Although it didn't seem like it at times, I can't believe how fast this semester went. Sure, the bad winter really made me question why I wanted to go out every night for classes, but I'm glad I did now. The blowing and drifting snow and black ice on Hwy 28 all seem like a distant memory now. So, what did I learn? Well, in my math class I got a really good refresher of algebra and now move on to 105 and hope that I can cope with that. In my English class I learned several techniques I hope will make the rest of college and my writing life beyond competent and coherent.
I have many more semesters to go through before I'm done, and going part time doesn't help either, but I hope the rest of them go as quickly as this one did. I'm guessing that it's because I enjoyed the classes as the reason why it seemed to go so fast. Yes, I know time is constant and doesn't speed up or slow down depending on our current enjoyment status.
As a non-traditional student, and also having gone to college right out of high school, I can compare the two situations and realize how different I am now than I was back then. However, it seemed to me that when I was in classes way back when, it didn't seem to go as fast. Maybe it's because I had several situations I was dealing with that made college not a priority in my life then. Much to my regret now, but I'm working on correcting that.
So, this is my last blog for school, and I'm not sure if I will continue to blog. Well, maybe not every week. I do like the format and a few years ago my husband had suggested to me that I should start one. I'm not sure if he was just tired of my babbling on at him or if he really thought I'd enjoy it. Maybe both? Anyway, it was fun to pick topics and see what discussions came out of them. I enjoyed reading my classmates blogs too.
So, thanks everyone for reading and leaving comments. I wish you all luck with your future classes and will probably see you around campus.
blog for the week of May 12th
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Driving pet peeves
I drive approximately 80 to 100 miles a day through the week, depending on if I have school that evening or not. Luckily, my husband and I can carpool three of these days, so we aren't running two cars every day. Most of these miles are on the highway and interstate and I just have to get a few pet peeves out of my system. I am by no means a perfect driver, and probably do things that make other people angry, but this is my blog and they can get their own. So, here goes...
First and foremost: Folks who don't know how to merge or exit on or off of a freeway. The rule is that when merging onto a freeway, you should be up to the posted minimum speed limit BEFORE you merge. Now, I realize that there are a few interchanges that will not allow this (Brown Deer and Interstate 43 for example), and the people who designed those interchanges should be made to drive them in circles 8 hours a day for punishment. But, for the most part, if you have a long, straight and especially downhill shot onto the freeway there's no reason why you can't be going at least 45mph to 55mph when you merge. According to the Wisconsin Motorist Handbook, the person merging onto the freeway must yield to the traffic on the freeway. They should judge their speed and distance so as to merge when they can without slowing down. I cannot tell you how many times I have experienced the my-head-is-locked-in-the-forward-position-and-I'm-only-going-to-go-30mph-and-just-move-over-when-I-get-damn-good-and-ready maneuver. This then causes the entire right lane of traffic to have to slow down, slam on their brakes and wait for the ignorant/apathetic yahoo to grace us with acceleration when he/she finally decides it is time to put their foot down.
This also happens in reverse where Mr. or Ms. Oblivious actually slows down or coasts along in the right lane BEFORE they get to the exit ramp. Exit ramps are long enough that you don't have to slow down on the freeway. This too causes the whole right lane to brake and crawl up on each other because they can't see anyone exiting and they then wing over into the left lane, sometimes without checking a blind spot and nearly colliding with the person who is still going freeway speed or beyond in that left lane.
Second: Making right turns from the center lane. I understand why a semi has to do this. But Mr. Big Ego in his giant SUV doesn't need to do this. Just because you think your vehicle is as big as a semi does not actually mean that it is. Stop compensating and drive like you are supposed to. You do not need the "WIDE RIGHT TURN" sign on your back-end. If you cannot make right turns with your SUV from the right turn lane, you should be required to get a CDL license.
