Been having some long days this week, and have really neglected this diary. But I kept up on all of my favorites, even if it meant losing an hour of sleep.

The truck was supposed to be ready Monday, but that turned into Tuesday, which turned into Wednesday. Got it back, with the firewall repaired, but found out today they failed to connect the vacuum hoses for the air conditioning and heater controls, so it goes back in for a couple hours tomorrow.

I didn't even tell you about having a minor collision with the borrowed truck, with the only other vehicle for at least ten miles around in the desert. Some other time, maybe.

Some thoughts on getting one's own rig back:

No more worrying about the heeler hair. Or the mud on their feet.

No more hitting my head on the ceiling gun rack.

Back to shifting down to 3^rd gear to get up the hill north of town (borrowed truck with 5.6 liter engine took it in 5^th).

Back to starting in first gear, instead of second.

Back to having cruise control! (Yea!)

No more driving on the highway with just plastic covering the driver's window. This truck has glass! (So did the borrowed truck, by the time I returned it. But not for three cold, noisy mornings.)

No more explaining to people why I'm driving around in the "sneak vehicle", or as my neighbor called it, the "spy truck."

Back to having radio buttons for NPR and rock. No Country or Christian stations.

Back to having a clock in the dash (unappreciated until you don't have one).

Back to having folks wave at you on the highway, now that they can recognize the truck.

Just another side note: it is nearly impossible to walk anywhere in this community. Between picking up the repaired truck, getting the window installed in the borrowed truck, cleaning it and returning it, had several occasions to walk about halfway across town. Not once was I able to walk where I needed to go without someone pulling up and asking if I needed a ride. Only took them up on it one time, so I could get to the shop before noon.

Nice that so many folks would offer.

Surprising that so many of them considered walking an unnatural act.