Today, I had an oral test in French.
Tuesday work went less than well.
Monday, I had a bad day at work and a quiz in French.

So I eagerly await tomorrow with much aplomp or something...

Get ready....it's coming...ROCKTOOOBER!!!!

Olaf! Metal!

Tired, so tired...can't sleep, clown'll eat me...

Eh, so here's the trip to Vegas a month ago and that pretty much sums it up...

Okay, so the blog has lanquished a bit of late...mostly because I've been too busy or too tired to actually write anything in here. It doesn't help we haven't been home and all I've been doing is going to work and coming home. So life has been boring and I really don't think the internet needs another post from me whining about my job. However, as I write this, I'm flying home from fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada after helping Peter retrieve his diesel Blazer (which while being not so good at starting and moving did run flawlessly as advertised) to within a reasonably distance of Las Vegas.

Thursday I got a phone call at work from Peter...he lost his other driver and couldn't find anyone else, can I fly out and drive? I really didn't have any plans anyway, so I ended up agreeing. Mostly because if he called and booked me a flight, I knew he was out of options and I was it. The flight out was okay, not the best since I got an exit row and no reclining seat...but I did get some sleep on the plane (about 3 hours, waking up an 1-1/2 in each time). Got off the plane, found Peter, and we booked our way north. Peter was good so I after he grabbed food and we made it out of vegas, I went back to sleep. Woke up two hours later, checked up on Peter, and then went back to sleep...the original plan was for us both to drive about half-way each time, with me sleeping the first half up...it didn't quite happen...40 miles into Utah, Peter was beat and I took over having had about 6 hours of sleep, although not continiously and about 70% tops. The Malibu Peter rented fortunately had cruise, a CD player, and a four banger, making great for desert work but not so good on the hill climbing (that killed the gas mileage...we got like 25 mpg although I'm willing to admit that 80 mph wasn't helping that).

After the gas station annoyance of finding that, while gas stations are plentiful and 300 miles are no problem out of tank gas, finding an open gas station at like 3:30am is real bitch. GM gas guages also look a lot like Ford's now...as after being mildly concerned about the fuel situation we found there were 4 gallons in the tank and we had roughly 100 miles until totally being screwed. Driving at night, along a valley, and then through mountains tests the mental fortitude and physical reflexs...never had any close calls or anything, the worst part was flipping between brights and lows to decided where the road was going. I was pretty much wasted and burnt out by the time we hit Salt Lake City (SLC), we ending up stopping at 5:00am local time at Denny's to get coffee and food...the food was bad, the coffee didn't seem to conform to standard coffee specs, and the service was both poor and annoying. By sheer coincidence, we happened to stop at the exit for the only DMV open in Utah in Saturday to which we would later have to go to get a temp tag. This was to be the first of a series of coincendences that just worked in spite of things.

After Denny's (which was to become one of the banes of the trip but I'm getting ahead of myself). Peter and I swapped driving duties and I attempted to get some more sleep, since we had to go up and check out the Blazer, get plates, and then drive both back to SLC airport to drop off the rental car. Finding the guy's house didn't go so smooth but we found it by 7:10 local time after determining Utah has no idea how to layout streets whatsoever. Test driving the truck was rather uneventful (other then getting lost for the second time in less than half an hour). Upon returning after finding it had slight issues with the vacum and the temp guage, Peter discussed both, and then after finding the vacum pump making vacum (although the hoses weren't properly hooked up), paid the man. This after assurances that the front end had been redone and the bearings were repacked (something to become a rather large problem later). Other than the glow plugs being occansional disagreeable, the vacum, and the temp gauge, no other problems were found or mentioned.

So we ended up going back down to get the plates and a temp gauge, setting the priorities as 1) plates, 2) rental drop-off, 3) hotel, and 4) food/sleep. This leg went very smoothly, actually. All said and done we ended in a Holiday Inn Express in Murray, Utah with free wi-fi and eating lunch at one of those weird crap on the wall with good food local chains (Mimi's Cafe). And that's when the first annoyance occured...it refused to start because of what we later determined to be a bad glow plug sensor (timer according to GM). After 5 hours of parts chasing (walking to a dealer, Pep Boys, and Checker), obtaining a glow plug relay (Pep Boys), not fixing it, getting a glow plug sensor (Checker), and then returning to the truck and trying it one more time...where upon it fired and we drove around long enough to recharge the batteries before returning to the hotel. Leading to the second bad experience at Denny's. Mostly because we both settled and didn't feel like leaving the truck idling in a restraunt parking lot. So we ended up leaving and walking down to Subway (which had the side benefit of being on the cheap after part and tool purchases). Saturday actually ended up working out for the better overall, 5 hours of urban camping on foot wasn't exactly fun but we ended up getting sleep and food and maintaining some semblance of a schedule.

