An Epiphany

Lately I've felt very boring. I don't have a lot of ideas of things I want to do--at least not any that thrill me. Sometimes I get depressed about it. Monday night I was having one of those times when my honey called me on her way home and said that she had to stop the car and pull over because it was making a horrible loud noise. When I arrived on the scene, I found that the culprit was the plastic undercarriage cover that goes over the bottom of the engine--presumably to keep it safe from rocks and such. Apparently, when I had the oil changed that day, they either broke it or forgot to put bolts on it or it just was it's time to break. In any case, I rigged it up with some bungee cords that I had in my car and we got it home.
Later, I parked the car 1/2 on the curb so I could get under it and just removed the thing. Mind you it was pouring rain, and I was in the gutter, but I wanted her to be able to use the car the next day. The car actually rides a lot smoother than it ever has, making me think that the thing was going before we bought the car.
The reason I mention all of this is that, afterwards, I felt noticeably better. A few hours before that, I was totally in the dumps. It made me realize that part of what I'm probably missing in my life is challenge. And, although I carefully set up my life to be safe and easy--something in me needs that challenge, that crisis, in order to feel good. I'm obviously not getting that kind of thing from work anymore, so I guess that I'm going to have to go out and find some.
Now, in case the universe is listening--no, I am not asking for something horrible to happen. I want a fun challenge, something that does not threaten my or a loved one's safety. You know, like a water-slide race or a chocolate chip cookie eating contest.

Midafternoon Life Crisis

I found this amusing. The TV review parts are less so, but the beginning and the end made me laugh.

I love Mark Morford

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/01/18/notes011808.DTL

Global Warming Petition To The Press

Sign here.

(Poseur) Boots, hmm...

I was in the city and saw these for sale. Yes, they are pre-scuffed. I mean, I wear a old pair of Doc Martins that are pretty scuffed up; but, I SCUFFED THEM UP! Buying them pre-scuffed just seems wrong. I stood there dumbfounded staring at these in disbelief. I have to say that anyone who buys these $160 boots must be a poseur...

Rain Hysteria

Okay, so it's been raining here in the Bay Area for awhile and the first day everyone was beside themselves worrying about it. And, really, in Marin there's something to worry about. There's flooding and mudslides and closed roads and power outages--okay, reason to be concerned.

HOWEVER, I caught a news report on TV the other night that made my jaw drop. An umbrella-covered reporter standing outside the Strawberry Village Starbucks, showing how packed it was in there, reported (very seriously) about how everything was in chaos and that the Starbucks looked more like a shelter than a coffee house. The camera then changed to mothers holding children, with closeups to the children's worried eyes. Interviews with "Marin-Mom's" saying that they just didn't know what to do with their kids with no power at their house. They were huddled together like refugees and, it appeared, that the women were completely perplexed and helpless as to what to do besides hang out in a coffee shop.

I know, that it's hard to describe here; but, believe me, the newscaster was laying it on thick, trying to make a story out of this nonsense. I mean, don't know what to do when the power is out??? How about play some games, TALK to your kids, do an art project---for God's Sake, where are we as a society??? Can't we do without TV, Internet & Video Games for a night or two? It was pathetic to watch and it made my stomach turn. I can only hope that it's only in richy-rich areas like Marin that this happened. God help us if the rest of us lose the ability to entertain ourselves so easily.

Obama, Baby!

I'm so stoked!