For the summer, Raq? Or for good? Also, wow! Safe travels!

Where in Venezuela? I spent a couple of weeks in Caracas and a couple in the jungle during my youth.

In woeful news, I just dropped and shattered a bottle of OPI's Nevermore. Fortunately the tile cleaned up pretty well and was black to start with, so it doesn't look that bad, except for the grouty bits. However, I have no more nevermore. Woes.

Ergh, $169 just to change transmission fluid? He said it was like an oil change! And he was confident that nothing was wrong with transmission and sometimes fluid just gets bad even though none of the driving conditions that should do it really apply to me I don't even know I just hope it's fine.

Last month, I drove angry and wasn't careful and got a speeding ticket. 83 in a 65. Just got the docket yesterday.

$370!!

Jesus, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in years, but I don't think it was that much last time. Holy crap. And the docket said I wasn't eligible for traffic school because they couldn't verify my driving history...because the cop had apparently never seen a driver's license before and only wrote down my first and middle name, leaving out my last name. So I guess I have to call the damn courthouse or whatever to fix that so they CAN verify my driving history and it doesn't go on my record but if they don't have my correct name maybe THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM??? But they have my address and car and everything, so that probably won't slide.

Cars, man. Fucking cars.

Heh. Nice rant!

I totally feel your car pain. See File Erin: 1995-Present; Cars. But that was a good car rant.

I am STILL stupid from travel, but starting to get shit done. Slowly.

I have A List. Okay.

Much ~ma for your sister and her baby, Cashmere.

I'm moving to Venezuela this summer.

My, what an exciting life you have! How long will you-all be there?

I'm moving to Venezuela this summer.

That's very exciting! ...is there a lot of anti-American sentiment, or is that just the president?

Wow, Raq! That's exciting! Good luck...

Urgh. I need to take msbelle's friends' plight to heart and get all my car crap sorted out, stat. I will find out everything I need to do and how much it will cost this weekend. Someone hold me accountable, please.

In less stomach-knotty news, my library card is activated, and I am the proud borrower of a shiny, new library book. Have to go clean sink, pack for wknd in Yardley, and then drive up.

***

So much ~ma to your sister, Cash.

Raq, wow! Hey, so Venezuela is the only country I can say this for -- I stayed at the (a previous) US Ambassador's residence there (his daughter is my friend, and another friend and I went with her when she was visiting with her 1 y.o, while pregnant). It was a lovely time, but the stark contrast between the time I was having and the time most of the rest of the city/country was having was, well, stark.

Erin! Hi. That's all. Just glad you're back safe and sound.

P-C, ugh. Cars.

ETA: And before that tuned into all about me, I meant to say, good luck, Raq! Exciting.

I have friends heading to Venezuela teaching a class for the quarter starting at the end of the month. Think they will be back in the U.S. before Raq gets there or I ask about hook you and hubby up with them. Lefties, but also knowledgeable with a lot of contacts and could probably give you info beyond what the embassy or consulate has about things to visit, places to to shop, places to eat and so on. If you email me where you will be located, I'll ask them for tips to pass along for when you move.

Oh, that reminds me I meant to say: msbelle, you definitely need a you! Too bad yous are few and far between. (This is a top reason I don't ever want to move....)