Today’s Lesson: Motor Mounts
Yesterday I had an unhappy occurrance. I had stopped at Quik Trip to get some gas on my way to work. When I got back in the car and turned the key: nothing. No lights, no radio, definitely no engine turning. I checked the basic things I know to check (battery cable connections, fuses, etc) and found nothing apparently wrong. So I coasted it down from the gas pumps into a parking spot and walked the 6 blocks home and took the minivan to work. Soon I got a tow truck called and since my preferred mechanic was booked full until Tuesday (a day on which I plan to be on the road), I had the tow take it to the local Saturn dealership's service department.
Two hours later I get the phone call. They checked everything out, my alternator is fine, my battery is fine. However, I had a bad connection with a battery cable/terminal. So they replaced it, and now the car starts fine, even better than before. However, they did notice that a motor mount had collapsed and needed replaced. I did a quick bit of investigation, ascertained that motor mounts are probably important, and had them replace it. So by 3 pm they had sent a nice lady in a courtesy car to pick me up, and upon my payment of around $200, I got a car back that had a new negative battery cable, a new motor mount, and an oil change.
What I had not realized was how much of a difference the motor mount made. The engine just feels tighter now. It accelerates better. It's just all-around improved. I took it for a spin up a few exits on the interstate last night with the windows down and the cool night air in the cabin, and it was glorious. Oh, and the car ran really nicely, too. I think it's ready to make the trip to Nashville next week.
If you're ever buying a used car, I could recomment the '99 Saturn SL - at least, my '99 Saturn SL. We bought it 5 years ago, have put 70k miles on it, and so far the only two repairs have been an oxygen sensor back in '03, and now the motor mount. That's a level of repair I can handle.
Today’s Lesson: Motor Mounts
Yesterday I had an unhappy occurrance. I had stopped at Quik Trip to get some gas on my way to work. When I got back in the car and turned the key: nothing. No lights, no radio, definitely no engine turning. I checked the basic things I know to check (battery cable connections, fuses, etc) and found nothing apparently wrong. So I coasted it down from the gas pumps into a parking spot and walked the 6 blocks home and took the minivan to work. Soon I got a tow truck called and since my preferred mechanic was booked full until Tuesday (a day on which I plan to be on the road), I had the tow take it to the local Saturn dealership's service department.
Two hours later I get the phone call. They checked everything out, my alternator is fine, my battery is fine. However, I had a bad connection with a battery cable/terminal. So they replaced it, and now the car starts fine, even better than before. However, they did notice that a motor mount had collapsed and needed replaced. I did a quick bit of investigation, ascertained that motor mounts are probably important, and had them replace it. So by 3 pm they had sent a nice lady in a courtesy car to pick me up, and upon my payment of around $200, I got a car back that had a new negative battery cable, a new motor mount, and an oil change.
What I had not realized was how much of a difference the motor mount made. The engine just feels tighter now. It accelerates better. It's just all-around improved. I took it for a spin up a few exits on the interstate last night with the windows down and the cool night air in the cabin, and it was glorious. Oh, and the car ran really nicely, too. I think it's ready to make the trip to Nashville next week.
If you're ever buying a used car, I could recomment the '99 Saturn SL - at least, my '99 Saturn SL. We bought it 5 years ago, have put 70k miles on it, and so far the only two repairs have been an oxygen sensor back in '03, and now the motor mount. That's a level of repair I can handle.
Today’s Lesson: Motor Mounts
Yesterday I had an unhappy occurrance. I had stopped at Quik Trip to get some gas on my way to work. When I got back in the car and turned the key: nothing. No lights, no radio, definitely no engine turning. I checked the basic things I know to check (battery cable connections, fuses, etc) and found nothing apparently wrong. So I coasted it down from the gas pumps into a parking spot and walked the 6 blocks home and took the minivan to work. Soon I got a tow truck called and since my preferred mechanic was booked full until Tuesday (a day on which I plan to be on the road), I had the tow take it to the local Saturn dealership's service department.
Two hours later I get the phone call. They checked everything out, my alternator is fine, my battery is fine. However, I had a bad connection with a battery cable/terminal. So they replaced it, and now the car starts fine, even better than before. However, they did notice that a motor mount had collapsed and needed replaced. I did a quick bit of investigation, ascertained that motor mounts are probably important, and had them replace it. So by 3 pm they had sent a nice lady in a courtesy car to pick me up, and upon my payment of around $200, I got a car back that had a new negative battery cable, a new motor mount, and an oil change.
What I had not realized was how much of a difference the motor mount made. The engine just feels tighter now. It accelerates better. It's just all-around improved. I took it for a spin up a few exits on the interstate last night with the windows down and the cool night air in the cabin, and it was glorious. Oh, and the car ran really nicely, too. I think it's ready to make the trip to Nashville next week.
If you're ever buying a used car, I could recomment the '99 Saturn SL - at least, my '99 Saturn SL. We bought it 5 years ago, have put 70k miles on it, and so far the only two repairs have been an oxygen sensor back in '03, and now the motor mount. That's a level of repair I can handle.
road tripping
In a bout of insanity, I have decided to take two days off work and drive to Nashville for Andy Osenga's CD release concert. I don't know what possessed me. But I'm looking forward to getting to meet Geof and maybe some others, and seeing Andy do a full show with a full band... awesome.
"Much rock will be had." -- Andrew Osenga
I’m sore… but I think it feels good.
