March 28, 2008

It wasn't the muffler.

It was the whole bloody catalytic converter.

$600 later…our trip to the Detroit Science Center (which we did because we had free tickets) was a bust.

UGH. 

However. I will have some fun news to share soon…hopefully early next week. That's the only thing keeping me from pulling ALL of my hair out. 

March 28, 2008

So, I mentioned that Music Man and I were taking the kids to a museum yesterday.

We did. We drove down to the Detroit Science Center, which was totally packed because of it being Spring Break for a goodly number of school districts in the area. Music Man dropped us off so we could get in line to buy tickets, and he drove off to park.

The parking lot for the museum was completely full, with a line of cars waiting to get in, so Music Man drove around and parked on a surface street. As in most large cities, the "good" areas often butt up to the "bad" areas within a block of each other.

He said, jokingly, to my eldest daughter as they walked over to meet the rest of us, "I hope the car's still there when we get out."

Well, it was, and that was good. But when my Music Man pulled up the car to pick us up outside the museum (it was raining/snowing so he was playing chauffeur), I heard the loud rumble of an engine. I climbed in the van and said, "What is that noise?"

Music Man sort of rolled his eyes and said, "They took the muffler."

And indeed they had.

And so we had a 45-minute drive home with the roar of the engine in our ears. 

February 9, 2007

A New York cab driver returned a bag with 30 diamond rings in it to his fare–after she tipped him a measly $.30 on a $10.70 fare. (Whole story is here.)

Gotta love that.

And the big-spender, who was a female jeweler from Dallas, actually offered him $100 as a reward for returning probably $100K or more worth of jewels. Woohooo!

After stiffing him on a tip (she apparently gave him a $20 for the $10.70 fare, and asked for $9 back…good grief!), she left her stuff in the cab and he managed to track her down by calling her home number on the luggage tag.

Bravo on the cab driver! Warms my heart, let me tell you.

But it does confirm something I do believe: that most people–the vast majority–are honest. That's why you see people leaving their computers sitting on a table at a Starbuck's or Panera or whatever and it still being there when they get back from the counter/restroom/whatever.

Do you agree?

Oh, and not surprisingly, the woman from Dallas didn't want her name released. I'm sure it's not so much because she left the jewels, but because she doesn't want everyone to know what a cheapskate she is.

February 7, 2007

I blogged today at Muse/News about dumb things guys do.

Got a story? Share here or there about something stupid a guy (or gal, we're equal opportunity here!) did that you witnessed.

I'm off and running on deadline for Gardella Three, so won't be around much today. 

January 11, 2007

Someone at American Airlines can't tell the difference between Peru and Nepal…story here.

Pay close attention. This is Nepal, home of the Yeti (notice the snow, the rugged mountains?).

This is Peru. A little greener, see? 

(Nepal photo copyright Steffen Gorgas)