Gonzo

You gotta love those lawyers

Expectations Perceived or not, no matter what the situation, there are some expectations that are the norm. You may think of an expectation as a happy ending to a problem, but it can, and often does turn out the other way. It can even be a bit frustrating when things don't go according to plan. It's to be expected. In the automotive repair business there's a lot of expectations associated with the job. Be it from the customer who wants their car repaired, or from myself to do the job correctly and as efficiently as possible. Although there are always those constant "curve balls" thrown around when dealing with every facet of life or running a business, but somehow, some way we all find a way to handle all of life's ups and downs. Just the other day I was in the middle of printing out an invoice when the printer decided it was time to end its usefulness. No warning, no previous glitches…just a buzz from inside the printer and a bunch of blinking lights on the control panel. The customer was in a hurry, and expected a copy of the invoice that second. Wouldn't ya know it… it had to breakdown with a "Hurry up, get it done" type of person at the counter. (Should've expected that.) "I'll have to hand write you an invoice because it looks like the printer just fried," I told him. He wasn't all that happy about waiting for me to hand write the entire ticket out, but… what could I do? I expected the printer to do its job; I wasn't expecting a break down in the middle of a transaction. But, here we are, hey… things break, things fail… believe me, there was no expectation that it would last forever, no expectations that the customer would see the predicament I was in, or be understanding about the whole thing… nope ya just gotta do what ya gotta do … deal with it. I expected nothing less. These expectations can even be heightened by a false sense of insurance brought on by a cheap sub-market component that is supposed to function just as well as the top shelf part. Many times I'll have a customer bring in the latest super-duper-double-chrome-plated-extra-deluxe-can't-live-without-it car accessory they saw on TV or in the back of some obscure magazine. It's something they just have to have even though the validity of the product's claims never match up to the actual results. It could be as simple as replacing the stock gas cap with a locking one. Sure,I'll install it, what harm can I get into? I should know better… there's always a few surprises. Should've expected something when the customer said… "This shouldn't take you long to install. I'll wait on it," as he handed over this box of gaskets, screws, a few oddly shaped parts and some sort of instruction sheet wrote in hieroglyphics that even the Egyptian scholars haven't deciphered yet. It's those famous last words from the customer that does it in. My expectations most certainly involve "Murphy's Law" sneaking around the next corner any second now. It's like the death wish of car repair. Tell me it shouldn't take long, and bring me some cheap knock off part, and I'll guarantee the expectations of a complete failure are mere moments away. Oh, don't worry, I'll install it, and sure,I'll warn them about how their results may vary from their perceived expectations … but do you think that does any good? Nope… never does. All of which is supposed to fit perfectly… but never does quite fit like the drawings described (You know, those drawings and instructions in hieroglyphics? The ones you can't read? I can expect one thing for sure… a long drawn out repair slowed down by poor instructions and badly designed components… been there-done that…). Again, should've expected it from the beginning. Whenever I get a call that starts out with, "Hi, I'm an attorney in town, and I have a client with car problems that I'd like to discuss with you." My expectations are somewhat jaded already. For the most part an education in law doesn't make you an expert in car repair, but arrogance has no boundaries when a shifty lawyer who sees dollar signs and an easy mark. The last lawyer call like this that I had, the guy not only told me he knew more than I did, but made it perfectly clear that he was more than capable of deciding (before the facts) the proper course of action and who he was going to go after. As the story unfolded it turned out that the car was at a shop for an unrelated problem when something went wrong with the electrical system. His exact phrase to me was, "It went haywire and caused erratic expulsions from the air conditioner." (I really have no expectations of getting through this encounter without another migraine, or a few choice comments of my own.) Then, the car was taken to another shop where it was diagnosed and repaired. However,the repairs only lead to even more problems which the client wasn't willing to pay for and expected the first shop to cough up the bucks and admit it was their fault. (I kind of expected that.) So here I am in my office, just a few minutes before closing time, listening to this local attorney explain to me in detail about the repairs that were made. The only thing I can think of is how I would rather not be his "puppet" expert witness or the next victim at the hands of this ambulance chaser. I very carefully, methodically, and in as many single syllable words as I could think of (Because I'm only a mechanic, you know.) informed him how to best handle this problem and not to get a third party involved at this time. I suggested they go back to the last shop and have them explain things in detail. As I told him, "You've paid to have this problem repaired. It appears to still be a problem, which means to me, either there's more to the story (always is) or someone's expectations of the results aren't in line with what has actually taken place." I haven't heard back from him … yet, but my expectations are high that he'll call again. We all have our hopes and dreams, and we all have expectations each and every day. It's a good thing to have expectations, just don't let those expectations cloud your judgment. Keep an open mind, and keep looking forward. "Hope for the best and expect the worst" is one policy that will keep you looking over your shoulder. But, … I'll bet… … you expected me to tell you that. View full article

Digging around in my toolbox is what inspired me to write this story. There's a lot of history in those old drawers of tools. I've a bench vice that has to be about a hundred years old that was my great grandfathers. Still works, and I still use it.

