Rain, Repairs, and Resolutions

Monday: Rescheduling, Legal Wins, and Family Time

The week began with rain pouring down relentlessly, forcing me to reschedule most of my jobs for the day. Although frustrating, it gave me the time to tackle a major win: resolving some long-standing legal issues with Mississippi. A huge relief!

I also worked on fixing an insurance mix-up for my car. Turns out, there was some confusion when adding my car to Anna’s insurance policy, and the agent never completed the process. Dealing with the DMV, unfortunately, didn’t leave enough time to finish. Classic bureaucracy!

To cap the day, I hung out with the kids. After all the hustle, spending a quiet evening with family was a much-needed break.

Tuesday: Juggling Work and Parenting

Unexpectedly, Tuesday morning turned out slow. Anna went to her parents’ house to catch up on sleep after her night shift, leaving me in charge of the baby. This made work impossible, but I adapted.

I spent the morning finishing Monday’s blog post, starting a new one, and assembling an electrical box for an upcoming return job on the Alfa. Later, I scheduled a headlight assembly replacement for a Toyota RAV4 in Mandeville and finalized plans to finish a lawnmower project in Bush later in the week. Productive enough for a day at home!

Wednesday: A Quiet Day at Work

Wednesday was all about my other job, which turned out to be uneventful. While slower days can feel like a drag, they’re a great chance to recharge and prepare for what’s ahead.

Thursday: Diagnosing Oil Leaks and Rolling with the Changes

I began the day intending to work on the lawnmower project in Bush, but damaged parts forced us to reschedule. Then, a customer reached out about an oil leak in his 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor.

The job was straightforward but required loosening the timing cover since the valve cover was oddly placed beneath it. Once I identified the issue—a pinched valve cover gasket—I replaced it, refilled the oil, and ensured everything was running smoothly. The customer, a website designer, and I chatted about my background and software development while I wrapped up. As a gesture of goodwill, I left him the extra oil that wasn’t needed. Overall, it was a simple and satisfying job.

Friday: A Victory with the Mercury

Friday began with cleaning my desk and office—a refreshing reset to clear my mind for the day ahead. Later, I tackled a major milestone: finishing the rear end installation on my Mercury.

The job involved routing and installing parking brake cables, which required disassembling the drum brakes. Ford uses a frustrating hook design to retain the parking brake cable—one that seems engineered to fight mechanics every step of the way. Wrestling with those drum brakes turned the task into more of a challenge than expected, but I persisted and got it done. Additionally, I rewired the speed sensor and double-checked everything before taking the car for a test drive.

To my delight, the Mercury ran smoother, quieter, and with more power than ever. I should have anticipated the improved performance, but it felt like a rewarding surprise. Ending the week by seeing the Mercury back on the road was the ultimate payoff.

Saturday: Rainy Morning and Family Time

Saturday greeted me with another rainy morning, leaving no room for planned work. Instead, I embraced the downtime to relax with the family before heading out to my other job. Sometimes, a slower pace is exactly what’s needed.

Sunday: Reflecting and Planning Ahead

Sundays are perfect for looking back and strategizing for the future. This week reminded me of the importance of adaptability and balance. Running a mobile mechanic business isn’t just about turning wrenches; it’s about managing time, expectations, and relationships, too.

Reflection

This week was a mix of small wins, unforeseen challenges, and lessons in resilience. From solving a leaking valve cover to managing a slow day with family responsibilities, every moment added to the journey. Owning a mobile mechanic business means being flexible, resourceful, and ready to pivot when things don’t go as planned.

Here’s to another week of growth and grit!