The Check Engine Light...

The Check Engine Light makes me feel as though I am a true Renaissance man instead of being just a Renaissance scholar...and you know what? That little light is right. I took my car (a silver, 4dr, v6, Honda Accord LX) to AutoZone and they patched into the computer outlet behind the ashtray. Yeah, I knew it was there. Anyway, they said that cylinder 3 isn't firing, though you just have to rev the engine to hear that it is. So I'm going to replace the plugs, distributor cap, and cables. I did this twice before, once on a bitchin' 94 Aspire and once on a 93 Accord; I figure I can do it again. The big question is when will I get around to it. I don't know. If I get eight pages written tomorrow morning, I'll take the early afternoon and do it. Otherwise I'll put it off until it cuts into my Easter weekend.

I'd like to retract the last post where I wrote that I freaked out over the warning signal from my car, but it wouldn't be honest. And in a way, I like the Check Engine Light; it represents the conscience. It warns you that things may soon break down or get out of hand if preventive measures aren't taken...now, if I could only listen to my inner Jiminy Cricket as well as I responded to the light on my dashboard I'd be just ducky.

I Knew I Was Old When...

I awoke this morning at 4:00am. Yup. 4am. That's too damn early for anyone, even if you're a morning person like me. I didn't really know what to do with myself when this began happening a year or so ago, but I've figured it out now. I just get up and go to work, since work means writing the dissertation, I've found it actually helps having Allison at home (asleep) so that I have a bit of pressure to stay on track and not get distracted doing things I shouldn't...whatever that means...

Anyway, my check engine light came on last night while driving home from the small business college where I teach Monday evenings, and I almost immediately freaked out. You see, I don't really know anything about cars. I mean, I know the basics, and I'm really a very good all-conditions driver, but the Check Engine light is something altogether different. I'm going to have to take it to an AutoZone to check out what the car's computer says is wrong. Let's hope it's not expensive! (More to follow once I figure out what the problem is...)