In NH, you must register and have your car inspected each year in your birthday month. I'm not sure if that is the case in every state, in fact, I know it's not in Oregon. In Oregon, you register your car every two years, but you're not required to have it inspected (you should see the bombers driving around out there!). May is my birthday month and I always dread this task.
I dread it, because in years past, I have had to depart with a lot of my hard earned cash. Either because my car was newer (the first year I registered my new subi wagon, it was $600) or because it failed inspection and I needed new brakes, or tires or something else expensive before it would pass.
Anywho, I've built it up in my head that it's a big deal. May is my birthday month and as of yesterday, I hadn't done either. I decided it was time to bite the bullet, head to the town hall and the car shop. It was fine. My car is old enough now, that it wasn't too much to register it and the old girl passed inspection.
If all of this isn't weird enough (seriously, who gets worked up about such things, but me?), I had forgotten about my little OCD-ness AFTER I register and inspect my car each year. I'm now obsessed with checking everyone's sticker on their windshield to see if THEY'RE overdue with theirs (for those of you that don't know, we all have stickers on our windshield with the number of the month you have to inspect your car, and the color of the sticker changes every year - last year it was orange, this year, blue). And, I get all excited when I see someone is overdue, for some reason. I saw one on my way home last night and I was all (to myself in my car) "gotcha" to the person passing by. Like I'm the police and going to pull them over?
If I remember correctly, this will go on for the next month or so, and then I'll calm down about this.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
An uneasy feeling
This is the first time in my adult life that I've really felt the affects of a struggling economy. I'm not a fan of this. Not one bit.
My job? Not too secure right now. You may recall that I am a freelancer. There are layoffs occurring at my company. We are meeting today to discuss the viability of our publishing line. When people are worried about putting food on the table, adding books to the bookshelf, just isn't a priority.
Gas prices? Adam is spiffing up the truck today and taking it to a dealership to see about trading it in for something with better fuel economy. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a sign of the times. Just doesn't make sense to hold onto something that is costing you $800/month to operate when you're working part time and going to school. Even though you LOVE it.
That $600 I'm getting from Bush? "Bush Bucks" as Scott calls them...That wouldn't even pay for rent for a month in the Northeast. I'm not sure how the $600 I'm getting is going to stimulate the economy...I can tell you that I am not going to use it to buy a fancy new anything...It's going in the savings account. So that I can eat, when I don't have a job. Thanks, Bush!
Although I didn't agree with everything that Gary wrote in his post about the Presidential Primary (I happen to want Clinton to fight to the end, because I think she is the one that can get us out of this mess - but that's my selfish opinion! I realize this!). He is right, we're in a real mess in this country and I sure hope our politicians wake up, stop being selfish and start fighting for us.
I'm lucky. I have a family that I know I can count on to help me out if I do happen to find myself out of a job and unable to find another. But, I read a story yesterday about how several middle-class Americans are being forced to live in their cars because they can no longer afford their mortgages or rents. The lead story in my local paper this morning said that local Humane Societies are seeing a huge influx of family pets for this very reason.
I sure hope we're seeing the worst of it, and times start getting better. Has the slumping economy affected you yet? If so, what are you doing to adapt? Have you started cutting back?
Other than worry, it hasn't necessarily affected me yet. I'm still riding, etc. But, I'm not buying anything that I don't "need" for fear that I need to hold onto any extra penny at this point. OH, and I haven't broken my promise to myself to not step foot in a Walmart...So, it can't be all that bad. I guess it's just that the thought of what 'could be' is very real.
My job? Not too secure right now. You may recall that I am a freelancer. There are layoffs occurring at my company. We are meeting today to discuss the viability of our publishing line. When people are worried about putting food on the table, adding books to the bookshelf, just isn't a priority.
Gas prices? Adam is spiffing up the truck today and taking it to a dealership to see about trading it in for something with better fuel economy. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a sign of the times. Just doesn't make sense to hold onto something that is costing you $800/month to operate when you're working part time and going to school. Even though you LOVE it.
That $600 I'm getting from Bush? "Bush Bucks" as Scott calls them...That wouldn't even pay for rent for a month in the Northeast. I'm not sure how the $600 I'm getting is going to stimulate the economy...I can tell you that I am not going to use it to buy a fancy new anything...It's going in the savings account. So that I can eat, when I don't have a job. Thanks, Bush!
Although I didn't agree with everything that Gary wrote in his post about the Presidential Primary (I happen to want Clinton to fight to the end, because I think she is the one that can get us out of this mess - but that's my selfish opinion! I realize this!). He is right, we're in a real mess in this country and I sure hope our politicians wake up, stop being selfish and start fighting for us.