After reaasonable approximation of a full night of sleep and getting contiental breakfast at Holiday Inn. Breakfast, in and of itself, was un-notable, interesting only perhaps for its sub-medicoracy stemming from ending up with a frozen bagel and banna that was squished on one end. The only redeeming value was mint tea, ending up getting two tea bags out of half a dozen or so (bizzarely enough, the only tea people seem to have been drinking). The entertainment for breakfast was some women selling a magic spray that cured everything by sucking the toxins out of your body. The really interesting part of the whole thing is apparently plastic is biodegradable and releases poison when water hits it.....riiiiiiiight....I was tempted to go get the iBook and go look that stuff up but it didn't seem the best use of time or money...needless to say, it proved that people are stupid while a person is smart...sometimes. In this case, there wasn't really any hope. So, we left after grabbing tea for the road and cleaning/filling the cooler with ice.

Heading south back to Vegas in the Blazer wasn't too bad at all (the seats are quite comfortable)...even with the mountians and the construction, it still managed 30 mpg. Unfortunately, it started sqeaking and we both thought it was an auto hub refusing to disengage...which it wasn't. The front passenager bearing locked up about two hours outside of Vegas, 19 miles north of St. George, Utah.

Which lead to the second 5 hour stint of being stranded on foot..fortunately, there was a Utah State Policeman about to pull us over for no plate (as far was we could tell) who watched us go off the road and then pulled up to find out what happened. He didn't bother checking us out too closely, just asked what happened and then offered to call a tow truck, an offer we took him up on. After waiting for him to leave, we both took advantage of the local juniper to empty our bladders. After forty-odd minutes of waiting, two tow trucks showed up...apparently another blazer had broken down on the north side (we were going south) and the first tow truck to show up had mistaken us for that one...which our tow truck driver very nicely explained was not us. So the Blazer got loaded up and winched onto the truck and we off to Ron's Texaco in St. George, Utah (the only garage open on Sunday, apparently).

After confirming the garage could at least look at the truck, we wondered down to the part stores about two blocks down to find out what we had to work with...the Checker had everything but the spindle (as did Autozone). If it needed a spindle, I was screwed...at least, I thought I was. We ended up going down to an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet to get lunch and wait it out, pondering our options and sampling the local chinese fare. It actually wasn't half bad. We formulated the plan...if we could get a rental car, we would go back and spend the night in Vegas. I would catch my flight and then Peter would drop the car off in St. George the day and pick up the truck as my portion of driving was done. If we couldn't get a car, we would get a hotel room and either drive the truck back or rent a car, depending on the exact time, since my flight left at noon and it was a two hour drive. After lunch we walked back to the garage to get the prognosis...and the outer bearing race was welded tight to the spindle...d'oh. Missing my flight had just become a distinct possiblity.

After lunch we schlepped back to the garage to see what was up with the truck...and after disassembly, it needed a spindle, of course. Now, of course, I panicked slightly since the rental car place down the street opened at 8 and spending the night meant cutting the flight rather closely. I was not happy at all about that...to make matters worse, rather explaining he had minutes issues, Peter simply booked a hotel room...which I was not happy about but what could I do. Of course, at this point, I explained that my cell was free! Free! Free! All we needed was phonebook, not a phone and room...I think my brain was rather fuzzy at this point and it had been a really long day. At any rate, after reserving a car at the airport through hertz and them agreeing to pick us up, we drove back to Veges. The rental car acquisition was interesting as the guy was going to Veges, too, to drop his girlfriend at the airport...so Peter comped him a room, scored a three class upgrade to a Taurus (from economy) and got a discount...very nice.

The night I spent in Vegas consisted of us grabbing food, the great pie hunt (didja ever just want pie now? Apparently pie craving immediately clouds the minds internal GPS), coming back to Peter's apartment, and watching TV. Very boring but, hey, after the whole Utah, 12 hours on foot, neither one of us was up to doing much...so I got to sleep on a weird swedish couch fouton thing from Ikea, which slept okay but the cushions kept shifting around and moving. I slept okay despite the fact the thing seemed to have a mind of its own...exhaustion will do that. Monday was even less eventful, we went to the buffet at the Beliago, I grabbed bagels for my flight, and then got dropped off at the airport for my flight. I watched the Princess Bride on the flight home and that was about it...defintely worth it to drag the iBook along on that count. Got back to Toledo around 7:30, I believe, and amazingly enough actually managed to stay somewhat on schedule, with no ill effects felt the next day at work. Other than actually being at work.

Random mudaneness: The iBook is at 22% or 43 minutes of battery life...and the bar is red.

So much for the thought of the day, that fell by the wayside...profoundness suffers greatly getting up at six am and coming home after seven pm every night...at least Friday I can just come straight home although lately I've working on the weekends which officially sucks....I thought maybe I'd get off this weekend but that's not happening...ugh...really, really annoying.

