The Wheels are Turning.

Jethro just drove past the house, on his way from the bank, to the highway, to work.

The pavement is wet, the truck is extremely loud on account of the engine not actually being connected to the exhaust pipe, and, well, he's a small town dude in a pickup truck.  He pulled up to the stop sign at the corner, waved his giant hand at me (from my bay window I can see the corner clearly) and then squealed them big snow tires and rumbled down the street.

Ahhh yes.  Just being our uncouth selves, here in this nice town.  

Today, while he's playing with electrical wires and things at the studio, that big ol truck will be getting new brakes, and a new engine pipe!  This is very exciting for me, because I really like brakes.  Brakes are so good.  I like brakes on horses too, but on trucks it's just really important. A working exhaust system is equally wonderful.  Not only does it keep your jaw from vibrating against your skull as you drive -seriously, it's not just loud, it's skull-shakingly loud - but a nice tight exhaust creates back pressure, which means more power.  A V8 with no exhaust is gutless, meaning you have to step into harder to make it move, and you go through more gas.  Need I say that I do not need to be pouring any more gas through that monster?  So it may sound cool, and bitchin, at least that first BARK  after turning the key, but let's just say it gets old fast.

Back pressure, and power, and brakes... this all makes me think of riding horses too.  If my horse is all stretched out, I might have less control of his body, and might not get a good stop out of him.  But, if I can run him collected (back pressure) then he's right there when I need a transition.  Transmission of power, back to front... I must not wear spurs when driving.  

I'm so excited about getting the truck fixed!  Maybe later this week we might be able to get the left turn signal fixed!

And the door handle and pull strap! 

Maybe even the interior light!

Weatherstripping  around the door?

I wonder if my mechanic will be grossed out by all the horse hair and dog hair and gravel and pine needles and possible tiny microscopic fragments of manure???

My rubber boots are still behind the front seat, but I'm doing town stuff today.  I don't need to wear barn boots to the bank, although that would be funny.  Same same, different pile?

The slick lil Jetta sits in the wet driveway waiting for me, with my gnarly old saddle stuffed into the hatch.  Jethro had to move the saddle out of the truck so he could fit the radial reciprocating skilsaw into the cab.  He's had enough vocal tuning and has turned his attention to iso-booth construction.

Me?  I gotta go take my saddle to the bank, and then let it ride along to Zellers to buy some longjohns.  

After that... me, pug, and computer.  Couch.  Words, words, words.  It's been spinning around in my head and it's time to put it in gear and get rolling.

The wheels are turning.