Rhys has a request:
I want to ask you a special favor.
Can you imagine spending six months traversing some of the most gorgeous, and treacherous, wilderness in the world? How about spending six months walking through wildly varied landscapes including the scorching desert where the average temperature is 122 degrees? Or through the most rattlesnake-infested portions of America? Or down icy mountains so slippery, an ice axe is required to avoid plunging to certain death?
I will be doing just that. In March 2007, I will begin my six month hike up the Pacific Crest Trail, the second longest hiking trail in America. Winding its way from Mexico to Canada, the Pacific Crest Trail is nearly 2700 miles of extreme diversity, passing through six ecozones and offering amazing scenery and adventure, including multiple encounters with wildlife.
Is it any wonder that less people have completed this journey than have climbed Mount Everest?
As a woman especially, I think it is critical to test ourselves until we find our hidden reserves of determination and strength, and this is the perfect opportunity for me to do that, and perhaps inspire others to do the same.
Boredom is the biggest enemy on the trail, and sometimes you just need to distract yourself. With no TV, radio, or Internet connection, books are the only respite.
I am a voracious reader and can’t sleep without reading for a few hours first, so…I’ll need lots of books for this journey. Would you be willing to lend any paperbacks to me? Old books, dusty books, your 6th grade diary…whatever you can spare!
I love thriller/mystery/horror/woman detective/medical examiner/etc. type fiction, but will gladly accept anything you think may entertain me.
Thank you!!!
She also said I will mail the books back in good condition, or donate them to the local library in their name when through reading them, whatever the person prefers.
I’m writing a book about the hike, and will be giving presentations and motivational speeches afterwards. I’m planning on donating all proceeds from these to my local Humane Society, so there will be a benefit beyond just providing me entertainment.
I think this is SO COOL, and I know that y’all can help out here and keep Rhys in enough reading material for six months.
You can reach Rhys via her website, or by email: rhysalexander (AT) gmail (DOT) com
* * *
If I wanted to buy something that made it possible for me to listen to my iPod in the car, what would y’all recommend? I bought a cheap thing at Target last month and tried it out, but couldn’t get it to work without being static-y, which I suppose is the price you pay for buying the cheap thing, so I returned it. I don’t like to listen to my iPod via headphones in the car, so now I need your help.
Recommendations, please!
* * *
A few months ago, when we had first made the offer on the house but hadn’t yet closed on it, I was doing some looking around online, and I found a recipe for homemade sauerkraut. I like sauerkraut, so I was all “Hey! I should make sauerkraut with the cabbage we grow in our garden!”, and then I said “Oh, but my food processor is kind of a piece of crap. I should look for a new food processor!”
So I moseyed on over to Amazon and looked at the food processors, and as I often do when I’m looking at things and find one that I like and want to remember which one I wanted, I added it to my wish list.
Then I realized that making your own sauerkraut is a long process that involves fermenting it and shit like that, and I shrugged and said “Oh THAT sounds like a pain in the ass” and I went along my merry way.
When Fred’s father and stepmother were looking for ideas for me for my birthday, Fred told them anything from my wish list would be fine.
Which is how I ended up with a
7-cup Kitchenaid food processor in black sitting on the floor of the dining area of the kitchen for the last month or so. I kind of didn’t really need the food processor, and in fact had I gotten the receipt with the food processor, I would have sent it back to Amazon, but I didn’t have the receipt so I shrugged and figured it would come in handy at some point in the future, and after all we were going to have plenty of room for it in the kitchen in Smallville, so there you go.
Yesterday I made
CORE Salsa Meatloaf for dinner, which involves much shredding, and so I finally took the food processor out of the box and set it up.
Oh my GOD. I love the holy hell out of this food processor! It’s quiet and it does the job like nobody’s business, and it shreds like a motherfucker and IT FUCKING ROCKS.
I am realizing belatedly that it’s an AWESOME gift – I think the best gifts are the ones you really didn’t want all that much, but once you’ve got ’em, you realize you TOTALLY wanted ’em and will love and use them forever – and now I am struck with the urge to shred, chop, and dice everything I get my hands on.
* * *
Because I am a stupidhead, when I realized we were running out of checks, I ordered another box of them with our Madison address on them, which will probably take us a year to go through because we don’t write checks all that often. I got another set of personalized picture checks, only instead of using
this picture of Sugarbutt (still one of my favorites) like I did on the last batch of checks, I used
this picture of Jack Frost.
I thought it was an appropriate picture to use, considering how much I hate writing checks. And it cracks me up every time I look at my checkbook.
(I order my checks from
American Bank Checks.)
