I’m a-goin’. June 12th, to be precise, downto Charlotte (well, just south of the city, actually, in Waxhaw) to volunteer at JAARS until August 1st. I’m excited about it; not only does it provide me with a lot of contacts in the field of missionary aviation, it also has industrial design (my major) clout. I’ll try to keep y’all more updated once I arrive there; chances are I won’t be doing much after-hours. I’ll be rooming with a college-age guy working in the computer department down there. I’m sure he’ll be horrified to discover my preference as far as platforms are concerned. :o)
It turns out the engine-removal epic last Monday was more of a pyrrhic victory, as my dad and I managed to snap one of the input shafts for the transmission in the process (read: very bad). I will thus be removing the transmission tomorrow… *sigh* Those of you who know me might think I’m having the time of my life with this car, but in reality it’s not all fun and games; it certainly wasn’t last Monday after 7 hours under the hood. It’s not an easy engine to remove (read: American), it’s not a fast car, and the engine is just plain ugly. So what keeps me going? The sense of accomplishment I get when the engine is sitting on the floor of the garage, and the expectation of the feeling I will get when the engine starts and delivers power to the wheels again (and the A/C works). The expertise gained in the process plays a part too, but the emotional and visceral appeal of the endeavor is what stands first in my mind and motivations.
My family will be making a trip of its own up to College Park, Maryland, on Saturday for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, in which my brother is competing for the fourth year in a row.