The Story of My Life

As many people know by now, I got rid of the Red Rocket about a month ago since it was pretty much useless all last winter, and this winter was shaping up to be about the same. I decided it was time to get a more sensible vehicle...an SUV. Well, the night I picked up my new 4X4, they were calling for snow, and of course none came. But here's the kicker...we've not gotten a snow storm large enough since then to justify the use of the 4 wheel drive.

I am opposed to SUV's in general, but determined that after the Hell that was last winter, I needed to suck it up and get one. So I chose a nice 08 Xterra with the Off Road package to replace the Altima, thinking that with the Off Road package we'd use it for camping and such, and it wouldn't be a Barbie Truck. But this is ridiculous. By the time I got the Xterra, there had already been a few days this winter when the Altima was doomed to the garage. But since then, the only time I've even had it in 4 wheel drive was to be a smart ass and park on top of a snow bank in the parking lot at work.

Last winter, beginning the week before Christmas and extending through February, we had about 6 major snow storms (with more than 6" of snow each), two of those were more than a foot, and another (the first one) was almost 2 1/2 feet. There was snow on the ground for 2 consecutive months, every day. The Altima was in the garage from December 21 to February 6. I couldn't get the damned thing out of the driveway because of the ice buildup on the street. (Of course, with my luck, the day that I finally got it out of the garage, some dipshit in a mini-van decided to pop a U-turn out of the right hand turn lane while I was beside her, and T-boned me. She might just be the biggest dumbass I've ever met.)

Needless to say, I didn't want to go through that crap again, especially since this year, we no longer have the 'spare' 4Runner that we had last year (having sold it when Dill got his new truck), so we only had enough vehicles for each of us to have one available. Dill was also worried that me and the Altima would end up in the ditch, and not necessarily because of the snow. But now, I have a 4 wheel drive that is usable in any weather, but can no longer spin the tires all the way through 3rd gear. I guess it's a trade-off. I got safety, security, off road capabilities and 31" Bridgestone All Terrains instead of speed, handling, gas mileage, and 18" low profile speed rated Yokohama summer tires.

I'm not gonna lie, I miss the Altima. I had a blast in that car, it just wasn't made for year round driving in Colorado. I made it through 3 winters with the previous Maxima with snow tires on the stock 17" rims, but the brakes were too big on the Altima to put 17" rims and snow tires on, and they don't make 18" snow tires under $1K a set.

I love my new truck, it's got tons of room, it's not slow (ironically, it has the same horsepower as the Altima, but is a good 1.5 seconds slower to 60), it looks great, has a kick-ass Rockford Fosgate stereo with iPod interface, and is quite possibly the most utilitarian SUV ever built. I think I'll be happy with it for a long time. It'll be great if we do as planned, and take it to Moab this summer. But, dammit, I bought it because I needed something to get around in the snow, and the damned snow won't come. I want to play in the snow!!! I want to be able to get around in the snow while other people are stuck!!! I want to roll my eyes at people who bought cars that are a bad idea for this area!!!

Once again, I try to think something through and fate comes back and laughs her ass off at me.

...And that's the story of my life.

A Novel Idea...

Why can't the Democratic Presidential candidates spend half as much time and energy attacking the Republicans as they do each other? Instead, they'd much rather tar and feather each other, making it that much harder to win the general election, than to go after who the real political enemy is. It just doesn't make any sense.

I just received a forwarded e-mail from one Dem candidate's state chairmen that was a joke (not the least bit funny, by the way) about another of the Dem candidates. I'm ready to rip his head off and sink their campaign because of it.

Aarrgh!!!

Good Riddance

I have been told my entire life that one is not to speak badly of the dead, as they can no longer defend themselves. I have determined in the course of the last several hours that piece of wisdom is a crock of shit. I will not apologize for what I am about to say, nor will I sugar coat it for fear of someone getting the vapors. If you can't handle brutal honesty, stop reading right here.

Jerry Falwell died today, and I feel the world is a better place because of it. The man was a horrible specimen of the human race, and we are a better people now that he is gone. The man made his life about hate. Nothing more. Just hate. Hate for women, Jews, homosexuals, blacks, and generally everyone that didn't fit his narrow, misguided ideal of "White Anglo-Saxon Protestants". Evangelical Protestants to be exact.

