Oops, It Did It Again

So... Saturday I drove my elderly Voyager minivan around the corner to pick up a friend for our D&D home game (which is in Howell now, about half an hour away), and while I was waiting smoke began to pour out from under the hood.

Now, I don't know much about cars, but I do know that smoke-coming-out is a Bad Thing. I turned it off and flung open the hood, to find antifreeze everywhere. The smoke being boiling antifreeze... Again, even I know this is a Bad Thing. I scooted back around the block and parked it in the carport, and phoned my friend to let him know we were taking his car.

About this time last year my mini-van blew a head gasket to the tune of $1300 or so, and I was filled with fear. My friend Reimer is in Germany and I've been babysitting his car (it's nice to have two carports), so I emailed him for permission to borrow his car for a couple of days while mine was being fixed. Sunday I had it towed to the mechanic (the incomparable Badgleys, who refuse to have a web presence, as they have all of the business they can handle), and yesterday it was fixed. Fortunately it was only a hose, so the total was less than $100, including an oil change (which I tend to be overdue for).

As old as the car is, I'm lucky that I don't have more problems with it.