The trailer-hitch is now attached. Well, mostly. I don't have the hands for this stuff any more. Or the back. Or the patience. I had actually been looking forward to this little project. Now I wish I'd left it to a pro. Let's consider this the last do-it-yourself project. Ever.

Actually, it didn't go all that badly. Cookie came scurrying into my bedroom early to get us started (I told him last night that we'd be doing this in the morning -- I think he slept with his little plastic screwdriver).

I made coffee. Then we hauled out all the tools and hardware. Once under way, I immediately hit an unexpected snag -- the one friggin' bolt I needed to remove to get the tailpipe hanger out of the way was totally frozen. Even after I broke the first turn, every subsequent turn required a full body press against the breaker-bar. Couldn't use a ratchet; couldn't get any decent leverage; couldn't stop using profanity.

Cookie looked on and could sense my frustration.

"A mechanic would be able to turn that bolt," he said.

Yes, I am my boy's hero.

Eventually, the bolt was out. But a related challenge remained: the pre-threaded holes in the frame are corroded and crappy (which explains why the first bolt was such a bitch to budge).

Anyway, I worked through most of the issues -- I still have two of eight bolts that will not thread. I'll have to address that before I ever tow anything substantial. In the meantime, I can mount a bike rack that Alane's been wanting.

And we also know this: when it's time to buy a home, it best be a condo. "I shall fix no more, forever."