Buddy's Corollary - Do it Yourself

I was working on my wife's car the other day. I was just changing the oil and oil filter, as I had already replaced the rear brakes a few weeks ago. I tend to save a lot of money by doing my own maintenance on our vehicles. How many times have you heard the phrase, "If you want something done right, Do it yourself"? Often times the school of hard knocks is the best teacher. I prefer to learn from other peoples mistakes when I can as that is usually the less expensive option and is often less painful. I have always changed the oil in all of the vehicles that I have owned. I have heard many horror stories of people going to an oil change shop and driving out without oil in the engine, or missing the oil filter or drain plug. My dad lost an engine that way about ten years ago when the kid at the oil change shop filled his engine with gritty oil from the bottom of a nearly empty oil drum. That was quite painful to him as he tends to drive a car till the wheels fall off. I usually drive a car for at least nine years before changing it out. A couple of years ago my Economics Professor was discussing economics on the level of things that we had versus the things we wanted to have. Professor Pickens asked the class, "How many of you are driving your dream car today?" I was the only one that raised a hand. My daily driven 2000 Jeep Wrangler is ten years old now and I don't have any plans for changing it out. Still driving it, and still loving it.

A good friend of mine, Buddy Harrington has an addition to that old saying of "If you want something done right, do it yourself". I have often referred to this as Buddy's Corollary. Sometimes common sense wisdom is subtle and you might just miss it if you don't stop and listen carefully from time to time. Buddy has many years of experience in working on cars, trucks, and tractors. He ran his own business for many years repairing broken and worn out heavy construction equipment such as road graders and bulldozers. He knows as well as anyone that anything mechanical will eventually either wear out or break. When you learn to fix things yourself you have the confidence that the job was done right the first time. After all, who has the time to fix it again?

Anyway, here is Buddy's Corollary: "When you want something done right, do it yourself. -- And when it breaks you will know how to fix it." Simple wisdom, but oh how right he is.

What is a Shadow Catcher? I'll let the cat out of the bag on May 1st 2010. In the mean time don't forget to vote in my poll on "What is a Shadow Catcher?".