Virginia Breeze

I talked to my friend Eddie Askowe about ways to save money on gas since it now is officially over four dollars per gallon around here. Eddie and I go back a long ways although at some point we decided on different turns in the road as Robert Frost might say.

Eddie is a practical guy and this is what he told me he is doing to save money on gas.

“First of all I took the back seat out of my car. I hardly ever use it and it costs money to lug that thing around. When the kids ride with us they bring pillows and sit on the floor.”

What about seat belts Eddie?

“I didn’t take out the seat belts. They don’t weigh very much.”

I think I get the picture. What else do you do?

“Well I also took out the spare tire and the jack. And since there isn’t anything in there I unbolted the trunk hood and stored it in the garage. Water just runs right through there. It gets a little rusty but rust doesn’t weigh much.”

Really? Your vehicle must be pretty light and I can see how that would save you money on gas. You really have thought this out.

“Just wait a second. I’m not done saving money by lightening the load. I don’t take my wife with me anymore. She gets embarrassed anyway riding with me now so we just leave her at home. So that lightens the load considerably. And then I cut the engine off every chance I get.”

What do you mean Eddie? How many chances do you get between here and there?

“Plenty! Steep hills are easy. But not everyone realizes you can coast a very long ways once you hit one hundred miles per hour.”

OMG Eddie!

“Drafting works wonders too. Get behind an eighteen wheeler and head on down the road! I like to spend time at the area truck stops and get to know some of these guys. You know they will give you a tow if they like you! That’s the ultimate gas saver right there. I always carry a rope because you never know when one of your good buddies is going to want some company. It’s lonely out there.”

Eddie you always come up with unique ways of doing things. That’s amazing.

“Yeh. Be prepared to jump on the brakes.  And wear a helmet!”

“Oh I almost forgot. I took out the AC unit of course. That was the first thing to go but it gets pretty hot in there during the summer months. So I sometimes like to drive around in my underwear. My wife got me these some nice purple ones and they are kind of a fashion statement. Did you know that you don’t have to wear shoes when you’re driving? That’s just one of them rumors probably started by a shoe salesman or somebody who likes shoes. My wife likes shoes and she refuses to come along without them. She won’t dress down to her underwear either.”

“In fact I think she may be getting ready to have me served with divorce papers so that will mean the kids won’t be coming along much anymore. That will save some more on fuel right there.”

Eddie I am sorry to hear about that.

“Thank you but I think it will be alright. I’m going home right now and talk with her. I’m going to propose we just buy a few bicycles and forget about the car. Maybe we can just leave it in the driveway from now on. Turn it into a giant planter and grow vegetables in it. Roll it under the shade tree during the hottest time of the day.”

That’s right Ed. Be a trend setter. I bet you could grow quite a few squash in that open trunk and the vines will be up your antenna in no time. Take care big guy!

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Lifehacker weighs in on saving money on gas

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I hate to complain but I do not feel well this morning. And isn’t that the way it goes? We are having a great time and things just continue to get better and then we hit the crest of our particular experience and head down. We can’t go up forever.

It’s just the way it is and it pays to accept the fact and try to enjoy the ride. So I have this scratchy irritation in my throat and my body feels about fifty pounds heavier. My stomach is rumbling and the computer is not working well. The hard drive sounds very loud. And then the metal chain in the toilet broke and now I have this black stuff under my fingernails from trying to fix it. What is that stuff anyway? It accumulates on the rubber parts inside the tank. So the temperature outside has probably reached one hundred degrees already like it did yesterday. And I have to go to the hardware store for parts.

Also Big Brown did not win the Kentucky Derby because he apparently was feeling yesterday the way I feel today. What’s wrong with him? Nobody knows. Maybe his roller coaster ride hit the crest on Friday and was on the way down yesterday. Too bad he didn’t mention it to anybody. A lot of folks are on the way down today as they think about how much money they lost on Mr. Brown.

What do you do when you feel events turning in this direction? Please tell me. I would really like to know.  But until someone gives me another idea that sounds better here’s the one I use.

I try to find something to do that I always enjoy doing. But it has to be a simple task. And it cannot involve anyone else because they may not want to participate.

Well I am feeling better now and the fact that I am writing this post is evidence of that. Why the turnaround? Because I found some photos from a wonderful day we had last summer and posted them over at PhotoLinkLove dot com. Posting photos takes me to a time and place that was very happy. It also increases the value of my blog. ( So would adding categories and tags but that would not solve the problem). It’s my theory that if you can’t find a way to do this you won’t be a blogger for a long while. And it explains why I have nearly one thousand posts in less than a year of blogging on one blog. And why I also have two other blogs.