* * *
Last week, the spud’s tire went flat, necessitating a call to AAA because Fred
is not a man couldn’t figure out where to put the jack. The spud drove around on her spare tire for a day, then went to the oil change place to see about getting her tire patched. They don’t do tire patching at the oil change place, it appears, so she went to Wal-Mart, where she cooled her heels for a good hour or so to find out that (1) They couldn’t patch the tire, there was too much damage and (2) They didn’t carry the tire that would fit her car.
Fred told her to just give it up for the day and that the next day she could run over to Firestone and see about getting a new tire. He told her we’d pay for half of it, because he’s nice that way.
The next day she went over to Firestone, and told the guy she needed a new tire. The guy looked it up and told the spud that the tire was going to cost $200.
Then he lectured her, saying “This is what people don’t think about! They buy those little cheap cars, and don’t think about the fact that the tires are very expensive!”
The spud called Fred to tell him what the guy had said, then said that the guy was going to look at the tire and see if it could be patched. Meanwhile, Fred called Suzuki to see how much it would cost for a new tire.
$100 at Suzuki, though they had to order it.
“If they can’t patch the tire, just thank him and come home,” Fred said.
When the spud was on her way home, Fred and I sat and talked about how it was utterly ridiculous that the guy would quote her a price like $200 for a tire. Because MY ASS does a tire cost $200. I’ve never paid much more than $100 for a tire in my entire life, and before you’re all “That’s why you have to keep buying tires, because you buy the cheap ones!”, let me tell you that if I’ve bought more than eight tires in 23 years, I’d be amazed.
Fred got an idea, and called the Firestone on the other side of Huntsville.
“Could you tell me how much it would cost for a tire for a 2004 Suzuki Aerio SX?” he asked, listened for a few moments, then thanked the guy and hung up.
“106.23, installed.”
I am telling you, I was so pissed I could barely see straight. I was thisclose to grabbing the spud, driving back to Firestone and finding the asshole she’d spoken to so I could say “Is it because my poor sweet baby girl is
young, or because she’s
female, that you are under the impression that she’s your stupid little bitch and you can FUCK WITH HER?” and then castrate him.
Only before I could do that (’cause I was GONNA) Fred called Firestone and said “Can you tell me why it is that I can get a tire for…” etc.
The guy spluttered and then said he didn’t see on their system that they had any such tire, and Fred said, with the supreme self-assurance that only comes with the complete and utter knowledge that you are in the RIGHT and the other motherfucking fuckheaded asshole is in the WRONG, “Well, his name is (whatever) and you can surely call him at (wherever) and I’m sure he’d be happy to tell you about the less expensive tire!”
And the guy spluttered some more and said he’d call the other guy and hung up.
Fred went off to take a bath and the spud went off to hang out with her friends and I sat on my ass in front of the computer (which is shocking, really, ’cause I never do THAT) and a while later the phone rang. Caller ID told me it was Firestone, so I answered the call.
“Is this Miss And3rson?” the man on the other end said.
“It is,” I said, icicles dripping off each word. I judiciously left off the “You fucking motherfucking asshole.” part.
“I guess I talked to your father earlier?” he said.
“You spoke to my husband,” I said. My entire life, people seem to think I’m like 10 years old when I talk to them on the phone. I DO NOT SOUND LIKE A LITTLE KID, FUCKERS.
“Oh, your husband. Could I speak to him, please?” he said.
Now, I ask you. Why was it necessary to determine my relationship to Fred before he asked to speak to him? How is it his business? This is the sort of thing that drives me fucking nuts, just like when telemarketers call and ask if he’s home, and when I say “He’s at work. Can I take a message?” and they start to leave a message, then stop and say “And who’s this?” Well, IT’S THE GODDAMN PERSON WHO ANSWERED THE GODDAMN PHONE YOU FUCKING GODDAMN FUCKERS. IN OTHER WORDS IT’S NONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS, IS WHO IT IS, GOT THAT?
I think I have perhaps never mentioned this, but moi does not love the phone.
So I carried the phone up to Fred in the bathtub (note to self: we need a phone by the bathtub) and then couldn’t stand around and make “I call bullshit!” faces at him while the guy spun a web of bullshit because… I don’t know why. Was I cooking something? Was I cleaning something? I don’t remember.
Eventually Fred came downstairs and told me that the guy claimed that the $200 price quoted to the spud was for the high-performance tire, and the lower price was for a tire that wasn’t available on the system to the Firestone guy who had condescended all over the spud.
Which is when I got to make my “I call bullshit” face at Fred, and then I said “I call BULLSHIT!”, and Fred agreed.
So Firestone? Kiss my fucking ass, ’cause you will NEVER get any business from the And3rson family so long as I goddamn live.
And y’all should boycott those fuckers, too. ‘Cause I said so.
* * *
“Howyadoin’, Shweetheart?”
“Bahahahahah! Oh, I crack me UP!”
