Spammed!

I've been getting a lot of comments from bots lately. At first I simply turned on comment moderation for any post older than 2 weeks, but after the latest rash of Russian mail-order bride spams, I've turned on the hated word verification. It'll be on for maybe a month or two. I'll take it off when I think the bots have forgotten about me. I almost never get comments anyway, so it shouldn't make any difference to your viewing experience.

In other news, I'm less than a month from the big year-end post. My year has been less interesting than I'd hoped but it does have a few things worth mentioning.

I'll be in Louisville this week from Wednesday night to Monday morning for Thanksgiving.
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Now playing on YouTube: Train - Hey, Soul Sister
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Dammit, not again!

The car is once again broken. One of the hoses that feeds coolant to the heater core is leaking. This is a minor problem in older cars; you simply don't use the heater. My car, on the other hand, has a pressurized coolant system that actively pumps highly toxic red stuff out of the tiniest holes. Naturally, it's in the back of the engine where I can't reach it.

Other problems:
-One of the CV joint boots needs to be replaced, and the joint it used to cover is going bad. I have to take the driveshaft out to replace it, unfortunately, so it isn't something I can do myself. The joint itself may need to be replaced.
-The same window has been broken almost since I got the car.
-The transmission oil is what came with the car. It's supposed to be a lifetime fluid, but that's bullshit. No oil lasts 140,000 miles. Because the transmission is sealed, changing the fluid is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
-The fog lights are still not hooked up.
-Both the front and rear cup holders are broken, the lights above the sun visor vanity mirrors don't work, and the headliner is slowly falling down.
-To my knowledge, the lights on the climate control knobs have never worked.
-The low-tone horn doesn't work, which is why my horn sounds so stupid.
-I'm pretty sure one of the mirror heaters stopped working.
-My wiper blades need to be replaced and I'm almost due for an oil change.

What I'm wondering now is when I can get rid of this car and get something reliable. Maybe a Japanese car from the 90s. They're unsafe and usually not very fast, but they don't break or use much fuel and they're generally cheap and easy to modify and repair. I can no longer afford to own a Volkswagen.

Nearly a Month

I feel like I have nothing to write about anymore. I wake up, I go to work, I eat at the same shitty fast-food places every day, and I go to bed. On weekends I'm either in Cincinnati looking for something to do or in Louisville, where I frequently do things. My social life is practically nonexistent, and I have come to terms with that. It doesn't make for a very blog-worthy life, though.

In other news, James, Alicia, and I have called off the Halloween party. I heard there was another in Bellevue on Friday but I don't know the host. I will instead be traveling south in the hope that I can find a way to enjoy the holiday. At least I'm under no obligation to make a costume. I will be in town next weekend, however. The three of us will be at the Boone County Rebel Invitational on Saturday. I get off work at 10:00 Friday.
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Now playing on Pandora: Death Cab For Cutie - Brothers On A Hotel Bed
via FoxyTunes

Projects

I've been hanging out on the Vortex forums a lot recently and have learned a lot about fixing problems I didn't know I had. I just fixed the broken glove box hinge yesterday and today I'll be swapping out the old and corroded handbrake cables for new ones if I can find a pair. I also ripped out the old hood insulation after I learned that it was nothing more than a sound dampener. It does little in the way of heat insulation.

Future projects include installing neon lighting in the trunk to replace the terrible stock lighting, replacing the shot low-tone horn, and wiring up the front and rear fogs.

I also have a non-car project that I can do in half an hour with a little help: Rearranging my room. The desk currently blocks off the radiator, so the desk and hall tree need to trade places with the bed and headboard.

UPDATE: I didn't have the tools to work on the brake cables today, so I exposed the cable ends and will finish the job Thursday. I did, however, find a $10 white neon tube at AutoZone. My trunk is now properly lit. Unfortunately, the battery for the drill was dead so I'll have to wait two days to actually mount the light.
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Now playing on Pandora: The Format - Dead End
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Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is this weekend in Downtown Cincinnati. I'll be there along with whomever I can drag. If we get there at 11:00 Saturday Morning, we'll get to see Jim Koch, the man responsible for Samuel Adams, tap the first keg.

Kicked in the Eyes

I'd blog something about last weekend, but after Sunday night I'd just as soon forget the whole thing. Drama happened, floors were peed on, Jerry Springer was not invited. Nobody has blogged a damn thing about this weekend, actually. You can take it from me that what wasn't unpleasant was uninteresting. Even the fireworks seemed subpar.

