Know your movies

Hello all you screen savers

Wendy and I tried to watch the movie Knowing, but the DVD did not cooperate. It got to a certain point and would not play any more. Why is it that movies that you don't care about always malfunction so you feel like you have to watch it again? The movie seemed interesting, well for not making halfway through. Never fear though, Netflix is sending a replacement.

Fortunately, well maybe, we had another movie to watch. It was Twilight. That teen vampire movie/series. In my opinion that movie sucked. Maybe I don't like teen drama. It seemed the acting was off. There...were...so...many...pauses in the movie. I could fall asleep and wake up in the same scene. I think that movie made a lot of money because they saved so much in writing the script. It was not the vampire part that bothered me it was same story of the misfit teen girl and the bizarre town. The town they lived in seemed crazy, but I guess if you had vampires and hinted a wolves your town would be odd too.

Some things that bothered me about the movie. Okay first of all all the guys hair. I don't know why but the hairdo of some guys where it wraps around their face like a masculine beehive. I don't get it. Guys in general seem more feminine than the girls in movies today. A second thing was about the vampires. Granted I don't know much, but there were things I had not heard. A vampire does need any sleep. Come on, what is the point in living that long? Or maybe it just feels that long. Then the glitter in the sunlight. What is that about? So sun does not kill them, it makes them beautiful? It seems like recent vampire movies have been going out of there way to debunk old school vampire habits.

So in review...Knowing left me still not knowing because I didn't get to watch it all. Twilight. All that glitters is not gold.

Hmmm, okay

Greetings to you reading this

I saw two stories that made me wonder what is going on. Both had a little bit of irony in them and probably deep down a bit of sadness.

A woman in Florida attacks a news crew for investigating a story about underage strippers. The woman rushes out of the house with a garden hoe. Insert your jokes here because the news channels are already doing it. How does your garden grow?

The second story is a little more sad for you animal lovers. The president of an animals right group left her dog in the car for four hours. The dog did not make it. Apparently the woman did not know her dog was in the car. The dog usually accompanies the woman to work. I guess it was a case of miscommunication since the dog was blind and deaf.

Just two stories to get your day started somehow. Remember always check your place for guests, uninvited and invited.

Clogging away

Hello all you weary or wired

I can tell that school is back to business this morning. I left at my usual time and was greeted by more cars than I have seen all day. Even a motorcycle patrolman was out making noise this morning.

It just seems like so much is going on. Why can't any of it be good? I am sick of hearing bad news. It seems that each year Wendy and I get assaulted one way or another. We catch one break to have it break in our hands.

I was under the impression practice makes perfect. That is not true with life. The older you get the more things get complicated. When you are young it is either be fed or sleep. Then it is no cookie. Then it is go to bed. Then go to school. The get a job. Then the job may go away. A family member gets sick or hears some other bad news.

I wish I had my own island. I thought about this years ago. Something like Fantasy Island. You know where people came and got their wish or relaxed. I have never seen the show, but I thought it would be cool. It could be Parker's Paradise. I would invite my friends to get a break from the world. I would wear a suit all the time, be a recluse, and still see my friends. First, I need to be independently wealthy. Then find the island. A man can dream can't he?

Kahnnnnnnnnn do!

Something to share but nothing to give

You can take it anyway you want too.

Last week was an incredibly long week. It feels like two weeks had been wrapped up in one. No bow however. Not much going on. Wendy did buy a shredder the other day. Now we can get rid of the paper trail. I do wonder about one thing though. You can recycle paper, but not paper shreds? What is that about? Don't they have to shred the paper to recycle it? I don't know these things I just put the materials in the tub.

Wendy and I watched a couple of movies from the 1980s. Well we both fell asleep through one. It is amazing to hear the music and see how they incorporate the cheesy animation. Of course they were 80s teen movies about overcoming youth. The underdog wins and the bully gets it in the end. It is amazing how some actors and actresses look so old, but I guess they were young. Young people play old people and older people play younger people. The circle of life.

Bull me over

Hello fans of seating down and having activity around you

Last night my friend Charles invited me to a Durham Bulls baseball game. Actually it was to help him sit at table for NC Greenpower at a Durham Bulls game. He had seen some information about this online and wanted to check it out. So I had agreed to go with him. The focus give away last night was if you brought an incandescent light bulb we would give you a CFL light bulb. Also we were asking people if they wanted to sign up for a newsletter.

