So... Monday... do not think you can mess with Monday and get away with it. In fact, I recommend staying home in bed instead of going out

 I went out to get a haircut, as my new job starts tomorrow... 630 am

Seemed the sensible thing to do, but then, when I got out of my car at the barber, I smelled antifreeze. I popped the hood on the commuter, and saw some steam... and that's when I suddenly went from poor to broke. 

We are all just a moment away from it, some have homes by rivers, and poof, one hurricane, one flood, and it's all gone. some have trailers, and one tornado rips through and it's gone. Or a house in California, a million dollars worth, but one wildfire. Gone. 

So, I got off lightly compared to so many. All I lost is the remaining space on my credit card. One radiator is 800 bucks, that's what it cost to replace the one in my 69 Dodge, that's what Hyundai charges too... ironically, for one 1/3rd the size. 2 hoses, the upper and lower, and a new radiator, and it's more for the labor at the dealership than the parts. 

It's 2 or 300 just to troubleshoot and determine exactly what is broken or leaking, and since I am guessing that the upper tank cracked from the cooling fins, but regardless I am determined to prevent a colling system problem from happening in the next 5 or 6 years for trouble free use of my commuter. So, I told my old pal, who's been my service adviser through the replacement of the Turbo, under warranty, and the engine, and the trans, all under warranty, that after the testing, and figuring out the problem, I require that the radiator and upper and lower hoses get replaced in addition to another part if that happens to be the case. 

And the estimate, on the parts and labor for just the radiator, and the analysis of what IS the problem, is 2400. That's the start, then they add whatever else has broken, or is highly likely to break in the near future. I suppose I really should insist on a new water pump, as long as everything is going to be torn apart. I bet labor just to replace the water pump is a 1000. If that were to happen at a different time, that is. 

So there it is, my 10 year old, 103000 mile Veloster, blew a hole in the cooling system the day before I start my new job. A month ago, I could have replaced that damn thing myself, saved all the money from labor, but now? What, after work, after the engine and coolant chills down to where it's less than scalding, and as long as nothing goes wrong, have it all back together in time to get some sleep? Not likely.