Third: How about some turn signals? I can't read your mind anymore than you can read mine. Just because you waver back and forth in your lane doesn't mean I can correctly interpret that as you want to get into my lane. Along with that, how about checking your blind spot before you flip over into my lane?
Fourth: STOP THE SCAMMING!!! Want to know why everyone is so angry when they drive? It's because of the scammers. You know who you are. The ones who drive in a lane that's going to close until the barrels cut them off and then hurl their car into the open lane at the last second. They know full well that the normal and courteous person will have to slam on their brakes to let them in because they don't want their car smashed into. These devil-may-care-losers do this in the construction zones every day. This also ties in with the scammers who will not merge out of lanes that end normally and keep driving until they are in the distress lanes and then just shove in and make everyone else stop for them. Their time is WAY more important than yours, and you just better be grateful they even let you drive on the same freeway when they are on the road. I'm specifically referring to the stretch of freeway at I43 and Silver Spring. It goes from three lanes to two lanes and everyone knows it for miles. Why some folks feel the need to keep driving in the lane that ends and then just wing over is beyond me. And they wonder why other drivers honk their horn and flash greeting symbols with their hands at them. "Gee, what did I do???"
There are more irritations of course, but I can just feel my blood pressure rising while I type this. I in no way advocate road rage, road revenge or any of the petty one-up-manships that plague our roads. I have often backed off and let things just slide when I really wanted to make them pay somehow. I have yet to figure out why, when we get into cars, our personality changes and we lose common sense and rationality. The case of road rage in Waukesha this week had a guy slamming into an innocent woman because he thought it was his father driving is, unfortunately, not an isolated case. There are countless examples of road rage that happen everyday, although most don't escalate into something as severe as that.
I wish I had an answer. I also wish that there were less scammers in the world too. And finally, I wish I could win the lottery so that I could hire a chauffeur so I wouldn't have to deal with driving ever again.
Blog for the week of May 5th
First and foremost: Folks who don't know how to merge or exit on or off of a freeway. The rule is that when merging onto a freeway, you should be up to the posted minimum speed limit BEFORE you merge. Now, I realize that there are a few interchanges that will not allow this (Brown Deer and Interstate 43 for example), and the people who designed those interchanges should be made to drive them in circles 8 hours a day for punishment. But, for the most part, if you have a long, straight and especially downhill shot onto the freeway there's no reason why you can't be going at least 45mph to 55mph when you merge. According to the Wisconsin Motorist Handbook, the person merging onto the freeway must yield to the traffic on the freeway. They should judge their speed and distance so as to merge when they can without slowing down. I cannot tell you how many times I have experienced the my-head-is-locked-in-the-forward-position-and-I'm-only-going-to-go-30mph-and-just-move-over-when-I-get-damn-good-and-ready maneuver. This then causes the entire right lane of traffic to have to slow down, slam on their brakes and wait for the ignorant/apathetic yahoo to grace us with acceleration when he/she finally decides it is time to put their foot down.
This also happens in reverse where Mr. or Ms. Oblivious actually slows down or coasts along in the right lane BEFORE they get to the exit ramp. Exit ramps are long enough that you don't have to slow down on the freeway. This too causes the whole right lane to brake and crawl up on each other because they can't see anyone exiting and they then wing over into the left lane, sometimes without checking a blind spot and nearly colliding with the person who is still going freeway speed or beyond in that left lane.
Second: Making right turns from the center lane. I understand why a semi has to do this. But Mr. Big Ego in his giant SUV doesn't need to do this. Just because you think your vehicle is as big as a semi does not actually mean that it is. Stop compensating and drive like you are supposed to. You do not need the "WIDE RIGHT TURN" sign on your back-end. If you cannot make right turns with your SUV from the right turn lane, you should be required to get a CDL license.
Third: How about some turn signals? I can't read your mind anymore than you can read mine. Just because you waver back and forth in your lane doesn't mean I can correctly interpret that as you want to get into my lane. Along with that, how about checking your blind spot before you flip over into my lane?
