Rain and car repairs; signs of Autumn

The rains have arrived in Portland. So, appropriately, have the car repairs. Routine service turned into shocks + struts replaced. There goes that $800 you could have used for, oh I don't know, pretty much anything else that would have felt more... enjoyable. Perhaps this, or this or this. Ah, well. Hopefully, it'll be a noticeably smoother drive when I pick it up this afternoon.