Bad day today. On the way to lunch with a friend of mine this afternoon, the window on the driver's side of my car breaks. I think the glass fell off the rollers or something. Talk about freaking out. I never drive with my window down ever. People have to beg me to roll down my window, even if it's hot. I just hate wind blowing on my face. I would rather have air come through the sun roof than the driver's side window.
It all started because my friend, who has to have it be exactly the right temperature in the car or she freaks out, couldn't roll her window down. That front passenger's side window has some kind of short in it or something. I've told the VW dealer people about it, but whenever they test they always say it's fine. Whatever. Anyway, the window isn't rolling down, she's complaining like a mother, so I start fiddling with all the windows. My windows ends up rolling up and down a couple of times, but the third time we heard a "kerplunk", like the window fell of the rollers or something.
I'm thinking, damn, it's Sunday and no garages are open, and I can't have a car where the window doesn't roll up. I have no garage space, so I can't store the damned car. I can't leave it out on the street because someone might steal it, wreck, steal the cd player, and the stupid car isn't even paid for yet. In the meantime, we're still driving to the lunch place because my friend is like, "we'll take care of it later." Is she nuts? Is she fbombing insane? I'm not parking my car without a damned window for every nut job in San Francisco to get into.
Luckily she heard the panic in my voice, and I was kind of panicing, and suggests that I take her home, so I can go deal with my car problem. And I'm like, "thank you". If it was your car and the same thing happened, you'd be freaking out too, and you wouldn't for a second be able to sit down to a two hour lunch and leave your car parked on the street somewhere without a window.
So I drop her off and go park somewhere. I had no idea what I was going to do. I thought about calling my insurance agency to report it and get help, but my window breaking wasn't exactly an accident or a break in. I have an AAA card, so I call them but they're no help. Finally I decided to drive my down to the dealers and beg them to keep it for me till Tuesday, when the service department opens. And if they couldn't do it, well, I'd figure it out after I got there.
Driving down the freeway at 65-70 mph with my driver's side window open all the way scare the bejesus out of me. It's something I've never ever done, and it's an experience I hope to never repeat. I had images of thing flying in the car while I was driving and hitting me in the eye or the face, and me losing control of my car and crashing. I know, it sounds whacky, but those are the things I thought about while driving down to my dealer.
I get to the dealers, told them my problem, and the guy I talked to seemed to know exactly what my problem was. Like maybe, I wasn't the only VW car whose front side driver window had come off its roller. Not a pleasant thought. The guy at the dealer was very helpful. He opened up the service garage, and locked my car in for the weekend. I filled out a form, left my key and took two buses to get home.
I could have rented a car, but I decided that it wasn't worth it. I could get myself home on the bus this afternoon, and on Tuesday morning, I could take those same two buses to get to work. Luckily my car dealer is near where I work, so I can go to work on Tuesday and pick the car up in the afternoon. From the what the guy at the dealer told me, it shouldn't take more than a day to fix my car.
Now I'm just worried about the cost. I have a german car, and unlike american or even japanese cars, german cars are expensive to fix. I bought a 10 year extended warranty for my car from the dealer, so I'm hoping it's covered. The factory warranty for my car ended in May. I'm also going to check my car insurance to see if my insurance will cover the cost, if the extended warranty doesn't.
I do so love european cars for their handling, their feel and their powerful engines, but they are just so expensive to fix when they break down. Maybe I need to look at Toyotas for my next car. Japanese cars just don't handle as well or have the same kind of heavy feel to them like a european car. I rented a Toyota once to drive down to LA, and that car handled 90 mph pretty darn well going down I-5. Hondas are good cars, but I've really been impressed with them.
I hate car problems; they depress me. I bought a new car, after years of driving used cars, so I wouldn't have to deal with alot of car problems. I love my VW Golf, but in two years, this is the third time, I've had a problem. First, a check engine light came on and wouldn't go off. I took it and the dealer fixed at no charge, because of the factory warranty. Next I get a notice that the car has been recalled, so I have to take it in so they can fix whatever the recall thing was about. Since it was a voluntary recall, VW fixed it for free. And now, my window falls off the rollers.