Fourth: STOP THE SCAMMING!!! Want to know why everyone is so angry when they drive? It's because of the scammers. You know who you are. The ones who drive in a lane that's going to close until the barrels cut them off and then hurl their car into the open lane at the last second. They know full well that the normal and courteous person will have to slam on their brakes to let them in because they don't want their car smashed into. These devil-may-care-losers do this in the construction zones every day. This also ties in with the scammers who will not merge out of lanes that end normally and keep driving until they are in the distress lanes and then just shove in and make everyone else stop for them. Their time is WAY more important than yours, and you just better be grateful they even let you drive on the same freeway when they are on the road. I'm specifically referring to the stretch of freeway at I43 and Silver Spring. It goes from three lanes to two lanes and everyone knows it for miles. Why some folks feel the need to keep driving in the lane that ends and then just wing over is beyond me. And they wonder why other drivers honk their horn and flash greeting symbols with their hands at them. "Gee, what did I do???"
There are more irritations of course, but I can just feel my blood pressure rising while I type this. I in no way advocate road rage, road revenge or any of the petty one-up-manships that plague our roads. I have often backed off and let things just slide when I really wanted to make them pay somehow. I have yet to figure out why, when we get into cars, our personality changes and we lose common sense and rationality. The case of road rage in Waukesha this week had a guy slamming into an innocent woman because he thought it was his father driving is, unfortunately, not an isolated case. There are countless examples of road rage that happen everyday, although most don't escalate into something as severe as that.
I wish I had an answer. I also wish that there were less scammers in the world too. And finally, I wish I could win the lottery so that I could hire a chauffeur so I wouldn't have to deal with driving ever again.
Blog for the week of May 5th
Saturday, May 3, 2008
What would it take to get you into this car today?
I have to apologize to my husband and admit that yes, indeed, you can buy a car over the Internet. Both of us have embraced the Internet as a buying and shopping tool for years. At first it was small things that wouldn't have made a huge difference to us if something happened and we didn't get the item. We had a dedicated credit card for Internet purchases and scrutinized the statements with a fine tooth comb. But, as the years went by and nothing happened, and as eBay took off in popularity, buying items online is as natural to us as going to the store. In fact, with gas prices and our time being very expensive and very short, it has been a real money and time saver for us. The Internet is always open and you can shop or research whenever you want to.
When we needed to buy a new car in 2006, he started doing all his research on the Internet, and I did mine by asking friends, coworkers and looking up cars in Consumer Reports. I drew up a list of cars I thought would work for us and then we went and looked at them. I told him "you can't buy a car over the Internet, you have to haggle in-person." Which we both HATE. But we didn't. After test driving all the different vehicles, we picked out what we wanted. Then, Scott emailed all the dealerships and waited for a response. This isn't a fast process, so if you need something NOW, it won't work. The salesmen are not too fast in responding and when they do, it's something along the lines of, "why don't you come in and we'll talk about it."
Scott was persistent and eventually one salesman started to negotiate price. Eventually, Scott and he agreed on a price and, more importantly, an actual car. If you don't negotiate on the actual car, they can switch the price on you when you go in to sign the papers because you haven't agreed on an actual, physical car. All of a sudden you are starring in "Fargo" paying for items you don't want.
When it came time to go to the dealership, we had written proof of the offer (emails) and there was no haggling, no switching of prices, and no confusion about the vehicle we wanted. It was fast, well as fast as it could be in a dealership, and we only had to go there twice. Once to sign the papers and next to pick the car up. I was skeptical when Scott did this, and the second time around I said the same thing, but not as loudly. It took four weeks, but eventually he found a dealership that would negotiate through email and we didn't waste time or gas running to several different dealerships. And, we knew which car we wanted, so we didn't have to go test drive anything this time around.