Having been disgusted with my lack of exercise for a while, and having been challenged by my wife's initiative to start swimming on a regular basis, I bit the bullet yesterday and set my alarm back an extra half-hour so I could get up and run to start the morning. Yesterday morning wasn't too bad - I was ready to get up at 5:15, I did about 2 miles in 20 minutes, and felt pretty good. Woohoo!
Fast-forward to this morning. 5:15 seemed much earlier. I was sore. But I argued enough with myself to go ahead and get out of bed and do it again. But my heel was hurting this time; it felt like it was rubbing funny against my shoe, enough to hurt a bit, but I didn't think there was much to it. Finally I sat down on a park bench about half-way through my run, and found that I had a bloody sock to rival Curt Schilling's. Bummer. I guess it was worse than I thought. So I'm wearing my sandals to work today, and I'll have to figure out what to do with the shoes this weekend. I've had 'em for 3 years or so, but haven't worn them that much - they should still be in decent shape... oh well, I'll figure it out this weekend.
So anyway, now I'm at work feeling a little bit sore. But that feels good - much better to have sore muscles than to be feeling fat and lazy.
I’m sore… but I think it feels good.
Having been disgusted with my lack of exercise for a while, and having been challenged by my wife's initiative to start swimming on a regular basis, I bit the bullet yesterday and set my alarm back an extra half-hour so I could get up and run to start the morning. Yesterday morning wasn't too bad - I was ready to get up at 5:15, I did about 2 miles in 20 minutes, and felt pretty good. Woohoo!
Fast-forward to this morning. 5:15 seemed much earlier. I was sore. But I argued enough with myself to go ahead and get out of bed and do it again. But my heel was hurting this time; it felt like it was rubbing funny against my shoe, enough to hurt a bit, but I didn't think there was much to it. Finally I sat down on a park bench about half-way through my run, and found that I had a bloody sock to rival Curt Schilling's. Bummer. I guess it was worse than I thought. So I'm wearing my sandals to work today, and I'll have to figure out what to do with the shoes this weekend. I've had 'em for 3 years or so, but haven't worn them that much - they should still be in decent shape... oh well, I'll figure it out this weekend.
So anyway, now I'm at work feeling a little bit sore. But that feels good - much better to have sore muscles than to be feeling fat and lazy.
I’m sore… but I think it feels good.
Having been disgusted with my lack of exercise for a while, and having been challenged by my wife's initiative to start swimming on a regular basis, I bit the bullet yesterday and set my alarm back an extra half-hour so I could get up and run to start the morning. Yesterday morning wasn't too bad - I was ready to get up at 5:15, I did about 2 miles in 20 minutes, and felt pretty good. Woohoo!
Fast-forward to this morning. 5:15 seemed much earlier. I was sore. But I argued enough with myself to go ahead and get out of bed and do it again. But my heel was hurting this time; it felt like it was rubbing funny against my shoe, enough to hurt a bit, but I didn't think there was much to it. Finally I sat down on a park bench about half-way through my run, and found that I had a bloody sock to rival Curt Schilling's. Bummer. I guess it was worse than I thought. So I'm wearing my sandals to work today, and I'll have to figure out what to do with the shoes this weekend. I've had 'em for 3 years or so, but haven't worn them that much - they should still be in decent shape... oh well, I'll figure it out this weekend.
So anyway, now I'm at work feeling a little bit sore. But that feels good - much better to have sore muscles than to be feeling fat and lazy.
Thought for the day…
in gym class in high school, they make us all lift weights
the spotters stand behind you, stand there just in case
watch you groan, watch you strain, after all of these years now
I wish I really had someone who's there to catch my fall...
-- Andrew Osenga, In Gym Class In High School
Sovereign Grace Music: Worship God Live
Several weeks ago Bob Kauflin, on his Worship Matters blog, offered a free copy of the new Sovereign Grace worship CD, Worship God Live to the first 50 worship leaders who would agree to review it on their own blogs. I was one of the first 50, and my blog review is long overdue.
Worship God Live is a collection of 14 new songs, performed by the Sovereign Grace worship band as led by Bob Kauflin and Pat Sczebel. It sounds pretty much like you'd expect a live worship album to sound; the musicians are good, there are the typical lead singers with a larger background vocal group, the style is very similar to what you'd hear from a Passion worship album. Which is to say, good stuff.
As you listen to the lyrics of these songs, you are immediately struck by the depth and richness of the content. These are not the simple, schmaltzy, repetitive, cliche lyrics that haunt the thoughtful worship leader. These songs were obviously written by people who have thought through and understood the matchless grace and wonder of God, and who want to express it in the congregational music setting. As a worship leader, I am encouraged to hear new material with rich content. It is sorely needed in today's churches.
My chief difficulty with the album comes from the musical part of the songs. My experience in worship music has been that people who lead large worship bands with professional musicians tend to write music best performed by those large, professional bands. Fine and good, if you attend a church of that size and caliber. But for the worship leader in the smaller church, with volunteer musicians of varying ability, they just don't fit the bill. Recent worship music that has worked well for us has been simpler; How Deep The Father's Love For Us and In Christ Alone are two good examples. I found myself wishing that this album's songwriters had taken the little guys into account on at least some of the songs.
All that being said, there is one song on the album that stands out in its quality, singability, and message, and which I will be taking at some point soon to my worship team: Jesus, Thank You. It presents the gospel message so beautifully, and could be used by congregations of any size as beautiful praise to the Savior.
States I’ve Visited
I need to get to the northeast and the west, I guess...
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[HT: Stephanie]