The props were located in a tub, along with a little dolly. We got to the park early and were able to park in the media lot. We went up to the table they had set up for us. Charles and I got out the green NC Greenpower table cloth. They had cups and pens to give away. The pens were made out of recycled material. Needless to say they were big hits.

Three people actually traded in bulbs. We had twelve people to sign up for the newsletter. Charles was at least hoping for ten. It was pretty fun. Most of the people of course would not look at you or just say hey and walk by. Some actually stopped and talked to us. We talked to someone who works for James Scott Farrin, the legal firm. She is in the communications department and was actually in the Spanish version of the commercials. We also got some free funnel cake. One of the guys selling it as he was walking by on his runs would chat with us. On one trip he said that a guy in his section had bought a whole bunch of them. Apparently the purchaser's group did not eat one, so the vendor gave it to us.

It was a pretty good time. I would consider doing it again if able. I do have respect for those that sit behind those tables. I am one that does not make eye contact with people behind the table. The people behind the table are trying to pass the time and for the most part they are passionate about the product. Unless they are the rare exception they enjoy when people stop by to chat.

We did not really watch the game. When we left in the eighth inning the Bulls were up by one run. I have not heard the final score.



Green team!

Birthday wishes

Hello all you getting older by the second the first time around

I had a birthday recently. It was considered one of the milestones. 3.0. People say it is all downhill from there. Well great, I guess I don't have that far to fall. However, some people are saying that 50 is the new 30. I would not have guessed that I would make it past 25, now I am at 30. I am already falling apart. No big deal it is a day at a time.

I don't really see the big deal about celebrating the arrived out of the test tube. I am not one of those people that dread my birthday; I see no reason to celebrate. A birthday is just another chance to be disappointed. I enjoy telling people happy birthday, but I am not really a gift giver. That may be partly why I am ambivalent about the yearly anniversary. I just never think about. The older one gets the less birthdays seem to matter. There are people who go all out at certain years. However, overall, people seem to say another day where people randomly talk to you and wish you well. Most of the time I never do anything on my birthday anyway, so not much to celebrate. My parents are not real big celebraters, that may be the biggest reason, some would say, as to my birthday blahs.

Wendy loves birthdays. She had approached me for weeks prior to probe what I wanted for my birthday. I could not think of anything. Of course they is stuff I want, that I don't want. So the day arrived. I had left for work while Wendy was resting. I get a phone call from Wendy saying there was some kind of mess (crumbs and food) in the kitchen. I had wiped down the counters that morning, so I was thinking what in the world. Then fifteen minutes later she surprised me by showing up at my workplace with breakfast from McDonald's. You ask how can you be surprised by breakfast it happens everyday? Wendy had called to surprise me. She is very sneaky in a good way. She told a couple of people at work it was "big day." Birthdays are one of those things were people somewhat know about, but forget, then are reminded to acknowledge. It was good to have breakfast with my wife. For lunch my supervisor took my out to eat. The night before my brother took me out. Back to the present, that night a friend took me out because we were heading to a baseball game. That will hopefully be another story. Most of my celebrations were meals. I did not have cake on my birthday, which is fine because I had some the other day.

The thing that gets me about birthdays and technology is the updates we can now get. I received several Facebook notes wishing my happy birthday. I am not bragging. This greatly surprised me. I heard from people that I have not talked to in about two years. I guess since it right there on the homepage when somebody's birthday is why not drop a line.

All I really wanted for my birthday is for something not to go wrong. It had been one of those weeks. Looking back I cannot think of anything that went majorly wrong, so mission accomplished.

Throw the lever

Hello all "It's alive!"

The other day I was working with a machine known as a personalizer. No, it does not create Frankenstein's monster or bring anything human characteristics. With the machine you can place people's names on items, for example I was placing names on portfolios.

I had nine to do, which is not too bad. You have a name plate and a group of letters. You place the letters backward to get the right impression. The longest part is waiting for the machine to heat up. The machine heats up and uses foil to leave an impression on your product. When the temperature is high enough I pull on a lever to bring the name plate down on the product.

