grease and manhood

as a non-mechanic, there is something profoundly gratifying and affirming about successfully getting your dead car back on the road again. two years ago i did the alternator on my toyota tercell and it was an easy job, two wires and two bolts, no problem. a honda alternator has two wires and two bolts as well, so i took those off, no problem. the only difference is the alternator on the honda is located deep inside the engine and once i got the part removed, i could not get it out. it was like a kid in juvy. the internet said either the break master cylinder or the right-driver axle had to be removed- categories i don't operate in. but one guy online said it was possible another way- so a tire, a plastic casing that covers the belts, other random wires, a brackets later and lots of screws later... i houdinied the thing out through the bottom. some people get grease up to their elbows when they work on their cars; i was washing it out of my armpits when i was done. needless to say, the job took me 4 hrs and she fired right up. i just wanted to tell the whole world- the guys from "car talk" would be proud.