My Scottish ancestory on my Grandpa's side is apparently where the mischevious streak that some of the family possesses comes from. It's a little more intellegent than mine...I think I have more of my father's side of the family's humor (a little more ornery and less mischevious...there is a difference).

But to continue...Grandpa was telling me a story about two of his uncles (my g-g-uncles) this afternoon while brainstorming about what might be the problem with the mower. (Hopefully I can remember what differentials are in future...)

Anyway, Uncle Frank was taking down the engine of his Essex (year and model I have no idea). He, like a good mechanic, knew every part and placed them all in a pan to keep them together and not lose them. (Unlike yours truly who was just putting nuts, bolts, washers, and pins, up on the ramps.)

Uncle Phfleger (pronounced 'flig-er'; ain't it a great name!) strolls by and mischeviously tosses a few extra parts into Uncle Frank's hardware pan, just to throw a hitch in his brother's get along.

Well, when Uncle Frank got the engine put back together, he had a few extra pieces of hardware! From Grandpa's description, I get the impression that Uncle Frank was a little bugged when he came up with the extra parts...and I could just see the amused chuckling Uncle Phfleger was probably doing as he watched.

I didn't do this story justice, but that is mainly because you all cannot see Grandpa's twinkling blue eyes as he tells the tale. I'd never heard this one before, so I thought I'd share it--because it is funny and probably something Fank and Phfleger laughed about after the fact.

I finally got the mower put back together this morning after groveling around in the dirt and getting quite flithy again. I managed to bang my hands up some more and drop the socket wrench on my forehead. At least I didn't smash my head into the underside of the mower when I sneezed. (I think I was actually laying on my stomach at that point trimming something.) I guess I just needed to be fresh and not have extra spectators standing around.

I did call help out twice...once for a bolt that goes up into the engine area and then for the short drive belt. (Ooo...does that thing hurt the hands!) Katherine also helped me get the snap-ring back on the cross bar that goes under the seat that holds the frame work that the deck hangs on. I was dumb the other day when I took that off.

So...the reassembly went fairly well and pretty smoothly. I only almost got grouchy once but that was mainly because my hands were hurting from pushing on that pulley arm and I (stupidly) was not taking into the account that Mama wasn't as familiar with the underside of the dastardly mower as I was. I think I have this bad habit of assuming folks ought to know what I'm looking at as well as I do. Of course, I never consider that at the moment...

I shoved the thing off the ramps and cranked it up and...nothing. It still won't engage. So...three days of work for nothing. Oh well, at least it has a new v-belt!

Grandpa asked to see the mower book to see if he could figure out what is wrong (from what Daddy and I discussed, it doesn't appear to be the transmission). If he can figure it out, I guess I'll crawl under there again...though I would appreciate it if my bruises had time to heal up first. :)

Ah well...such is life. I'm feeling much better now; I just finished my afternoon coffee. I think I'll stroll out to the kitchen and wash the dishes since Katherine is doing my ironing for me.

I accompanied Mum and Grandpa to his doctor appointments today and was the wheelchair lift operator and chair pusher. First we went to the VA hospital where Grandpa got some blood drawn. Mama let us out at the door and by the time she got a parking place, Grandpa was already in the lab. They had to stick him twice, but eventually got the blood they needed. I stood there like a smiling bump on a log for most of it while holding Grandpa's jacket.

From the VA hospital we went to Bob Evan's for an early lunch. It was Grandpa's breakfast too, so I suppose I could call it brunch. Once done there, we zipped off for another doctor appointment in another town an hour away. I had a little trouble manuvering Grandpa's chair in the tighter confines of that office. I'm very clearly out of practice...

We got home and I promptly changed into my dirty jeans from yesterday and returned myself to working on the lawn mower. The good news is that I finally got both of the drive belts off and have the new long one on. The bad news is I didn't get finished with the reassembly. I had a little too much "help" and was nearly ready to bust. Grandpa had come out to supervise (I started growling when I heard that because I knew he'd try to tell me what to do--which would have been fine if I didn't already know what I was doing). Then at some point the neighbor dropped by. Finally, Mom told me to knock off for the day before I really lost my temper. I'm afraid I'd already snapped at a couple of people. It didn't help that I got so much dirt in my eyes that I couldn't see and I also had a really bad coughing spell at one point (that hurt!)

Anyway...hopefully, I can get out there and finish the job tomorrow. Maybe it won't rain like it was forecasted to. My throat is sore from the strain on it and I have bruises from my elbows down on both arms (those kind you can't see), as well as a large one on my right shoulder blade area. I always knew why mechanics had muscular forearms, but I never considered the amount of bruising they must get in an average days work.

Hmm, I wonder what's for supper??

P.S. Just to clarify...I'm not feeling either blue or grouchy at this point. I'm just on the hungry-side so am not overly exuberant. :)