It was a pleasant night. The last of my college work was turned in just a couple of days before and I was heading to Milwaukee for the first time in a long time. Cruising down the highway, my iPod playing in my ears and nothing but trees and stars to see. I had hit that pleasant nighttime driving groove.
Suddenly, my engine died. I coasted to a stop at the side of the road. Trying to start it again resulted in a rather nasty noise that I hadn’t heard before. I’m no auto mechanic but I knew it wasn’t a good sound.

Since I am not a member of an auto club (think AAA), I had to do things the old fashioned way. With Saryn and Joyce’s help I soon had found a police dispatcher, a county cop, a tow truck driver, and a ride. The car was dropped off at the garage and I was able to crash at Saryn’s place in Madison.

I made it to Milwaukee as planned. The rest of the weekend was modified though. I decided to take advantage of the breakdown and just stay in Madison until I knew what was going on with the car. I haven’t been seeing nearly enough of my relatives lately and I’ve missed the city.

The early diagnosis was that the needed a new timing belt (under $1000). That was quickly modified to needing a new timing chain ($1050) and then to needing two timing chains ($1350). Then they found the bent valves ($2050). At that point they told me it would be cheaper and faster to just pop a “new” used engine in there ($1750). The latest news was that it probably would make sense to put in a new clutch plate kit (+$150) as long as they had it all apart anyway. I agreed and hopefully the final damage will stay at $1900.

Oh well, I should have a fabulous new job soon and being “stuck” in Madison has been an unexpected bonus. Work is no problem since I normally work from home. I really can work from anywhere there is Internet. I am realizing just how much I missed this place and how much I really like it. I have found a few job posibilities. I just wish I had my resume, a suit, and a razor.