The man was a pimple on humanity's ass. He preyed upon the ignorant and uninformed. He was a sexist, racist, bigoted Bastard. He used lies and smears to further his political goals...all in the name of God.

Some may say that I am being crude, callous, or even evil, but guess what...That's what he was in life, and therefore is what he deserves in death. He spent his entire existence demonizing others. The man does not even deserve a mere "rest in peace". He hurt too many people in too many ways to ever receive one iota of remorse from me. He was a monster. The only condolences I feel I can express is that I'm sorry Earth was 'graced' with his presence for so long. I guess only the good die young.

So, good riddance, Mr. Moral Majority. You darkened this world for too long. May you rot in Hell.

*For once in my life, I truly hope that there is an afterlife. Because if there is, then Falwell has just had a very rude awakening.
**I know speaking of him in this tone and with this invective may lower me to his level. But, there is no other way to honestly eulogize the man. My other option was to simply say nothing at all, but those of you who know me, know that was never really an option.

So it goes...

Sometimes the pool-pah exceeds the power of humans to comment. -Bokonon (Cat's Cradle)

Kurt's up in Heaven now.

Rest in peace Mr. Vonnegut

1922-2007

Merry Fitzmas to One and All!!!

That's all that really needs to be said. Short, sweet, and to the point...

MERRY FITZMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a confession to make...

I don't know how to say this other than to just come out and say it. So, here goes...

<>

I'm a closeted Hillary fan. There, I said it. Yes, you heard me right, I want Hillary to be President of the United States of America. Every time I think of the possibility of a woman in the Oval Office, I get a lump in my throat. I'm not saying that she's the best woman for the job, but she's the most viable woman we've ever had enter the race, and dammit, I want her to win. I don't plan to work for her in the primaries, because I'm a huge John Edwards fan, but I can't help but want her to win. For all women everywhere, for me, for future generations, for all the feminists that fought for equality (and still are). I want to prove that this is not a man's world after all, and that a woman can be the leader of the free world. I think she'd do a great job, especially relative to anything the knuckle-draggers can pull out of their wing-nut asses. Is she the most in-line with my beliefs? No, but dammit, for purely selfish reasons, I want a woman to win, and this appears to be our chance. I just want to hear the phrase "Madam President" as she enters a room.

As a side note, if she were to win, would protocol dictate that she and the Big Dawg be called "The Presidents Clinton"?

As for my post the other day about people on the left who immediately started saying why they wouldn't vote for her in the general election, that was before I came to this realization that I want her to win. I had an epiphany of sorts since then. I still maintain that anyone who doesn't vote for whoever the candidate ultimately is, is in essence voting for the Republican. My feelings on that matter will never change. My reasoning behind this is simple, see: Nader, Ralph. I will vote for whomever the Democrats put on the ticket...even if it's "The Last Honest Man". (Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go throw up, the thought of voting for Lieberman is more than my upchuck reflex can handle.)

On Hillary Hating...

So, Hillary announced her ’08 candidacy today. And now, just hours later, the blogs are full of people screaming that they will never vote for her, even if she gets the nomination. Well, I’ve got something to say to those people. I’m going to say it very slowly and clearly so that everyone can get it through their self-involved, ego-laden, holier-than-thou brains…

IF HILLARY GETS THE NOMINATION, YOU WILL VOTE FOR HER. WHY? BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T VOTE AT ALL OR YOU VOTE THIRD PARTY, THEN YOU ARE VOTING FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU THINK HILLARY IS, SHE IS STILL BETTER THAN A REPUBLICAN. SO SIT DOWN, SHUT THE FUCK UP, AND ON ELECTION DAY 2008, CAST YOUR VOTE FOR HER OR LOSE YOUR FUCKING RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE STATE OF THIS COUNTRY.

It’s as simple as that. I’m so sick and tired of this mentality in the progressive activism circles. Because no matter how bad you think she is…she’s still a better choice than St. McCain, Guiliani, Brownback, Romney, or whoever else the knuckledraggers can pull out of their ass for 2008.

So, get over yourself. If you don’t like her, work against her in the primaries. But if, and it’s a long shot, she gets the nomination, you WILL support her. To do otherwise is treasonous to your causes.

It’s not “all about you”. Remember, we are all in this together, and a center-left candidate is always better than a far-right wing nut.