Bessie's Replacement

After 15,000 miles this summer and 190,000 miles overall (yes, that's correct), we've decided to retire "Bessie"--or at least replace her. It's funny how we anthropomorphize cars--I'm picturing a sad, sad moment from Cars right now. However, I love the fact that we won't be in the shop every 2 weeks now. For me, it was the experience of DJ and the kids driving from Seattle home with the heater on so it wouldn't overheat that was the kicker to get a new car.

This is "Jim" (at least that's the temporary name--DJ's leaning toward "Ralph"--however, I did remind him that that's a euphimism for something we DON'T want happening in the car). Help us with the name--DJ wants something manly and impressive -- no, Jeff, Jared, Martin, Steve, Charles, Todd, and Courteney are NOT on the list of names. I saw the online ad, couldn't believe the deal (it only has 20,000 miles and was listed at over $10,000 below Kelley Blue Book), drove 150 miles to look at him, and decided he's a keeper. Since he's a Lincoln and not a Cadillac and has been sitting on the lot for a while, the Cadillace dealer was thinking he was a keeper as well (thus, the low price). DJ has trips planned to use the 4x4 feature--and I remind him that 4x4 trips are really designed for pickups and not SUVs; however, knowing where he's gone in the past, it will probably happen again. I'm sure I'll mutter under my breath each time we fill up, but it will be SO nice to drive without worrying if we need to make a repair stop along the way.

Intruders

This morning at 2:30 I woke up to a rustling sound. I'm the only one here--DJ's in Seattle, Reagan is at camp, and there SHOULDN'T BE A RUSTLING SOUND IN MY HOUSE!!!!!! I grabbed my phone, dialed 911, put my finger over the "send" button and ventured out of the bedroom. I checked the windows--nothing; back door--nothing; garage door--nothing; went towards the front door, when FLAP FLAP FLAP SQUAWK FLAP SQUAWK SQUAWK FLAP. Heart failure. Considered expiring on the spot.

Oh yeah. I picked up the 6 parakeets from Judi's house last night.

USA at last

I never posted the "We Made It To The Arctic Ocean!" picture--which they did. Note the lovely beard. While I was in Alaska, the beard made kissing DJ way too scratchy. He's said that he's keeping it through at least 1 Sunday at church down here--we'll see if he makes it through the heat. It's not a nice trimmed up beard. Oh no, not in any way. He's recently been called "Grizzly Adams." Yup, it'll fit in REALLY well here in Southern California.

I received a phone call from my better half (since he has over half the kids, of course he's the better half!) They made it back to the USA--continental one, that is. After months in backwoods Canada and Alaska, with just a few moments in civilized Anchorage, DJ is amazed by infrastructure, factories, and fountain drinks (I got to listen in on a conversation with a gas station in Canada where DJ was asking if it was a cultural thing why none of the Canadian stores had the fountain drinks).

For some animal updates--the grizzly that I thought was tearing up the log was NOT a grizzly, but a black bear (thanks Steve and Todd for the update).