I really want to learn how to do this

My existing espresso machine simply isn't capable of doing what I need. The steam doesn't come out hard enough or dry enough to make the wonderful, silky "microfoam" you need for latte art. Believe me, I've tried.

I'm not sure what's sadder, that this product exists, or that I'm not surprised it does

I just found $1000 from Skip Barber

How amazing is this?

Back in 2001, Debra and I signed up to take a racing school through Skip Barber. We were at Laguna Seca race track in California for the Monterey Historic Races and put $500 deposits down on two spots in their October, '01 driving school.

A few weeks later, Debra got an invitation to a friend's wedding and we had to postpone our class. Not sure what sort of blow to the head I then suffered, because I shortly forgot about it. And life goes on.

Last week, the repressed memory resurfaced. I had a fleeting recollection of giving Skip Barber money, but thought, "There's no way I didn't get a refund. Is there?"

A call to Skip Barber and a couple of emails later and, sure enough, I now have a $1,000 credit to be applied to a future class of my choice. I'm now perusing their online catalog, trying to decide how to spend my windfall.

True "found money," this completely trumps that $20 bill I found in the pocket of my winter coat one cold fall morning a few years ago. Sometimes, head injuries can be good things.

It looks good

I am happy. Queen City did a great job. Looks better than when I picked it up in Arizona.

End of the week...no car in sight

The good news is that I didn't get my hopes up that I'd see my MINI before the end of the week.

The bad news is that I'm completely lying. Of course I got my hopes up. I suck at not getting my hopes up. Why would this be any different?

On Wednesday, the Queen City Tracker said I'd have the car by Thursday. On Thursday, when I called, they said they'd thought they'd have it done today, Friday.

Now, it says Tuesday:

I have to say, it is a bit alarming that one of the steps you go through appears to be "Car is a total loss." Is that when they just give up and say, "Aw, screw it, too hard…let's go get a beer?"

I've got 20 minutes to get this movie today

Amazon now does same-day delivery in seven markets, including Seattle. And as an Amazon Prime member, it's just $5.99 more per item. 

How cool is that?

Final tally: $4,879.62

I was a bit off in my previous post. Turns out, driving your car into a deer has been hit by the recession, too, and you can now get in and out for a bit under 5 grand. 

Hardly the heydays of early 2003 Deer Bubble, when the furry quadrupeds would be lined up along the shoulder of the road, leaping out in front of your car just to see if they could earn that now infamous "Ten G's for Bambi" claim to fame. Back then, if you weren't missing at least one or two prongs on your antlers, bouncers in the toniest clubs in New York wouldn't even let a well-dressed deer in for a drink.

And who can forget this guy and his YouTube hit, White Tailed Levis? Ah, memories.

GEICO says I should have my check on Friday.

I really don't get the whole mint-flavored chewing tobacco thing. Isn't that why they invented gum?