Well, looking at my engine last night, it's very obvious what caused the problem. The big-ass radiator hose on top busted open like Mr. Creosote. While that's clearly the immediate problem, I'm still wondering if the radiator's toast and if all this might be the fault of the water pump. A new radiator's $172 at Checker and a new water pump's $54. I have about $57 to my name right now, and that has to last me another week and a half.

My inclination is to take the radiator out to get to the water pump and check it out. Not supposed to work on cars at my apartment complex. Probably gonna, anyway.

Even if all of this is right and gets fixed, the engine still makes strange noises. But then, maybe the weird noises are just the water pump. But I can't imagine it'd be that loud. God only knows.

Progress is being made, and I'm not quite as depressed about this whole thing as I was. But.