Out of the past

Looking for something in an old journal, I found this (not what I was looking for, but worth putting here). It's from 15 1/2 years ago. I was teaching at BSU, and other stuff was going on, as you will see.

8/26/96
School today. And Shane goes to 1st grade and Patrick to kindergarten. Big day for him. Down in Austin we have another kindergarten kid--Anna. Sarah in 5th, Cory 3rd. In Dallas Jacob isn't 3 but could teach a class. And here Bryan rules.

Leap Day

Today my friend Simonne has her birthday, finally.

I'm not really sure how old she is, maybe 11 or 12. Know what I'm sayin'?

But what I really wonder is if this extra day is the reason for the storm--big wind and big noise and snow on the ground and staying.

I mean, it didn't blow and snow yesterday, the normal last day of February. Going straight to March might have spared us this.

Or is it me?

I think I'm a weather prognosticator in reverse. Because yesterday I stood in my living room, looking out at the beautiful blue sky--and we had reached mid-40s--and I actually said out loud. "It's too late now for any more storms."

It's February 27, 2012

And I'm done.

Taxes!

Oh boy!

Hooray!

Nevermind that I had to pay $316 to the Federal Government. Nevermind that. Nevermind that it cost me $90 to do it here in my own home.

The point is, I'm done.

Now I'm hungry.

When you've got a good thing . . .

Yes, I've had the servicing done on my car. I did pay $125 less than their initial quoted price. I am happy with the service, happy with my car.

After all, it's a 2005 TL, 57,860 miles on it, drives like a new car, looks great. What's not to like?

Well,

• It's not brand new
• I always want a new car
• That 2012 loaner I drove for a day got under my skin, so to speak
• It's more comfortable
• A bit smoother
• More horse power
• Keyless ignition

But my car still looks better, the style and shape of it. I think it's sad when you have a great looking car, classic, actually, in its styling, and you go messing with that.

About 2009, Acura started that kind of messing, and the result? That 2012 Acura TL looks an awful lot like a 2012 Toyota Camry, and if I wanted a car like that, I'd buy a Toyota Camry.

It's kind of like what they do to running shoes. Yeah, you get your Brooks or your NB or whatever, and you love them, and you go back the next year for another pair just like it. But, no.

So no new car for me. Besides there's the money thing. They want 42,000 or more for that TL.

Hmph.

It can be scary

My sister has advised me I should stop looking in the mirror. That's hard to do since a mirror covers the length of the wall in my bathroom.

What I see reflects (kind of a pun, you know, on mirror) what is happening to my body because of:

• age
• neglect(?)
• eating what I like and not what is good for me
• genetics(?)

Yesterday, when I looked I decided, "She's right. This is too hard to watch."

What I saw in yesterday's mirror was that my face is falling down. Really.

I hope the descent is slowish.

I mean, I don't exactly have jowls yet. And I can still see--eyelids not yet too far down for sight. I can still lift my cheeks in a smile or to sing.

However, I am not sure I look like the person I used to look like. Me. And I'd like to.

Honest in my dealings(?)

So I took my car to the dealer for an oil change. While there, I was informed by Travis that I really need the 60,000-mile service. My odometer is 57,800 miles. He went down a list of what that service involves--I sort of knew already. Then he said, "And that runs about five twenty five."

(Kind of a cute way of putting it, leaving off the word "dollars.")

I may have gasped or gulped. I said, "That's half a thousand dollars."

He continued to talk. "Well, you really need that because you didn't do the 30,000-mile service, only the 45,000."

I said I'd have to think about it.

When I got my car back and paid for the oil change, Travis continued his pitch. I said I knew of a guy who does service on Acuras and would probably go there. Travis said, "Find out what he charges and I'll match it."

He said it. I didn't.

Today I found out:

• $400.
• He has been in business 18 years.
• Has worked on Hondas 35 years.
• Only works on Honda and Acura cars.
  
• Is very busy--I'd need to give him 2 or 3 days notice and make an appointment.

This is the guy recommended to me by a Honda owner who takes his car there.

I hated to do it, but I called Travis and told him.

He talked a lot, selling me on coming to the dealer. This after he said, "Okay, I won't be making any money, but I'll match it."

I am going to the dealer. Not that he sold me. That I had already decided to.

Should I feel bad for dealing thus?

The Night Sky

The sky was almost periwinkle blue when I went out. A touch of purple in it. My neighbor and I watched the International Space Station move northeast across the sky and then disappear. I love to see such stuff.

Janice asked, "Wouldn't you love to be up there, Carol?"

I said . . . well, what do you think I said?
A. Yes, but not for six months.
B. I don't think so.
C. I'll have to think about that one.

Venus and Jupiter are bright tonight.

Orion is up hunting for something, and Sirius is absolutely gorgeous, blinking out its colors. Reds along with the blues and greens. Janice tried to convince me it was an airplane.

"If you're seeing reds, it's an airplane," she said. I finally convinced her that it was not moving. It's Sirius, I thought. She went in and checked her star chart. I came in and looked online. It's Sirius.