I admit it.  I’m not a perfectionist.  I kinda do a half-assed job of most things, mainly because functional is more convenient than pretty. Early on in my programming life I tried my hand at graphical user interfaces.  I failed miserably.  After the program worked, I found it somewhat pointless to make it look pretty.  That’s probably the reason why I work on compilers and software tools– computer programs that will NEVER be seen by the naked eye, let alone by my friends and family.  Compilers are those things that you just pray to god works, because no one wants to take a look inside.  Somewhat like the master cylinder in your car brake system.

My whole attitude towards getting it done did not gel properly with my dad who sits on the other end of the spectrum.  You want something done right, you ask him.  It’ll take longer, but it’ll be working and a beauty to look at.  Case in point, my blueetooth stereo contraption he helped me install in the RV.  That thing is a work of art.  Even the internal wiring (that no one will ever see) is properly routed and placed.  Left to my own devices, I would’ve had 4 cables sticking out of the stereo system and a manual override switch I could kick with my foot.

Enough useless preamble to explain how getting the job done is more important in my way of doing things, probably because my brain works that way.  This is the main reason I’ve refused to take on any do-it-yourself projects in the RV.  It’s a fancy RV.  I don’t want to ruin its resale value (if I ever part with it), and if I put but one hand on it, it’s going to end up having wires and PVC pipes coming out of the unlikeliest of places.

This is the reason I’ve neglected to fix the windshield fluid mechanism, despite the fact that I’ve been driving with a windshield that looks like I’ve been 4-wheeling through a cattle ranch.  However, every time I find a dealer that will service a Mercedes Sprinter chassis, they let me know off the bat, that the next available appointment is at least two weeks out.  Now, what good is warranty work if it takes a fortnight to use?

I had some time to kill this weekend, so I figured I’d just diagnose it like I do everything else at work.  Follow the flow of logic, tear things apart step by step, save your work, pray to Kutulu that things will work when you put them back together, and if they don’t– call Carlos or Richard.

Well, I’m proud to say that an hour later, having taken out my trusty multimeter, and having pulled at any hose remotely resembling something that may carry water and/or windshield fluid, I managed to dump fluid all over my new running shoes, and swallow some fluid I can absolute testify is NOT water OR windshield fluid.  But, I got the sediment out of the pump and seal, and put things together reasonably well (daddy approved).  I now have a clean windshield…after about 10,000 miles.  One small step for mankind, but one huge step for Scissorhands Aldy.

Oh, and I climbed three or four thousand feet on the bike today on my way to see Mount St. Helens in Washington.  How cool is that?  No eruptions today though.

Two for two!