I just had to give a recorded testimony of the car accident to the adjuster of the BMW owner... I have to admit, this car thing is really working my nerves. It can make me feel so anxious. I just figure I have nothing more to lose... the car is already gone and we have no money he can take anyways... ahhhhhhhhh. It turns out both cars were totaled so now we are dealing with who's insurance claim pays for what, whos liable, etc. ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Aside from that, my firm's Christmas party is this afternoon... I can barely wait for the holiday to be here. Kevin and I can't wait to see family and friends again- its made this last week dreadfully slow. Friday night we are celebrating our first Christmas together, before we head out Saturday for Kansas. Kevin keeps buying me gifts... I can't keep up.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Nissan Eulogy
Our 1995 Nissan Altima (sometimes referred to as "The Cloud") passed away this Monday morning, Dec 12th 2005, quite suddenly and unexpectantly. Our almost three year relationship ended abruptly when a blue/silver BMW beheaded her in a nearly head on collision. The Nissan is mostly still intact... just the most important and valuable parts probably are no longer usable. The damage will be far more than the worth of the car... hence the diagnoses that the Nissan is now "dead". Time seems to freeze as the Nissan let out her last breath when the air bag exploded near my face.
I feel sad sometimes when I think about how quickly the Nissan was destroyed. One minute I was walking to my car to head off to work, and the next I was standing on the street's curb, staring in shock at my car as the transmission and radiator fluid poured out. Neither of the drivers were seriously injured… he did have a small gash in his head from his air bag but he was quickly calmed and treated. I had some soreness of neck and back but after visiting the chiropractor the next day, was almost as good as usual.
The neighbors, our landlord, the wife of the BMW owner, firemen, and police officers were all very kind, acting as though this was something that happened every day. In fact, I heard more than once, "welcome to LA" as sightseers passed by and stopped to see the wreckage.
Kevin and I currently have a rented car to use for a few days and then we will figure out how to live in this huge, auto-land, with one car… at least for now. We are thankful for God's mercy and provision as we had just finalized car insurance nearly a week before and no serious injuries were caused. No blame has been placed yet, I think both drivers did the best they could at the time. We will find out the insurance company's response in a few days though.
The story (in a nutshell)… I was coming out of our apartment parking lot, trying to make a left hand turn. The street I was turning onto to has poor visibility b/c cars park along both sides. I am always nervous pulling out… looking both ways for sometimes several minutes before heading out. This time, I thought I was clear, after watching a black SUV park further up the road one way, and watching the nearest light turn red the other way. I didn't see the BMW until my air bag exploded.
And that is our latest LA adventure/experience. We have survived yet again. Thanks for all your calls, emails, support and prayers…. We really appreciate you all. And remember, especially as you see the pictures below, that I really am okay.
The entrance to our parking spot... we drive underneath another complex to get to our apt in the back... this is where I was pulling out from to make a left turn.
I feel sad sometimes when I think about how quickly the Nissan was destroyed. One minute I was walking to my car to head off to work, and the next I was standing on the street's curb, staring in shock at my car as the transmission and radiator fluid poured out. Neither of the drivers were seriously injured… he did have a small gash in his head from his air bag but he was quickly calmed and treated. I had some soreness of neck and back but after visiting the chiropractor the next day, was almost as good as usual.
The neighbors, our landlord, the wife of the BMW owner, firemen, and police officers were all very kind, acting as though this was something that happened every day. In fact, I heard more than once, "welcome to LA" as sightseers passed by and stopped to see the wreckage.
Kevin and I currently have a rented car to use for a few days and then we will figure out how to live in this huge, auto-land, with one car… at least for now. We are thankful for God's mercy and provision as we had just finalized car insurance nearly a week before and no serious injuries were caused. No blame has been placed yet, I think both drivers did the best they could at the time. We will find out the insurance company's response in a few days though.
The story (in a nutshell)… I was coming out of our apartment parking lot, trying to make a left hand turn. The street I was turning onto to has poor visibility b/c cars park along both sides. I am always nervous pulling out… looking both ways for sometimes several minutes before heading out. This time, I thought I was clear, after watching a black SUV park further up the road one way, and watching the nearest light turn red the other way. I didn't see the BMW until my air bag exploded.
And that is our latest LA adventure/experience. We have survived yet again. Thanks for all your calls, emails, support and prayers…. We really appreciate you all. And remember, especially as you see the pictures below, that I really am okay.
The entrance to our parking spot... we drive underneath another complex to get to our apt in the back... this is where I was pulling out from to make a left turn.
My car is shown above and then the BMW below...
But remember... I'm okay! Just a little sore...
On another note, here are some pictures from LA that we took this last weekend.
Shown above is my favorite flower in LA... and I haven't figured out what it is called yet. Any ideas?
