My Scion XB, now coming to Canada but in a less boxy form
Yesterday I had a flat tire. I live in constant fear of a vehicular mishap of any kind but this one was perfectly civilized. I discovered the flat tire in the Loblaws parking which is right across the street from Mike’s Automotive, at 810 Eastern Avenue on the corner of Leslie. I haven’t had a steady mechanic in years. I find they are like men. They come and they go, which makes sense because they are mostly men. Pete the Greek at the old Sunoco on Kingston Road and Woodbine was my last one, which was when I drove the Mercury Villager, aka. The Great White Whale. That was my mom-mobile when the kids were smaller. That van took a lot of abuse. It was kind of like the automotive version of Keith Richards. It was scraped and mangled and in dire need of rehab. I remember the last time I took it to Pete:
Me: Something’s wrong with the van. It keeps making funny sounds, like it has Tourette’s.
Pete: Your shocks are completely shot, have you been off-roading?
Me: No, just driving the kids to school.
It turns out you are supposed to sloooooow down when you are driving over speed bumps. I had been speeding up and flying over them. And any woman who’s ever practised her Kegel excerises while driving knows that: A full bladder + a series of speed bumps driven over the speed limit = A Sure Thing. That Great White Whale was one very expensive dildo.
I’m much better with my current car. I treat her like a fine lady, take her to the car wash, park her strategically in parking lots so her rear can be seen. That is because this blog is advertised on the back window. She is a rare bird in these parts because up until now, Scions, which are made by Toyota, were not sold in Canada but now Scion Nation has arrived and there will be more which is okay. The new generation of XB’s are not as boxy, they are more gangster looking, and they come in very cool colours. Anyway, lucky for me my flat tire happened when it did because I got to meet Mike the Mechanic. He helped me right away, put my spare on. First thing this morning, he put my winter tires on and didn’t gauge me or make me wait like they do Canadian Tire so I’m forced to shop in the store and buy T-Fal products that will clutter my kitchen. It’s nice have a mechanic, one who cares. I “heart” Mike and I’m seeing him again this week because my rear brakes need help. Oh, and an oil change. Sigh.
art of modern living 