Car problems.

Well, starting today I've got a week-long holiday. Normally at a time like this, my boss is always encouraging me to travel around Japan, see the sights, etc. Now the last time we had a long holiday, I took the train to Osaka for a few days, and that was fun, but this time I've decided to just lay low for a week, recover from a stretch of 11-hour work days, mentally prepare for another stretch of 11-hour work days after we start up again. (Not as bad as it sounds -- I usually get a two- or three-hour lunch break on those days.

My boss helpfully suggested a few places around here that I could take a drive out to for a day. I'd really like to -- there are some interesting historical places within a couple hours drive -- but alas, car problems have come up.

Somehow, the tailpipe has broken off of the muffler, and is now hanging by one support underneath the car. Makes a dreadful noise while driving. Also, I worry about the thing swinging around and, say, catching on some moving part down there. That would be BAD, of course. (It doesn't look like the tailpipe can swing far enough to do that, though, but I get paranoid sometimes.) And then there's the risk of exhaust gases rising into the car instead of behind it....so, a long drive probably is not a good idea right now.

Fortunately, since it's the company car, my school will cover the cost of repair. Unfortunately, the repair shop won't be able to get to it until Wednesday, and I won't get it back until Thursday.

Oh, well.