To go from buying something small and frivolous to a car through the Internet is quite the progression. And I don't think that we are atypical in this process. The Internet is a valuable tool for information, entertainment, and shopping. I just wonder how brick and mortar businesses that don't have commerce websites are going to cope with the future of shopping on the Internet. If any have doubts that Internet shopping is here to stay, they really need to update their business model or face going out of business. The consumer is savvy and will save money where they can, especially with gas close to $4 a gallon.
So, Scott, I'm sorry I doubted you that you could buy a car over the Internet. Now, if you could just get that house bought over the Internet, then I will really eat my words.
blog for the week of April 28th.
When we needed to buy a new car in 2006, he started doing all his research on the Internet, and I did mine by asking friends, coworkers and looking up cars in Consumer Reports. I drew up a list of cars I thought would work for us and then we went and looked at them. I told him "you can't buy a car over the Internet, you have to haggle in-person." Which we both HATE. But we didn't. After test driving all the different vehicles, we picked out what we wanted. Then, Scott emailed all the dealerships and waited for a response. This isn't a fast process, so if you need something NOW, it won't work. The salesmen are not too fast in responding and when they do, it's something along the lines of, "why don't you come in and we'll talk about it."
Scott was persistent and eventually one salesman started to negotiate price. Eventually, Scott and he agreed on a price and, more importantly, an actual car. If you don't negotiate on the actual car, they can switch the price on you when you go in to sign the papers because you haven't agreed on an actual, physical car. All of a sudden you are starring in "Fargo" paying for items you don't want.
When it came time to go to the dealership, we had written proof of the offer (emails) and there was no haggling, no switching of prices, and no confusion about the vehicle we wanted. It was fast, well as fast as it could be in a dealership, and we only had to go there twice. Once to sign the papers and next to pick the car up. I was skeptical when Scott did this, and the second time around I said the same thing, but not as loudly. It took four weeks, but eventually he found a dealership that would negotiate through email and we didn't waste time or gas running to several different dealerships. And, we knew which car we wanted, so we didn't have to go test drive anything this time around.
To go from buying something small and frivolous to a car through the Internet is quite the progression. And I don't think that we are atypical in this process. The Internet is a valuable tool for information, entertainment, and shopping. I just wonder how brick and mortar businesses that don't have commerce websites are going to cope with the future of shopping on the Internet. If any have doubts that Internet shopping is here to stay, they really need to update their business model or face going out of business. The consumer is savvy and will save money where they can, especially with gas close to $4 a gallon.
So, Scott, I'm sorry I doubted you that you could buy a car over the Internet. Now, if you could just get that house bought over the Internet, then I will really eat my words.
blog for the week of April 28th.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Uhhh...
I'm having a hard time coming up with something I want to talk about this week. Maybe it's the boring work week or the light at the end of the tunnel for school, but I just can't think of anything to say. So, I decided to write about a few things I'm thankful for. I know it's not Thanksgiving, but shouldn't we be thankful year round? First, I'm thankful for my husband. Not only has he been putting up with my constant yammering on about school, but has been DVR'ing all my favorite shows so that I can catch up with them when I won't have to worry about homework. Thanks Scott!
I'm thankful I have the resources to go to school. Car, money, time, family and friend support, and a lifestyle that pretty much lets me do as I please. Yeah, that job thing gets in the way, but I'm still thankful for that too because without it, my life would be very different. It's not the worse job I've ever had, but I am ready to give it up. That will have to wait until I'm done with school, however.
My health. We all know how much more difficult life can or could be without having good health. My home (even thought we are looking for a new house). To have a secure place of comfort is priceless. Material possessions. Let's face it, we all like our stuff. And the freedom to enjoy all these things.
I guess what is spurring this, is my artifact. I found in my father's scrapbook from his early twenties a personal accounting of his reaction to V-E Day in Europe. But, he wasn't in Europe, he was driving a 6X6 truck on the Ledo-Burma Road. I never knew this letter existed until last weekend when I was going through the scrapbook. I knew of the scrapbook, but never had the opportunity to go through it until after his death in October of 2002. Even then, all I could stand to find were his Honorary Discharge papers to prove he was eligible for a Military funeral.