What's in the Tool Box? Spend enough time in any trade and you'll collect a fair amount of the tools. The automotive trade is no different. I started out like most everyone else I know, with just a small box and a few hand tools. As the young tech in the shop, you find yourself always having to borrow a tool. Some guys won't let you borrow a thing, thus… you'll have to get one for yourself. After a few years of gathering tools, you'll soon need a bigger box to put them in. If you're lucky enough to have had a Grandfather or other relative retired from the business you probably have a lot of their tools as a great starting point. Go into most any shop and you'll find it easy to spot the senior mechanic… count their tools and tool boxes. I know I can't keep all my stuff in one box anymore. I've got several boxes and shelves full of tools of all shapes and sizes. There are drawers full of screw drivers, pliers, wrenches, sockets, extensions, meters, pullers, and all kinds of special application tools. It's an endless list of tools that goes way beyond the average home tool box. But, I have noticed a new trend. New techs coming into the business are starting off with a lot more tools, and a lot bigger toolboxes than when I first got into the business. The investment in tools for the modern mechanic is substantial. There seems to be no end in sight as to when enough is enough. Each different length or style of socket has a certain purpose. So, the number of sockets keeps adding up. (The good ones are NOT cheap.) They all get lined up on their little racks like soldiers waiting for battle, row after row; drawer after drawer of tools awaiting their chance to do what they were designed to do. My wife looks in my screwdriver drawer and will always comment, "Why do you have all of these? You'll never use all of them." Honestly, dear, I do use every one of them…just not all at same time. Even with the odd angled ratchet or the "S" shaped drive handle, I still don't have everything I need. Every week the tool trucks come by and I'll take my usual stroll down the racks of tools and supplies to see if there is something I need. Once in a while I find something that I know will make my job a lot easier, and I just can't leave it on the shelf. It has to go into one of my tool drawers for future use. Then again, I seem to have a lot of those"specialty" tools that I used for one or two jobs, but never again. A lot of times it's because that style of engine or transmission is no longer in production. Distributor alignment tools are in one expensive drawer that doesn't get opened very often these days. Back in the 80's and 90's they got a lot of time under the hood, but not now… not these days. Distributors have all but gone the way of the points and condensers. But I've got them. As the priority and use of some of these tools dwindles with time, they are slowly moved lower and lower in the tool box. They'll eventually end up in that forgotten spot in the depths of the toolbox I call … the black hole. It's the final resting place for old forgotten specialty tools that serve no purpose anymore, but are too valuable just to throw away. There's one very special drawer that I keep a lot of those "homemade" tools in. These little gizmos are those sockets,wrenches, and what nots that I've modified to perform some certain job. These "adjusted" tools are just as important as those rolling tool store bought ones. I've got a slew of homemade gadgets and fiddly little things I have made over the years. Sometimes after using my homemade tool, I'll run across the"real" tool on a tool truck. You know,sometimes… my tool still works better than the store bought one. Kinda makes a guy proud… yea, I even grin a bit. Knowing my little homemade thing-a-ma-jig works as well, if not better than the engineered factory tool. From the Stone Age to modern times someone had to be innovative and resourceful enough to make use of their hands to forge tools, and after making a few tools they had to have some place to keep them. I doubt the cave man had one of those huge "monolith tool boxes" you see today, but I'm sure he had a place he kept all of his equipment. Yep, the tool box has been around as long as there have been tools. So what's really in a mechanic'stool box? Sure there are tools, but what is not so obvious is what those stacks of neatly arranged sockets represent.It's their livelihood; the blood, sweat, and years of toil that rests between the tools in all those drawers. The years of wear on the tools is evidence enough of how that person made a living. When I go through my junk drawer of odds and ends, I'll pick up something and think back on how this tool ended up in this drawer, or what in the world I ever needed this thing-a-ma-bob for in the first place. Someday, I'll clean out those unused items but I'm not likely to throw them out. They'll probably end up in another tool box and add to my ever growing collection. Those tools can tell a tale if they could only talk. But that's part of the reason why all those drawers of tools are there. Yes, they are there to allow me to work my trade, but they are also my legacy and my mark in history. Someday, as the tools get passed down, or subdivided between all the relatives, my name might be mentioned the next time they pick the tool up. I know I think of my dad and grandfather every time I pick up one of their handed down tools.Maybe even give my next generation a chance to go into the trade with a few more tools than I started with and create their own memories. View full article