I'm lucky. I have a family that I know I can count on to help me out if I do happen to find myself out of a job and unable to find another. But, I read a story yesterday about how several middle-class Americans are being forced to live in their cars because they can no longer afford their mortgages or rents. The lead story in my local paper this morning said that local Humane Societies are seeing a huge influx of family pets for this very reason.
I sure hope we're seeing the worst of it, and times start getting better. Has the slumping economy affected you yet? If so, what are you doing to adapt? Have you started cutting back?
Other than worry, it hasn't necessarily affected me yet. I'm still riding, etc. But, I'm not buying anything that I don't "need" for fear that I need to hold onto any extra penny at this point. OH, and I haven't broken my promise to myself to not step foot in a Walmart...So, it can't be all that bad. I guess it's just that the thought of what 'could be' is very real.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tuesdays!
Tuesday is the day of the week that new albums are released and one of the first things I do on those days and check and see what the goods are for that day. Some days I'm pleasantly surprised by what I find, some days, nothing does it for me...and then, there are the days I am longing for.
July 22. That's the day the new Avett Brothers album drops. I have a feeling it's gonna be a good one.
I'm not sure who else has anything new coming out soon...but there are some artists I wish would share some new stuff...
Brandi Carlile
Dixie Chicks
Classified
Ben Taylor
Ray Lamontagne
Postal Service
Who are you waiting for?
July 22. That's the day the new Avett Brothers album drops. I have a feeling it's gonna be a good one.
I'm not sure who else has anything new coming out soon...but there are some artists I wish would share some new stuff...
Brandi Carlile
Dixie Chicks
Classified
Ben Taylor
Ray Lamontagne
Postal Service
Who are you waiting for?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Hey, this is fun!
I'm not sure if I've written about this before, but I have this odd hatred for road bikers. It's a problem, I acknowledge this. I hate "Sharing the Road" with them. Not all road bikers, not your average Joe biker...But, the ones who think they're biking the Tour de France in all their spandex glory. Especially if they're in groups.
However...When we were out west, we each got a used mountain bike and yesterday, Adam and I went on our first "real" mountain bike ride. Marc told us about an old logging road that he used to ride on when he was in high school and we decided to go check it out. Lucky for us - the thing hasn't been built up yet. What a freaking blast this is...and a whew, what a workout.
There was mud. There were rocks. And, there was falling. If you haven't ridden a bike in awhile, I highly recommend it - you will guaranteed feel like a kid again.
However...When we were out west, we each got a used mountain bike and yesterday, Adam and I went on our first "real" mountain bike ride. Marc told us about an old logging road that he used to ride on when he was in high school and we decided to go check it out. Lucky for us - the thing hasn't been built up yet. What a freaking blast this is...and a whew, what a workout.
There was mud. There were rocks. And, there was falling. If you haven't ridden a bike in awhile, I highly recommend it - you will guaranteed feel like a kid again.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Roots and other things
The other day I was talking to Marc and I happened to look in the mirror realizing it was seriously time to get the roots done, and I thought it, out loud. "You dye your hair?", he responded. "Uh, yeah...since like for forever." "No kidding, I had no idea..." I was pretty shocked about this - how could he not know that those blond streaks come from a bottle? And then I remembered he's a boy and they are clueless about such things.
Anyway, I did just that this morning. And caught up with my hairdresser who I've had for at least ten years. I found out that she is also the hairdresser for the NH astronaut (Rick Linnehan) who recently went up in space - she has his autographed picture on her mirror. In case you were wondering where his styling 'do came from! Who knew my butt sat in the same chair as an ASTRONAUT? I wonder if that makes me smarter somehow, by association?
I've packed a lot into the few days that we've been home. In addition to catching up with my trusty hairdresser, among other things - I've run around with Jackson; gone for a bike ride; taken the dogs to the beach; smiled like I haven't in quite some time; cruised through P-town; oh and, I've had a Tuckerman's or two. Mmmmm.
Got a lot more to do and am looking forward to a summer packed full of good times.
Anyway, I did just that this morning. And caught up with my hairdresser who I've had for at least ten years. I found out that she is also the hairdresser for the NH astronaut (Rick Linnehan) who recently went up in space - she has his autographed picture on her mirror. In case you were wondering where his styling 'do came from! Who knew my butt sat in the same chair as an ASTRONAUT? I wonder if that makes me smarter somehow, by association?
I've packed a lot into the few days that we've been home. In addition to catching up with my trusty hairdresser, among other things - I've run around with Jackson; gone for a bike ride; taken the dogs to the beach; smiled like I haven't in quite some time; cruised through P-town; oh and, I've had a Tuckerman's or two. Mmmmm.
Got a lot more to do and am looking forward to a summer packed full of good times.
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