Salt & Battery

I was up and at my routine by 5:40am. And happily, by the time I finished phase one, it was still before 6:05am. I was officially back on track! It was Tuesday and it was again brutally cold, at least by this winter’s standards. It was 12 degrees and windy when I was walking Ykraps. But believe me, I haven’t lost sight of the fact that during a normal winter, temperatures like these would qualify as nothing more than normal. Fact is, we’ve been spoiled with two exceptionally warm winters in a row. Now when the temperature dips below 20 degrees it's news. I started the Trooper before leaving the house. And the slow cranking of the engine just reaffirmed what I already knew. I needed to get a new battery - stat! As soon as I arrived at work I logged on to Sears.com and perused their battery selection. I knew that one could get cheaper batteries, but I have always been partial to Diehards. Yes, I too, fall for marketing! The proper SUV battery would cost me $100. Next, I called the Tuttle Sears to discuss and schedule an appointment. Rich seemed knowledgeable and kind. He told me that he could get me in and out quick and would charge only an additional $13 for install. That sounded good on such a cold day. While I had him, I asked if he could do my serpentine belt, too, since being informed twice during routine oil changes that it was dangerously worn. And I could see with my own eyes that it was. Ever since then it has been bugging me. Rich willing agreed to do so it for what seemed reasonable but still slightly more than Jiffy Lube. But the convenience of having it all done at once was more attractive. However, not having the exact belt in stock, he’d have to get it in. He was upfront about not having the exact price, but he gave me ballpark figures that seemed reasonable based on my research. Come my usual run time I dressed as usual in the gym. But instead of leaving for a run, I drove my Trooper to Sears. The plan all along was for me to drop the Trooper and run from there. The thought of blazing anew trail excited me. Rich implied that he could do all the work in about 50 minutes. That would be almost perfect! When I arrived the place was all but barren. They addressed me right away. They prepared the written estimate and shared the charges with me. There were no surprises with the battery, but there were with the belt. The quoted “ballpark” price for the belt changed from being between $19 - 44 to being $73. Plus, the labor to put it on increased, too. That was suddenly $46 rather than the $30 or 40 he quoted. Nix the belt, I said. Can’t see paying $120 for a belt when it’s not broke. I’ll do it myself. I let them know, too, that I had been out to NAPA’s webpage and verified the price. They were quoting me the same – $20 – 45 he originally did. He called to confirm and told me he was quoted $70. Not to argue, I told him that Jiffy Lube would do it for $69 total and in 10 minutes. If anything, I’d have them do it. Not wanting to be stuck with the belt, he offered to do it for $56, but he still hadn’t added the install fee. I asked again how much for labor and he once again quoted me $46. Sorry – no deal. I kindly asked that they simply do the battery. I left for my run and Rich said that he should be done by the time I returned. I was looking forward to this running adventure. I headed down Tuttle Rd to Franz Rd then north to Rt. 161. That proved longer than I remembered. Plus, it was brutally cold with a very cold wind seemingly in my face on the out and in. It was very invigorating! Forty minutes later I returned to Sears. Inside I confirmed that they hadn’t even began on my Trooper. Bastards! I was kind, however, and displayed great patience. No worries, I said. I’ll just head over to Cord Camera right next door and shop a little. I spent about twenty minutes in there. When I returned they had just pulled my car into the repair bay. Suddenly, I felt vulnerable. The thought occurred to me that they might take advantage of me. The work took a very long time. I had been there now a total of 1.75 hrs. Finally, after sitting in the waiting room perusing their tool catalog, they finished (about 15 minutes later) and I was on my way back to work. Reviewing the ordeal, I was happy that I didn’t allow procrastination to overcome me and find myself stranded somewhere with a bum battery. I should be good to go for about 5 years. I made the original battery last 6.5 years. However, the belt thing still loomed in the back of my mind. So, once back at work, I called Jiffy Lube to confirm their price and whether they would do it outside of a routine oil change. Yes. $69 and done in ten minutes. I hung up from that call feeling good about my decision. I’ll stop in there at my convenience over the next week or so to ‘get ‘er done’. The rest of my work day was uneventful after all of that. I worked hard until I left for the day. Mindy had dinner on the stove when I arrived home. She made cream of chicken with broccoli casserole. I walked Ykraps as soon as I unloaded my gear. It was another chilly walk. Dinner was exceptionally good. Between the two of us, we managed to eat almost the entire 9X12” casserole. The kids, as you might’ve already guessed, had alternative entrees. After dinner I agreed to once again play with Jacoby. We played in the basement for almost one hour. He plays rather rough. Mindy called the kids upstairs around 7:15pm. That was my cue to get busy on my blog. In email, I received word back from Timberline with the contract corrections requested along with a humorous apology. I was bent on getting that done this week. Mindy addressed getting the kids ready for bed almost entirely on her own, although I did deliver some water and do the final tuck and hug for each. Afterwards, Mindy pretty much readied herself for bed. I grabbed my book and plopped into the overstuffed family room chair. I read for a solid hour or more enjoying a bag of popcorn to boot. Mindy came in to see if I was ready for bed around 10pm. She wanted some attention. I was equally tired so we went to bed.