Labels: feminism, kids, Rachel, women

Labels: cars, computers, kids, obsession, photography, work

1. Re-wire the truck's entire electrical system with my awesome in-laws up in Prescott. Escape the heat, work online there, help them build their house, and get the truck to never-imagined levels of awesome.
   
2. Look up a new house to live in that has a yard, laundry machine, a place to work on the fiberglass dash I need to put into Rachel's truck, isn' insanely expensive, and is close enough to Bookman's that Rachel can walk. The discount we get for not driving to work (either of us) is nice.
3. Rent the place two weeks into August, and take those two weeks to move. Catalogue every last item. We'll be listing every item we own, and decide if we need it. If not, it's donated or sold. Keep the list for our house insurance, and update it as life goes on.
4. Rachel takes her last class for her Bachelor's Degrees in Creative Writing and English Literature (fall semester). She drives her amazingly well-running truck.
5. In January, I either get promoted to full-time at ITP, or keep working part time and begin finishing my teaching certificate. Either way, Rachel starts her graduate program classes in Library Science.
6. After that, things get a bit fuzzy, but for now:
   If we can afford it, sometime in Fall '08 or Spring '09, buy an RV, give the truck back to the in-laws for a while, tow the Bug and live on the road for about 3 months. Make a time-lapse video of the entire thing. Explore the entire United States, and decide on a place to settle down for the next few years. In all likelihood it will be in Arizona, but why not find out for sure? Living without regrets is a part of freedom.
   
7. Reproduce on the road! Our kids will not know exactly where they were conceived, and I think that's vaguely awesome.
8. Have kids. Name the girls Méria Jael and Artemis Ella; name the boys Aaron Isaac and Michael David.
   
9. Buy a house.
10. Live well.

Labels: ambition, college, gas, house, kids, money, Rachel, rant, RV, To-Do, work

Labels: Daily Show, God, kids

As an additional aside, Rachel wants to teach our (future) kids to say, "My spleen!" instead of "ow!" -- figures they'll get more attention that way.

Currently listening : Get Behind Me Satan By The White Stripes Release date: 12:00 AM

Labels: kids, movies, random, spleen

But anyway. That's not really what I'm worried about, because the whole thing about cost will sort itself out eventually (I hope).

I'm worried about noise. One of the really unsettling things about seeing an electric car is when you turn it on - there's no noise. There is literally no discernible difference between when it's about to take off or it's just sitting there. This kinda freaks me out. Cars are dangerous enough when they make a ton of noise, but now we'll have stealthy 2-ton pedestrian flatteners on the loose. On the other hand, it really would be pretty ridiculous to have artificial sound-makers, wouldn't it?

So I don't know what to think about this. Flashing lights? No, that's for emergency vehicles. Sure, they have to happen for the environment's sake (and for costs' sake) but ... I remain freaked out.

PS - the new Fiona Apple and Sigur Ros albums are really good.

Currently listening : Takk... By Sigur Rós

Labels: cars, environment, kids, random, rant

The man and dog look very much alike - old and wrinkled, the skin droops on his face like cooled lava. His dog looks much the same.

On seeing the old man, the little girl's eyes grow wide and she wanders away from her distracted mother towards him.

"'Scuse me," she says. He lowers his eyes to meet her and smiles, in the way an old man's wane half-smile can be perfectly genuine.

"Hello." Her eyes grew even wider at the response. She is looking intently at the crevices in his face.

"Mister, are you melting?"

Currently listening : Peace Love Death Metal By Eagles of Death Metal

Labels: anecdote, kids, old, stories