Time has a way of tempering grief and I was able to really look through the book. At the end, in a well used manila folder was the letter. In reading it, I realized that I have so much to attribute to not only my father, but to all the Veterans of our Country. Crossing the Burma road was perilous, dirty, stressful, uncomfortable, and lonely. His description of sleeping in the cramped cab of the truck, with his knees doubled up, and comparing it to a feather bed makes me really thankful that I have a comfy bed, with plenty of quilts and blankets and climate controlled perfection. I don't think I could have survived what he went through, not just on the Ledo-Burma Road, but WWII in general. Which makes me very thankful for the life he gave me.
Blog for the week of April 21st.
I'm thankful I have the resources to go to school. Car, money, time, family and friend support, and a lifestyle that pretty much lets me do as I please. Yeah, that job thing gets in the way, but I'm still thankful for that too because without it, my life would be very different. It's not the worse job I've ever had, but I am ready to give it up. That will have to wait until I'm done with school, however.
My health. We all know how much more difficult life can or could be without having good health. My home (even thought we are looking for a new house). To have a secure place of comfort is priceless. Material possessions. Let's face it, we all like our stuff. And the freedom to enjoy all these things.
I guess what is spurring this, is my artifact. I found in my father's scrapbook from his early twenties a personal accounting of his reaction to V-E Day in Europe. But, he wasn't in Europe, he was driving a 6X6 truck on the Ledo-Burma Road. I never knew this letter existed until last weekend when I was going through the scrapbook. I knew of the scrapbook, but never had the opportunity to go through it until after his death in October of 2002. Even then, all I could stand to find were his Honorary Discharge papers to prove he was eligible for a Military funeral.
Time has a way of tempering grief and I was able to really look through the book. At the end, in a well used manila folder was the letter. In reading it, I realized that I have so much to attribute to not only my father, but to all the Veterans of our Country. Crossing the Burma road was perilous, dirty, stressful, uncomfortable, and lonely. His description of sleeping in the cramped cab of the truck, with his knees doubled up, and comparing it to a feather bed makes me really thankful that I have a comfy bed, with plenty of quilts and blankets and climate controlled perfection. I don't think I could have survived what he went through, not just on the Ledo-Burma Road, but WWII in general. Which makes me very thankful for the life he gave me.
Blog for the week of April 21st.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Bluebirds in the Spring
I realize that birds are not always interesting to everyone, but I do want to write about one of my favorites, the Bluebird. Specifically, in Wisconsin, the Eastern Bluebird. When my husband and I first moved to Random Lake, every once in a while I'd see a flash of blue zip through the yard. Before I became a bird enthusiast, I really didn't know that this was a unique opportunity. Bluebirds are very picky about their habitats, and if you have one cruising through your yard there's a very good chance you can get them to raise a family if you put out a nest box.
According to NABS (North American Bluebird Society),Bluebirds were very common in Wisconsin during the 1800's until 1875 when Old World Weaver Finches or House Sparrows, took over after being introduced to this country from England in 1850. House Sparrows were mistakenly believed to help with insect control of crops and gardens, but the obnoxious birds actually harmed the crops. They also began displacing native birds, especially the Bluebird. Cavity nesters; the Bluebird relied exclusively on Woodpecker holes to raise their families. House Sparrows were so aggressive in not only defending the holes, but killing the already nesting Bluebird parents, eggs and babies. Bluebirds are docile, but I have noticed in the past few years that they are becoming more willing to defend their nest sites and babies. The first few years of putting out a nest box in my yard I never had problems with Bluebirds dive-bombing me when I would check the nest and babies. However, the last few years, both parents have defended the nest when they had eggs or chicks in the nest box. At times actually touching my hair or hitting my shoulder.
