Cars can truly fuck with you. I'd been tending to mine to keep up with its various ailments, but it fooled me. I was driving home last night on the 290 and noticed a smell. No big deal really because the neighborhood by the big blue water tour does have a bit of a fume about it. As I made the turn onto the 33, I noticed my radiator gauge. It was redlining like an over modulated stereo. In a word, Fuck! I pulled over on the 33 (good times, there) and waited for a bit. Radiator didn't blow, but I think it was getting ready to. After about 20 minutes of sheer nerve wracking bliss, I got some coolant out of my trunk and refilled the radiator. Thanksfully it didn't pee all over the road, so I think the radiator might be salvagable.

Anyway, I get back into the car and turn the key. Nothing, nothing turns over, nothing happens (except for the sinking of my morale). With a feeling of dread, it's starting to get dark so I take the plunge and call Triple A and my Dad. Triple A actually asks if I'll be with the car. No place else to go. Customer service at Triple A wants to know if there is a milage marker. There is one right outside the window, with absolutely nothing on it. I tell her the only thing useable is the Harlem Rd exit sign is a few hundred feet away. Tow shows up and wouldn't you know it, the car starts right up. I forgot that it has a few sensors to totally keep it from imploding. Runs like a champ, but considering it nearly fried itself, I don't trust it. He tows it out to the garage in Clarence where Dad is waiting.

The folks are using their cache with the garage guy for mercy since my guy on Hertel (Hertelstrip.org?) doesn't have any overnight space. A beer and a couple of burgers at the folks house and I'm in their camry on my way back to the city, arriving at my door 3 hours later than usual.

Argh!

As much as it sucks, I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if the car decided to have this fit while I was driving back from work at the Bills game. Given the traffic, the tow truck could have seen me, but never would have connected with me. A pain in the shorts to be sure. Kills any new computer aspirations that I may have had.

Cars can suck.

There is something bizarre about the atmosphere at Bills games akin to Lord of the Flies. There is a strange willingness among people to part with $6.50 for a papercup full of semi-cold Labatt's. It's enough to make this working stiff look forward to the second half when the beer stops.

Rain was nicely intermittent until the precise moment I got to clock out and walk to my car. White, wet t-shirts are not a good look for me. Anyway, during the game I got to break up a spat between two guys basically giving each other the finger from a few rows away, two guys way too old enough to now better. One drunken sot stomped passed me dozens of times during the day, only to go off on a rant at the end of the game. Both the sheriff's deputy and I told him, if you had an issue, probably would have been better to speak up when the trouble was happening, but whatever....

Interesting hush over the stadium when the Bills' Kevin Everett had his accident. The stadium scoreboard showed non-descript ads and about 2/3s of the stadium couldn't tell anything except that it was it was something bad, confirmed when the ambulance drove on to the field. Never saw 80,000 people hush like that. Once the ambulance left the field, it was surreal as eventually it turned back into a football game again.

Busted a few folks who smuggled beer in and eventually had to remind myself why I do this again. Then I remembered, had to buy a 90.00 graphic calculator for my lovely middle child's algebra studies as well as a few dollars more toward my high schoolers wants/needs. After swimming to my car, I was thankful for the fact that I prograstinate. My beach bag was sitting in the trunk complete with a sorely needed towel. Driving home, I was reminded that my omelette at Spot was a long time ago, so I left the cooking to Mr. Pizza -- always a wise choice.

Got tickets for Springsteen in Toronto so that capped the weekend appropriately.

Interviewed (as some of you know) for a gig with the Buffalo Zoo doing marketing & p.r. and Web design and other stuff (Basically all the cool things I used to get do for Adelphia). I like to think it went well. My interviewer was very cool, the type you can see yourself working for pretty easily. It's a nice environment and I hope it comes to pass. I like my chances.

It had an ominious beginning. When else do you have to really dress up except when it's going to be 90 outside. I could foresee the flop sweat attack Wednesday night. The change to the hot weather brought on a sinus headache of epic proportions so I didn't write much down. All that was sticking in my brain was some banter from (e:jenks) and (e:imk2) about the power of guys in good suits. Felt like hell but got this far.



I didn't put the jacket on till I got to the security extrance. Anyway, the session itself went well. There is something to be said for just winging it and going with your gut. Trouble is most times my guts have shit for brains. But, I'm optimistic. And if I get further, I'm sure I'd drop cable in a heartbeat. So, consider this an official request for continued good vibes. I think the yellow submarine tie should put me in the right place. It would be nice to be 9 to 5 ish again. The 11 to 7 I currently works stinks to high heaven, but it did put me in the right place to get soaked watching Elvis Costello last night.

Off to finish buying school supplies. Enjoy the cooler day, peeps

First day of school and my younger kids bus was only 20 minutes late, which isn't bad all things being equaled. Darling middle child wanted me to drive them in, as "the morning bus is when all the throwing up is done." Ever was it thus...

Their school is temporarily relocating so the new neighborhood is a little weird. They get to change from the eccentricities of the Clinton-Jefferson neighborhood for the vicissitudes of the UB Minnesota neighborhood, where the biggest obstable is leftover UB kegs from the weekend.

Funny watching the dynamic. The three year old at the stop can't wait. My guys hop on the bus and sit on the side where they cannot see me and immediately look the other way. Once you've been driven I guess, it's tough to go back.

On other fronts, I ran a few errands on the way home last night and stole a look for my zoo appt tomorrow. Park visitors sometimes lose their brains. I was following one car. A guy just starts walking in front of that car without regard that there is a car coming. Sad really, when a moron will take kids into the street without regard to the fact there may be cars coming. Butthead.

Got to put a camera in my car. Hellacious accident on Sheridan yesterday morning that blocked off a section of the street on my way to work. Last time I saw that amount of cop cars in Amherst the walmart had shoplifters.

Funny thing with my interview tomorrow. My daughter goes to school with the nephew of my interviewer. It may be be the first conference in my experience arranged with the assistance of Facebook. Who the hell knows?

Ah well, Happy Birthday, (e:Ladycroft)

and I believe the J is silent.

I've never seen anybody have a good time on the 5K's, 3K's, the Por que's that seem to be prevalent around here. Bullfeathers had their ode to spinal surgery on Friday night and the only thing is succeeded in doing was making it impossible to cross Elmwood at one of the busier times of the day. I'm enjoying morning coffee and another Labor Day "Fun Run" is twaddling up Delaware beneath my porch.

The irony of the title is that the only fun is being had by the Buffalo Motorcycle cops enjoying a morning of cushy duty. Runners are running up my side of the street and by Timon Towers, a biker cop actually found a car to pull over.

Too much work for Labor Day in my eye. Think I'll get another damn fine cup of joe.

Enjoy the day off, peeps