h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...but then, not much has been going on. Though I have been writing things here and there, I guess. I suppose I can do a quick run through...

Weather's been wintry (imagine that) A couple of weeks ago, we had a storm with 64 mph winds. Damage was bad enough that Arnie declared a disaster area. Had a bit of gorgeous-but-cold weather after that, but now it's cold. There was actually a snow-like substance on cars yesterday morning. The ground was too wet for anything other than slush, though, and that disappeared pretty quickly. There was some hail earlier.

We finally got around to getting broadband again--this time cable. $5 a month for a year with no contract, bundled with basic cable for $14.99, also with no contract. Not bad for 5 mbs, huh? We can get 10 mbs for $5 more, but our computers are old enough that it wouldn't make much sense to get the faster speed. I've been having problems with my laptop, and Tom uses his at work, so that's why I've not been on a whole lot during the week lately. Mine's cooperating with me at the moment, but I don't know how long it will continue to, so I'd better get typing to finish this instead of trying to watch TV at the same time

As anyone who enjoys blaming 2legs knows, Faith and I will be heading up to Salem to visit my aunt during Spring Break. I haven't seen her since we went up 3 years ago, shortly before Grandma died, so it's past time! The reasons it's been mentioned in the blame thread are 1) that 3 year thing, 2) trying to decide mode of transportation, and 3) realizing I'd been comparing wrong... Y'see, the basic choices are to drive myself, with either my car or trading my car for my father-in-law's for the week (my car's more comfortable, but his gets better milage) or take the Greyhound--which doesn't actually come to Crescent City anymore, and it's a 2 hour drive to the nearest place it does come. The first time I compared costs, driving came to a little less (with me figuring gas at a bit more than it should be, I hope, but nice even dollar amounts are simpler to work with) than bus tickets. Then I realized that, while the bus ticket price I got from Greyhound was for a roundtrip, I'd figured gas prices for one-way For a roundtrip, driving's more, even with Thomas' car. But I realized today that there'd be gas money involved in getting Faith and I to Medford, and getting us back home. So with adding those 2 roundtrips, we're back to driving being cheaper again. I like the idea of driving up--that would give me the freedom to try to arrange another Soggy Towel Meet, because Portland is only an hour from Salem. But I've only had my driver's license since late April, and I couldn't do any driving over the summer, because the car we got to replace the one that got totalled in May was a stick, and I can only drive an automatic. So soloing for a 6 hour trip is a bit scary (well, Faith'll be with me, but she's not exactly able to help with the driving) although I'd likely stop every 2 hours or so, on the theory that traveling with a little kid is like traveling with a dog I think I'm actually a bit less worried than Tom is--but then, he's been driving longer than I have, and knows a bit more... I'm thinking a trial run to somewhere a couple hours away may not be a bad idea. The fact that I'd be able to have a micromeet with HN has nothing to do with that theory

So let's see, with these baby-steps with the driving, ... I ought to be in a seniors' home and Faith WILL be doing the driving by the time you get here, right?

Best o' luck with it all, Lady.

Gimme a break--I've been driving less than a year! If I'd gotten my license at 16, like normal people 'round here, you wouldn't be expecting a 17-year-old to just hop in a car and drive 286 miles by herself...

I'd hate to imagine the wife's reaction if some 17-year-old chickie drove that distance to visit me.

Just be patient and , m'dear. Distance driving isn't very difficult.

When I bought my first car, I had not driven in five years. I got into the car and drove home, a distance of at least ten miles, in rush-hour Boston traffic . Nothing bad happened to me. Don't be afraid of driving on highways, Amy...

I'm not really *afraid*... And after talking to Tom last night, it's not so much the new-driver thing he's concerned with, but the fact that I'm a woman that would be traveling by myself (like I said before, Faith will be coming along, but still). I pointed out that on the bus, I'd still be alone, but I'd be surrounded by people. Plus, Greyhound busses don't have seatbelts, so Faith's carseat would count as luggage, and I'm not entirely sure she'd stay seated the whole time. I also pointed out that I could take the AAA card with me, and I'd have my mobile with me, just in case. Plus I could give him short calls when I stopped (since likely I'd be on roaming charges). Either way, I've got to the end of next month to decide--I only have to pay for the tickets 2 weeks in advance to get the good price.

Of course, I *could* have pointed out that I flew for the first time to the other side of the country to meet (and be driven by) a bunch of people that I'd never met before, and that turned out fine, even if we *did* agree that we were all ax murderers

That must have been when the news healines were so full of stories of dead axes being found all over.

do not see "Hitcher" (1986) with Rucger Hauer (Dutch actor who was also in "Blade Runner").
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091209/

Rucger Hauer > Rutger Hauer

Axe me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.

hands knife and instead....


to explain the
if you give a friend something sharp (or spicy) you need add a coin, otherwise the friendship will end.

Even if you do it on Palm Sunday?

only if coconuts are about to fall...

It's a date!

OK, 2 roundtrip Greyhound tickets have been bought. Since my aunt doesn't have a vehicle right now, taxi place has also been called--they have booster seats, so I won't need to take Faith's. It's about 1.6 miles from the bus station to my aunt's house, so that should be fairly reasonable, price-wise.

Should I leave a light on, in case anyone gets lost?

If we come in sight of your porchlight, we'll *really* be lost

So, maybe

You'll know the house ... It'll be the one with a guard- in the window.