HaPPy TurKEy Day to everyone. wife is already baking pies, making salads, and getting the bird ready for the oven. Can't wait. Relatives coming in from out of town and playing some golf over the long weekend. Enjoy the time off fellas! We all can use it! Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!

I have two older daughters, one worked for me for about 4 years in the office answering phones. She was really had a knack for the job. Then the two of my girls got together and decided to switch jobs. So now I have my other daughter with me while the other one finished her master degree in advertising. My son... well... If there is dirt, grease, or loud noises involved he's not interested. I tried one year to bring him down to the shop, didn't work out well. He would rather stay in the office. Oh well... to each his own. But I agree Joe... the bonding time is priceless. Ya just can't get the time back... use it wisely.

Squirrels, Squirrels, Squirrels My son Mitchell just turned 16 and I promised him I'd get him a small economical car to drive if his grades were good. Good??? I never did that great in school compared to this kid. Straight A's for this kid. I'm really proud of the little guy. He's on the debating team, the Quiz bowl team and several others. He even played tournament chess for a couple of summers and did really well. In fact made it to 3rd in the state for his division until he… well, as he put it… retired. Now he's into some sort of tournament card game that I have no idea what it's all about. (Smart kid to say the least.) One thing he's never taken an interest in is cars or anything mechanical. I've been tinkering on engines and anything that rolled, slid, or moved for as long as I remember. But, not this kid. He's more into computer programming and science stuff. I'd like him to learn a little bit about what his father does for a living, however, when the subject comes up he's more than likely to avoid anything to do with anything mechanical. But, I might find a way he can't avoid. I'll just have to wait until it's absolutely necessary for him to take a look under the hood. His little car is a 06 Ford Focus, with 5 speed manual transmission with no power locks or windows. A perfect first time car and an added bonus… he'll have to learn how to drive a stick shift. The first step in learning to drive was of course how to work the clutch. I found along flat stretch of a road that was perfect for teaching the basic fundamentals of operating a stick shift car. He picked up on it in no time. Even his mom was impressed with his driving. (Makes a dad proud when mom is impressed.) A few months went by and with all the other activities going on the car was left to sit in the driveway for about a month. As the time grew closer to taking his actual driving test he was eager to get back to practicing his driving skills. I got a text from mom that the car wouldn't start. She assumed it was just a dead battery from leaving it sit so long. Mom sent me a text that the car wouldn't start. She assumed it was just a dead battery from leaving it sit so long. I came home from the shop in time to see them both sitting patiently waiting on the front steps for me to show up. I hopped into the driver's seat of the boy's car and turned the key. (Oh yea, it was dead alright… dead to the point that I couldn't even get the slightest of response from the electrical system.) When I popped the hood I was in for a big surprise. Sitting on top of the engine was a huge mound of insulation, various nuts from the trees around the house, and pieces of the wiring harness. It's a (&X!$) squirrel… this long tailed rat has made a nest out of the boys engine compartment. I just got home from a long day of diagnosing cars, wiring up damaged vehicles and changing parts only to come home and stare at the very same thing I do everyday. You can imagine my response. It wasn't shock, it wasn't surprise… it was more of the ticked off dad that knew exactly who's going to be working late…ME! As I started to gather the necessary tools and drag out an airline to the car both the wife and the boy had already grabbed their cell phones and were busy snapping pictures. The two of them had big smiles on their faces as if the whole thing was some comical natural sculpture under the hood. Comical??? I'm a little jacked up over the whole thing. The first repeatable sentence I said that didn't have some sort of derogatory remark about a squirrel or the occasional triple X word in it was, "Son, you're going to be helping on this, so put down that cell phone and go get those tools I laid out on the work bench." After removing all the debris from the engine bay (Boy's job) I could see I had quite a few wires to repair. Some were chewed clean down to the connectors as well as completely missing. This was a perfect time to show the boy just what his dad does every day at the shop. I'll have to admit he did seem somewhat interested, but I don't think it was the actual methods of separating the terminals from the connector, or howto properly splice the wires back together. It was more of that typical teenager mentality. He asked me several times, "Dad, are you going to be able to fix this, or will we have to find a repair shop to do it?" Honestly, for such a smart kid he still doesn't understand what his dad does every day. I had to remember how it was when I got my first car and how anxious I was to get out on the road by myself. So I kept my thoughts to finishing the job, because I knew the most important thing to him wasn't the father son bonding… but, how quickly can I have my car back. A few hours later and a little help from my internet subscription to the wiring diagrams I had the whole thing finished. "Mitch hop in there and start it up," I told him. The car came to life and ran just as it did. I told him to check the dash for any service lights or warnings that were on. He didn't see anything on the dash so we let it sit there to warm up. After the engine got up to temperature we took it around the block a few times to check the rest of the car out. Everything was back to normal. I think he learned a few things about cars during the conversations we had while repairing all the wiring. Maybe not enough to think about going into the business, but enough to know that old dad does know his stuff about what makes these mechanical beasts run down the road. He's still driving the same car, and still holding those straight A's in school. I guess I have to change my opinion about that squirrel though. He may have caused me a bunch of extra work, but he also gave me a great opportunity to spend some quality time with my son. "Hey, squirrel... thank you... but that doesn't mean you're welcomed under the hood of the car again. But thanks for the father/son bonding ... that was well worth the time. Time...it's that one thing you can't get back." (More photos on my website.) View full article

