Hey guys, I got my car back from the body shop & everything is installed and/or painted. The paint needs some corrective measures due to "fish eyes" on my driver side fender. No orange peel though, which is a pet peeve of mine. My new euro headlights are installed, but they forgot to aim them. Also, whenever I hit a bump the light beams jump in a vibrating up & down motion. The bumper is pushing up on the headlight housings too much, & there's about a 1/4" gap between the fender & top of the housing. I think that they didn't trim the fender, but I haven't had time to look at it. I didn't expect things to be too great due to the huge rush to get it done before my trip to S. Dakota. However, my insurance company guarantees the work performed for as long as I own the car since I went to one of their affiliated body shops. The car is running great, & looks really good though despite all that. There's just way too much to discuss about this subject, & I don't have much time. I have to go to bed in a few so that I can begin my 3rd (& final) day of the journey. I'll check back in periodically; when I have access to the net. I'll be intermittently (sp?) out of touch for a few weeks, so I can get the household up & running. BTW, I'm in the Denver area (Loveland) right now, & it's a shame that Lowry AFB was shut down in '94 because this is such a nice area. The Rockies are right outside the front doors of the Hampton Inn here, & covered in snow. Too bad I can't spend the whole day here tomorrow & ski my brains out. The time change is messing with my head though (even though it's only 1 hr difference). I'll just have to get used to it though, at least until daylight savings evens things out. I hope you all have fun here w/o me for awhile. Oh, almost forgot: out of my $500 deductible (compliments of Bambi), I got all but $140 refunded back f/ the body shop due to their OEM parts replacement quote, versus the cost of the aftermarket parts I got. It was a nice suprise when I picked up the car. I was expecting a little over $100 to be refunded since I spent more than the deductible amount, but not $360. I've really got to go to bed now; no time for conversation or proof reading/editing tonight. Have fun, gentlemen!!!

How was my weather forecast?

Good to hear the car is running and holding together. You can always tighten and straighten out things later. Enjoy the trip as much as possible!

Sounds like they may not have installed the bottom bolt on the headlights (which, iirc, is on the side behind the bumper). That may cause your jiggling problem. Also sounds like, as you suspected, they didn't trim the fender enough but, as mori said, you'll have time to sort that out later. We're here to help. ;-) Have a safe remaining journey.

R u checking in on the Tecra?

besides Cheyenne Mountain is all weird about visitors since they installed that Stargate thingy 7 years ago. SG-1 people mulling about, visiting all those other galaxies and such.

I'm having swirled rum cake for breakfast this morning. I think I should've checked the mail sooner than this morning as I think it's been sitting in there since Friday. Oh well a little Myer's poured over it moistens it right up. And a little glass of Myer's beside it to dip it in moistens me right up.

Thanks. Ya (hic) nut!

I was also too lazy to reach for the map.

Have you ever seen those gates NORAD has in the mountain? And I hear they (the people a NORAD, not the gates!) can launch F-16 jets from underground! Yikes!

Yeah, since you don't like raisins (rum-soaked raisins tend to hold moisture well), that thing should be a liability by now. At least you have all the equipment to facilitate abnormally aspirated breathing, should it become necessary. Application of more rum is always an option! :D

I talked to my mom tonight, & she received the badge today. As soon as I get an address she's going to send it to me.

Yeah, it's definately a good distance f/ Cheyenne Mt. I have been there before though.

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They cut all of that "lip" out, &amp; now there's nothing to serve as a backing for the corner. I can't believe they thought that would help. I even told them how to do it. I don't know if there's any way to fix it w/o replacing the fenders (again). I lowered the bumper a little bit, but it actually made the beams jump even worse. I actually don't have internet svc, so I've been using the business center computer at the hotel. I'm in Rapid City, SD now &amp; will be checking in with the base tomorrow. I had a very scenic drive through Wyoming &amp; the Black Hills today. I've never seen antelope before today, but have seen a few hundred along the road. We pulled over in one area of Wyoming &amp; let our daughter play in the snow for her first time ever. Then she rode a water slide for the first time at the hotel we're in right now. So, she's had a great day. The people here are much friendlier than in Oklahoma. We just got back from Chili's, where the waitress befriended our daughter, &amp; took her back to the kitchen to show off her new friend. I'm sooooooo glad to be out of OK!!! We're gonna go see Mt. Rushmore tomorrow, &amp; then take the boss to a petting farm appropriately named "Old MacDonald's Farm." Evidently, there's a lot to do in this area *IF* you have young kids, but nada for the single folk. We'll see, but either way it's better than being around all of the jerks in OK (&amp; that says a lot coming f/ someone who grew up there). There are also much worse places to be stationed than S. Dakota. A change of pace was long overdue.

Funny you should talk about OK that way because there is this guy at our OK division that is a real arrogant prick. He'll yell at you at the drop of a hat and then will be your best friend the next time he talks to you.

Are you sure that lower bolt I mentioned is there? I suppose you could epoxy something back there for the light to slide in to.

Your A4 gets around. ;-)

And yes, OK folks are pricks. They're fine so long as you don't ask for help. I'm at the library right now checking up on things for a sec. Our house should be ready in the next 2 weeks. Until then, take care!