Well, there was that other time where my brakes were making a high pitched squeel. When I was in for an oil change, I told the dealer service department about it. Later they told me that my back brake pads were fried, but they replaced those for free since I was still under warranty. Oh yeah, then the light in my visor mirror stopped working, but VW replaced that for free too because of the warranty.
My poor car It's just one problem after another. I love my little green german fat boy car too, whom I call Seigfried or Ziggy for short. My Japanese factory built GEO Metro didn't have half these problems. I'm definitely going to have to think about going Japanese the next time I purchase a car.
Monday, September 02, 2002
Saturday, August 31, 2002
From my church's yahoo groups board, someone posted an interesting article from the NY Times on 9/11 and God, Searching for God During a Tragedy. I'm not sure if you have to be registed on the NY Times website to read this, so be aware of that.
The column starts "Where was God on September 11?" I've never read this column before, but from what I've been researching, Peter Steinfels comes out of the Pentecostal tradition, has a doctorate on religion, and has been writing this column called Beliefs for the New York Times since 1988.
To commemorate September 11, my church is having a 24 hour prayer vigil starting on September 10 at 7 pm, and then concluding with a 7pm service on September 11. I'm sure churches around the country are honouring this occasion in their own way. I think it will be a solemn day for everyone, probably akin to how Pearl Harbor Day is memorialized for people who lived through it.
I grew up in Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor and Memorial Day were big events in school. Each school sent flower leis to be placed on the graves of the dead soldiers. There were contests of every sort in my grade school yearly, on both occasions. Contests to see who could make the most leis, the most unusual lei, the most creatively designed lei, etc. Honoring the war dead was a big part of my childhood growing up. I wonder if it was the same for other children. Hawaii was the only state that was bombed in a world war. Perhaps only in the south with the war between the states, can you find the same amount fervor for remembering the war dead.
You coudn't grow up in Hawaii, at least on my island and during the time I lived there, without being acutely aware that you were in the past, and even now, a target for nations to attack, and attack first. My teachers in school made us vitally aware, that our state for all practical purposes, was a sitting duck in any world war. Still, I'm glad I grew up at a time, in a place, where the war dead were honoured, and memorialized year and year. I wonder if schools in Hawaii are still keeping up with the practice.
The column starts "Where was God on September 11?" I've never read this column before, but from what I've been researching, Peter Steinfels comes out of the Pentecostal tradition, has a doctorate on religion, and has been writing this column called Beliefs for the New York Times since 1988.
To commemorate September 11, my church is having a 24 hour prayer vigil starting on September 10 at 7 pm, and then concluding with a 7pm service on September 11. I'm sure churches around the country are honouring this occasion in their own way. I think it will be a solemn day for everyone, probably akin to how Pearl Harbor Day is memorialized for people who lived through it.
I grew up in Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor and Memorial Day were big events in school. Each school sent flower leis to be placed on the graves of the dead soldiers. There were contests of every sort in my grade school yearly, on both occasions. Contests to see who could make the most leis, the most unusual lei, the most creatively designed lei, etc. Honoring the war dead was a big part of my childhood growing up. I wonder if it was the same for other children. Hawaii was the only state that was bombed in a world war. Perhaps only in the south with the war between the states, can you find the same amount fervor for remembering the war dead.
You coudn't grow up in Hawaii, at least on my island and during the time I lived there, without being acutely aware that you were in the past, and even now, a target for nations to attack, and attack first. My teachers in school made us vitally aware, that our state for all practical purposes, was a sitting duck in any world war. Still, I'm glad I grew up at a time, in a place, where the war dead were honoured, and memorialized year and year. I wonder if schools in Hawaii are still keeping up with the practice.
