Me and my Mini

Everyone who knows me knows that I've been obsessed with the Mini Cooper for the past three years. When they first came out, there was an ad for them in a magazine with a punch-and-fold yellow Mini. I punched and I folded. I started saving for a real Mini of my own. To inspire me and satisfy some bit of my need for Mini, I bought a little metal toy Mini. I saved some more. And today I am the proud owner of a 2005 Mini Cooper!

The Politics Test

I took Michelle's suggestion and took the Politics Test (link below). I'm so glad that I didn't come out a Libertarian. I hate Libertarians. I once took the "Are You a Libertarian?" test at the Minnesota State Fair. It was a funky plywood board with toggle switches for yes and no, and a column of lights. For each question, you flipped the toggle to the yes or no position, and the light would light up if you gave the Libertarian answer. On the first several questions -- things about privacy, civil liberties, etc -- I was lighting all the lights and getting really worried. Then came the questions about taxes and gun control, etc., and no more lights were lighting. I'm not a Libertarian. Period.

Here are my results (no surprises, although I would have thought I'd have gotten a higher economic liberal score). I'm a tad left of Michelle.

You are a Social Liberal (88% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (6% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid

Lost Weekend

I've been taking a little break from blogging while I was getting my new computer. First, there was the endless time configuring (and reconfiguring) it on the Dell website till I was sure that I had the right stuff for the best price possible. After I placed the order, I obsessively tracked it on the UPS site as it made its way to Massachusetts. In the meantime, I had to burn many, many CDs to get my stuff off the old computer -- seven CDs for just the music, not to mention the fonts, clip art, and other junk. While all this was going on, I listened to the death rattle of the six-year-old Gateway and hoped that it would hang on for just a few more days.

The new computer arrived on Friday, and I spent what seems like the entire weekend setting it up. I think it took as much time to disassemble the old computer as it did to set up the new one. I now have empty boxes and old components everywhere. I have to figure out how to give some things away (old inkjet printer), sell some things (old speakers & subwoofer, external CD drive/burner) and recycle the rest. I have no idea how I'm going to get the gigantic old monitor downstairs and out of the house. How did I ever get it in here in the first place?

Now I know why I kept my computer for 6 years, my car for 13, and have appliances that are over 20 years old. This is a ton of work! But soon I should be able to turn my attention to having some adventures and blogging about them.

Grievous Angel

I had dinner with my pal Dan last night and got caught up on things. His daughter, Jessica Hundley, has just written a bio of Gram Parsons in conjunction with Polly Parsons, Gram's daughter. Grievous Angel: The Authorized Biography of Gram Parsons is due to be released in November.

Shasta Airflyte 1958

I'd love to have one of these.