There is a small lever which holds the name plate in place. As I was working with the first name, the lever broke off in my hand. I was not happy. It was late in the afternoon and the portfolios were needed in the morning. I was very upset. It was not a good time. Fortunately, we had an older model and were able to use that lever. Unfortunately, yesterday we were unable to get the switch in the right position. So I was unable to do the portfolios. I tried, but none would come out right.

So we called it a day. This morning my supervisor took a second look at the machine. He realized the correct position of the lever to hold the nameplate. We put it in place, screwed it in, and bingo. Everything was ready to go.

I was able to finish the portfolios for the meeting this morning. One problem solved.

Time waster

Hello all you rock around the clockers

It seems that the world is full of things to waste your time. What else are you going to do anyway?

Computer- I could spend hours on the computer. Sometimes I do. Most of the time it is looking for something that I found once and can never find again. I try to check certain sites for updates and sometimes I am rewarded. Often I am trying to come up with wacky updates of my own. Mostly they are not worth the lack of effort I put in them.

Television-Why is it that nothing is on when you actually have time to watch TV? Yet, the television will come on first thing when I get home and stay on up until bed. Every few minutes I check the guide to see if anything is new. Re-runs.

Work-Unfortunately, a necessity but still a time waster. It takes away a good chunk of the day. Time that can be spent sleeping, watching TV, or anything else.

Shopping-I know we are based on buy and sell, but have you tried to find what you want? Wendy and I have a hard time finding what we are looking for, okay can afford. So we meander the aisles. Then we either walk out of the store without a purchase or find something completely unrelated to what we wanted.

Reading this blog-Sure it may help you plead insanity, but I know you have better things to do.

Rising to the occasion

Hello all you sleepyheads

I saw yet another article dedicated to one of my pass times...sleep. It was talking about the differences between those that go to bed early and those that stay up late. Those that go to bed early and wake up early (I could be considered one of those) are disciplined and like getting things done. I also saw that they could suffer more from depression. That flies in the face of early morning chipper. I guess because the early bird gets the worm and who wants a worm? I wonder if once you get your chores out of the way what is left? By the time whoever is a later riser wakes up and is ready to start you are ready to wind down. I can relate. Wendy is a night owl as you might gather from previous posts.

I saw that if you toss and turn you might have problems dealing with things. I sleep through the night. Once I am out, I am gone. Then it is morning. I don't let things bother me, until a certain point. Wendy sometimes tosses and turns.

As you know I don't remember much about my dreams. Wendy remembers her dreams.

So it looks like Wendy and I are on separate sleep schedules. I have the morning to do my stuff and she has the night to do hers. So we can always be watching you...

Driving me crazy

Hello all you on the road

You have eight more years to stay off the road. This morning I renewed my driver's license. Yep, it was time for me to get a new one. Well once they mail me the new license. I cannot believe that the cost was $32. That averages to about $4 dollars per year. Driving is sometimes nice, but it costs a lot of money. First you have to have insurance, a fee for the license, and not to mention buying a car. Then there is gas and maintenance. It just keeps adding up. Sometimes it is better not to know.

Here is my experience at the DMV. The office opens from 8 to 4:30. Of course this is when I am work and I knew it was going to be a busy week at work, so I knew I had to go today. So I go into work early to get some things done. Then at 7:45 I am at the DMV office. To my dismay there is already a line at the door. It is sad for to stand in line to wait for something to open. I know I was one of those, but it is still sad. The door opens and people proceed in. There were the young ones trying to get a license, people who have moved, and people me who need to renew. I stand in and get to the counter. The woman behind the counter looks at my license. She gives me a number and tells me to sit down. I sit there for about ten minutes. My number is called. So I go the desk where another woman is waiting for me to take the sign test. She asks me do I live at the same address (yes), any ailments (no). I look into the eye machine and she tells me the read the lines. I read some of the first and then to my shock all the others are blurry. She says read this one, I try without much success. Read this one, same result. Here is a line that amuses me...

Me.."B, V, uh.."
Her.."Those are numbers."
Me.."Oh."

Then she told me to read the signs. I think I did okay on them. She never really told me anything. She tells me to sign the scrap of paper, so I guessed I passed. Then I go over to a group of chairs to wait for my picture to taken. I sit there for about five minutes. My name is called and picture is taken. A piece of paper is handed to me and I am told my license will arrived in the next 7 days.

