i-Got an i-Pod

Not to copy Edmund's post from a long time ago, but I do want to inform the blogger world (or this blog's 7 readers) that I finally broke down and purchased an iPod, 30GB video iPod (black)to be exact.

I have thoroughly enjoyed it's companionship thus far. Spending quality time holding her, browsing her many functions, and gazing deeply into her color screen.

Now, the reason for this post. On August 21 I will be departing for Escondido. Leaving Michigan, I plan to have a playlist playing as I pull out of my driveway. This playlist will have such songs that refer to Michigan or California in some way.

For instance, Ben Fold's "Kalamazoo," Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," 2-Pac's "California Love," Beach Boy's "California Girls," Sugar Cult's "Back to California," The Starting Line's "Playing Favorites," and last, but by no means least, "Go West Young Man" by Michael W. Smith.

And I ask you, readers, what songs can you think of that are missing from my current playlist? Songs referring to Michigan or California in any way will be accepted.

Close Call

Part I

This past week I was in the state of Indiana for my summer job. This entails me driving my car to a few different landfill locations that my company owns in central Indiana.

During my trip from Greensburb to Indianapolis, IN I was cruising west along I-74. The rain had just dampened the road and caused it to be somewhat slippery.

I was in the process of passing a semi truck pulling a load full of new General Motor vehicles when the close call happened. I was traveling at a velocity of 75mph and I estimate that the semi was traveling at about 65mph. I was in the left lane approximately 10-15 feet behind the semi getting ready to pass. All of a sudden I heard perhaps the loudest explosion I have ever heard.

It was the left front tire of the semi.

This caused him to immediately begin a violent leftward drift at about the same time I wanted to be where the back of his trailer was. Reacting quickly, I jumped on the brakes and turned my wheel slightly to the left. Unfortunately, the still wet pavement caused my brakes to lock immediately (thus defeating the purpose of anti-lock brakes).

I did not anticipate what was about to happen next. The combination of locking brakes and turning steering wheel caused me to begin to turn sideways, traveling at about 45mph at this time. For a split second I thought I was going to find out what it was like to roll a car, several times. However, that thought quickly left my mind when I kept spinning past 90 degrees. When I felt the car begin to spin past 90 degrees I quickly shifted the car into neutral so my car was not in drive while my car was moving in reverse (nothing good can come from this situation).

At this point, I am still miraculously in the left lane, traveling at 30-35mph, backwards, yes-backwards. You may be thinking to yourself, what about other traffic or the semi. Well, other traffic was not a factor at this time of day, and the semi had gained control and was slowing down on the left shoulder of the interstate (I saw him in my rearview mirror, not through my windshield like I should have).

Still in neutral, going backwards, yes-backwards, I had the sense of mind to shift my car into reverse (20-25mph), gradually press the gas pedal (I didn't know how to spell accelorator so I said gas pedal). I eased myself to a speed of 35mph. At this juncture I decided to make a hard turn on my steering wheel and attempt a stunt that we have all seen in the movies. Turning the wheel hard to the left my tires again slipped on the wet pavement and as I did so, I shifted from reverse to neutral to drive as I completed another 180 degree "controlled" spin.

As I gained control, going in the right direction now, I finally passed the semi who was now stopped on the left side of the road. I pulled over to the same side of the road to take account of all that had just happened. I got out of my car, looked back to the driver of the semi and heard him say something like "Boy, I thought you was gonna get yourself killed pullin' that Ricky Bobby driving crap you just did."

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Will Ferrell has a new movie coming out called "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."

This story, however, did not happen. This was all the imagination of it's author. My goal was to convey to the readers my excitement and anticipation of this new masterpiece of a movie by Will Ferrell.

Part II

For those of you who don't know, I have longed to see a tornado. Being in college for four years in the nation's tornado alley did not fulfill my desire.

However, last night, I saw one. I don't know if it counts because I was asleep and dreaming at the time. My sister Chris, the interpretor of dreams, suggested much like Joseph did to Pharoah that this dream was a vision of things to come.

If you haven't gotten the news yet, I have accepted a full time job in Escondido, California. My sister, "Joseph," thinks that my desire to see a tornado and not seek shelter is similar to me eagerly awaiting my move to California. I lived through the tornado, so she thinks that I will survive the move, the new job and new lifestyle.