Cars and More Hot Ass Weather

I'm starting to get suspicious of my car repair person. The last time I had my oil changed the starter in my car went bad and they had to replace it. Friday morning I had my oil changed again, it was a little early but I was planning on getting my car smogged this weekend and had heard it won't pass unless the oil is changed. Saturday we stayed home so the car just sat in the parking lot. Today we decided to go runs errands earlier before it got too hot. The car wouldn't start. I could tell it was the starter, again. We tried to jump it to no avail. Luckily we just recently got AAA roadside service and they sent someone over. He couldn't start it either. We told him we needed a tow to my car repair shop, 13 miles away (the next town over). He said he was the only tow truck their company had in town and so he couldn't leave but he'd sent someone over as soon as someone came back. This was around noon. I called my parents house to make sure I'd be able to borrow a car when we got there. (They live a few blocks from the repair shop). We ended up getting there around 5:00 pm. Luckily we able to borrow my mom's car to go grocery shopping. I just hope it's something they did wrong because I can't afford another car repair bill right now. This always happens right when we have to pay rent. We never have money after rent. Stressful to say the least. The only good part is my mom's car has an awesome air conditioner. I guess that's the silver lining on this cloudy day.

I Hate Summer

I want to crawl in a hole when I see this as the weather forecast for today: High: 104°. We've been having 100 degree + days since we got back from camping (7/13). I knew we were going to pay for an unusually mild June. In July and August every good reason I had for living here no longer seems good enough. At least this summer we have central air, unlike last year at the crapshack 2004, as we so fondly call it, we had a wall cooler that cooled off the area in front of it and that was it. We spent a lot of time with out pants on and only now that it's hot again we remember why there are so many pictures of us hanging out at home in our panties. It's hard to imagine when your wearing a sweater.

SLC, UT

http://www.grist.org

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I received an email today from [Daily Grist] with this photo at the very top. Before I even looked at the caption I knew it was Salt Lake. Having lived there for three years I can recognize this sky line pretty quickly. It is an amazingly beautiful city, if it weren't so hot in the summer and in the middle of a bunch of Mormons I'd entertain the idea of moving back. I miss those huge mountains.

Maybe Next Time...

nin.com

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Nine Inch Nails is playing at the Arco Arena in September. The tickets went on sale Saturday. I had entertained the idea of going, for old times sake, but the tickets were going to be over $100. Doesn't seem worth it when Cindi doesn't particularly like his stuff. When I was an angry 17 year old all I ever did was write bad poetry and listen to NIN on my portable CD player at the stupid church events I was forced to go to [meaning I was too chicken to defy my parents and stay home like my little sister does]. I was especially fond of Broken; very angst. I got off on listening to such hatred and anger while among the picture perfect mormons. I need to get some of his old stuff again... Reconnect with the angry teenager inside.

Sweet!

toriamos.com

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We purchased tickets to see Tori Amos in Concord on Sept. 11th. I haven't seen her in six years! It's is going to be an awesome show, we paid quite a bit but it's worth it for good seats. I just have to remember to get us there early so we can find parking. I think it was at the same place where I saw her for the first time September 1999. She was playing with Alanis Morrisette, I assumed Alanis would open so by the time I got there Tori was playing her last song. I heard one song. But the real kicker is I had purchased the tickets before I had moved back to Utah so my roommate and I had driven back to California just for the show. I cried all the way back to Utah. But I was able to get tickets to see her in Salt Lake City a month later so that [kind of] made up for it. So this show is going to be great if I have anything to say about it!

My Dream

The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail

by Margaret Starbird

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I've never dreamt about a specific book before, that is until last night. I'm sure there is much more to it but all I remember was Cindi and I at a store and we're at the check out counter ready to pay for what ever it is we are buying. My mom walks up to me in tears saying that I had never given back her copy of the above book and she needed it back right away. I said ok that I'd look for it and get it back to her. I end up searching the store for her copy of the book and find it in a pile of used books, [It was outside with tables and tables of used books] I knew it was her book because of something I had written on the front page. I wasn't sure how it had ended up there but I knew it was my mom's book. I didn't want to pay for it so I attempted to hide in my shirt and then my pants but it was making a huge bulge that I was afraid would be noticed. I think I finally did sneak the book out and don't remember anything after that.

This dream is especially weird because my mother rarely ever cries, at least in front of me and this is a book she's never read. It makes me want to buy it and read it now. I'm not sure why it would show up in my dream and especially why I would remember so vividly.

