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May. 24th, 2010 11:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogAs I slipped repeatedly between napping and blinking (with a few moments of terror as I woke up to the sound of an unceasing locomotive horn getting louder and louder until a northbound train rocketed past my window), I was lamenting the fact that the prescription sunglasses I'd splurged on a while ago were missing. Though my optical insurance through work covered over half the cost, they were still something with a not insignificant cost that, though I didn't strictly need, I was buying because I really wanted. They, and my nice and much-loved hardwood comb that ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
awful_horrid gave me, were in a box that I had in my room that has disappeared on me.
Sadly, I haven't found my comb yet, but while looking through my backpack today, I found my sunglasses, packed neatly away in their cozy little case. I had looked through my backpack multiple times in hope of locating them, but with no success. I am confused, but am contentedly not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when I could be braiding its mane instead. (Because, yes, somehow wearing sunglasses is like braiding horse hair. *giggles*)
I've had a really good past chunk of days. Two or three nights in a row I was up till two-thirty or three in the morning with a new LJ-less friend, Michelle. One of those nights was Thursday, but I still managed to get up and work the next morning. Having a ten foot commute helps. There was a drive around Kenosha to Goodwill and Salvation Army. There was late-night wandering through a neighborhood wrapped in dense fog. There was a backyard fire at her dad's place, and movie watching, and lots of chatting about things like her trip to Costa Rica to work on turtle habitat preservation. She gave me a geological survey map of Orlando and Cape Canaveral, left over from an urban geography class she took, and which I intend to get framed, 'cause it's that cool.
As I told her, if I had realized there were classes like that when I was going to school, I might have had a much better time there. On the other hand, I"m not sure my interest in urban areas and the history and reuse of buildings had surfaced yet, back then. I wish I could get back to school right now and pursue some of the things that I've become interested in over the years. But regardless, I've been having a great time getting to know a nifty new person. She's leaving for a few months this coming weekend, so hopefully we can work in some more hang-out time before then.
----
So, yesterday was also full of much win. Moira and I drove out to Petrifying Springs County Park (this is a sort of natural area/golf course/mountain bike trailish/picnic area between Kenosha and Racine and near the college I went to, for those who don't know the area). She and I checked out the new dog park there, where I watched cute furry animals run around and missed my big silly pup. From there we walked along a path that followed the Pike River, which meanders its way through Pets, as the locals call it. We figured eventually we'd come to a road, and we'd take it back where we started. It's not that big a park.
Well, we did finally come to a road, but we'd managed to get alllll the way over to the far corner of the park. Looking on Google Earth, I can see how we got there, but really didn't realize it was possible to walk that far and still be in the park! It was about a mile as the crow flies, but we were following the curve of the river and the pretty little paths through the trees; I wouldn't be surprised if we walked a mile and a half. Looking at the road we walked back on (south to the university campus, then around the road that circles it), we probably walked over a mile back too.
Even though that stretch along the road with no tree cover and full sun was pretty draining, I had a wonderful time. The best part, though, was walking along the quiet paths in the shade of the trees. There wasn't room for two to walk abreast, so we took turns leading. The rule was that the person in front had to have their hair down for the person behind's appreciation. *giggles* I walked out on a couple downed trees over the river, and even walked for a stretch barefoot and shirtless. That earth under my feet and the breeze and sun on my skin felt amazing! All I needed to complete the picture was a pair of satyr hooves... (Regrettably, I was unable to convince Moira to do the same. *laughs*)
After getting back to the car, she and I visited a couple of thrift stores in Racine (still haven't found shoes, alas), then a grocery store for brats. I was exhausted and sleepy, and Moira not only cooked brats, but made them up with mustard and onion for me and brought them to me on the couch to eat while we snuggled and talked. So sweet, my raccoon! Once I got home, I aired up the tires on my bike (the car still isn't drivable) and collapsed. Having to get up at five sucks.
----
Speaking of the car, Juan spent a good few hours on it on Saturday. The front and rear brakes are all done. Let me tell you how much Juan rocks. The parts guy gave him some of the wrong parts, partly because I have the sedan instead of the hatchback and it's kind of weird, and partly because of corporate stupidity. So instead of waiting for a few days for more parts, Juan actually took the drums and calipers to his shop, where he sandblasted and turned the drums, and rebuilt the calipers and wheel cylinders! How awesome is that!? He thinks it'll save me money, even with paying him more for the extra labor. For my part, I just know that Juan is a gem, and whatever he tells me I owe him, he gets it.
Still left to be done is a new alternator (he was trying to clean up the existing one, but it seized up), a new water pump (it was leaking coolant), and a new timing belt (since he's working down there anyway). There are still things to do after that, like exhaust work and replacing a leaking valve cover seal, but it will be drivable. Finally.
