for 11 days before it blew up in a cloud of smoke and it's been sitting there since MAY.  I know it's ridiculous to love the Hondamatic.  I seriously think about giving up sometimes but then I remember how much I adore it.

I so want to drive my car again.