Christmas Countdown: No Joke

I seem to be writing about nothing but passing recently. Sorry to add another post on this topic but as I have been out and about recently it means I am meeting old acquaintances anew or meeting people for the first time as April.

Thursday morning found me at JPG Exhaust in Oakville getting an estimate on a terrible exhaust leak on the driver's side of my 76 Mark IV. Turned out they could not help as it was a deteriorated manifold gasket and they only touch the pipes back.

A great shop and very pleasant to deal with, they did the custom system on my Corvette and the original dual system on the Lincoln which it still wears over a decade ago.

Anyway I didn't seem to raise any suspicions when I entered the shop. After their inspection they kindly informed me that I would need a mechanic to repair the manifold leak. That would be me I volunteered, I assumed I was passing as this seemed to catch them off guard. You replaced the other manifold gasket yourself!?! Yes I replied, took almost three weeks to loosen all the bolts with penetrating oil. They seemed suitably impressed. We bid each other Merry Christmas (how delightfully unPC) and I left head held high.

Next stop Mississauga to have the Lincoln undercoated and take photos for an article on rust proofing. Again things seemed to go well, however they were expecting a him as I had arranged the photo shoot with the VP at the rust proofing company's head office who I had worked with on other projects over the past few years.

I received a call later in the day from a slightly quizzical VP as to who actually visited his shop earlier in the day. Whoops, I told him it was a long story, that the location had done an outstanding job and that I would send him an e-mail explaining all.

I quickly kicked the children off the Mac and sent my standard coming out/going full time letter. We talked later on the phone, it seems the franchise owner was a little surprised by me and called saying that the the person from the magazine might be transsexual. The VP knowing the franchise owner is also a practical joker responded, oh that can't be (insert my old name here)! Good news is that he now knows and it is not an issue. Offered his support and amazement that I transitioned in such a male dominated industry. Though I don't know I can say I am still in that industry when I am not working full time.

Swung by garage doing safety on the Seville (again greeted by "hi guy"….really not dressed as fancy as yesterday, I mean does he call everyone that?). Bad news is Seville needs new lower ball joints, not expensive but once you add in labour at almost $95 per hour it gets prohibitive, may have no choice but to do myself or postpone. Not a job this girl looks forward to especially if I do it outside!

Made sure I was back on time to pick up oldest daughter and then home to start dinner.

Some more rockabilly Christmas treats and vintage cars doing donuts in the snow!