Current mood:	determined
Current music:	The usual turned heads, and the wide-eyed mechanic.

Home again, home again...
The H-Wing has returned home. It still needs an awful lot of work, and I have more questions the more I poke around.

On the plus side, after a lot of pressure from folks I put a "donation" button up at www.h-wing.com, and people are actually helping out! I must say it's heartwarming and humbling. The only tangible feedback on the car I usually get (aside from the occasional note under the wiperblades) is hate mail, so it's really a shock to see people give praise with their pocketbooks. Thanks to those that have helped out- I'll send something more personal directly to you.


The bodywork went okay, but the driver's side is off around the headlight, like the car had a little stroke. I go back tomorrow to have 'em tweak it. They also painted some interior parts a strange shade of green- not sure why. But they are a really good shop, and I'll post some info on them when I get this wrapped up.

On the way home from the shop, my brakes were barely working- so I had Loyola Automotive check it out. The mechanic said that the engine is great, but the Master Brake Cylinder is going. I go to Pep Boys tomorrow to have that fixed, as it's under warranty, but it begs the question: Did I have an accident because my brakes failed? I mentioned to Colleen at the time of the collision that it seemed that I had a hard time stopping (I had slammed the pedal to the floor, in fact, and the wheels that should have locked up didn't), but I later attributed that to my perception of the truck in front of me without brake lights. Not that it matters, but inquiring minds want to know.

And, as expected, Mercury Insurance has assigned me "Bad Driver" status. Since they won't insure my car for more than half the market value anyway (they totaled it and gave it a "salvage" title), I should probably either just get liability or go to a different company. They really have been not communicative or helpful, and the estimate on the car was uninformed and unfair. Things like apparently interpreting rust-colored primer paint as real rust, and saying my tires were old when I bought them a month ago.

But weather and time permitting, I hope to spray a little paint this weekend. I still want to re-debut at the Doo-Dah Parade in Pasadena on the 20th, so keep your fingers crossed!.