... and the storm rolled in

DH said "The Weather Channel is showing storms headed this way" and less than five minutes later the wind kicked up and the windows rattled and wow - the storm blew in.
The lights flickered once, twice, three times - and the fourth time was the final time. Out. No power.

After the novelty wore off, after we sat on the porch until the mosquitos threatened to carry DH and DS2 away, boredom threatened. Battery powered laptop to the rescue! DH and the kiddos watched some Babylon 5 episodes, all cozy on the coach with the laptop on the coffee table.
Heaven forbid they should talk or play cards or do something without noise and motion.
Luckily the battery lasted; the power was out for about two hours.

My daughter called to remind me...

... that my driver's license was expired.

Duh. It's been a frequent discussion topic. It expired May 31. We have not one but TWO teens with permits. Every time I tag along as the licensed driver, SOMEONE mentions the expired status of my license.

So... DD called last night. She said, "Hey Mom. I just got pulled over by a cop. He told me to remind you that your driver's license is expired."

She swears she was going 29 in a 25 - on a road notorious for the frequent presence of police officers. I don't even speed on that road; that means I keep it at 30 or less. So I believe her.

The officer approached the car, and said, "This is your mother's car, isn't it?" [yes] "Well, tell your mother her license is expired."

um, thankyouverymuch officer.

Yes, I renewed my license today. It took about 20 minutes to gather the required 6 points of acceptable identification AND a proper proof of address. I grabbed my Mustang registration form, due this month - it was sent by the state government in the last six months. Well, they assumed I was taking care of that too -- so, one line, two transactions! woohoo.

Now I have to remember to get the car inspected in August. Wish me luck. A few years ago, I thought I was getting it inspected two months late. Um, no - it was fourteen months overdue. I like skipping a year - but it does make it harder to remember when inspections are due!

I've got Stealth Technology!

A friend just got a speeding ticket on her way to work; day six of a new job. Hearing this made me stop and think.

I have a sparkling shiny clean record. Really. Laugh if you wish, but this habitual speeder has a pristine record.

I have an invisibility shield!Really.How else do you explain driving a Mustang or a flame red SUV w/o getting stopped??

I have not been pulled over in more than TEN YEARS.(that's a l-o-n-g time, says the woman whose two youngest JUST got their permits....)

I didn't get a ticket either of the last two times I was stopped. Most recently [ha! 1998] I got a ticket for 'failing to promptly show registration on request' - after HE rushed away.

Duh, that was the ploy so if I had a clean record, he didn't have to write me up for speeding. Not that I cared too much - out of state, no reciprocal agreement and all that jazz. But the fine was lower - low enough I didn't have to report it at work...

{That photo up there? That's the view through my Mustang's dirty windshield.}

Bargains and Me - SO not together

Bargain #1:

I want maroon and white M&Ms for the upcoming graduation party. I found 50% off bags at Party City. So I recalled the M&Ms online price ($6/bag), the bulk store price ($6), checked the regular price ($6/bag) and grabbed four bags of maroon, two gray and two black. {What? You didn't know that black and gray make white when mixed? Me neither; there wasn't any white.}

Only ages later did I really think. And recall that yep, the per-SEVEN OUNCE bag price is $6. BUT the local bulk candy store located right on the corner in the center of its adoreable town sells loose single-color M&MS for $6 PER POUND. Oh so stupid.

Six dollars for seven ounces isn't the same as six dollars per pound, is it?

Please do not tell my children. I tell them constantly that the units are important. Sure enough.

Bargain #2:

I read about a LSS [local scrapbooking store] in a news article, so I decided to visit today. I wandered and gathered stuff - stuff I surely do not need. But -- I rattled off my name, and got 10% off my purchases today.

Not much of a bargain. I know.

But -- I will get 30% off my future purchases. Yep, 10% today and 30% in the future. Really.

Now that IS a bargain.