it’s forever.

So!

Last night was auto maintenance class. Wow!! Within 5 minutes, I was in platonic-community-ed-teacher love with the instructor, a 64-year-old ex-diesel-mechanic named Bruce. Some of the girls in the class are a little annoying, especially the old woman who wants to tell us about how she used to be a bus driver. Not like you couldn’t tell that by looking at her anyway. Bus driver! Right here.

Anyway, right off the bat we got to learn about exciting things like cold-cranking amps and load ratings and how to turn rotors. Also, we have been given permission to do whatever the hell we want in class, short of replacing the engine or overhauling the transmission. I’m pretty sure I can get all my mods done in 6 weeks time, so that Chico can be the hot street-racer he was always meant to be, as opposed to the sensible Scandinavian sports-sedan that he is. I can’t wait.

Afterwards, Homie and I went to Little T’s for nachos. There is, in fact, such a thing as relatively healthy nachos. For real! So we were all riled up about cars and looking at the funny folks when two guys came in and sat down at the booth across from us. There was something very off about them, but it took me a long time to place it. Then I realized they were big. Not like fat or anything, they were just really really large people. As Bertine said, they took up a lot of space. I think they might have been superhuman. Obviously, they travel in packs.

This morning, I was sitting at the intersection of 26th St and 5th Ave on the way to the doctor’s office, right by the Wells Fargo site that’s been under construction since the beginning of time. A forklift was backing up in my direction, so I started honking as it got dangerously close, gut it still backed right into my car. Then the forkliftman noticed all the honking and stopped, but threw the machine in neutral and it rolled further back into my car, even lifting it up a little. Man, I was hoping to never hear that accident-crunch noise with the lil rig, but someday it had to happen.

* Please note that this is my first accident in 15 years of driving. Also, I’ve never had a ticket, despite my maniacal tendencies.

The construction guys were very nice about it. They had all the paperwork ready, as if this were a daily occurrence. I wonder. I was only pissed for about 30 seconds, then realized it was cosmetic and fixable and that it’s really just in keeping with Chico’s history. The wheel seems to be ok. I’ll be sure to check that out in auto shop, yes I will.

Sitting around a construction site was amusing. I was wearing a hoodie with a tank underneath, and found myself zipping the hoodie way up. All the guys came by to take a look and give the forklift-driver shit. One of them offered to back his giant truck over my car to total it, so I could get a new one. I liked the idea a lot; I asked him to just let me get my stuff out first. We did all the paperwork, and then Officer Horn showed up. You know, when I lived in that neighborhood, the cops would be at your door in .5 seconds if you heard gunshots. With a car accident, not so much.

NTS: When you txt msg someone to tell them you’ve been in an accident, it’s a good idea to also add ‘but I’m not hurt’. Oops.

Having missed my doctor’s appointment (although I did call them beforehand, and the appointment desk woman seemed particularly crabby with me for having been in an accident), I went and got coffee and came back home. Then ye olde tattoo parlour called and asked if I could come in early. But of course!

So today, I got the tattoo I have always wanted. I mean, it’s the tattoo. And it was a birthday gift from someone I love very much. I went to Kore, my sensei from martial arts class. The moment I met her a few months ago, I found her amazing. She has such focus and strength and wisdom, and yet she’s totally fun and down-to-earth. I’ve missed her since class ended. Going to her studio had the same feel as going to class: it was serene and moving. She was the perfect person to do the perfect tattoo; I’m absolutely in love with it. And now I’m all choked up about it again.

OK, muchachos. I’m going to go have dinner and try to meet Chuck Palahniuk and then finish packing, because tomorrow I am going to San Francisco. And California knows how to party.

Keep it rockin’. I’ll be back.
Jenni