Drydock

The goodship Taurus, our beloved Ford, is in drydock.

She's suffering from an exceptionally odd case of electrical problems. Systems that should not be connected, fail and come back on at the same time, frequent and multiple times, so that removes any doubt it's mere coincidence. However, one of the engineers I can afford to have look her over said that they are utterly befuddled. Like many a vulcan scientist on the USS Wolf, he uttered the words, "That's not possible."

Luckily, I lacked a phaser set to stun, and so I just looked at him and said, evenly, "Well, it is not only possible, it is happening. So let us not consider the theoretical and philosophical implications this will have on your worldview, and suffer the epiphany later. At the moment, let us identify what the problem is."

He has, to this date, been unable to determine the problem. So I'm holding it up with the Ford... errr... Aerostar van. That is my beloved Serenity, if you've ever watched "Firefly" you'll understand the reference. Chunks of her chassis fall of with dismal regularity, but I'm oblivious to this and consider it "creative venting". And she is accumulating more vents.

But as rusted and old as she is, she is even more stubborn, and refuses to die. Her engine may sputter at times, and even shut off, but she always roars back to life, loudly and with the venting of much foul carbon vapours. And she goes.

Pressing the petal to the metal creates such a sound as to have visions of angry bee swarms descending upon your metal refuge, but she shoots ahead and shows considerable power for a boxy, unaerodynamic vehicle of her age. I love her to death. And some say that this vehicle will be the death of me. Still, she's a roomy coffin at the least.

Until our Ford is repaired, I'm dubious of the matter of "reliable transportation." As beloved as my van is, she is not reliable, and some wouldn't consider her a means of transportation anymore than they would consider being shot out of a cannon as a means of transportation. Though the cannon does have reliability on its side in their minds.

Still, my resources are sufficient for the time being, but not if there are vehicular repairs to be done. And my dear Taurus decided to fail just after we filled her gas tank. I find the irony in that not nearly enough to send me into fits of hysterics... just fits.

Well, we'll keep her safe in drydock until she's repaired of whatever ails her. And when she's good and ready, she'll be back on the road, a potent and visible reminder that pedestrians really should keep to the sidewalks.

Smooth sailing and god speed to you.

~Jera