I'll be in Louisville this weekend. Some plans have been made. I intend to see "9" at some point.
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Now playing on iTunes: Interpol - Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down
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Weekend Plans - 8/29 [UPDATED]

I'll be in Cincinnati this weekend. At some point I plan on removing and rewiring my headlight assemblies, and for that I'll need to get my hands on jack stands and somebody who doesn't mind getting a little dirty. It shouldn't take more than two or three hours. I need to remove the front bumper cover and grill, unbolt the lights, re-wire them, and reinstall everything. A floor jack would also be pretty helpful.

I don't have any plans whatsoever for the rest of the weekend. I'll probably clean the apartment up a bit. We still have random stuff sitting around everywhere, and the planets need to be glued to the ceiling. If you want to do something this weekend, you know how to find me.

Recent developments: I'm gonna help mom out with a project on Sunday. Also, Sarah will be in town this weekend. Sarah and I will still mostly be free except for a few hours Saturday and a few hours Sunday. I work 1:30-10:00 Friday night.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - I'm Ready, I Am
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Neighbors

Today is the first day of school. Friends at NKU, Xavier, and U of L return to class. They're busy. Today is a big day. Brandon notes the swarms of Freshmen, and I'm briefly sad that I'm missing it. I won't see any campus today, other than in passing. More relevantly, I have neighbors now.

I've had neighbors for most of summer. It wasn't until this weekend that the building was full. The landlord threw a meet-and-greet party last night. James and I came in second in a two-team cornhole tourney. The people in 4 and 6, respectively above and below us, were moving things around and mourning the end of summer break. They are, for the first time, noisy. I don't know if this is a permanent thing, but it won't disturb my sleep. The room below mine houses water heaters, while the room above is a sunroom, like mine but minus a bed.

The issue today was men with hammers demolishing a concrete path while singing in Spanish. Darrell is re-paving the front walkway. That, I can't sleep through.

Today is the one day of the year when I go outside, and the first breath of fresh air isn't as fresh as it used to be. I have no adventure to embark on. I will do no homework. It's my day of nostalgia for everything I gave up, and the day I envy the materials majors of my class, now in the fourth of a five-year program, who will be setting off for co-op or coming home for that first day of class in just a few weeks.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - Wait, Wait, Wait
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Anniversary

One year ago today, I climbed into my car and headed south on I-71. I was wearing ripped cargo jeans, a soft white t-shirt, and an old denim jacket. I had to text for directions once or twice, but eventually ended up on Skyline Drive in a southern suburb of Louisville. I chatted with Sarah and her brother for a bit. Met his girl at the time. Got poked by a cat. Eventually, we retired. We slept fully clothed, despite the fact that neither of us were accustomed to doing so. It was the first date.

Aaron's relationship has gone. So have most of the others I knew of back then. Sarah and I are still going strong. There's no reason to believe that'll change. A few people have tried to end it, I think. Drama has come up and been ignored. I have driven thousands of miles, tracing the road from here to Louisville so many times that I can see it in my head when I close my eyes. I can say, to the minute, when I'll arrive in her driveway or mine.

We've had many experiences. I've shown Sarah minigolf and concerts, Ben Folds and the love of automobiles. Sarah has exposed me to techno and the value of Little Caesar's. We almost never fight; if something is awry, it's talked over. Perspectives are shared and compromises made. We bicker about silly things to pass the time, but it always ends in a smile.

I've watched a lot go wrong in the last twelve months. Most of the relationships I've seen have gone. The economy seems to have just bottomed out and may finally be on the road to recovery. I shivered through a cold winter and learned a lot about life the hard way. It's been good to know that I have someone to share the bad times with. It's good to know that I can send a text and have my day improved.

I've rather enjoyed the last year. I can see no reason why it'll be the only one. I used to deny vehemently that I'd ever find someone I was really happy with. I'd always be single. Relationships were not for me. Besides, what girl would stoop to my level?

I was wrong. I've come to accept that. I was wrong and I'm happy that it was so conclusively shown.

I'm making that drive again tonight after work. A year is a very long time, but it seems like only a month ago that I was merging onto I-65, asking for a few last directions. It's been good.
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Now playing on iTunes: Ben Folds - The Luckiest
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Weekend Plans - 8/07

I admit I've been neglecting this blog for some time now. I haven't had much to say. I at least owe you, my friendly readers, the benefit of knowing where I'm gonna be each weekend.

Sarah will be here until Monday probably. She was gonna leave yesterday and come back Friday, but Louisville is under a few feet of water after last night's storms. Friday I'm hanging out with Sondra, a girl from Beechwood. She requested the presence of one Mr. Black if he's available and told me to bring other people if they wanted to come.

Saturday night is Crystal's 22nd birthday party. Sarah and I will be there from 7 PM to probably 2 or 3 AM. Aside from that I'm free to do whatever.

Next weekend, the 14th, is one year with Sarah. I'll be in her city then.