After two weeks on my low calorie eating plan, I've lost seven (7) pounds. Most of this weight I know was water, but it's a great psychological boost to know that the weight is coming off. I spent the morning trying on clothes in my closet that haven't fit for the last year and a half, and some of them actually fit. YEAH!!! I've still got a long way to go, but it's exciting to think that one day I'll be able to wear everything in my closet again.
I was going to go shopping to check out the Labor Day sales, but decided against it. I shouldn't buy any more clothes until I lose weight. I did buy a clearance sweater from both Lands End and LL Bean last night, but my top hasn't varied in sizes in years. I'll always be a large on top, maybe a medium, a big medium, but never a small. Nature has been generous with me with a certain body part, and I'm the size that some women are surgically trying to enhance. When I was younger I swore to myself once, that if I ever made a ton of money, I would get a reduction in size. But as the years have gone by, I've become grateful for nature's generosity. It's better to have something on top, then nothing at all. Besides, some women are dying, literally, to be my size. It would be stupid to give up what a lot of women want.
I'm hoping they do shrink a little, becuse fashion wise, being large on top makes shopping difficult. Whis is odd, if you think about it. The media would have you believe that a lot of women are getting breast implants. But when you shop for women's clothing, the up to the minute fashionable tops you find only really fit well if you're small on top. Unless of course, you're supposed to want to wear your tops snug. But if you wear your tops snug, then you ending looking really huge, and you get alot of unwelcome stares and looks from total strangers. Besides, then it totally looks you're wearing a top which is one size too small. This kind of thinking so doesn't make sense to me.
I found diet cranberry/raspberry juice at Trader Joes. I didn't know they made diet juice. I'll have to check out other stores to see what they have. I don't really drink juice straight. Instead, I flavor my mineral water with juice. Most juice tastes way too sweet for me most of the time. Trader Joes even had chocolate made without sugar, which I bought just to try. I'm curious to know how chocolate made without sugar tastes.
I rented a bunch of movie to watch for the long weekend: Amelie, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and The Big Lebowski. I'll watch them in between cleaning, ironing, exercising and writing. On Monday, a friend and I are going to Ala Carte Ala Park in Golden Gate Park. It's close to home, I can walk there, and there's a band playing that we both like, The Tommy Castro Band. This event will be an eating challenge, because you can buy scrummy gourmet food all day long. I'll have to stick to healthy low calorie choices, although I don't know if there's such a thing with gourmet food. Plus, I'll stick to a two drink minimum, if I'm drinkng beer and, 3-4 drink minimum, if I'm drinking wine. And then, red wine only. I can drink more wine, because it's served in 4 oz portion, unlike beer or bottled beer which comes in a larger size.
Actually, eating low calorie hasn't been too bad. I just have to really be aware of what I'm eating, and not mindlessly eat, which is what I think I've been doing for the last four years. I'm realizing that mindlessly eating for me, has probably been the sole cause of my weight gain. Ironic to realize this too, since I like to think I'm an aware person. I love how I've fooled myself into thinking I'm an aware person. I wonder what other areas of my life have suffered from my mindlessness.
I was going to go shopping to check out the Labor Day sales, but decided against it. I shouldn't buy any more clothes until I lose weight. I did buy a clearance sweater from both Lands End and LL Bean last night, but my top hasn't varied in sizes in years. I'll always be a large on top, maybe a medium, a big medium, but never a small. Nature has been generous with me with a certain body part, and I'm the size that some women are surgically trying to enhance. When I was younger I swore to myself once, that if I ever made a ton of money, I would get a reduction in size. But as the years have gone by, I've become grateful for nature's generosity. It's better to have something on top, then nothing at all. Besides, some women are dying, literally, to be my size. It would be stupid to give up what a lot of women want.