Blog for the week of April 14th
According to NABS (North American Bluebird Society),Bluebirds were very common in Wisconsin during the 1800's until 1875 when Old World Weaver Finches or House Sparrows, took over after being introduced to this country from England in 1850. House Sparrows were mistakenly believed to help with insect control of crops and gardens, but the obnoxious birds actually harmed the crops. They also began displacing native birds, especially the Bluebird. Cavity nesters; the Bluebird relied exclusively on Woodpecker holes to raise their families. House Sparrows were so aggressive in not only defending the holes, but killing the already nesting Bluebird parents, eggs and babies. Bluebirds are docile, but I have noticed in the past few years that they are becoming more willing to defend their nest sites and babies. The first few years of putting out a nest box in my yard I never had problems with Bluebirds dive-bombing me when I would check the nest and babies. However, the last few years, both parents have defended the nest when they had eggs or chicks in the nest box. At times actually touching my hair or hitting my shoulder.
I'm not going to go into the whole history of how Bluebird trails were started, or the finer points of one nest box over another, but during the 1970's, a movement was started to save the Bluebird. Here's a link to the history of NABS:
http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/nabs%20history.htm
Because of all the hard work of people who want to see the Bluebird survive, the bird has been brought back from the brink of extinction by the use of proper habitat and trails of nest boxes in those habitats. But, it doesn't come without cost. Getting rid of House Sparrows is a time consuming and frustrating job.
Here is a link to pictures of House Sparrows if you don't know what they look like.
http://www.sialis.org/hospphotos.htm
or here's a close up of a male House Sparrow. My thanks to Bet Zimmerman who took the photo and gave me permission to use it and the link to her website.
I have two nest boxes in my yard and have seen first hand what House Sparrows will do with not just Bluebird eggs, but any eggs or adult bird, and I have no sympathy for the sparrow. I found a dead Black-Cap Chickadee lying on her smashed eggs because the sparrow had killed her while she tried to defend her eggs and nest. Then, the sparrow didn't even use the nest box. He just flew on to be a pest somewhere else. Mostly, after killing the bird already nesting, they will just build their nests on top of the deceased. Doesn't make for happy birding.
If you want to learn more about Bluebirds, these are two very good websites:
http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/
and
http://www.braw.org/
If you have a large yard, with lots of flat-cut grass land, please consider putting up a nest box and monitoring it. The above websites have nest box designs, finished product for sale or you can buy the wood ones from Fleet Farm.
Here's a link to buy nest boxes on line too:
http://www.sialis.org/bluebirdstore.htm#nestboxes
Just make sure you don't let the House Sparrows nest in there, otherwise you've done no good for the birds you are trying to help.
Blog for the week of April 14th
Friday, April 11, 2008
Phobias
We all have them to some degree. Phobias. Whether it's spiders, or heights, or closed in spaces, or the number 13, chances are good that at some point in your life you are going to have an irrational fear of something. I have a few, and I'm willing to admit it. I try very hard to over come these fears when they raise their ugly heads, but sometimes it's not all that easy. This time of year is sometimes difficult for me because I don't like thunder and lightning. Rain is ok, but the storm part sets me on edge, especially if I'm outside. I have never liked the noises that go with storms, even as a kid. I remember my mom trying to tell me it was the Angels in heaven bowling that made all that noise. I didn't believe it then, but she kept telling me that anyway.
I don't like storms as an adult because I know what havoc they can produce. I was living in Jackson in 1981 when a tornado went through West Bend killing three people. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my mother was the Disaster Chairman for the West Bend Red Cross chapter, so within an hour after the twister had gone through the family was packed up in the car, headed to West Bend to set up a shelter for all the people whose homes had been destroyed.