I had one last week that had a leaking A/C compressor. Be it, a slight leak but a leak for sure. I told the guy it would work great until enough refrigerant and oil leaked out of the compressor seals. This guy then calls his wife (in the lobby) and tells her, "The compressor is fine, he just checked it out... that last guy didn't know what he was talking about. It doesn't need changed, it's fine." and ya wonder where I get the ideas for the next articles.... geee... just go to work, they will come. LOL

Second Hand Lyin' Second hand information can be misleading, even totally wrong. There's always a chance it might be correct, but I wouldn't count on it. It depends on where that information came from to start with. In the automotive repair business if a car was checked out with any degree of accuracy, the information is probably good… But if the person giving that info to the next person can't explain it in a way they both understand, then the results are not going to be as truthful as they could be. Do you remember when we were kids in school we would form a line, and you said something to the first person, who then passes it on to the next person, so on and so on? Only to have the original information be completely different by the time it gets to the other end? The same thing can happen with a car problem when more than one person is involved in getting the information to the person at the end of the line… and who's usually on the end of the line?… the mechanic. Just the other day a driver tell his company dispatcher his truck wasn't getting any heat out of the driver's side vents. By the time it got to the shop the entire story was reversed to, "There's no cold air coming out of the passenger side". Really had me wondering what was actually wrong, until I talked to the driver myself. Take the information given when buying a used car. Occasionally there's a little white lie about the condition of the car,maybe not on purpose, but rather from the grape vine of information being passed along. Of course, selling the car is the goal and informing the prospective buyer of any faults is important, but the car may have problems,and the explanation of those problems might have been twisted around to the point it's not even close to the truth anymore. By the time the buyer has their chance to take the car to their mechanic, nine chances out of ten there will be some discrepancies between the two explanations. Now the issue becomes "who's right". The owner of the vehicle will almost always side with their mechanic,while the buyer will lean towards their own. All this information gets passed back and forth from mechanic to owner,buyer to mechanic, mechanic back to buyer, and buyer back to owner. This only leads to even more misunderstandings. To avoid any further confusion, the best bet is to have the last guy tell the first guy and everyone else in between. A few weeks ago I had a problem come up regarding the condition of a car that was up for sale. It was a '97 Buick with low mileage, and had been sitting for nearly 8 years without much attention in a garage. The owner's father-in-law bought the car new before he passed away, and as far as the son-in-law was told by the rest of the family, everything was in tiptop shape. It definitely was clean, dent free,great paint and not a blemish to the interior. As with any of these "moth balled" cars, the first thing that was an issue was the battery. Leaving a battery sit for that long it's natural to have the battery sulfated by now. (Sulfating happens when the lead active material reacts with the sulfate from the electrolyte forming a hard leadsulfate surface on the plates. When there is no active lead material left, and no sulfate in the electrolyte the battery becomes completely discharged. Keeping a battery charged will reduce the amount of hardened material on the plates.) The owner had it towed to a garage to have the battery replaced. After the new battery was installed, it took a few cranks for the engine to start. After a few coughs and shudders the engine purred like new, however the service light was on. (Which seemed to be the major concern for both seller and the buyer). But, by the time the car arrived at my shop the engine codes had been cleared from the PCM by the mechanic who installed the battery. All I had to go on was the second hand information that the owner over heard from the mechanic who worked on the car. "The mechanic told me it might need a tune-up, or something," the owner proudly tells me. It's that "something" that bothered me. A tune-up, maybe… I'm thinking old gas myself, but what's a "something"? It really doesn't matter at this point as the buyer jumps into the conversation and says, "Do a complete checkup for me,and let me know if it's worth what they want for it." There were numerous small problems to deal with, and a few major issues as well. Everything from an ABS light staying on (which neither party mentioned)to a very poorly repaired alternator main positive lead. With the car in the service bay you could hear the alternator whine grow louder and louder the longer the car ran, but at the battery terminals there was hardly anything in the way of a noticeable alternator output. Between the alternator and the battery was a large homemade connection that was hot enough to fry an egg on. This was causing a rather large voltage drop between the alternator and the battery. In fact the electrical tape surrounding it was almost completely melted off. After explaining the ABS problem, air conditioning, wiring issues, and all the other problems I found while checking it out, it was clear to me they were not going to purchase the car. (Just too many problems to deal with for them.) The owner, on the other hand, once he finds out what I found wrong with his "tiptop" shape car he's going to blow a gasket, and I'm sure I'll be on the receiving end of his frustration at the service counter. Needless to say, before I could show the owner any of the results I had a very upset individual at the service counter. "I was told everything was in perfect working order," the buyer shouts at me. "Do you want to see what I found out? It would be a lot easier to show you," I told him. As I showed him the actual conditions, his doubts about what he was told regarding the condition of the car came into question. It was only then that he knew he should have had a mechanic check it out, rather than relying on the second hand information he was told by the family. Digging through the maze of hearsay information is what a professional technician does every day. Explaining firsthand can reduce the chances of the information being skewed by someone else's explanations. But you know, people are still going to interpret what anyone says into what they thought they heard. So, the next time someone tells you something, and it just doesn't sound right, find out for yourself first hand, just to be on the safe side. That secondhand information may not be as truthful as you think. View full article

good boat... it didn't sink. LOL

Joe, you definetly have your priorities in line. Business and family, family and business. We all have to bow to Mother Nature. Well put my friend...

Well worth the read. Makes me laugh every time I read it.

for some, you've might have read this one a few years ago. It will never make it in any of my columns but...it sure is a cool story, so being the Halloween season I thought I would bring it back out for another season... and yes... it DID happen. that's the spookiest part of it all.