I'm hoping they do shrink a little, becuse fashion wise, being large on top makes shopping difficult. Whis is odd, if you think about it. The media would have you believe that a lot of women are getting breast implants. But when you shop for women's clothing, the up to the minute fashionable tops you find only really fit well if you're small on top. Unless of course, you're supposed to want to wear your tops snug. But if you wear your tops snug, then you ending looking really huge, and you get alot of unwelcome stares and looks from total strangers. Besides, then it totally looks you're wearing a top which is one size too small. This kind of thinking so doesn't make sense to me.
I found diet cranberry/raspberry juice at Trader Joes. I didn't know they made diet juice. I'll have to check out other stores to see what they have. I don't really drink juice straight. Instead, I flavor my mineral water with juice. Most juice tastes way too sweet for me most of the time. Trader Joes even had chocolate made without sugar, which I bought just to try. I'm curious to know how chocolate made without sugar tastes.
I rented a bunch of movie to watch for the long weekend: Amelie, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and The Big Lebowski. I'll watch them in between cleaning, ironing, exercising and writing. On Monday, a friend and I are going to Ala Carte Ala Park in Golden Gate Park. It's close to home, I can walk there, and there's a band playing that we both like, The Tommy Castro Band. This event will be an eating challenge, because you can buy scrummy gourmet food all day long. I'll have to stick to healthy low calorie choices, although I don't know if there's such a thing with gourmet food. Plus, I'll stick to a two drink minimum, if I'm drinkng beer and, 3-4 drink minimum, if I'm drinking wine. And then, red wine only. I can drink more wine, because it's served in 4 oz portion, unlike beer or bottled beer which comes in a larger size.
Actually, eating low calorie hasn't been too bad. I just have to really be aware of what I'm eating, and not mindlessly eat, which is what I think I've been doing for the last four years. I'm realizing that mindlessly eating for me, has probably been the sole cause of my weight gain. Ironic to realize this too, since I like to think I'm an aware person. I love how I've fooled myself into thinking I'm an aware person. I wonder what other areas of my life have suffered from my mindlessness.
I saw XXX tonight. First of all, my friend Mel was right. Triple Ex is a chick flick. Come to think of it, Black Hawk Down was a total chick flick too. Vin Diesel is damned handsome! I think if I saw this guy walking down the street, he'd probably scare me half to death and I'd cross the street to get away from him. In a movie however, Diesel is so yummy looking. I saw the previews for Triple Ex when I went to see Spiderman. The teenybop girls and I were oohing and awing over Diesel's bald head and tatoos. The movie did not disappoint.
Despite what the reviews said, I thought the movie rocked. The action scenes were fantastic. The special effects were incredible. I got an adrenaline rush just watching the movie, which lasted for hours afterward. The head banging metal music was also just great. All action and special effects movie should have a headbanging metal soundtrack. Take the action, special effects, the adrenaline rush, the fantastic music, and stick a drop dead gorgeous only in the movies guy and you have the makings of total chick flick!
I can't get over my reaction to Diesel, because he's really not very good looking. He exudes this total animal attraction and charisma that totally reached out to me from the screen. My reaction to him is similar to my reaction to Prince. I don't think Prince is cute at all, but when I see him, he just looks like the most sexiest guy on earth.
Part of Triple Ex's attraction has to be those tatoos. I've never dated a man with tatoos, and probably never will either, but that doesn't mean I don't find men with tatoos totally attractive. I am definitely buyng the XXX DVD when it comes out.
I wonder if moviemakers know that some women love movies with beautiful men, and that critics are so wrong when they say Divine Secrets of YaYa Sisterhood is a chick flick. YaYa is not a chick flick. Triple Ex is a chick flick. What woman wants to see other women on screen, when they can see pretty boys. It's a no brainer!
Other total chick flicks are:
The Lord of the Rings - just for Legolas alone, but it's also full of pretty boys of all varieties including Sam.
Black Hawk Down - a movie with young and pretty military boys, come on, if this isn't a girl's movie, I don't know what is.
Any Keannu Reeves movie - because IMHO, he is the ultimate studmuffin!