It is unusual to find a tree that has leaves that actually act like its winter... so I had to take a picture of one. This is in a garden at the Getty museum.
I took this picture for Jill... I was thinking of you at the garden and took this picture :) Its not as good as yours though!
Kevin making a carrot cake... I've been (trying to) teach him everything Cindy and Heather taught me.
I love you all and love you and can't wait to come to KS soon!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
What can I control?
This blog thing is starting to feel more like my personal journal... when good things happen I forget to write or I just don't feel like it... but on the heavier days I tend to become overwelmed w/ the intensity of my thoughts.
Last night, today looked adventurous and inviting... but then 12 am passed and it took its own turn. Kevin and I are going to a premier tonight of the movie Chronicles of Narnia. We've never been to one before so we don't know what to expect... red carpet? The actors and producers? Pieces of the sets on display? I'll let you know tomorrow how it went... if only I can get that far in the day.
I decided to try out the bus system on my way to work... since the bus doesn't really come near enough to my apt to walk to, Kevin dropped me off at the first bus stop. I had barely slept the night before, had a headache and possibly a fever, and was anxious... was this bus thing really going to work? I felt silly... especially since in Prague, bus and tram were the only way to really get around. I should know how to do this, and yet still I felt hesitant. I got on and five minutes later the bus broke down. What are the chances of that happening today, I thought to myself. An hour and a half later I was finally walking into work... just a little late :)
I find LA gets me aggitated in ways I didn't expect. The other week, as I drove home in heavy traffic, I became so frustrated I actually yelled in my car. Not just once either. I'd had enough. Let me go. Get out of my way. And the car sat in idle, waiting for the miles of cars in front of me to creep forward. I thought I would literally explode. I could feel the anxiety boiling underneath my skin. What has LA done to me?
What do bus adventures and traffic have in common? Well actually a lot, but I wonder if you are wondering how I will connect them with control. The other day in my car I thought of our group of friends that went to Indonesia and spent 14 hours (or however long... lets just say a LONG time) in the bus to get there (after flying however long first of course.) I thought to myself, "Well if this was Indonesia I'd be fine... I'd expect this two hour holdup as part of the adventure and plow on). But b/c it's in LA... I'm going to explode. Is that not reason to begin to worry? What about being in a different country changes my attitude? my expectations? my time?
The anwser... what I feel in control of. I can't control travel time in Indonesia... its a well known and accepted fact... so it wouldn't get to me. But.... for some odd reason, I fight intensely and dramatically for control of travel time in LA. Even as I was yelling in my car the other day, I thought, "Why can't I just let it go?"
If only I could have my "Indonesia perspective" all the time...
Last night, today looked adventurous and inviting... but then 12 am passed and it took its own turn. Kevin and I are going to a premier tonight of the movie Chronicles of Narnia. We've never been to one before so we don't know what to expect... red carpet? The actors and producers? Pieces of the sets on display? I'll let you know tomorrow how it went... if only I can get that far in the day.
I decided to try out the bus system on my way to work... since the bus doesn't really come near enough to my apt to walk to, Kevin dropped me off at the first bus stop. I had barely slept the night before, had a headache and possibly a fever, and was anxious... was this bus thing really going to work? I felt silly... especially since in Prague, bus and tram were the only way to really get around. I should know how to do this, and yet still I felt hesitant. I got on and five minutes later the bus broke down. What are the chances of that happening today, I thought to myself. An hour and a half later I was finally walking into work... just a little late :)
I find LA gets me aggitated in ways I didn't expect. The other week, as I drove home in heavy traffic, I became so frustrated I actually yelled in my car. Not just once either. I'd had enough. Let me go. Get out of my way. And the car sat in idle, waiting for the miles of cars in front of me to creep forward. I thought I would literally explode. I could feel the anxiety boiling underneath my skin. What has LA done to me?
What do bus adventures and traffic have in common? Well actually a lot, but I wonder if you are wondering how I will connect them with control. The other day in my car I thought of our group of friends that went to Indonesia and spent 14 hours (or however long... lets just say a LONG time) in the bus to get there (after flying however long first of course.) I thought to myself, "Well if this was Indonesia I'd be fine... I'd expect this two hour holdup as part of the adventure and plow on). But b/c it's in LA... I'm going to explode. Is that not reason to begin to worry? What about being in a different country changes my attitude? my expectations? my time?
The anwser... what I feel in control of. I can't control travel time in Indonesia... its a well known and accepted fact... so it wouldn't get to me. But.... for some odd reason, I fight intensely and dramatically for control of travel time in LA. Even as I was yelling in my car the other day, I thought, "Why can't I just let it go?"
If only I could have my "Indonesia perspective" all the time...
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