----
I suppose that's about it for now. In an hour or so, I'm going to put on my sunglasses and walk over to the Salvation Army here in Chicago for my lunch break!
awful_horrid gave me, were in a box that I had in my room that has disappeared on me.Sadly, I haven't found my comb yet, but while looking through my backpack today, I found my sunglasses, packed neatly away in their cozy little case. I had looked through my backpack multiple times in hope of locating them, but with no success. I am confused, but am contentedly not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when I could be braiding its mane instead. (Because, yes, somehow wearing sunglasses is like braiding horse hair. *giggles*)
I've had a really good past chunk of days. Two or three nights in a row I was up till two-thirty or three in the morning with a new LJ-less friend, Michelle. One of those nights was Thursday, but I still managed to get up and work the next morning. Having a ten foot commute helps. There was a drive around Kenosha to Goodwill and Salvation Army. There was late-night wandering through a neighborhood wrapped in dense fog. There was a backyard fire at her dad's place, and movie watching, and lots of chatting about things like her trip to Costa Rica to work on turtle habitat preservation. She gave me a geological survey map of Orlando and Cape Canaveral, left over from an urban geography class she took, and which I intend to get framed, 'cause it's that cool.
As I told her, if I had realized there were classes like that when I was going to school, I might have had a much better time there. On the other hand, I"m not sure my interest in urban areas and the history and reuse of buildings had surfaced yet, back then. I wish I could get back to school right now and pursue some of the things that I've become interested in over the years. But regardless, I've been having a great time getting to know a nifty new person. She's leaving for a few months this coming weekend, so hopefully we can work in some more hang-out time before then.
----
So, yesterday was also full of much win. Moira and I drove out to Petrifying Springs County Park (this is a sort of natural area/golf course/mountain bike trailish/picnic area between Kenosha and Racine and near the college I went to, for those who don't know the area). She and I checked out the new dog park there, where I watched cute furry animals run around and missed my big silly pup. From there we walked along a path that followed the Pike River, which meanders its way through Pets, as the locals call it. We figured eventually we'd come to a road, and we'd take it back where we started. It's not that big a park.
Well, we did finally come to a road, but we'd managed to get alllll the way over to the far corner of the park. Looking on Google Earth, I can see how we got there, but really didn't realize it was possible to walk that far and still be in the park! It was about a mile as the crow flies, but we were following the curve of the river and the pretty little paths through the trees; I wouldn't be surprised if we walked a mile and a half. Looking at the road we walked back on (south to the university campus, then around the road that circles it), we probably walked over a mile back too.
Even though that stretch along the road with no tree cover and full sun was pretty draining, I had a wonderful time. The best part, though, was walking along the quiet paths in the shade of the trees. There wasn't room for two to walk abreast, so we took turns leading. The rule was that the person in front had to have their hair down for the person behind's appreciation. *giggles* I walked out on a couple downed trees over the river, and even walked for a stretch barefoot and shirtless. That earth under my feet and the breeze and sun on my skin felt amazing! All I needed to complete the picture was a pair of satyr hooves... (Regrettably, I was unable to convince Moira to do the same. *laughs*)
After getting back to the car, she and I visited a couple of thrift stores in Racine (still haven't found shoes, alas), then a grocery store for brats. I was exhausted and sleepy, and Moira not only cooked brats, but made them up with mustard and onion for me and brought them to me on the couch to eat while we snuggled and talked. So sweet, my raccoon! Once I got home, I aired up the tires on my bike (the car still isn't drivable) and collapsed. Having to get up at five sucks.
----
Speaking of the car, Juan spent a good few hours on it on Saturday. The front and rear brakes are all done. Let me tell you how much Juan rocks. The parts guy gave him some of the wrong parts, partly because I have the sedan instead of the hatchback and it's kind of weird, and partly because of corporate stupidity. So instead of waiting for a few days for more parts, Juan actually took the drums and calipers to his shop, where he sandblasted and turned the drums, and rebuilt the calipers and wheel cylinders! How awesome is that!? He thinks it'll save me money, even with paying him more for the extra labor. For my part, I just know that Juan is a gem, and whatever he tells me I owe him, he gets it.
Still left to be done is a new alternator (he was trying to clean up the existing one, but it seized up), a new water pump (it was leaking coolant), and a new timing belt (since he's working down there anyway). There are still things to do after that, like exhaust work and replacing a leaking valve cover seal, but it will be drivable. Finally.
----
I suppose that's about it for now. In an hour or so, I'm going to put on my sunglasses and walk over to the Salvation Army here in Chicago for my lunch break!