* * *
Previously
2006: And then the spud said “Is he trying to go to Narnia?”
2005: I’ll take my anonymous life, thank you.
2004: No entry.
2003: No entry.
2002: “What?” he said. “I WASN’T geeky!”
2001: No entry.
2000: Tomorrow, I’m going to go see Dr. Judy for my ear, out of which I still cannot hear anything but constant white noise. ]]>
I absolutely love the Griffin Itrip! It works great in the card…
I meant car!
I use this thing (link at bottom) because my car is a standard and I needed to be able to position the ipod better so I could go into reverse without smacking my ipod every time. It works like a champ, and it’s way better than the one hubby has. 😀
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/tuneflexnano/
Bah! I shoulda finished reading the entry before posting a comment.
Firestone is Teh Devil! They have the contract for military bases (I’m guessing here that they have the contract, but anyway…) and their service is atrocious and prices are ridiculous. Not to mention, when I took a car there for an oil change (the first and only time) they decided to check for other “issues” and came up with a long ass list. Of course, only they could fix the shit that was “wrong”…so I told em to bite me. I took it to the dealer (warranty stuff) and had them check it out, telling them the story. Nothing was wrong with the car, at all.
Firestone sucks a nut, and can piss up a rope.
As a female who drove her father’s 77 Caprice (miss that car) for years because I knew how to work on it, yeah, I’ve been through that condescending snow-job. Firestone and Midas are the *worst*.
There are these heated seat covers that warm your arse, give you a massage and play your iPod all at the same time. I’m not sure if you’ll want to deal with all that though? It’s around $30-$40 dollars. I have no idea how well it plays though… Yeah, I’m of absolutely NO help to you. 😛
That second picture of Tommy is hilarious! Hee.
P.S. Katy’s link for an iPod thingy is better than my suggestion so disregard everything I said. 😉
Based on Linda’s review (http://www.sundrybuzz.com/2006/09/25/griffin-itrip-auto-fm-transmitter-and-auto-charger-for-ipod/) my boyfriend and I both got these itrips and they are GREAT.
Not only is it a transmitter for your ipod, but it charges your ipod at the same time….and they are 1/2 off at amazon!
Heyyyy…..you and Jane posted about being all momma tiger on the exact same day! That’s kinda cool…but probably only to me.
I also have a cheap iPod car listener thing…let us know when you get a good one!
I agree with the iTrip recommendations. We have one and it’s great.
Love those pictures of Tom Cullen!
We have an iTrip thingy, and I’ve heard great things about them. Of course, I’m too lazy to remember to actually put it anywhere near the car, which is probably fine, since my selfish kids won’t trust me with their iPods anyway.
I think I bought my last set of tires for $600, and that was for big, beefy tires with syping. I have no idea what syping is, but my husband insisted on it, and he’s a car person, so I let him have his way.
I buy Michelin tires and they don’t even cost that much! More like $70. to $80. a tire plus tax at Sam’s and they will mount and balance them too.
I figured out a long time ago that Firestone was teh Devil.
I’m so impressed that Spud went tire shopping on her own! I still hate to do that kind of thing and I’m on the faaaaaar side of being a teenager. Go her! And go you guys for following up with the Firestone ass. What is it with men in the automotive industry and their contempt for women? It isn’t every one but it seems to be eight out of 10 of them.
If it were me, I’d be writing a strongly worded letter to Firestone HQ. I’ll be you get a free tire out of it. If nothing else it’s theraputic. Then again, I have a crushing inability to let anything go, ever.
I once had a guy at Jiffy Lube try to sell me an air filter. For $50. It costs, oh, ten bucks and requires a screwdriver to change yourself. I declined. “Do you mind if I ask why?” “Because I know how to operate a screwdriver.” The look on his face? Priceless.
Another satisfied Griffin iTrip user here.
I had a similar experience at Firestone. They tried telling me I need to replace the “boots” on my car. I brought the car to my regular mechanic who said there was nothing wrong with the boots. Good for you for calling them on it!
My family mechanic is a guy my dad went to school with. Like kindergarten through 12th grade. So he doesn’t screw around with my dad. And yeah, I’m a weenie, so I still call my dad when anything’s wrong with my car and make him take care of it. He’s happy to do it though…or so he says.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Poor Firestone. That pesky ol’ internet had to come along. Then Bitchypoo came along. Word of mouth. All over the internet.
Poor ol’ Firestone.
I think you got em by the balls with this entry. 😉
Loooooove the Tommy photos. Cracked me right up!
I used an iTrip for several years and it was pretty good but did get a little static-y at times – and I always forgot how to change it to use a different FM station and would have to dig out the instruction book. Recently I bought a Griffin Technology RoadTrip FM Transmitter & Auto Charger (from Amazon for about $35) and it’s great. Very easy to set up and so far no static at all.