Last Stop Before the Asylum On a foggy afternoon, with no breeze in sight, and a slight chill in the air, an old man came to the repair shop. He didn’t come through the front door like most everyone would, no he pulled his car right into the center bay of the shop. But, it gets stranger…. He didn’t get out of the car. He didn’t even roll down the window. He just sat there ... with both hands on the wheel, the engine still running, and staring out the windshield like a zombie from an old horror flick. He appeared to be calmly sitting at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. There was no expression on his face, he never blinked; he just sat there….with this cold stone stare. I didn’t want to walk in front of the car in fear he may take me as the green light, so I walked around the back of the car keeping one eye on this strange guy, and then crept up to the drivers’ window. I tapped on the glass….no response from inside. I tried the door handle… it opened. “Afternoon sir,” I said in a cheerful manner, trying to keep my curiosity at bay, “Is there anything I can do for you today?” The old man, ever so slowly, turned his head towards me while maintaining a straight forward posture and both hands still on the wheel, never really looking up, he just turned his head and answered. “Why yes, young man, my turn signals are acting up, and my window won’t roll down.” (The man’s voice reminded me of an old horror movie vampire.) Very creepy to say the least. He even looked like a 50’s horror movie villain with sunken cheeks, large bushy eye brows, slow methodical speech, and that expressionless cold stare. (Where’s his cape, ....does he keep the bats in the trunk,.... the coffin, where’s the coffin?) “No problem, sir,” I answered, still holding my fear in check, “Just head up front and they can write you an invoice for the repair, and then I can get started.” “I’d rather stay here, (slowly turning his head towards me again, lifting his eyebrows, and raising his eyes up towards me so his glare was straight into my eyes) right here in the drivers’ seat,” he said in that creepy horror flick manner. (Insert your choice of spooky movie music here) Ok, where’s the holy water?…..where’s my garlic?….who’s got the silver bullets?…….where’s the wooden stakes? …….a little help here from the guys in the shop …..ahh guys…guys?....where is everyone??? Why is it when you look around the shop for help…..everybody disappears? Oh they’ll show up, oh sure they will, you know they will…after they let me be the first victim……not funny guys! ! ! I could ask this creepy guy again to step out of the car, or I could tell him about our policy on customers in the shop area. At this point, I probably look like one of those B movie extras who is too scared to say their lines. (If I had any.) I figured I better tell him he can’t stay in the car while I was working on it, and see where that leads. There he sat, still staring straight ahead out the windshield, not blinking, and not even moving a muscle. “Sir, because of insurance reason you can’t stay in the shop. You will have to wait outside or in the customer waiting area,” I said, trying to be as professional as possible. (They can smell fear, you know.) Looking straight forward, not at me, he said in that baritone voice, “You do whatever you feel is necessary, son,” then he turned his head and looked right through me, “I’ll be sitting right here,” he said it all in that same eerie voice. He turned back towards the windshield without another word. Then, he just sat there... as still as a tombstone. Now I’m not scared…I’m getting riled up. I don’t know what graveyard this movie mogul came from, but…this