In 2005 I received a secondary lightning strike which was incredibly painful and terrifying. My husband and I were in Indianapolis for the Star Wars Celebration III convention. We were done for the day, and I volunteered to go get the car and pick him up because we had bought a bunch of stuff that we didn't want to get wet. It was raining steadily, but at the time wasn't thundering or lightning. The car was two blocks from the convention center and when I went to cross the three intersections leading to the parking lot it REALLY started to pour. And thunder. And lightning. I pressed the button for the walk signal, the lights changed, and I crossed the street. As soon as I got to the other side, I turned and looked from where I had been standing and a bolt of lightning struck the signal light I had just touched and been standing next to. Because there was so much water in the street, the electricity fanned out from the pole, came up through me and out my arm holding the metal umbrella.
It pushed me backwards several steps and scared the crap out of me. I have never run so fast in my life to get to my car. I thank God to this day that there was no traffic coming because I bolted into the street like a blind horse being chased by a wolf. I didn't look; I don't remember taking off, and all I know is that suddenly I was at my car with my arm numb and my hand feeling like there were millions of angry spiders crawling inside of it.
My other phobia is basements. Well, specifically bad basements. I think it has something to do with claustrophobia as I'm not too fond of closed-in spaces or large packed-together crowds. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem except, as I've mentioned before, my husband and I are house hunting. If I don't like the basement, the house is a NO. Especially since the laundry room or my sewing room will probably be down there. My husband is a saint about this, because he doesn't have problems with basements. He's got height issues, and I don't make him live in a loft type house where the upstairs is open to the whole floor plan. Back to basements though. Have you ever noticed in horror movies that the proportion of evil is directly associated with the nastiness of the basement? And why on Earth do people run into the basement, WITH NO EXIT, and think the bad guy won't find them there? Run outside you idiots!!!! Scatter to the four winds!!!!!
As I write this, a thunderstorm is passing overhead and I realize that at some point this spring there's a chance I'll have to take cover in the basement from a bad storm. Talk about your maximum overload of phobia damage.
Blog for the week of April 7th.
I don't like storms as an adult because I know what havoc they can produce. I was living in Jackson in 1981 when a tornado went through West Bend killing three people. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my mother was the Disaster Chairman for the West Bend Red Cross chapter, so within an hour after the twister had gone through the family was packed up in the car, headed to West Bend to set up a shelter for all the people whose homes had been destroyed.
In 2005 I received a secondary lightning strike which was incredibly painful and terrifying. My husband and I were in Indianapolis for the Star Wars Celebration III convention. We were done for the day, and I volunteered to go get the car and pick him up because we had bought a bunch of stuff that we didn't want to get wet. It was raining steadily, but at the time wasn't thundering or lightning. The car was two blocks from the convention center and when I went to cross the three intersections leading to the parking lot it REALLY started to pour. And thunder. And lightning. I pressed the button for the walk signal, the lights changed, and I crossed the street. As soon as I got to the other side, I turned and looked from where I had been standing and a bolt of lightning struck the signal light I had just touched and been standing next to. Because there was so much water in the street, the electricity fanned out from the pole, came up through me and out my arm holding the metal umbrella.
It pushed me backwards several steps and scared the crap out of me. I have never run so fast in my life to get to my car. I thank God to this day that there was no traffic coming because I bolted into the street like a blind horse being chased by a wolf. I didn't look; I don't remember taking off, and all I know is that suddenly I was at my car with my arm numb and my hand feeling like there were millions of angry spiders crawling inside of it.
My other phobia is basements. Well, specifically bad basements. I think it has something to do with claustrophobia as I'm not too fond of closed-in spaces or large packed-together crowds. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem except, as I've mentioned before, my husband and I are house hunting. If I don't like the basement, the house is a NO. Especially since the laundry room or my sewing room will probably be down there. My husband is a saint about this, because he doesn't have problems with basements. He's got height issues, and I don't make him live in a loft type house where the upstairs is open to the whole floor plan. Back to basements though. Have you ever noticed in horror movies that the proportion of evil is directly associated with the nastiness of the basement? And why on Earth do people run into the basement, WITH NO EXIT, and think the bad guy won't find them there? Run outside you idiots!!!! Scatter to the four winds!!!!!
