Things always multiply

It was supposed to be such a simple task. Replace the license plate on the back of the car. Here's what really happened:

1. Attack right bolt with screwdriver. No luck.
2. Attack left bolt with screwdriver. Bit of turning action.
3. Cheer.
4. Get wrench and use it on screwdriver with right screw.
5. Break off screw head.
6. Left screw seemed to be moving. Use wrench. Break that one too.
7. Curse
8. Dig out WD-40. Haven't seen it in years. This was quite a project.
9. Soak screw stubs in WD-40 and wait a couple of days.
10. Saturday morning. New start. Vice-grips on screw stubs. No luck.
11. Remove inner plastic panel so I can get to the screws. Break off a couple of plastic tabs on the panels.
12. Curse.
13. Attack inner ends of the screws with vice-grips. (They weren't that easy to find either.) No luck with vice-grips.
14. Off to Home Depot. Wander around for a long time pondering just what Rube Goldberg way I can solve this problem. Buy sheet metal screws.
15. Drill holes in car. Put on license plate.
16. Look at license plate light bulbs. Realize one is burnt out. Realize I'd have to remove that plastic panel to get at them. Drive around for a couple of days in half-disassembled car until I can buy two tiny bulbs.

The fun is over now. I managed to convince the parts store guy that I wanted light bulbs with the same code number the car had in the first place (he didn't buy that one for a while). I got it all back together. Only about eight hours of work total.

By the way, the Buick event managed to crumple the other new plate.