(no subject)

An approximate translation:

'Cars today are full of things that protect the driver: belts, crumple zones, airbags, ABS, electronic stability control...

And there is an element in the car that protects other road users.

That part is in you. Drive with your heart.'

There's been a sudden rash of cyclists and pedestrians being hit and killed around here. It's really heartbreaking, especially when I still see people who text while driving (seriously??) or make sharp turns without looking or almost turn in front of me.

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Birthday party this Friday. OMG EXCITED. Even more excited about Shawn and I going to Seattle. We leave Sunday night (my birthday proper) and come back Wednesday morning. We're taking Amtrak there and back, which will be a first for me. We have a private room at the hostel, which is a few blocks from the train station.

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Rode my bike to the Costco in NE yesterday: 10.87 miles in a wicked headwind, and then about six miles to Shawn's house. Woo! And now I'm on Wellbutrin again. Dang is it cheaper at Costco...150mgs of generic Wellbutrin XL, 30 pills, was $29. Central Drug wanted twice that and Rite-Aid wanted over a hundred.

I'm feeling pretty good today, but I don't know how much of it is that I had a good ride in the sunshine yesterday vs. any effect the Wellbutrin would already have vs. placebo effect vs. knowing I'm having my party on Friday and then going to Seattle.

Speaking of my party: I currently have five jars on the table, each with a flavor of skittles dissolving in vodka. I was going to buy a french press to filter it, but even cheap french presses aren't that cheap, so I'm going to just have to be patient using a sieve and coffee filters or paper towels. My roommate Noel remarked that the jars have a pleasing "mad scientist" look to them. I bought fancy bottles with rubber stoppers to pour the flavors into after they're filtered.

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Last (for now) but not least: Still can't decide whether to see Mum tonight.

Reasons to go:
I saw them once before and they're funny and awesome
The venue (The Aladdin) is a short walk from my house
Dude--they're from Iceland!! Yes!!

Reasons not to go:
$20 is still $20. I'm not rich these days
They came in 2007, maybe they'll come again in two years?
I haven't listened to their newest album
I have no one to go with

(no subject)

Shawn and I were discussing my packing for Seattle. One evening, two full days, one early morning. Not a lot to pack, right? Except that 1. It'll be pretty dang cold and probably raining and/or windy, 2. We'll be biking everywhere and 3. I insist on always being cute, dammit! Especially when it's just Shawn and me in a different city. I don't care what anyone else thinks of me but Shawn and maybe Nickey, who we plan to visit. So I want to wear what makes me feel the best. Especially since the trip is for my birthday.

I have three pairs now of O Woolies socks in grey, purple, and dark green. In addition, I still have a pair of ridiculously tall dark red thick thigh-highs from American Apparel (those are acrylic but still pretty warm). I have one pair of brown wool tights and have already proven myself capable of wearing them for days on end--wool is fairly odor-resistant.

So skirts should be fine, except I don't have enough of them, I think. Strange but true. Especially since my tastes in skirts have changed. Meh. I hardly wear my longer skirts any more, and my shorter ones just aren't full enough. MOAR FABRIC. I really need to learn to sew decently, as the kind of skirt I like just isn't in thrift stores.

I dunno. Mebbe I'll ride up to Red Light and Buffalo Exchange tomorrow. Hope springs eternal.

Goddammit, just started poking around the American Apparel website. They have a ton of skirts that I want, most between $30 and $40. Skirt one Skirt two Skirt three (hm, though, that one is awfully short) Skirt four Skirt five