I found a $400 Ranger...I'm half tempted to look at it but it's a regular cab and I already have a truck sitting right now...although that's going to change since she's teaching a class at Owens that the instructor quit three weeks into the term and now it looks like I'll be dropping Beth off three times a week...the truck is at least reasonable on gas (unlike the Merc, which only seems reasonably on the highway...plus it needs plugs/wires since I had a heater hose split and dump coolant on the back of the engine)

The girls have started sports season, this means non-stop running for volleyball and soccer now as well as whatever else they have going on. So somehow I need to shoe horn in work and homework as well as whatever chauffeuring I need to do....weeeeee!

Only possible bright spot - after dropping off three children in the morning, I've realized I could get a 4-passenger vehicle with sufficient interior space...the truck has sat since I can't cram my stuff plus them and their stuff in the cab....in addition to the potential pain of extraction from the back seat...although that's still secondary to no place to put my stuff. Otherwise it would be worth the inconvenience for the gas mileage...

well, I've resumed using Firefox...it moderated Slashdot just fine today...I need to update the links on this thing although not mattopia as matt has resumed updating his journal.

I've decided to attempt an interesting thought of the day, just to avoid leaving huge gaps like this past month...right now it's late and I don't have anything, so who knows...I need to get my tea right now, so I'm just hitting post and going, I suppose.

Blogger and Camino do not get along...I have to post from Firefox...which normally works fine but Slashdot crashed Firefox so I've been using Camino as I don't want to waste any time rebooting...damnit, I want my iBook up and I want it now...crash be damned or not...

Continued deliquency on posting, by the way, being otherwise occupied and killing time online right now waiting for her nails to dry. I suppose I should get my Vegas post done and up...however, laziness and apathy are winning hardcore right now...I maybe apathetic but I don't care enough to find out...which pretty much sums up my life...

The two important lessons of the day: Slahdot moderation will crash firefox for no apparent reason, forcing use of another browser and women painting their nails leads to interesting situations occansionally...

I've been woefully deliquent in posting to my journal...mostly because I've been busy non-stop since, um, not sure. Two weeks ago, I was in Las Vegas helping Peter retrieve his 1984 Chevrolet Blazer with a 6.2L Diesel. That was an adventure and it was cool hanging out even if being stranded on foot in 80 degree heat was less than fun...I'm working on writing it up right now....however, I wasn't home this weekend since the girls are joining a community service group and they went camping on North Bass Island. So we dragged ourselves out there and I found out between spending a weekend in planes, trucks, and rental cars plus going to Indiana on Wednesday for work wedged in the back seat of an Escape, my back really doesn't like me spending a few hours on a boat and sleeping on the ground in a tent. At least it was only overnight, I got my yearly reminder of why people live in houses....I totally don't get the camping thing, especially after spending 10 hours urban camping (on foot, in urban sprawl) the weekend prior. Camping is only worth it if you can smoke cigars at all times (keeps the bugs away, you know) and get up and start the day with a beer...and continue the day with beer, too...

Plus I've started school again, so I didn't get around to posting tonight until now....ugh, no rest for the wicked, I wondered what I did to deserve this...I always try to be nice....

Anne's hearing is up within normal ranges in both ears. And her left ear will likely improve, according to the doctor. So that's good news...other than that, I threw my back out helping a friend move, spent most of the weekend in the car (dropping Jay off in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan), and work continues to suck. But Christa found a fulltime job and I got a Rev A iMac for helping move...so I guess overall things are okay, I'm just tired and sore and feel rather blah. Next project, stuffing the iMac full of RAM and installing Panther (after I get some pennies).

Less than a month until school starts again...where the hell did summer go!?!?!?

It has been a fitfully and chaotic week, puncuated by moments of annoyance, minor and great. Fortunately, Anne's ears are both fixed now. We spent two nights in Cleveland (since the surgery is only done at the Cleveland Clinc around here) and have returned home. The doctor expects the left ear to gain more hearing than the right due to the use of prosthetic bone instead of reshaping...we are cautious optomistic...before swelling (while in recovery), Ann was hearing things she could never before (whispers and certain tones). Now, 24 odd hours later, it's starting to come back...we didn't need to turn up the TV tonight...so who knows...

I bought a 1986 Ford Ranger 4-banger extended cab...it's a 4-banger/auto...it's a slug but it gets 20-23 mp and it's a good learner...as I'm facing two new drivers in about 18 months...plus it was really clean and solid. I couldn't pass it up for 750 even with no air.

Right now, need to be going to bed...worn out after this week and no minor amount of stress between work and having to deal with a child's surgery.

