White Knuckle Sleigh Ride
And here's another white knuckle moment. I pulled out into traffic, heard a loud POP!! and suddenly my car could not drive forward or backward. Luckily, I was able to roll back out of the way, at least! So my cute little Mini Cooper, with only 18K miles on it, got towed to the dealer. Transmission? Waiting to hear.
Looked out the back window at the brush pile. I think it's inching closer to the house like the shrubberies in The Shining. Maybe I should get out there and chop it up before it starts scratching on the window.
ReplyDeleteNew Year's Bonfire, anyone? ;-)
DeleteNo New Year's bonfire here. But hope you (listener) have a working care for the New Year.
Deletecare = car
DeleteWe still need Dean.
ReplyDeleteThat we do!
DeleteAgree with listener. Specifically, we need Howard Dean. I just read Jim Dean's e-mail were he says, "DFA has always worked hard to pull the Democratic Party to the left." That doesn't resonate with me, partially because I've never felt that the left-right axis truly captures my political views. Nor did it capture Howard's. He was to the left of Lieberman when he made his "What I Want to Know" speech, but if you hash and mix and conflate all the issues to force them into a single axis he was slightly to the right of Kerry.
ReplyDelete"Socially progressive, fiscally conservative." Where does that fit on the left-right axis?
Spot on, Bill! Howard Dean was NEVER an ultra-libreral!! He would be the first to say so, too, and did many times. He was always socially progressive and was fiscally conservative to a fault.
DeleteGood point, Bill. Howard is off that axis, essentially making it irrelevant. That's sort of the point.
DeleteUpdate on Penny's work situation: The apparently mysterious illness her coworker had turned out to be a blocked carotid artery. He has had it cleaned out surgically and is scheduled to return to work on Jan. 2. Meanwhile the new person continues and, to Penny's displeasure, is getting more hours than anyone else. Penny's new hours will be midnight to noon Saturday and Sunday. Going to work at midnight on nights Marc is likely to want to go out is not ideal, but otherwise not too bad. At least she doesn't have to deal with the 6-1/2 hour shifts that have everyone else up in arms (and her up in arms on their behalf). For clarity, people would prefer 13-hour shifts so they wouldn't have to come in so often.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good that Penny's coworker is going to be okay. That's a big deal!
DeleteI am amazed when anyone prefers a long shift. I don't think I ever would prefer that. I suppose that's because I stand up the whole time. But, even so.
Yes, if you had to stand constantly, 13 hours would be too long. But Penny's job mostly involves sitting down doing nothing much at all. Occasionally walking around to make sure nothing is wrong. It's mostly a matter of having somebody there just in case.
DeleteI spoke with the Mini Service guy and will find out tomorrow whether it's a broken axle (a 2-day fix) or the transmission (a 7 day fix). Either way, it's all covered by warranty.
ReplyDeleteIt could have been so much worse. 20 minutes before I was driving 65-70mph on the interstate!
DeleteYIKES! Close one! St. Christopher had your back on that one!
DeleteHa! Maybe!
DeleteWhile I believe in the Communion of Saints, I never feel I've really prayed unless it's directly to God, with no substitutes or intercessors. I mean, what sort of God doesn't listen unless someone is advocating for you? That's kind of like God as Congressman, or at least as second cousin twice removed. ;-) I'm with Julian of Norwich: God is nearer to us than our own soul.
"My feeling is that Howard is too much the good soldier; but if that is a failing, it is an honorable one. "
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Alan.
And your muffins sound loverly!
Let's just say, HC has a *lot* of persuading to do if she wants my vote, even with Howard's support. If I break down and do vote for her, she will unquestionably have Howard to thank. At this time, though, I can't see that happening.