Cloud 9 is Back...in White?

So the beast is back. She made one final (I hope final) attempt to convince me that I shouldn’t take her on my trip across Canada when I picked her up from the Mechanic’s last week, but Veni, vidi, vici Cloud 9! (I know that phrase isn’t completely applicable here, but I have been wanting to use it for a while because I’ve been reading The Memoires of Cleopatra, and it’s included in a letter to Cleo from Caesar...)

You know what Cloud 9 did this time? She tried to kill me! Yep, that’s right. She was considerate about it though. She warned me by making sure that her battery was completely dead when I picked her up from Mehdi’s (the mechanic). It was funny too, because Mehdi had just finished telling me that, other than the fact that the battery was only charging at 50%, there were no other electrical problems and she was running beautifully. Sadly, she was not running beautifully for me. After Richard, one of Mehdi’s employees changed the battery, Cloud 9 sputtered to life (I flooded the engine trying to start her initially so she was having a rough time). She did sound much healthier once she was fully running again. She wasn’t idling so low anymore and she felt full of power.

Running late for getting back to work, I thanked Mehdi and Richard, and then headed out. I wasn’t very far away – only to the Costco on Merivale (for those of you from Ottawa) – when brrrrrrbp ppt ppt ppt ppt silence. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! Thank goodness Cloud 9 had stalled on me before, and extra thank goodness that Doug had taught me what to do. Without skipping a beat, I put on my blinker so people would at least notice that I wasn’t moving forward as quickly anymore. I slammed the engine into neutral, and then turned the key, pumping the gas at the same time. She roared to life, but I b-lined for the Costgo parking lot anyway. Yes, it was to call Doug. I was actually a little shaken about this stall, although I know that it was likely because I hadn’t let Cloud 9 warm up enough before taking her from Mehdi’s. I was still worried she’d have more issues though. I let her run in the parking lot while I talked to Doug. He decided to come out and take a look at the van, drive her around and make sure things were okay. I’m glad he knows about cars…what would I do without him?

We ended up switching vehicles, so I took his little Ford Focus, and he took Cloud 9. Of course, as usual, she behaved well with him!

Back in Doug’s mom’s driveway, Cloud 9 was in for a treat: a paint job! To cover the rust spots and make her look like a more road-worthy vehicle, we painted the lower half of her white. 

One coat of paint

Everything all taped up

Took us about 10 cans in total to cover just her bottom third all the way around (did I mention she’s huge?). But she looks almost brand new now! 

Check out that sexy beast! Rrawr! Hahaha. Doug also riveted on a panel where there had once been duct tape. He used the side of an IBM computer…see that Apple lovers? IBMs are useful even after their technology has died…hahaha. 

I tried to rivet stuff, but I couldn't get the rivets to flare!

Anyway, I am certainly of the opinion that she looks less like a giant “pull us over” billboard now. What do you guys think?

-Nicole