Yesterday, I went over to the Wayward Cafe for my friend CW's birthday. Also present at the festivities was oldmangrumpus and, eventually, some other pleasant and attractive strangers. We played boardgames and ate delicious vegan treats, then went back to CW's place for some good, ole fashioned, meat-eater's lasagna and some birthday cake. It was, all in all, a ( Read more... )

It's busy days here at Chez scarlettina: hairy deadlines at work, desires for a life at home. In the midst of work craziness, I decided that now would be a good time to throw caution to the wind and head off for an overnight at Orycon, Portland's regional SF convention. I haven't been to an Orycon in, probably, at least a decade, so my curiosity was high, and ( Read more... )

Exactly two weeks after I brought home my lovely new car, the engine light turned on and would not turn off. On the exact same day, I received a phone call from the salesman who sold me the car to ask me how things were going with it--so I told him: engine light. Now, I bought the car as-is and I didn't buy a warranty. I'd already spent more than I ( Read more... )

I have other things to post about (like the department retreat and today's delightful concert) but first I want to post about the package I received from my brother and sister-in-law. I am virtually certain that my gearhead friends (among them jaylake and autojim) will recognize the tradition I'm about to share, but it's new to me ( Read more... )

When I had my accident back in February and the insurance company totaled the car, I decided that I would go carless for a while and see what it was like. It was a big adjustment, having to plan every little detail and to rely on schedules and resources that were not mine. Commuting was easy; I work downtown now and don't need a car for that. The ( Read more... )

Yep, I'm back in Oregon (what is it about this place?). I'm staying with jaylake for a couple of days prior to his next scan. It also means I'll get to see some other tasty folk, including davidlevine, kateyule, and calendula_witch among others ( Read more... )

...until I can leave work and pick up the new car. I'm in a rental right now while the new car is getting its moonroof installed. (What's the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof, I ask you?) It's gorgeous outside and I just want to bolt right this minute ( Read more... )

Exhibit 1: Yesterday I drove Fezzig, my beloved Saturn coupe, to work and back one last time. During the day, in concert with my insurance guy, I made arrangements to have Fezzig picked up for salvage. Driving home yesterday, I let my imagination get away with me, and found myself thinking of it as though I were putting a beloved pet to sleep. This ( Read more... )

God, it's 7:11 PM in Seattle, and I'm still feeling wrung out and sore-eyed over Katherine's passing ( Read more... )

The weekendLooked at cars this weekend. Must make a final decision about what to buy and then do the deed before the week is out. The deadline is an artificial one, created by nothing but my own desire to have done with it. I just want it to be over and to move on ( Read more... )