We're Sorry!

Jack [& Luna] is Sorry!

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The woman who organized the anti-BSL walk we did in Old Sacramento has made a new [site]following along the same lines as [this site] made after Bush won his second term. The above picture of Jack & Luna is in the middle of [this] page. They have changed the bill a bit, but from what I hear it still has potential for hurting good owners in regards to homeowners insurance. It's not going to be voted on again until August I believe so we'll see what happens between now and then. I'm just hoping the hype will die down and eventually it will be forgotten about as other "news" takes over, like shark attacks, fires, celebrity trials, or abducted pretty white people.

Sandy Face & More

*The cutest sandy puppy ever*

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Isn't this the cutest guy you've ever seen? We were loading old pictures from when Jack was a puppy, now I remember why we didn't kick him out. I think this was one of his first times going to the beach. As you can see he had a blast digging in the sand. I wish they could all stay puppies!

[I'm avoiding talk about politics for awhile. Too much for my brain to handle right now. We're going camping so I'll update some time after we return. I can't guarantee how soon that will be. If work is super busy it'll be awhile.]

Keeping Choice

Pink Power

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With the recent knowledge that Sandra Day O'Connor is retiring it is so important to do all we can to ensure that Roe v. Wade stays in place. For my own knowledge and convenience here are some web sites for pro-choice and other feminist organizations. I will update as needed or if I think of some more.
NARAL: Pro-Choice America
National Abortion Federation
Pro-Choice Public Education Project
Pro-Choice Resource Center
NARAL: Pro-Choice California
Pro-Choice Talk.com
Pro+Choice Forum
Planned Parenthood
Feminist.com
Feminist Majority Foundation
National Organization for Women

Sad Day

from http://news.bbc.co.uk

London Today

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The first thing I heard when I got to work today was regarding the bombings in London. I found an excellent letter from Open Democracy [here] regarding these events. We have a dear friend who lives in England my heart is with her today. My thoughts are with everyone in England, even those not directly affected have been hurt by this attack. Up to date news from the BBC can be found [here]. What else can be said. I just hope these events aren't used to continue our path of hate and destruction. Don't they still teach "two wrongs don't make a right" anymore? I think the current administration needs to re-take kindergarten; maybe we all should.

I Want This:

Canon Rebel XT

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The camera of my dreams! Some day I will have it and it will be mine. I will take amazing photos and will be loved by all.

More on BSL

[This] is what they are trying to change so that cities or counties can pass BSL. These words were added for a reason and should remain intact.

31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs, provided that no program shall regulate these dogs in a manner that is specific as to breed. [Italics and bold added]

[Here] is the text of the Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dog act. This is what they should be enforcing and if enforced it would work!

I will be writing a lot about this, so get used to it.

**Update**The links don't work, I will try to find ones that do tonight.

Wow!

Good for you The Tribune in San Luis Obispo for writing a balanced article regarding Pit Bulls! [Article] I keep meaning to email the author and thank them, but just can't seem to get around to it. I try and remember to do so since these articles are few and far between. It's frustrating when the only people interviewed know nothing about pit bulls or other bully breeds and simply restate the old incorrect stereotypes about them, or someone with an obvious anti Pit Bull bias [like someone who was bitten as a child]. It's ok to have anti Pit Bull information but at least interview Pit Bull advocates, or vets, or anyone who has experience with dogs because most of these educated people believe BSL doesn't work and owner's are to blame for dog bites and attacks regardless of breed. Any smart person knows that it's extra work owning any large breed of dog and most of us that own them know this and take the extra time and effort to make sure we have well trained and socialized dogs. If you take the number of Pit Bulls in an area and compare it to how many have attacked or otherwise bitten people it's a small number. The ONLY feasible solution is to enforce to laws we already have. Making new laws will only punish those already obeying the law.

Freakin' Sweet Times Coming Our Way

photo by Tom Robinson

The Russian River

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Next week we are going camping with my family to Cassini Ranch which is along the above pictured Russian River. I can't wait to spend three days relatively stress free. I plan to read, work on homework, hike, and enjoy time outdoors with my fiancé. Here is a review of the camp site. It should be great, I've been there but it's been awhile. I can't promise pictures as our camera is still being repaired, it's doubtful it'll be done between now and Saturday.

**Corrections**

I forgot my parents have a membership to a campground just a mile away from Cassini Ranch called the [Duncan Mills Camping Club] which is where we camped out. I'll update shortly!