Here we go.
My last full-time day at the company was yesterday. My first day back at the shop is tomorrow. Going to be a pretty long haul of long days, but I'm ready to do this.
After the holiday's done, I'm going back to the company every Tuesday and Thursday. However, I'm also closing the shop down on those days, so those'll make for long days. But... that's more cash in my pocket for stuff like car repairs and getting my computer to where I want it. I've got about $650 left to go before my machine is pretty much maxed out(although more RAM isn't necessary, I wouldn't mind having 32GB for futureproofing), maybe $850 if I want to upgrade a couple of the hard drives to larger, faster ones. When it's done, well... it's going to be a high end gaming and video editing rig. Nothing completely ridiculous, but for what it is it's going to be very fast.
Cars? Both the BMW and Audi need work. The 540i/6 needs a new driver's window regulator(about $250, parts and labor) and a steering wheel slipring(about $180 for the part, I can DIY). An oil change($120 for materials and I always get it done at a local shop that's treated me right) is also due. I have an oil leak from what I suspect are the valve covers(might be fixed by tightening it down, I'm not sure), and possibly a minor coolant leak(which peeves me off as I pretty much had the entire cooling system replaced). Joys of owning an older German performance car, amirite?
The Audi needs a lot more than that. Power steering rack($950 parts/labor), timing belt service($250 labor, I have the parts), boost pipes(about $230 parts), plugs, wires, and rotor($180), new tires($400-600?), front brake pads(have the parts), blower motor($120), windshield($300?), and likely a few other things. Those are the major ones. There's some minor stuff here and there, but those'll get taken care of along down the line. However, the fact I have a running '91 Audi 200 20v is astonishing. I took it to work yesterday, and we were getting hammered with bad weather. Even on bad summer performance tires, the Audi managed to conquer stuff other cars couldn't. Some moron behind me tried going up a hill after me, and while he was sliding to the curb I kept going. The differential lock works like a charm, which is freaking awesome.
I can do this. Even with taking a pay cut moving back to the shop(I'll be making about 85% of what I was making at the company, even working there part time), I can do this. It's all about priorities. I'll admit getting my rig finished is kinda at the top of the heap. Why? Because I can sit at home and play video games instead of indulge in other flights of fancy. It'll make it easier to sit and save if I have that kind of distraction waiting at home.
After the holiday's done, I'm going back to the company every Tuesday and Thursday. However, I'm also closing the shop down on those days, so those'll make for long days. But... that's more cash in my pocket for stuff like car repairs and getting my computer to where I want it. I've got about $650 left to go before my machine is pretty much maxed out(although more RAM isn't necessary, I wouldn't mind having 32GB for futureproofing), maybe $850 if I want to upgrade a couple of the hard drives to larger, faster ones. When it's done, well... it's going to be a high end gaming and video editing rig. Nothing completely ridiculous, but for what it is it's going to be very fast.
Cars? Both the BMW and Audi need work. The 540i/6 needs a new driver's window regulator(about $250, parts and labor) and a steering wheel slipring(about $180 for the part, I can DIY). An oil change($120 for materials and I always get it done at a local shop that's treated me right) is also due. I have an oil leak from what I suspect are the valve covers(might be fixed by tightening it down, I'm not sure), and possibly a minor coolant leak(which peeves me off as I pretty much had the entire cooling system replaced). Joys of owning an older German performance car, amirite?
The Audi needs a lot more than that. Power steering rack($950 parts/labor), timing belt service($250 labor, I have the parts), boost pipes(about $230 parts), plugs, wires, and rotor($180), new tires($400-600?), front brake pads(have the parts), blower motor($120), windshield($300?), and likely a few other things. Those are the major ones. There's some minor stuff here and there, but those'll get taken care of along down the line. However, the fact I have a running '91 Audi 200 20v is astonishing. I took it to work yesterday, and we were getting hammered with bad weather. Even on bad summer performance tires, the Audi managed to conquer stuff other cars couldn't. Some moron behind me tried going up a hill after me, and while he was sliding to the curb I kept going. The differential lock works like a charm, which is freaking awesome.
I can do this. Even with taking a pay cut moving back to the shop(I'll be making about 85% of what I was making at the company, even working there part time), I can do this. It's all about priorities. I'll admit getting my rig finished is kinda at the top of the heap. Why? Because I can sit at home and play video games instead of indulge in other flights of fancy. It'll make it easier to sit and save if I have that kind of distraction waiting at home.