Overall it was not a bad experience. It could have been worse. As I was leaving there was no line outside the door, but about 30 people seated waiting to be happy. The thing that I don't understand is why they only have about 4 people helping. I don't know. I don't have to go back for about eight years. Maybe by then they will have the process online for renewal. Naaa.

New date, no news

Hello all you staying up this late

I know this post is a little late for me and a few days late. It seems like I have not posted in awhile. I have tried to post at least something everyday. We have been housesitting for the past few days, so I have not had a personal Internet connection. It has been a hectic time at work. This week will be busy also.

As I was walking the dog this morning, at the house where we sat, I saw about eight deer. It would have been cool to have a pic, but I did not have my phone. I thought to myself should I take it and I thought naa. So as I am walking Rustey, I look up and see deer just standing around. they run off by the time we get farther down the road. Fortunately, deer are not mean and don't charge us. If they did I think the interest rate would be too high.

Speaking of other animal news, maybe reptile, I saw a black snake the other day. It was again while walking the dog. It was further down the path, so it slithered off. I am glad it was away from us and not toward us. I am also glad I was the one that saw it. I am sure Wendy would have not been thrilled to see it. I had been thinking before as I walking over roots I hope I do not step over a snake.

Wendy and I had Chinese food today. It was pretty good. It was a new place that was recommended to us. Of course the set up looked the same as the other restaurant we go to. Wendy said it was the best egg roll she has had. I got my usual General Tso Chicken. I may have to order something else in the future. The past couple of times I have ordered it, I have not been able to finish. Of course the platters are known for being big portions. Which I am thankful for because of the budget. It is nice when you can eat twice for five dollars.

So it was a pretty good weekend. It would have been better if Wendy was feeling better. I suppose you take what you can get.

Count on it

Hello all you out shaking your head in disbelief

I did something very stupid yesterday and into this morning. I was trying to print addresses on a set of labels. The label template I needed was not listed in the program I was working with. So I have to enter the information into a new template. I enter then information in and it keeps giving me an error saying that my page size needs to be much larger. I put in all the figures I know how to do and still the same result. I am about to lose my mind. This was at the end of the day yesterday. So this morning same results. I am about to lose it.

I look down and realized I was putting the wrong number of labels down. The total number of labels was 10. It was two across and five down. I was putting that it was ten down. No wonder it was not working. As soon as I made that correction, it accepted me. I was able to get the labels printed.

It seems like I do a lot of empty headed things. I know God is thinking "How is this guy still alive?" or "I won't need to waste a lightning bolt on this guy. He does the damage to himself."

Remember make sure you enter the right information. It really does help. I guess I should be glad that the program is smarter than I am.

Look to the stars

Hello all you out in the great expanse

After many weeks I finally got to see the movie Star Trek. It was an okay movie. The thing that confused me was the new aliens. Granted they were not major characters, but they had cameos of these aliens I had never seen. I know that in each movie they bring out some new species. I thought the movie was supposed to take place early in the series. I don't know, granted I am not much on my trek history.

Another thing was that Kirk was always hanging over a drop. He would do something crazy, that eventually became heroic, and then end up having to hang on. I guess that is why he is up in the stars because he has trouble keeping his feet on the ground.

I don't mind the time shift. It does not bother me. That has been a plot that is used often in science fiction. It has even been on soap operas, in the guise of dream sequences.

I had been looking forward to seeing GI Joe. It may wait until it leaves the first run theatres. the previews do not really make me want to see the movie. I probably will just to see what it is about, but I am not going to break the bank to see it. From what I seen online, people are giving the movie a hard time. At least the movie had a fan with my brother.

It's not you, it's me

Hello all you hiding in the spotlight

I am not sure if you saw or care, but Hillary Clinton was in the news making some noise. Apparently she was in the Congo giving some kind of briefing. I think a teen asked her a question. Supposedly it was mistranslated by the French. I don't know the full details, but it seems the way the question came out asked her about Bill's opinion on a matter. Hillary erupted saying she was the Secretary of State and she was not going to channel Bill.

I can relate to someone asking about what another person thinks. It is sort of frustrating when a person asks you want another person is thinking. The question that always gets me is "How is (insert name here) doing?" I usually say fine and add as far as I know. Do we truly know how anyone is doing or what they are thinking. Some people are easy to read. Of course the more time you spend with someone you should pick up on their body language. Should being the word I use. It still takes me awhile. Until I hear the audible sighs. Oh well, I will get there one day.

