May 31, 2005

Random Thoughts Collected Throughout the Morning and Then Compiled and Entered As Something of a Noonday Diversion

-- Yesterday when the kids were in the floor playing on the PlayStation, some sort of “conversation” got started, and somehow the word “blog” came up. Ashley, being that she knows every single thing in the world and will let you know it with the most condescendingly smarmy tone of voice possible, turned from her controller and asked Catherine: [dripping sarcasm] “Do YOU even know what a blog is?”

“No, what is it?” said Catherine, genuinely interested in what was to come.

I perked up--slightly (I was, after all, supposed to be comatose on the couch) and I wondered what the definition would be. I was expecting a long drawn out exposition as is usually the way of Oldest, in which she reinforces herself as the Fount of All Knowledge.

Oldest paused, having been caught without actual firsthand understanding of what she was spouting off about, “Uh, well, it’s a computer thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

I smiled and went back to sleep.

-- I ordered one of these for the Volvo last week, and it should be here soon, which means I will get to tear into the instrument panel! YAY ME! Thankfully, this being the Internets and all, there was bound to be someone with a similar broken odometer gear who was kind enough to photograph everything, write a relatively clear set of instructions, and post it for all the world to see. Boy, I like the Internet! It really is a boon for anyone who needs to fix something, whether it’s a car or a house or a cat. Well, maybe not a cat.

Next, I really want to get the windshield replaced. That crack’s making me feel bad. (Windshield crack--not the other kind that you smoke.) But that requires me to pay money for someone else to do it, and I’d rather not do that. But I ALSO would rather not attempt a windshield replacement by myself, so I suppose I’ll just have to pony up the money for it. Sometime. Speaking of which, as I mentioned earlier, I spent a happy few moments one day this weekend going through the parts catalog and making a check mark by all the cool stuff I want to get later on. You know, when I have money. ::sigh::

-- LUNCHTIME! Spent running back and forth to various financial institutions to drop off orders for checks and to make payments on sundry instruments of indebtedness. But I got to drive the Volvo today, so it’s funtime no matter if it does require grabbing something from a fast food place. Milo's. Mmmm.

-- The only way I will eat ramen noodles is when they’re crushed up into Chinese coleslaw. Too many memories of college otherwise.

-- OH! Hey, school’s out! It was actually out LAST week, and Oldest has already had two whole volunteer days at the library. AND SHE LIKED IT! Hallelujah. She and mom have gone today to go register for summer school. Not because she did bad--she did right well for herself in the final grade count--but to register for stuff she doesn’t want to have to take in regular school. Health and Driver’s Ed. Oh, how I wish they were being taught at Hewitt, but for some reason, they’re both being taught at Shades Valley, which means imposing on poor Grandmom to ferry her to and fro this summer. I hope Oldest has fun driving down that long series of moguls on the front drive at SVHS--I happen to know the moronguy who laid those out. In fairness, I had to work with what I was given. Trust me, it could have turned out a LOT worse.

--Now then, back to work.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 01:40 PM
Comments

I didn't eat much ramen in college, but what a lot of macaroni and cheese.

Posted by: Janis at May 31, 2005 01:47 PM

Which isn't nearly so good crushed up and sprinkled on Chinese coleslaw.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 02:05 PM

Not to mind. I still like macaroni and cheese.

Posted by: Janis at May 31, 2005 02:10 PM

Oh my. I can imagine the first conversation taking a turn for the worse.

Catherine: You big fat liar - you don't even know what a blog is
Ashley: Do too! But it's none of your business
C: FINE! Dad, what's a blog
A: C'mon, Dad's old. He has NO idea what a blog is
Possum: ::Loud, clearly fake snoring, followed by coughing fit and panic attack::

Posted by: skinnydan at May 31, 2005 02:12 PM

I am having a real problem imaging how one goes about fancying up a Volvo. Somehow that just seems wrong. I always thought that Volvos came with a special "Volvo Bumper Sticker" catalog from which you could order your "Hug A Tree", "War Is Just Wrong" and "Look At How Socially Concious I Am" stickers in the appropriate background color for you particular year and model car. (You did know that Volvo provides special aged paint formulas so that you can match whatever your paint has faded to).

Posted by: Larry Anderson at May 31, 2005 02:13 PM

Can you drive a Volvo and still belong to the NRA? Just curious.

Posted by: Stan at May 31, 2005 02:22 PM

Skinnydan, thankfully, the subject dropped. I mean, who cares about computers, right?

Larry, Larry, Larry--you just don't KNOW the depths of the cultish Volvo clan, and the bounty of fix-up items available so you can assert your individuality. (But not too much.) For instance, I intend to purchase a rubber trunk liner so I can grow organic lettuce.

Paint? Sorry--that has volatile organic compounds in it, made by Big Chemical Companies. Instead of polluting the atmosphere with more such toxins, I intend to cover the car with natural hemp mats.

And then I'm going to get one of these and swap in a Mustang Cobra engine! YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 02:29 PM

Ooooh, could this be an early Thursday 3:

Bumper stickers for Terry's Volvo.

1. Hillary '08

2. Only when they pry my cold fingers off my Browning.

3. Ask me about Cornaguins!

Posted by: MarcV at May 31, 2005 02:31 PM

Marc--I try to run a clean joint around here, and one mustn't go off and use the 'H-bomb' in polite company like that. There might be children reading, you know.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 02:38 PM

Like your children?

Hopefully there was enough time after lunch for you to keep Milo's down after reading #1.

Posted by: MarcV at May 31, 2005 02:43 PM

My goodness, I did not know conversion kits like that made by Converse Engineering were available. A VOLVO doing 145 MPH???

Wow...

Posted by: Stan at May 31, 2005 02:53 PM

Marc--I don't worry about such things since I taught them that reading is a useless activity. I told them it was much better to just be wealthy, and then they could hire people to read for them.

Heh--yep, Stan--it's possible, and a gratifyingly odd way to go fast.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 02:59 PM

Wow. Imagine the look on some punk's face when you blow his doors off in a boxy Oldguymobile.

And I thought the bumper stickers were the only things holding those cars together.

Posted by: skinnydan at May 31, 2005 03:09 PM

The only drawback is that the conversion would require more money that I have. So I might just have to be like Walter Mitty and be satisfied with listening to the burbling pocketapocketapocketa of the imaginary 5.0 idling along.

And all this talk of bumper stickers? Please--the car's gray, so in order to maintain its dapper image, I intend to use only the finest gray duct tape.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 31, 2005 03:18 PM

Save the Cornaquins!

Warning- I brake for Possumblog

Possumblog, its not just for breakfast...

Posted by: Nate at June 1, 2005 10:08 AM

And, in keeping with the spirit of the times--"Follow the Money."

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 1, 2005 10:12 AM