As I write this, a thunderstorm is passing overhead and I realize that at some point this spring there's a chance I'll have to take cover in the basement from a bad storm. Talk about your maximum overload of phobia damage.
Blog for the week of April 7th.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Long Live the Malibu
Our 1998 Malibu has roughly 278,000 miles on it. Yes, that is correct. It has also had a long list of normal repairs and several repairs that should never have been needed (three transmissions, but we only paid for one. It's a good story, ask me and I'll tell you about it sometime). Today I took it in for an oil change, and lo and behold, the Mighty Malibu has a broken rear spring on the left side. I'm guessing it's from the massive amount of pot holes and giant crevasses that have plagued the area since the end of winter. Both my husband and I have come to the conclusion that we probably won't fix it again. It also needs brakes soon, has a leak in the head gasket and a leak in the steering pump. I travel with a box of every fluid that the car could possible need in the trunk. The AC has been broken since 2000, so summer commutes have been miserable. I think we have gotten our money's worth out of this car, and it is time to let it go into the light.
So, what kind of car to get? We absolutely need high gas mileage. I'd love to get a hybrid, but we do mostly highway driving so we wouldn't be able to take advantage of the electric half. I love our Matrix, but my husband doesn't, so we won't be getting another one of those. It gets 35mpg on the highway, and as I do the majority of the miles that car will probably become my car. We have had only one car for the first 16 years of our marriage, first a Cavalier that we sold to my sister when it had 252,000 miles on it (she drove it until it had 325,000 miles on it), and then after that, it was the Malibu until Nov. 2006 when we got the Matrix.
Anybody have any suggestions? We are thinking about a Hyundai Sonata, and also like the new Impalas. It must get above 30mpg minimum and have enough horsepower to let us merge onto the freeway easily.
We are still carpooling when we can, as we both work in Milwaukee, kind of in the same area. When class schedule allows, or if he isn't going to work late or have a meeting. I am still adapting to the whole two car thing, and I know that's the norm for almost everyone these days, but Scott and I have been "green" before it was fashionable. It also allowed us to save a considerable amount of money that wasn't spent on a second car payment, extra insurance, extra gas and extra wear and tear. But, now that I need to go straight to Sheboygan on Mondays and Wednesdays, we need two cars. And, once you have that luxury of two cars, it's really hard to go back to one. Especially when both people need the car at the same time in different directions. I'm also at the age where begging for rides from friends and coworkers all the time is somewhat embarrassing.
Blog for the week of March 31st.
So, what kind of car to get? We absolutely need high gas mileage. I'd love to get a hybrid, but we do mostly highway driving so we wouldn't be able to take advantage of the electric half. I love our Matrix, but my husband doesn't, so we won't be getting another one of those. It gets 35mpg on the highway, and as I do the majority of the miles that car will probably become my car. We have had only one car for the first 16 years of our marriage, first a Cavalier that we sold to my sister when it had 252,000 miles on it (she drove it until it had 325,000 miles on it), and then after that, it was the Malibu until Nov. 2006 when we got the Matrix.
Anybody have any suggestions? We are thinking about a Hyundai Sonata, and also like the new Impalas. It must get above 30mpg minimum and have enough horsepower to let us merge onto the freeway easily.
We are still carpooling when we can, as we both work in Milwaukee, kind of in the same area. When class schedule allows, or if he isn't going to work late or have a meeting. I am still adapting to the whole two car thing, and I know that's the norm for almost everyone these days, but Scott and I have been "green" before it was fashionable. It also allowed us to save a considerable amount of money that wasn't spent on a second car payment, extra insurance, extra gas and extra wear and tear. But, now that I need to go straight to Sheboygan on Mondays and Wednesdays, we need two cars. And, once you have that luxury of two cars, it's really hard to go back to one. Especially when both people need the car at the same time in different directions. I'm also at the age where begging for rides from friends and coworkers all the time is somewhat embarrassing.
Blog for the week of March 31st.
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