Spring is over but it was terrific while it lasted.

It's back to fairly normal here in terms of the weather, down to 10 last night and the wind is whipping down from Canada again.

While it was still warm, I decided to get the oil changed in my faithful car steed (who refuses to be called "Daisy"). I wanted to do it while the weather was decent because there'd be a couple of miles of walking involved in dropping it off then going to work. I also decided to have them put in a block heater so I wouldn't have to bundle not "Daisy" up with blankets and a heat lamp when it gets cold.

So...Wednesday came along and I dropped the car at Bushmasters, the local trustworthy mechanic, walked home with the dog then walked back to town to work. If this is starting to sound like the short story made long regarding the magnetic block heater, you're on the right track. So...I walk over to Bushmasters during my break, expecting to fork over some 400 bucks for a newly oiled and electrified car. The (very) nice lady at the desk said..."you already have a block heater" to me! The cord just wasn't routed out the front of the car. Yes, after ALL that drama and worry...the car already had a block heater where its frost plug would be found somewhere deep with in the bowels of the engine compartment. Mmmhm. I got out of the mechanics shop for $102 bucks, about 1/4 of the amount I was expecting to spend! Crazy. Any embarrassment was wiped away by the savings.

Today, I was hoping to go to Juneau again for a visit and a little side job as a sewing machine courier. My former landlords down there run an electronics store with sewing machines as well as audio/video equipment. I was getting all excited for a round of thrift store shopping and some drive through coffee. Was. The fast ferry that's really for tourists in the summer couldn't sail again today. The same wind that brought the cold weather back stopped the boat...again.

Here's how I feel about having to stay here because the ferry can't sail: