Car, why are you so selfish?

If my car was a breathing and conscious thing, I'd ask why it has to be so selfish and demand so much money to be thrown at it. Is it not enough that I fork over a couple of bucks per week on gas alone? Maybe I haven't always been good to you. But I've stopped being an abusive owner, and it has been a long while since I went in excess of 90 mph. I do admit I can still be rough when going through Bel Air and the twists/turns of Sunset beckons me to go as fast as the 106 horsepower from your engine would allow me to. But did you really need the new brakes I bought you yesterday? That could've gone into buying a new drivetrain for my bike. Or my airfare for that trip in June I'm planning.

To be completely honest, though, you've been very good to me. You saw me through thick and thin in high school and college. And when you turned 120,000 miles today, I felt nostalgic and sentimental. I might think you're selfish, but I'm also thankful for all the years you've been reliable. Never once did you leave me stranded on the side, and I guess that's why I should continue to drive you for another few more months. I just hope that your replacement will be as nice to me as you have.

Even though I refer to my car as a living being in this post, I have not named it.

I "heart" you

moar humorous pics

How was your Valentine's? My sentiment for V-Day is aptly summarized in the photo above. If it was a living being, then I'd tell it to kiss my ass. Next year, I'm going to throw an angry/bitter/lonely single's party, all for the good cause of giving ol' Valentine a middle finger. Or rather, maybe I should celebrate Singles Awareness Day. Perhaps not to the extent of the Lovers-go-die club, but you get the picture. The trademark for Singles Awareness Day is, ironically, held by two attorneys. While Singles Awareness Day is celebrated on or around February 14th, Singles Day is celebrated in China on November 11th. The symbolism of four "ones" lined up in the date (11/11) never really occurred to me, but I have to give credit to the Chinese cleverness.

I think I gorged on one Twix mini, one Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, three carmel-filled Kisses, and a KitKat bar on the fateful V-Day. What better way to feel even more single when you're grossly overweight and fat?

Aww...

This picture could've been me, except I'd also have a martini glass in the other hand while I talked smack about the neighborhood kids.

But seriously, I'm thankful that every restaurant and bar facilities in California do not permit smoking indoors. I remember when I'd go to the Roseland Theater in Portland and come out not being able to breathe. Don't get me started on smelling like cigarettes after going out clubbing.

Hey, He's That Guy...

I just realized that the guy in Finance can sing. And the thoughts of him serenading me suddenly gushed into my mind. Sadly, I think my coworker Wendy has a better chance with him than I do. That noise you hear crumbling and tearing? Do you hear it? Listen carefully, because that's my heart.

He plays at the Dresden every Sunday, which I might have to go check him out one of these days. Not to be a stalker, but I should hear him live. I'm still finding it hard to believe that the voice in those songs are him. And if Finance guy happens to read this, I can assure you I will not become a groupie.

Speaking of checking out music, I went to go see The Deadly Syndrome last night at The Scene, and I was sorely disappointed. If I'm dragging my ass all the way to Glendale, it better be worth it. And they were not worth the trip. They seemed to be too inebriated to put on a decent show, and did not handle their equipment malfunction with aplomb. Even the band that headlined for them was better. What a waste of good Saturday evening. I should've gone to Vanguard to check out Cedric Gervais. Maybe I'll go to Vanguard next week, when Paul Van Dyk is playing. Yes, the only remedy to a bad night of indie is unforgiving beats of electronic house.

It's Hip to be Cube

Forget being square. Squares are so two-dimensional. Enter the Cube. Nissan Cube, that is.

Before there was the Scion xB, the Nissan Cube stretched the envelope by being smart about space efficiency. And while I already found out from my company that the next generation Cube was coming to the U.S., I can at least make a posting about it since Nissan's global design director has spilled the beans to LA Times.

What makes the Cube very Granola is that it already gets pretty decent fuel economy without a complicated two-mode hybrid system. Imagine, then, a Cube with a hybrid system similar to a Prius. Where the Scion xB has left a void, I'm guessing the Nissan Cube is more than capable of filling it. The xB has grown, or rather bloated, up to where it is today in its 2.4-liter grandeur. It is no longer peppy and miserly with fuel, as the first generation was.

Nissan has a hybrid in the States, and yet most people don't know about it. The Altima Hybrid is also limited to select states, namely California, New York, and a handful of others. Even less know that the hybrid system was licensed from Toyota, since Nissan is still developing their own hardware. However, Nissan will likely have its own eleectric/gas hybrid by 2010, perhaps mated to a vehicle like the Cube. Small on the outside, roomy inside, fuel efficient, and modestly chic-looking? Sign this urban bitch up.

LA gas prices have stabilized somewhat at $3.15/gallon, but I'm guessing that this is only a brief reprieve from what I imagine to be a continued climb to $4/gallon and beyond. Time to reconsider that Prius.

No Mo' Rain, PLEASE

Global warming, El Niño, La Niña, little butterfly in China, whatever the reason it is, Los Angeles has been experiencing some freak weather for the last few weeks. Last week's rain reminded me of living in Oregon, and it did NOT make me feel nostalgic. In fact, the rain is what drove me out of the state to begin with. Earthquakes might not bring Los Angeles down, but unfortunately water falling from the skies counts as a natural disaster. Freeways flooded, SUV's actually had to wade through water, and people did not walk the streets. On second thought, Los Angelinos rarely walk anyway, so ignore the last thought.

One thing that supremely annoyed me was that people do not know how to drive here in the rain. They either drive way too slow, or way too fast. Another thing that annoyed me was that I couldn't bike to work the entire week. The lack of exercise and the gloomy weather did wonders for my mood, which probably showed. If you happened to be exposed to my bitchiness during the week, I truly apologize. I blame it on the weather.

Sunday's forecast: rain. Shit.