Done and glad it's over

For a few months I've had a lingering oil leak on the Passat. For a while I lived with the problem, occasionally adding oil and cleaning off the little bit that would drop on the driveway. As I've always heard, and somewhat experienced, it's far easier to deal with a slight oil leak this way than to try to fix it. Oil leaks can come from anywhere and as long as it doesn't adversely affect the car your OK.

That was the case until about six weeks ago when the car began to smoke after a short drive. Again at first it was nothing more than an annoying bit of smoke at a stoplight and a slight burning oil smell when the vents were open. A week before Christmas I decided that I'd had enough and ordered replacement parts for the valve cover gasket. My dad and me replaced the gaskets a few days later and everything was fine, for a while.

Of course, as is the habit of Volkswagens, suddenly the silver beast decided to throw me a curve ball. One cold morning I noticed quite a bit more smoke than usual and could even see the smoke coming from the vents. At the time I was most worried about the oil possibly catching fire, and rightly so. Once I pulled into the parking lot at work I popped the hood and took look. There was no fire only a cloud foul smelling smoke. Shortly thereafter I noticed the large puddle of oil on the ground and my heart sank. I checked the engine oil level and determined that I had at least enough to get home but I'd definitely need to fill 'er up before driving any further.

What's my disaster recovery plan?

Here's the Ron White heightened state of awareness system. It only has two heightened states of awareness. Go find a helmet. Put on the damn helmet.

Simplicity.. I'm also a fan of positive thinking:

I believe that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Then find someone whose life gives them vodka and have a party.

Painting is cheaper than therapy and about twice as productive. There's nothing like a manual labor, time intensive project to spark the thought process and act of sheer introspection. Be that as it may, interior painting isn't rocket science nor is it a task that's quickly resolved. I suppose that gives us the luxary of pondering things. After all I think most people spend too much time working and not enough time thinking.

Given lots of time I tend to run my mind through what I know, what I don't know and occasionally things I never thought of not knowing. It sounds like a lot to comprehend but thankfully I'm able to distill my thoughts into something more concise. Actually I think a few lines from Mark Knopfler song sums it up simply:

What dreams he made for us to dream
Spanish skies, egyptian sands
The world was ours, we marched upon
Our little corporal’s command
And I lost an eye at austerlitz
The sabre slash yet gives me pain
My one true love awaits me still
The flower of the aquitaine

Save my soul from evil, lord
And heal this soldier's heart
I'll trust in thee to keep me, lord
I'm done with Bonaparte