Well, since I watched Greg meander with his mind in that last post…I’ll do a mini-meandering. My 1997 Hyundai just had to be repaired. Warranty expires at 100,000 miles. So, at 99,997 miles something went wrong. It started mis-firing badly. So, I drove it too a mechanic in town. 3 miles away. I Pulled in and asked if he did warranty work. “Sure do…how many miles you got on it…”

“99,999.9 and change”,I replied.

We rolled it into the shop…and it was out of warranty. Just rolling it into the garage turned over the odometer. (There is no grace in the warranty business, I learned…)

So, Good news was this; It was a $9 gasket. Bad news was it was $250 to replace it.

Good news is…I went 100,000.01 miles and only had to replace a gasket. Bad news is…I’ve driven 100,000.01 miles and only replaced a gasket…not a new thing on the car!

Actually, its been a great car…NO complaints. My second Hyundai…and I recommend them. I expect to drive it another 50k or so…then…sell it to Greg.

Things that really nobody but we might care about.

1) My water bill was higher….my family must be cleaner.

2) Riley ticked off the other flute player by NOT relinquishing the earned first chair at the recent beginner band performance at the middle school. I am sure there will soon be a law suit.

3) My jazz band singers do not like to look like they enjoy singing. (Just something that bugs me…)

4) My car broke 210,000 miles. It really sounds like it just broke 500,000. I might let it rest and drive the little one…it only has 160,000!

5) I had a band director suggest that I write a new march for the FreeMusic page (at www.bandlink.org) and call it “Brokeback Directors march.” I suggested it could be all parallel thirds. We decided not to write the march.

6) I tilled my garden plot last weekend so Riley could look for worms. No worms, but another beautiful place for me to plant things that get swallowed by weeds. Maybe this year I will actually get a hoe and not have an excuse. But, we can grow some great weeds in Pickens!

7) Tad is getting bigger.

8) William is getting bigger and may soon be adopted.

9) Riley is getting sadder about William getting adopted.

10) Me, too.

11) Wesley participates in the 2006 All-State band next weekend. He was also invited to play with the All-State Jazz Band, but had to decline because it conflicted with his performing with the Upstate Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble “Trifecta” where he plays electric bass.

12) I NEVER made All-State band.

13) I got a cell phone message yesterday that was left last Saturday. Nothing exciting about the message, but I think I should pay my bill as promptly as I receive my messages, that I pay for.

14) Why do they call it BUCKwheat? Why not BOBwheat or JIMMYwheat? Are we to assume it is female? Couldn’t it be BETTYwheat? Or HISandHERwheat for as to be PC? (Why do we sing hymns and nor hers?)

15) I will now go empty the dishwasher and make some coffee. This, at least, is a consistency in my life, other than my marriage, that I can truly count on to ALWAYS be waiting joyfully for me every morning.

16) Remember, BE a great day!