trinacriabob

multiple (hey, thought you had disappeared)

regrets

earnings

game show

supersonic

I checked out the MSN web page today and got a more realistic account of the earthquake in Haiti, with its magnitude of 7.0. First, I was not aware that there was such a change in potential seismic activity from Florida (essentially nil) to a relatively nearby Caribbean island. Regardless, the amount of devastation is mind-boggling. I was sitting there thinking about how I bitch and moan about what isn't right while people out there are trying to survive in the most deplorable conditions. I plan to keep the Haitian earthquake victims in my prayers and will also make a small donation via one of the Catholic charities. I know that the Masses typically pass around another collection when disaster relief is needed. So, if, in the grand scheme of things, you are able to part with a few dollars, that's great. If not, please include the Haitians in your thoughts and prayers. I know that looking through the articles and seeing pictures of Port-au-Prince in shambles were heart-wrenching, as were the New Orleans post-Katrina pictures.

Los Angeles (in both 1965 and 1992)

runway

humid

No, the consequences would complicate things too much. If I do see a 75 or 76 Cutlass or Grand Le Mans coupe, I invariably stop the driver and ask him or her about their car...and how much they want for it! However, the last car I had a parking lot conversation over was a recently purchased Ford Fusion 4 cylinder. The woman who drove it was raving about it. But theft...nah...

Arizona (where Moltar hangs his hat)

It is generally in very good condition. I wax it twice a year (that reminds me). When you get close to it, there are some parking lot dings. Thanks, Frank. I like recording my travels with photos and really like seeing others' travel photos here when they post them.

the Nile

Cleopatra

bandanna (sp?)

Congratulations! Taking a trip to celebrate...or staying local?

I think that palm trees could be considered "reasonable" anywhere in the Central Valley, as far up as Chico or Orland. They don't look out of place in these places, which can roast in the summer and look fairly parched. On the coast, I think palm trees should start tapering off north of San Simeon. Geez, doesn't anyone have any comments on the damn Regal and its miles?

Thanks for the encouragement, Dave. I think that a "diet" of oil changes every 2,000 miles for the first 100K, and every 2,500 miles after that, has helped. Today, the place that changed my oil told me that the drained oil was fairly clean. I posted some pics of the car from a day trip this weekend on a new thread!

They are not indigenous. In fact, when they put a planted median down a portion of Market Street, the main street (diagonal) that ends at the Ferry Building/Embarcadero, some of the city's residents put up one helluva fight because it's not an indigenous plant. They lost that fight, and Market Street west of Van Ness has palm trees.

Thanks, Moltie. Don't get me wrong, I think San Francisco is beautiful. For my relatives from overseas, it's their #1 spot in the U.S. It's too dense - to the point I would never consider living there. For the Bay Area, the only places I like are Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill in the East Bay, though they are still expensive. I don't like the city for its density...nor Marin nor the Peninsula for their pretentiousness and prices...nor Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda for their quasi-bohemian vibe...that leaves the East Bay towns on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel. Since I only go to SF about once a year and to Tahoe about 4 times a year, it makes no sense for me to live in California since I could just as easily do that on vacations or long weekends. I would much rather live someplace greener all year long that has lower population density. @ PurdueGuy, the clearance in the front is actually very small. I notice this when the tires are turned. The owner's manual has some caveats about the use of tire chains.

Ok, I just got an oil change this a.m. at 265,391. So, here was the Regal yesterday, reliably carting me to San Francisco, less than 2 hours away. The Regal with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, taken from the bluffs immediately to the west of the Palace of the Legion of Honor, near the Presidio. Estimated mileage: 265,240. The Coit Tower, taken past the traditional multi-story bay window from a street in North Beach's Little Italy. The Transamerica Pyramid, taken from a side street near Columbus Avenue, the main thoroughfare through Little Italy. One of the towers on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, taken from Broadway before it slopes down to the Embarcadero, the street that winds from the base of the Bay Bridge all the way around to Fisherman's Wharf A view of the beautiful homes in Sea Cliff, the neighborhood on top of the bluffs near the Golden Gate Bridge. I seriously doubt there is anything in here with a bridge view that sells for less than $8 million but, as they say, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. It was a nice way to spend a temperate Saturday (about 55 degrees in the city). Drove into the East Bay and took the BART train some 20 miles into the city (it goes under the bay), walked around the Embarcadero and Market Street, and then took BART back to pick up the Regal, deciding I would drive it into the city. Then: - drove to North Beach and had spinach gnocchi with mushrooms in gorgonzola sauce for lunch - drove around the Embarcadero, past Fisherman's Wharf, to the base of the Golden Gate, up into the Presidio, and down the Great Highway, which fronts the Pacific Ocean - drove down to south of SFO to the waterfront to watch 747s land and take-off (saw more Airbus 340s than 747s, since it's winter and there's less passenger traffic) - drove back over the Bay Bridge to Walnut Creek, where I went to a Saturday night church service and had a great dinner at a local dive - drove home and went to sleep, knowing I'd run errands today In general, going to the Bay Area is depressing because anything other than a 1 bedroom condo in a decent neighborhood (both in the city and the suburbs) is unaffordable.

four leaf clover

expulsion

chihuahua

vomit