alternate plans

Well, I had to take a couple of days to remove and replace the alternator on our Jetta, so that has been my focus for the last couple o' days. The only thing notable about the process was that the alternator belt, which is about 8" end to end, cost me $18.14 at Lordco. Do I look like an idiot? because only and idiot would pay that much for a glorified elastic band. Sheesh.