I’m so mad at the way Patronizing Firestone Guy treated the spud, I can barely see straight to type. Grrrrrrr. Oh, and I’ve been to the Firestone winery in Santa Barbara, and Firestone wine is nothing to write home about. It was probably the worst of the many (hic!) wineries I visited. Which has nothing to do with anything, except to further prove that Firestone IS The Devil. Heh.
Ditto on the Griffin iTrip. I bought one on eBay for $24.
Add U-Haul to the list of woman cheaters. My friends where standing in line to pick up a U-Haul last Saturday. The U-Haul clerk was waiting on two men and suggested insurance for $14. When it was my friends’ turn, the insurance offered was $28! Bastards.
Hey Robyn. I have a 16 year old daughter that will be driving soon. I am SOOO nervous about it. We live in a fairly large city and I’m scared to death about her being behind the wheel of a car. I would be so pissed if someone treated her the way the Firestone guys treated your daughter. Glad you guys are there for her. Some girls might not know better and not have the support of family.
P.S. Did you hear that Anna Nicole Smith died today? How sad. She just had a baby too. Poor kid.
I’ve been using an iTrip for a couple of years, and it works ok. Its not great. I get weird static. And the sound doesn’t always transmit very well.
However, I have a Honda Accord, and they sell an attachment called a MusicLink that lets you plug your ipod directly into the sound system. I didn’t get it when I got my car, but my boyfriend decided to surprise me with one for my birthday. He read a lot of reviews, and discovered that the Honda MusicLink pretty much sucks, but there is a better option out there, made by Denison. (you don’t have to get it from them, though. they sell through s couple of retailers). It can be installed in and car. The only problem is that its so popular that it is backordered for months.
You might check that option out. My BF is going to install it for me to save the exorbitant prices the dealership would charge for labor–he says all you really have to know is how to get the dash off and pull the radio out.
Sorry this is so long!
sorry, that was supposed to read,
“It can be installed in ANY car.”
I agree on the itrip – it can be static-y and it just takes time to find that sweet spot. but i’m sure that is what you already bought. the only way to not static-y is to play it through a cassette player, which you might now have in such a new car now.
or, you could buy a new car that has the audio jack already built in!
Firestone is crap! Robyn, maybe you should get that firestone employees itsy- bitsy- prick, and use that fancy new food processor to slice and dice away!
I have no anger issues.
Enough said.
I’m sorry spud got the run around at Firestone. I’ve had a similar experience at Goodyear – they told me I needed a lot of new things that cost over $2,000. I went to the Honda dealership and he said that it was like throwing away your shampoo bottle because it was half full.
I equate Firestone tires with fiery car wrecks ‘cuz because they caused MANY such wrecks a few years back.
When tire shopping remember: Firestone=fiery crashes.
awww! sad! i just quit at the New Zealand head office of firestone/bridgestone two months ago.
i think firestone over here is a lot different to in the states though? over here, firestone only generally do tyres – not the whole mechanical side (same with most, if not all, tyre retailers over here). oops… tIres. hehe.
anyways, firestone are so not the devil, but that may only be applicable in new zealand!
and i use a griffin itrip in my car too (and at home to broadcast my ipod over our kickass stereo) and i love it to death. but you have to have it very very close to the stereo or whatever to prevent static. as long as it’s close enough, the sound quality on mine is damn near perfect 8^)
I am very hard on tires. I seem to be able to pick up every loose nail on the street. My husband started getting our tires from Sears years ago and getting the protection on them… We have totally paid for the protection and tires (Ones that go on a Honda and are around $100) over the years from the number of times we have had to have tires repaired.
I have the Griffin iTrip… works OK if your antenna is not in the rear of the car like mine is… otherwise static city. CRAP! Oh, and now it is working intermittently. I try to change the station on it, and sometimes it works, mostly it doesn’t. Royal pain in the ass! Got the step-son one of those that plugs in the cigarette lighter that you change the station right on the front of it. The iPod docks in it too (all power comes from the cigarette lighter plug, so no additional goodies to plug in). It was around $80 at Kamapart.
In my experience, the transmitters that plug into the cigarette lighter are the best ones. I have an iRiver that I’ve been really happy with (http://www.amazon.com/iRiver-AFT-100-Mobile-Transmitter/dp/B00067LYFW/sr=8-6/qid=1171039782/ref=pd_bbs_6/105-8914121-9389231?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)
I don’t have an iPod, but these will work with any player since they just plug into the headphone jack.
LOVE those Tommy pics!
No one can beat Costco’s price for tires. To make it really fast, I buy the tires online and they e-mail me when they’re in my Costco. I drop off my car and by the time I’m done shopping, my car is ready to go.