Dear Reader,

     A few days ago, one of our vehicles had become disabled due to the shift cables breaking. The vehicle is a standard transmission and it was so incapacitated that I was down to only first gear.  When the problem occurred, I had about three miles to go till I got home.  With only first gear operable, you could imagine how long that took.  Although it was quite an inconvenience to be driving about the same speed as a nice jog, it did give me time to think.

     I thought how here I am whining about how I can barely make it home, but how driving is in itself a privilege.  Because of the way the current society has been engineered by television, the Internet, and a variety of other time wasters, I'm sure that doesn't cross the minds of many younger individuals.  They assume driving is part of the Constitution.  Thank you public education!

     Anyway, let me get back on track.  After the vehicle was towed to the dealership, we found out that it wasn't covered under the power train warranty.  Supposedly shifting from first to any other gear is considered a luxury!  Shift cables fall under the accessory category.  The shifter has the same feel as stirring a straw in your favorite adult or g-rated beverage.  Nothin' is happening.

     I was told that for the part and labor it would be roughly $650.  Yikes!  After further investigation, the part was only $204 of that total.  So for a 30-60 minute job, someone would be making about $450 an hour on my dime.  I know that the dealership generally runs a bit higher than, well anybody else.  However, they are part of Government Motors so I know I can trust them, right?  The employee that I had been dealing with on the phone was not very helpful so I decided to call in the big guns.

     Once I told my wife the story about the ridiculous amount of the labor costs they were going to charge, she went into action.  To backtrack, this is my wife's cup of tea.  Every job she's had, she ends up being the parent/babysitter so that her fellow coworkers do the right thing since they are incapable of claiming their own intestinal fortitude.  She's my Sarah Palin-type pit bull if you will.

     To make a long story short, she got $300 cut off of the labor, actually beating other competitors that we called.  In addition, she spoke to the supervisor of the previously mentioned "gentleman" and it would seem that he is no longer working at their place of business because of the way he was treating my wife and others.  There's nothing like a strong woman to complement a man and his journey through life.  I love you honey.