is my shop. I have to take the responsibility here. If he isn’t going to get out of the car I really can’t do too much. Well, maybe I can do some quick diagnostics without having him get out of the car. This way, I won’t feel like such a jerk if I have to get a little serious with this Boris Karloff. “Sir, why don’t you try those turn signals for me,” I said. He did, and they seemed to be working just fine. “Could you try rolling down the window for me,” I asked. It worked fine as well. Without a problem that I was aware of, I thought the next best thing was to get him out of the car, and take a look under the dash. “Sir, can you step out of the car, so I can look under the dash,” I asked. “No,” was his goolish response. “Well sir, then I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I answered, “Or, you can wait outside the shop while I take a look at the car.” “No,” came his answer. “Ok, then, can you do something for me? Could you put it in neutral and leave your foot off of the brake,” I calmly asked. He did just that, then he put his hands back on the wheel but never changed his dead pan expression. I motioned to one of the guys who just happened to show up from his hiding place to come over and help me. We both grabbed the front of the car and pushed the car outside with the old man still in it. As we pushed him out, you could see the old fella through the windshield, never changing his expression and with that straight ahead stare…..he just sat there. I walked up to the driver's door, (the window was still down), “Sir, when you are ready to get out of the car I’ll be more than happy to help you. But, until then you will have to remain out here. If there is a medical reason why you can’t get out of the car I’ll make arrangements to assist you into a different chair or something that will be more comfortable for you,” I said with a stern voice. The old man did that same slow head turn without taking his hands off of the steering wheel again. He stared right into my eyes….raised those bushy eyebrows, and with that same slow deliberate baritone voice he said, “It’s not medical, it’s not a problem, I like my car the way it is…(and with his eyes extending out as if to make them larger)……with me in it.” (There’s that spooky music again) I walked back to shop to finish the other work that was there. On and off throughout the afternoon you could look outside and there was that creepy old guy sitting in his car. Staring right into the shop through the windshield of his car…. never moving, never blinking, still with both hands on the wheel. (There should have been some eerie fog flowing around his car….now that would have been even more creepy) At closing time, the old guy was still there. As soon as I starting to pull the doors down… he drove off. As the door came to their usual “thump” at the bottom…the shop radio went dead. You could hear a pin drop in the shop; the only noticeable noise was the old man’s car leaving the parking lot. When the car noise was all but gone…the radio started back up. It was like some page out of a horror movie…..Ok, Ok, it had to be just one of those moments when the station was changing a disc or something……but why right then??? So, the next time you are at a traffic light and you see an old guy with big bushy eyebrows…staring through the windshield, and who appears to have been in the latest horror flick at the theater, perhaps on his way to the asylum. Forget the red light, don’t make eye contact, don’t look back……….drive, drive far away! View full article

definetly one bitter dentist, must have got a bad tuneup one time. Remind me not to mention I'm a mechanic when I'm at the dentist office.