However, when you are in the public realm you must be more careful what you say. Unless you like the attention. That is not to say that those in your immediate life don't need special attention because they do. So just be careful what you say. I guess the words of someone ring true, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything." Unless you get paid big bucks to repeat gossip.

Something fishy or acting crabby

Greetings those under the sea

Wendy and I were talking about going to the beach this weekend. Unfortunately that fell though. It was manly my fault because I had my man listening ears. So we went to Wendy's parents. We had planned to come anyway because of a family reunion.

Saturday night we went to a seafood restaurant. It is a chain called Mayflower. It was alright. I tried the fried crab cakes. They were okay. The hushpuppies were like onion rings. It was not too bad. Wendy had fried tilapia. She gave me a bite. It was alright. I guess I had been so used to the tilapia we put on the grill at home. It tasted a little weird to me, but it must have been because of the frying.

So even though we did not get a chance to go to the beach we still ate seafood. Maybe that counts for something. Not much granted. Maybe sometime we will make it to the beach. Sand me your results now.

Talk is cheap, if you do it right

How-do folks on the plain

I admit I was not in the best of moods last night. It was one of those nights where I was not satisfied. I had semi plans, but they fell through. I even gave up a chance for ice cream. I am a stupid, stupid man. Some may say there are the same. I will see that and raise you twenty. Full House with a Flush. I know I do the sour grapes thing. I look forward to something and it needs to be tweaked and whoomp it becomes not worth the effort. Sometimes if I can't get what I want, I don't want anything. Even though I don't know what I wanted. See exhibit A.

Wendy last night discovered something new. Skype. I guess it has been around for awhile, but one of her friends told her about it. Wendy tried and talked and viewed for about two hours. It was pretty cool. I was amazed that our laptop could do all that. All it took was the webcam and a mike, both of which are in the laptop. There you go instant communication. I have seen the future and it shows me friends. The sound was okay. There were a few hesitations. Although I admit I don't have the greatest hearing. It was still pretty cool. The best part was it free from Skype to Skype. The only way to beat free is if someone pays you.

I news it

Greetings you people in 3D

I saw two interesting things that made me stop and stare off into space. (Well here is one that I just thought of. Star Trek is hitting the buck fifty movie. I have been waiting for this for a couple of weeks. I was slack and did not see it, but I still wanted to see the big screen for a small price.) I was turning the pages of the local paper this morning and saw a bizarre news story. The dateline was somewhere in Alabama. A senior citizen woman was cleared of charges from using the restroom in a public place. The court decided to drop the charges. Apparently the woman has incontinence. She was in line at a bank and the teller would not let her go to the restroom. She finished her business and left the bank hoping to find a bathroom before her next business. However, she could not make it and had to go behind some bushes. A cop happened to be (pee-ping) nearby and arrested her. She was out on 500 dollars bail. It is strange, but the maximum punishment for public urination is 3 months in jail or 500 dollars. Now I am no legal eagle, but how can the bail be the fine? I am not sure what will be the outcome now. The funny part to me was the attorney's name...Wettermark. What is that running down my leg? Oh yes, justice!

The next article of interest was a clip I saw while I had the national news on television. A policeman was helping a motorist change his tire when another tire comes rolling by at 60 mph. It just missed the officer and had he not moved a few seconds earlier he would have been "tired." It did put a mark on his handgun. And you thought your job made you feel run down.

Well those are a couple of things to keep me going and going. Watch those skidmarks.

The good, bad, and ugly

Hello to you living day by day

In case you are keeping score: The good is some news, the bad has been the past few days, and ugly has been my attitude.

Finally had a bit of good news this morning. I was glad to hear it because I was beginning to not enjoy this week. Things kept piling up and getting on my nerves. I have been in a bad mood all week. My days have been trying to get even. My tightrope of sanity was about to break.

It is funny how it is the little things that bother me. Most of it is admittedly minor annoyances. I don't think I will be able to do anything about them except stay in the house all day. Wendy or the cats will probably not let me do that.

I think things will get better. Either that or I will go into a psychotic rampage.

On track

Greetings you eternal seekers of the sunshine

Yesterday was however many days we had some rain. It seems we have been getting some measure of rain or storm each day for awhile. I heard that we have been pretty dry recently, so it is good someone gets some rain for a rainy, uh, make that dry day.

