14 January 2015

Zero Emissions

The heater on our Buick quit.  This time of year, that's not a great circumstance, so I took it to a mechanic.  He said a gasket was broken and needed replacing.  When he said gasket, I was thinking something easy, like fifty bucks.  Then he said, "That'll be eleven hundred dollars please."

I choked.

That's more than the car was worth three years ago when it was given to us.  So, we went to look at cars.  And...


This is the newest member of our family.

It's a Nissan Leaf.  100% electric.  Heated leather seats and steering wheel.  It feels like you're driving a space ship.  It sounds like you're driving a space ship.  As soon as my bum hit the seat, I knew it was love.  This isn't a car, it's a ghost cat we've named Major Tom.

Also, and this may be the biggest reason we splurged for electric, I love that when I go somewhere, I'm not contributing to the smog every person in the valley has to ingest as air (See above picture and notice the yuckiness behind Major Tom).  I feel like a good person.

And maybe, just maybe, a little smug.

05 January 2015

Ho, Ho, Ho.



For Christmas this year, I made my youngest son a blanket.  I was thinking that homemade gifts are the best.  Right?  Don't cost a lot. And are an outward expression of love.  Right?

I also wanted the blanket to be something he could use the rest of his life.  Something he could use as a bedspread, if he wanted.  So he could take my love with him everywhere he went.  

Cheesy?  Yes. But still true.

So, I went to the store and bought as much yarn as I thought I'd need.  I bought a lot of it, and it wasn't the cheap stuff because, as I said, I wanted this blanket to last a long time and look good while doing it.  

Maybe I should have stayed with the cheap stuff.  

I had to go back to the store four times for more yarn.  And then, the store ran out of the colors I needed.  So did the craft store.  It was getting close to Christmas, and I hadn't finished the blanket because I couldn't find the right yarn!  Finally, I ordered some online, but it wouldn't get here until Christmas Eve.  There went any chance of having it done for Christmas.

I'm proud to announce, it's done now.  

And my inexpensive, homemade gift ended up costing more than any other gift.  In case you're interested, the finished result cost $160.

Consider my pre-conceived notions abolished.

*******

May all of you have a wonderful, prosperous, healthy new year.