Went to a family thing for the 4th on the 4th, golfed today and didn't look so good. Otherwise not much going on, just work.

well, i turned on comments, so now i'm trying to figure out if it worked or not...

life continues...work, school, life...Memorial Day was good time for everyone, I think, and resulted in the comsumption of beer and the grilling of a quite a few chicken breasts...

I thought about changing the look of this thing and then promptly found the prospect far too daunting at this point in time.

I moved dirt...a lot of dirt...today in an effort to somewhat level the backyard into some semblence of flatness. Not my idea of fun. I'm beat and we're in the midst of cleaning/reorganizing in the usual frantic manner before having people over, as my Dad and a couple we're friends with are coming over on Memorial Day. I have a paper to finish, it's not happening right now. Life, otherwise, has ocsillated between chaotic and uneventful. Christa graduated with her Masters, work has been the usual fun...in short, long periods of boredom intersped with brief moments of crisis.

I'm taking one summer class. I've gotten nothing done around the house with any semblence of regularity. Part of the reason for frantic cleaning and my day being spent playing catch with the yard. The dirt, actually, was an unexpected solution to the whole mess that is the back yard as the neighbors are doing their garage driveway and the guy doing it didn't want to deal with the dirt.


Continued whining, yadda yadda yadda...like everything, needs more cowbell!

blogger has changed their homepage....a shock, to say the least, of course, I'm probably among the last to notice, but that's life, I suppose.

Peter's bother has traveled to Las Vegas, I think he's still there because I haven't seen Peter online (or talked to him on the phone, annoyed or otherwise) since Sat.

I'm done with school for spring, I got a 4.0 and all As...for the first time since it never really mattered anyway in grade school...actually, it maybe since kindergarden but I'm not sure...which I suppose is worse although it would like S instead of S+, from 1st grade on....

I have had the exalting (or depressing) realization after watching "The Restaurant" on NBC, I have actually experienced enough in life to exceed the average TV viewer...considering it reads like a script from a restaurant I was familiar with...d'oh...

slightly late... (5/11/04) ... still put it on the right date...

Pink Floyd, The Wall, "Mother"

Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother, do you think they'll like this song?
Mother, do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Ooooowaa Mother, should I build a wall?
Mother, should I run for President?
Mother, should I trust the government?
Mother, will they put me in the firing line?
Ooooowaa Is it just a waste of time?
Hush, my baby. Baby, don't you cry.
Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true.
Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you.
Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing.
She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing.
Momma's gonna keep Baby cozy and warm.
Oooo Babe.
Oooo Babe.
Ooo Babe, of course Momma's gonna help build a wall.
Mother, do you think she's good enough,
For me?
Mother, do you think she's dangerous,
To me?
Mother will she tear your little boy apart?
Ooooowaa Mother, will she break my heart?
Hush, my baby. Baby, don't you cry.
Momma's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you.
Momma won't let anyone dirty get through.
Momma's gonna wait up until you get in.
Momma will always find out where you've been.
Momma's gonna keep Baby healthy and clean.
Oooo Babe.
Oooo Babe.
Ooo Babe, you'll always be Baby to me.
Mother, did it need to be so high?

apparently, I'm eligable to try out g-mail....except I don't need another e-mail address...I already have 6 between work, home, school, yahoo, and hotmail....plus I think I may buy a domain and see if I can cajole matt in hosting on of the many boxen I have lying around (weeee, got a Gateway PII 350 from work which was supposed to donate most of its RAM to her Gateway and ended up donating part of it....I hate Gateway right now)

On the upside, I am down to just finals, having turned in my last paper this morning....and as of Monday, it will be two finals...I want a martini....the only problem here is I'm too lazy to get up and mix one right this second....also I lack vermouth and I like to at least have the trappings of a traditional Martini lying around....otherwise, I'm just sitting around sipping chilled gin....

absinthe, very interesting stuff, apparently illegal but not that illegal....quite a few references to it in Hemmingway's The Sun Also Rises....of which, I'm fairly certain all of the brands are improperly uncapitolized....Pernod, an F one, and there's one other....annoying...very annoying...

I don't really have anything to post...just worn out and not in the mood to write anything...

currently attempting to get mysql server working on da FreeBSD box...and it's not going...I'm too tired to deal with it right now...bother...

Tax day...ours were done two months ago...

I've been very lax posting this weekend (also no Friday Five again), mostly because of a philosophy conference at UT and being sick over the weekend. Anne says not to post about her. So I am, to be a pain. At any rate, the highlights of the conference were free wine and free beer. I also discovered that Indian does not agree with me at all...very unpleasant gastronomic results occurred...I think my stomach is still recovering, kinda, although being sick hasn't helped, I'm sure. The conference was intellectual and the usual "You actually build stuff..." reaction popped up after the explanation that I'm a graduate student's husband and happen to work in steel.

There are four weeks left in the semester and I'm officially freaking out in my usual neurotic manner.