Top Gun - again, young and pretty military boys, and a must watch over and over again beach volleyball scene.
Any Tom Cruise movie - since he's quite a dish as well.
I'll add Nicholas Cage, John Travolta movies to the list as well, because well, despite their less than perfect looks, these guys are really good looking.
Any Russel Crow movie - great actor, and wild and good looking in that untamable Aussie way
Brad Pitt and George Clooney movies are not chick flick movies, at least for me. Can't say the same for other women.
Any Ewan McGregor movie - another great actor who does a variety of roles, loved him in Little Voice and as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he's got a very boyish pretty face.
I'm sure there are more movies to add to the total chick flick list, but I can't think of any right now.
I never saw The Fast and Furious, but I think Vin Diesel is in it. I'm sure the movie will make my chick flick list because Diesel is in it, but I'll reserve judgment till I see the movie for myself.
I'm still reeling over how good looking Vin Diesel was in the movie. Talk about total animal attraction for a movie star! Scary!!! Maybe the movie makers had subliminal messages placed on Diesel's body, which said things like SEXY, HOT, STUDMUFFIN, YUMMY, HUNK, etc. Nothing else explains my reaction, or that of my friends as well.
Despite what the reviews said, I thought the movie rocked. The action scenes were fantastic. The special effects were incredible. I got an adrenaline rush just watching the movie, which lasted for hours afterward. The head banging metal music was also just great. All action and special effects movie should have a headbanging metal soundtrack. Take the action, special effects, the adrenaline rush, the fantastic music, and stick a drop dead gorgeous only in the movies guy and you have the makings of total chick flick!
I can't get over my reaction to Diesel, because he's really not very good looking. He exudes this total animal attraction and charisma that totally reached out to me from the screen. My reaction to him is similar to my reaction to Prince. I don't think Prince is cute at all, but when I see him, he just looks like the most sexiest guy on earth.
Part of Triple Ex's attraction has to be those tatoos. I've never dated a man with tatoos, and probably never will either, but that doesn't mean I don't find men with tatoos totally attractive. I am definitely buyng the XXX DVD when it comes out.
I wonder if moviemakers know that some women love movies with beautiful men, and that critics are so wrong when they say Divine Secrets of YaYa Sisterhood is a chick flick. YaYa is not a chick flick. Triple Ex is a chick flick. What woman wants to see other women on screen, when they can see pretty boys. It's a no brainer!
Other total chick flicks are:
The Lord of the Rings - just for Legolas alone, but it's also full of pretty boys of all varieties including Sam.
Black Hawk Down - a movie with young and pretty military boys, come on, if this isn't a girl's movie, I don't know what is.
Any Keannu Reeves movie - because IMHO, he is the ultimate studmuffin!
Top Gun - again, young and pretty military boys, and a must watch over and over again beach volleyball scene.
Any Tom Cruise movie - since he's quite a dish as well.
I'll add Nicholas Cage, John Travolta movies to the list as well, because well, despite their less than perfect looks, these guys are really good looking.
Any Russel Crow movie - great actor, and wild and good looking in that untamable Aussie way
Brad Pitt and George Clooney movies are not chick flick movies, at least for me. Can't say the same for other women.
Any Ewan McGregor movie - another great actor who does a variety of roles, loved him in Little Voice and as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he's got a very boyish pretty face.
I'm sure there are more movies to add to the total chick flick list, but I can't think of any right now.
I never saw The Fast and Furious, but I think Vin Diesel is in it. I'm sure the movie will make my chick flick list because Diesel is in it, but I'll reserve judgment till I see the movie for myself.
I'm still reeling over how good looking Vin Diesel was in the movie. Talk about total animal attraction for a movie star! Scary!!! Maybe the movie makers had subliminal messages placed on Diesel's body, which said things like SEXY, HOT, STUDMUFFIN, YUMMY, HUNK, etc. Nothing else explains my reaction, or that of my friends as well.
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