I cut the grass yesterday. I do not remember the last time I cut it. It looked high in some spots, but not too bad. It was high as I cut it though. I had not been motivated to run the mower over since the weather has not cooperated much. It seems that most people in our neighborhood have not been trimming their grass either. Our neighbors have a high patch in their yard. It will be tough for them to cut.

I went to the Y with Wendy last night. It was the first time I had been to workout in several months. It was hard. We walked on the treadmill and the elliptical. I was not really sore, just ready for it to be over. It was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Every time I get off the treadmill my legs feel like they are still moving. The elliptical did not seem to affect me. Although it takes me a minute to get it started.

I did get in my exercise yesterday, most of it all in one place.

Moanday

Greetings to those on the brink of insanity

Yesterday was a rough day. I had no intention of getting up yesterday morning. I got a full night's sleep, but wanted more. I woke up just to take another nap. I did not feel like moving. I should have let that be my guide.

At work just about every machine my supervisor and I were working with needed more repair than the job took. It started off with a light, then moved to a folding machine, and at the end of the day our UPS machine. My supervisor summed it up with, "It has been one problem after another." My feelings were not hurt with the end of yesterday.

I hope that today is better because I have a lot of work to do. I hope none of it requires babying a group of machines.

Dream a little dream for me

Hello you dare to dreamers

It is pretty rare that I remember having any dreams. I hear that everyone dreams every night, even if you don't think you do. If I do remember having a dream, then the moment I wake up it is gone. I hear that some people keep a notepad right by the bed to record their dreams. It seems vivid when I first wake up and then the moment I take a step it jars the dream out. I begin the forget what I just dreamed. I think I get the sensation I dream when I go to bed late. I am not sure if has something to do with the interrupted sleep pattern or the dream has to go into overload.

This past night I feel like I had a strange dream. Since the memory of the dream is already leaving this might seem incoherent. What else is new about my writing? I do not recall if I was part of the storyline or just an observer. The parts that seemed funny to me, I recall being an observer.

In one part of the dream here was some kind of fundraiser between Michael Jackson and someone. I am not sure who it was. I get the feeling that Michael Jackson was raising money for Barack Obama. The amount was 16 million. Does that mean anything? In the dream the TV kept showing the money results like a race. It seems like people were going crazy.

I feel like one another part of the dream was some kind of movie. It seems like it was set in the future and there was an alien attack. I remember the president was played by Scott Bakula. He had gray hair and silver shiny jumpsuit. The part that I found funny was he was on the phone talking to the aliens. You know how they dramatize the phone conversation. The lead talks in that low determined whisper. It seems that in every movie the president is on the phone. My funny thought was that is why the country is in debt. It is all those long distance charges. You would think the president would have a better plan.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, those are the only things I remember about my dream. I know Martin Luther King Jr I am not.

At the Car Wash

Hello all you sprayers and scrubbers

Yesterday I had to take a company car to a car wash so that someone up the food chain will have a set of wheels. I did not have much going on at the moment, so I was available. Plus the woman was going to be in the building that day instead of Monday.

So I made my way to the car wash. Don't worry, if you were, it was a full service car wash. I pull up for the attendant to take one of the company's credit cards. Whoops! I am informed that their machine is malfunctioning and at the moment they are only able to accept cold, hard cash. Well dependent on the location of the money. Of course I had no cash. So I ask for the nearby SECU. The attendant tells me it is a few miles up the road on the right. So I go down the road and find the bank. I withdraw money, a little extra for myself too. Thankfully I had gotten paid early that morning. Thank you direct deposit. This was on my card, not the work account.

I head back to the car wash place and now there are cars in front of me. When I first pulled up there were no cars around. Fortunately I was second in line. The attendant took my money and did whatever it is they do. They wash, scrub, dry, and vacuum.

I return to the car. I had noticed that the skies were getting dark. As I fuel up the vehicle at the gas station near the building, it begins to rain. Why is it that is seems to rain when you wash a car? This week however, it has rained every afternoon. It is one of those rains that pours down for 10 minutes then stops. Maybe storms a little bit.

When I get back to the building my supervisor reimburses me. That concludes the adventure of the car wash, the storm, and all that I had to dew.