You Have My Sympathy, NY & Cali

You are most definitely paying more for gasoline than any other state! As much as I miss NY, I do not mind the fact that I am paying about 20-30 cents less per gallon of gas. Here is a price map of the U.S. that color codes every town (or at least that's what it looks like) revealing who's paying the most for gas. It is updated daily, which can be either encouraging or discouraging, depending on the day. This morning when I checked it, VA was orange and now most of it is yellow, so I am feeling somewhat relieved (at least it doesn't always go up).

Smoke and Fire

I have found that the saying "where there is smoke, there is fire" isn't always accurate. For example: I was cooking rice the other day, and forgot about it as I got lost in a good book (a common fault for me) until I was jolted back into reality by the peircing sound of the smoke detector. My apartment was pretty much filled with smoke (it's amazing I didn't notice it), but there was no fire. I simply had to discard the very burnt rice, turn on the vent and fan, and open the window and sliding, glass door.

Yesterday, however, was quite another story... I was sprawled out on the couch, book in hand, surrounded by color-coded index cards that were covered in words of another language (I wish I could say I understood all that I had written on them), when suddenly, plumes of smoke just beyond the balcony caught my attention. Since it was very white at first, I thought it was just spray from a pressure washer (it was window-washing day for my apartment complex), but as the smoke turned gray, and my apartment began to fill with a camp-fire smell, I realized my first assumption was incorrect. I jumped up, scattering cards in my wake, and ran to the balcony to find out what was going on. It took a minute to see through the smoke and make out the images of two men with fire extinguishers (that is what created the white smoke; it was filled with a powder-like substance). While it looked like the outer wall of the apartment building was ablaze, it was actually only the wood chips that suround the perimeter of our building. As I stood there, watching the efforts of the two men, my thoughts wandered to the various possessions I keep in that apartment and I considered what I would grab if I had to evacuate the building. I decided on my guitar and the backpack on wheels that contains my scissors and the rest of my styling tools. Of course, I realize that is a pretty ridiculous thing to think about under the circumstances. I mean, if I was really concerned that the building was acually burning down, I would have been better off using my time to call 911, or to help the two men below. Ackowledging the absurdity of my thoughts, I just laughed at myself and went back to my book and flash cards.

Life Mottos

I was reading through some "Zen thoughts" and couldn't help but assign various family members to them.

Sushi:
Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

Big Little Brother:
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

Little Helpful Brother:
I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

Mom:
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. (But she'll continue with the pomagranite juice anyway *mischievous grin*)

Leesamarianella:
It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it. (While she is the criminal mastermind of the family, she never does the evil things she suggests)

Dad:
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

Me:
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have any film. (Currently, I think my batteries are dead as well)