Monthly Archives: June 2008

discussion, random thoughts

More cars and Birthday weirdness

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So. Psycho Momia’s Car went batshit crazy again in the middle of last week. I continued to have issues with Emmy (my car…). The replacement shift cable I got was a poorly made, not suitable for it’s intended purpose piece of dung. It bends where it shouldn’t, and therefore leaves you not able to shift out of first, third or fifth. I got a replacement ordered, picked it up, and installed it over the weekend with a modification (ok, a hack) that should allow it to function properly for long enough to be able to get the 3x more expensive factory part. Being as Psycho Momia’s car is possessed, her exorcismrepair must come first. Hers could be something as simple as an exposed connection, or as bad as a new computer. I dunno which.

Because of the aforementioned car snafus, I spent most of my birthday troubleshooting, running errands, and in a panic. Not the best way of celebrating. My neighbors, Tony and Stacey, did deliver a wonderful gift – 2 fancy beers in the large economy size. I have not yet been able to appreciate the gifts in full, but I will soon!

On Saturday, a friend of Psycho Momia’s came to visit and help us regain momentum on the attic project. I wish I could say I was as gung-ho as he was to do it, but I can’t. We did get an amazing amount of work done, and got most of the rest of the materials we needed, thanks to his giant work truck. Given that we are in the midst of a heat wave, I’m damned surprised that we got as much done as we did, with no one dying or anything.

Halfway through the day, another friend popped by for a while. This was a good thing, as I don’t get to see Alx much. It also overwhelmed, shocked and all around fucked me up. He handed me an envelope, and said “I’m not very good with cards, but Happy Birthday!” In the envelope was a check. For $1000.00. For a grand. I sat down before I fell down. “I can’t – I can’t accept that, Alx – it’s way too much!” and there began the argument. It continues. I called him yesterday, and he picked up the phone, saying, “we’re not speaking until you deposit that check” and hung up on me. I called him back, and told him I burnt the thing. I was joking – but the thought had crossed my mind.

It’s a grand gesture, and I very much appreciate the thought, and friendship behind it, but …

Any thoughts, friends?

random thoughts

…living in a material world….

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I’ve been reflecting upon many things. Partially inspired by envy, greed, want, desire, and the rapid approach of the oncoming 40th. One thing I was thinking about is the lust for material, for physical goods, for more things. A friend of Psycho Momia’s was up visiting today. He had offered to help us with the ongoing bedroom project. What he had to say can wait for another post, though. Looking in his truck, I felt sudden dire tool lust. Later, I was thinking about it, and came to the conclusion (flawed or not), that I can do all the things that he had tools for with the tools I have – that I don’t really need or actually want a single task tool. Sure, it would make that one task easier, but for the other 98% of the time, it would sit and collect dust.

This whole thing led me down a path to where I realized the only material possession I have that is worth anything at all in the overall scheme of my life – is so small as to be insignificant to virtually anyone else. It is a small circle, made of tricolor gold, and rests upon the third finger of my left hand. As long as I have that, and what it stands for, I have everything I need.