Use the air, it's free

So, yesterday I unparked the Mazda after not having driven it for over a month. The front tires were a little low, so I went to a gas station a few miles away to fill them. When the tires had adequate pressure, I got back in the car to find it was completely dead. No sound whatsoever.

Moments later, a girl (ok, she was a diva-bi!&#) is tapping on my car saying, " 'scuse me... I need ta git some air... you needa move yur car!" I explain that the car is dead, and I'm trying to call AAA but she won't hear of it. She apparently thinks that I am actively trying to withhold the air pump. As if I had nothing better to do with my day that to sit in my dead car, in the heat, in a gas station parking lot in front of the air pump trying to negotiate with AAA.

Ok, so I'm not a AAA member, but before my trip to TN I received in the mail a membership application with a temporary membership card. It was a promotional mailing, and I kept the card thinking, "I may need to try to use this during my road trip." In all fairness, I did plan to become a member, I just didn't mail in the stuff. Therefore, AAA had a hard time finding my membership in their computer system. After 25 minutes on the phone with them, I convinced them to send someone out.

The mechanic was an interesting fellow; a totally nice Hispanic dude with metallic-blue contacts. He talked a little much, though, but was very thorough and friendly. I couldn't exactly tell if he was flirting with me or was a little slow. My battery had a sticker that said "AUG 2005" on it, to which he explained, "Well, your battery is 2 years old -- it's surely time to replace it." What he lacked in mathematical prowess, he made up for in military fervor. He had 2 more hours to work and then he was going to be off for 3 weeks. His eyes sparkled when he said he was going to Wyoming to "Shoot machine guns and blow things up."

It was, in fact, my battery that was dead. It wouldn't hold a charge, so this morning I put in a new battery.

Back in the O!

I'm back in Omaha, for a little while, at least. Trying to be somewhat productive. I definitely miss the family, and the mountains. The puppy is settling back into our old routine - I think she found my parents' house a little over-stimulating.

You probably know, I really love a good practical joke, and my older sister makes such a great target. After one of our river adventures, I went to her house and filled her shower head with cherry jello mix. I fit about half the packet in and waited somewhat patiently for the fall-out. I talked to her that night, and she didn't mention it. The following day, I knew that someone in her house had taken a shower by then, but again there was not mention of it. I finally asked if she had taken a shower in the last couple of days, and the gig was up. She couldn't figure out what had happened, though... she said the shower head gurgled but was stopped up. Then there was a sudden blast of blood-red water (she remembered some prophetical line about water turning to blood from church, or something). So, here's the funny part: The reason she never mentioned it is that she didn't think it was a joke at all. She just assumed that somehow her cranberry body wash found its way up into the plumbing.

So, I went on a really awesome date last night. Who knew that hummus and rodeo cheeseburgers and non-alcoholic sangria could co-exist peacefully?

And lastly, I want to give a "shout out" to all the under-appreciated deer and rabbits out there.

Summer Storm

Blue sky and cool breeze give way.

Night sky, teasing with its black clarity.

Full moon watching silently.

Two lone clouds venture ever nearer to one another,

trading the security of their solitute for contact in the night sky.

The oriole senses the mounting pressures as he leaves his perch and silently seeks cover.

First one drop, then another... slowly building, a hungry storm.

The eyes of only minutes earlier do not recognize this new sky,

yet climb to the surface to capture each fleeting flash.

Pinpricks of cool rain dance on skin,

rolling downward to the parched earth.

The Titans watch with their thunderous laughter.