Well, we've managed to get the cars dealt with (sort of). On Thursday I went to the Secretary of State to get a title for the green Subaru (the one Charlie was driving), since we couldn't find ours and needed the title to junk it. I was happy to remember that here in our State Capital, it is indeed possible to get same-day titles; in other parts of the state, it is not.

When I got to the Secretary of State, I discovered something bizarre: the clerk informed me that our green Subaru had never actually been titled in Michigan. (That would explain why its title was not in the same stack with our other car titles . . . ) We bought the car in Pennsylvania, and had a lien on it when we moved; apparently the lienholder held the title, and when we paid it off, they sent us a payoff letter but no title (since a PA title wouldn't have been of use to us). We didn't realize we were then supposed to get a Michigan title . . . The clerk suggested we contact the lienholder - ha, ha! It was paid off ten years ago; we've had numerous cars (and liens) since then; I have NO IDEA who gave us the loan for that car.

So on Saturday, while Emil went to the Secretary of State in Farmington (closest one with open hours on Saturday), I went to the junkyard to scrap the Subaru. Many thanks to Brenda, who drove me over there and waited patiently while I cleaned the crap important stuff out of the car . . . Luckily, the auto salvage place that I called took the car without the title, or we'd have been in a pickle. The car, alas, was indeed totalled; the front end was crunched like an accordian, and while there was no visible damage to the rear, you could see that it had been crunched because none of the doors aligned properly. It was all very weird, and if we hadn't had the new blue Subaru it might have made me sad; I loved that green car.

At any rate, Brenda and I took the stuff back (to our A2) home, and then took the 65634564376453654365432 computers, which had been en route to the dump for, oh, six months, out of the Eagle (Grandpa's car) and into Brenda's car, and actually hauled them away. So cathartic! So wonderful! I felt so much lighter . . . (I was tempted to go in the basement and get a few more to haul off, figuring Emil would never miss them . . . :)

Then Brenda and I had lunch with Diane at Lotus Thai, my favorite restaurant in the world. When we got back home, Emil had returned with title and plates for the Eagle, and was busy installing the newly-charged battery.

I'm amazed we managed to get everything done in a few short hours. Charlie now has new wheels, and I hope they last him a while - and I also hope he understands that when this car goes, there isn't another waiting in the wings. We're going to have to talk, and soon.

As for the blue Subaru: Emil got an insurance claim number, and on Friday I took it off to be inspected and to have the work scheduled. It was really funny when the guy was looking at it. He said, "You know, I've been in this business for over twenty years and I've seen the results of hundreds of deer crashes, and in all that time, I've never seen a broken mirror. They crunch the fenders, but the mirrors are always intact." Weird, huh?

Anyhow, our poor, limping Subaru won't get fixed until December 11, as they deem the car "driveable." (I suppose we technically can drive it, but the front end is clearly Not Right, so Emil will not be taking it to work. I'm trying not to think about what happens if he hits a deer in the dinky little tin-can Hyundai . . . ) All in all, this will be pretty good timing; Emma gets her tonsils out on the 6th, so we'll be home and not very much in need of transportation for a while.

In other news this weekend, last night Emil and I went to dinner at the Indian/Middle Eastern/American restaurant virtually Just Down the Street from Us and had very acceptable Indian & Middle Eastern food. We then nipped up to the Eastwood Towne Center (which we call Celebration, because it reminds me of that totally creepy town by Disney World - or more accurately, it reminds me of an outdoor mall where we ate dinner when I was in Orlando for Educause many years ago) to see Casino Royale (just OK, in my view, and not very Bond).

You have to understand that our house lies on a line between the restaurant and the theatres; and the restaurant and the theatres are maybe a mile and a half from each other. I get a totally ginormous kick out of the fact that everything is just so-ooo close by . . . I can't explain it, except to say that I think it's really cool. (Even the Secretary of State where I got the title is within two miles.) It feels completely relaxing to me to be within a ten-minute drive (or twenty-minute bike ride) of everything I could ever need, and much of what I want.

Today I went out to breakfast with Louise (all the way on the other side of town - 5 miles away), after which we went to Second Time Around, my favorite used-clothing store . . . and because Louise was with me, I found wonderful stuff (eg, a teal LL Bean fleece for seven bucks), which was nice. Hard to say whether I find more bargains when I shop with Louise or with Rob. I think maybe Louise brings me good shopping karma, and I bring Rob good shopping karma . . .

It's been a relaxing weekend, all in all. Yesterday I was frazzled beyond belief, dealing with the cars . . . but today has been a lot better. Overall, I'd say this weekend gets 8 out 10 stars . . .