No regrets, right?

[urbpan]

If I had yesterday to live over again, I wouldn't drive three miles with the parking brake on. But we did get to walk around Fresh Pond, (the city of Cambridge's water supply) and they did fix our brakes while we waited (3 1/2 hours).

We got to see the nature of Cambridge, Boston's Ivy League neighbor across the Charles.




The most poison ivy I've ever seen in an urban place. So much they have to warn people.


I didn't used to think of chipmunks as urban animals, but we saw several around Fresh Pond (and no gray squirrels!)



More of the same at cottonmanifesto

Comments

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

nothing like that burning brake smell, is there?

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Is it normal to drive for miles on pretty fast roads and only smell it after about 15 minutes?

[wakarusa.livejournal.com]

holy cow. I wouldn't think so, unless it hadn't been entirely disengaged and thus slipped back during driving.

the time I did it, the car was pretty tough to drive, and the smell started within a minute.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think there was already something seriously wrong. urbpan said it didn't feel weird at all.

The Car Curse Continues

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

This is Doc's car, right? The Subaru wagon? Yeesh. The recent Curse of Cars continues, and he isn't even around to see it.

On a side note, here is a nifty northeast caterpillar guide/database posted on the 'net that is downloadable:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/cateast/cateast.htm

Scroll down the page to the bottom, where you'll find a link to download the entire thing. The primary HTML file is named "CATEAST.HTM" in one of the many nested folders. I use this database all the time.

- Diane H K

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Hey Diane! Welcome to lj. Nice user name! I'm planning on answering your email/life story with one of mine, but in the meanwhile, my lj interests lists pretty well covers it.

Yeah, I was all ready to blame the car for our troubles, but not releasing the parking brake was all me.

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Hello Jef. Thanks for the welcome. I'm a semi-Luddite, but also a geek, so I'm trying to learn LJ as fast as I can without compromising my oath to not let technology rule my life. It's a tricky balance to maintain.

I look forward to that email/life story.

I like that picture of you under "TRUTH". I can see glimmers of the boy you were in the man you've become.

Re: the car; I once drove my old Volvo station wagon nearly ten miles with the wretched brake on before it started to smell. It all depends on the car and the condition of the parking brake, methinks. With that old Volvo, the parking brake cable was so loose that I couldn't feel it was engaged, yet after ten miles, the damage was done.

Hey, at least your dad gets a spanking new parking brake out of the deal. That's a positive way to look at it . . .

- Diane H K

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Brand new brake pads, brake shoes, master cylinder...
He should be delighted!

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

OUCH!

Oh, Jef, you are one good son.

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

I like the model, the size is good, it handles well. It has a nifty roof rack and gets decent gas mileage. However, I think we must face the facts. That particular car is eeeeeeevil. I'd recommend installing a kill switch or explosive bolts to take out the tires in case it goes all Christine on you, but that sucker's wiley. I'm sure it would find a way to use them against you.

Re: The Car Curse Continues

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

. . . That particular car is eeeeeeevil. I'd recommend installing a kill switch or explosive bolts to take out the tires . . .

ANDY! [excited waving in the general direction of West]

I dare not say anything against the aged Subaru wagon. As you know, I've got the same car sitting in my driveway, and I suspect Doc's car and mine were chatting it up while we were otherwise occupied. I don't want my S. wagon to get any big ideas, now, or I myself might end up with a pair of explosive bolts in the ol' cranium while I happen to be driving to and from the feed store or post office or some such.