I had a discussion yesterday about blogging and fumbled around trying to come up with something worthwhile to say. But what I really wanted to say was this. Find something you truly enjoy about this activity. Something that doesn’t require a lot of skill or sometimes lead to frustration. Something that doesn’t depend on another living soul. And do it when you can’t figure out what to do! Or you are just feeling bad.

At times like this don’t try to plan too much. Try to enjoy the day. Enjoy the ride. Nobody plans a roller coaster ride.

They just take one.

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More writing

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Good morning to you and a good morning it is except that Beth is outside raking the leaves from the infernal tree that has a backward internal clock and drops them all summer long.

Her presence in the front yard means that I have only a few moments before I must go out in the heat and start up the lawn mower.

But I am imbued with strength this morning after the nice comments that have found their way here. I am generally not worthy of these but feel it necessary to try and understand them. Wait. I hear a lawnmower. Never mind. It’s two doors down. That could have been real trouble.

A gentleman by the name of Robert R. Marsh who has developed the really cool similar posts plugin you see around here and many other places has been helping me with something this week. Go look at the photos over at Photolinklove.com and see if you see any difference!

These photo shadows have always put a twinkle in my eye since I saw them in Michael Brown’s blog. They are just so cool and Robert just figured out how to do it and put them here! You can’t just get these anywhere as far as I know. Sadish uses them in some of his themes. But hopefully now they will be available if Robert decides to make it so. Thanks, guy!

But that is not all! Things have progressed rapidly in an upward direction since a squirrel took his own life Thursday night and blew out the transformer out back leaving us without electricity all night long. It was like living in a cave only a very hot one.

But last night was much better as I conversed briefly but nevertheless in a very positive way with Jordin. Yes my dear readers. Just one year after she became the reigning American Idol (plus a few days but who is counting) your blogging buddy said something to Ms. Jordin that made her laugh.

I told Beth about it this morning and she was almost elated! But then she decided we needed to cut the grass. So I must leave you now.

Have a great, great day. And let me leave you with this.

Remember to follow your dreams. But also try to keep your grass from getting too long. And if possible set up some sort of outreach program for your neighborhood squirrels.

Mine need to understand that the metal tubes that are affixed to poles among their branches and homes are not rest stops. They are gateways to squirrel heaven. And it hurts me deeply when they go through that door.

Stay here and gather nuts my friends. And have a good laugh as you look down and watch the sweaty refections on the chrome dome going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth while you are bouncing and flying through the air.

Count your blessings but don’t try to make them all come true in one brief moment.

My good friend Robin at Naked In Eden : Ancient Memories in the Australian Rainforest wrote this about Virginia Breeze and its disorganized captain:

VIRGINIA BREEZE: http://davidnotes.com David’s blog has some of the most beautiful and cherished poetry I’ve read in a long time. It has moved me to tears on more than one occasion. If you enjoy heartfelt honest sentiments that speak of the core issues of our lives then grab a cup of tea, slow down and read some of David’s poems. They are written by someone who feels deeply and has an open heart. You will go away feeling like you know him. They are easy to understand and are mated with beautiful photos. My post this month was inspired by David’s poetry. His writing sets me free and encourages me to be authentic. He also writes about a variety of topics I find interesting, warm, real (and sometimes funny).

You can’t ask for anything better than this in the way of endorsements or morale building moments can you?

Robin is a treasure. Every once in a long while you meet somebody who you feel close to immediately and Robin is one of those people. There is a long list of readers who have fallen under her spell and I am one of them. Her writing is irresistible and she is funny, entertaining and brave.

That last quality I find very admirable. This fine lady lived in a rain forest and wrote a book about her life. Doing those kind of things requires courage.

If we are all unique then Robin is not afraid to share that uniqueness with the world. Why write a personal blog if you are not going to share something that your reader will not be able to read anywhere else? That’s my opinion about blogging and I find that Robin is the perfect example of somebody who does this extremely well.

I hope and pray she will always have time to stop by here for a few moments because I have grown very attached to her in a very short time. She motivates me to continue trying to become a better writer.

I hope you will take time to get to know her too. You won’t be sorry. I promise.

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Have you met someone while blogging you made you feel this way?

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