netmouse | (no subject)

Made meatloaf and potatos for dinner last night. Bill helped me try to remember his mom's meatloaf recipe.

There keep being rumors of thunderstorms, but I don't think they've hit yet. Now the weather people say they won't be here until tomorrow and Friday. I guess I should have just gone ahead and worked on finishing our bookshelves.

Had a nice time this morning stuffing envelopes for the RiversFor Congress campaign. Had a bit of a tough time finding the office, but got a great free parking space right in front of it for the two hours, so that was good. While there, I ended up sitting across from my mom and dad's former neighbor Pat, which was a bit of a lark. Had a nice conversation with her and Tina and Julie. Julie works for the campaign, Tina is currently looking for work in IT or project management - just recently graduated from the U f M in Information Science. We kibitzed a bit on job searching techniques. She recommended monster.com and also said to check out Feiser (sp?) and Toyota - in particular, she thinks Toyota has an R&D location on the north side of town. Word is the city and the county have all their jobs posted on their websites, and the state of michigan is finally ending their hiring freeze in the middle of the summer. NSF was also mentioned. And of course, the University is the largest employer in Ann Arbor and not to be overlooked.

I went grocery shopping on the way home and by the time I got home I was on the down side. I had lunch and I think I really should organize some reunion stuff but I feel like puttering away at the office stuff. I got up around 6 today and dug into the bills and stuff that were piled on the floor in the office, so I've got a good start.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It has a ph in it... no, it's pfizer pharmaceuticals. I thought it was Warner Lambert, formerly parke-davis in town... wl.com, but pfizer may have bought them. Read "What Color is your Parachute", I have an old copy if you want it. Contact people, and if you want a systems job, go to SEMiSLUG this thursday, tomorrow. If you want, I'll go to introduce you to people.

Aha! Thanks for the spelling info. Sure, I'd like to borrow the book.. I'll let you know if I happen on it in the library before I get it from you though. The SemiSlug website is down. What and where is it? I might be interested.

Don't go to work for Toyota, arrrgh... or if you do, don't drive one of their products, PLEASE???

But my dear, the Chevy Nova I drive is identical to a toyota - many of them were made in a Toyota plant, so technically I already do drive one. Don't hate me because I'm sensible.

In other car news, Bill is encouraging me to consider buying a subaru impreza wrx. We test-drove one the other day and I have to admit it's not half bad...

Oh heavens... then don't drive a chevy nova... please? This sort of discussion has a tendency to really upset me, and I don't want to yell at you and argue with you about it. I can get you an X-plan discount under our Friends and Family program, on a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Land Rover, or Mazda (yes, it's Japanese, but we own them). Can't get it on Jaguar, if you want one, I'd buy it on my A-plan and drive it 6 months, then sell it to you at whatever the B-lot price would've been for the number of miles on it.

The impreza looks really ugly to me, from their website. Of course, the new Mustang has a lot better performance, and a SVT Focus would probably be a lot cooler, they're supposed to be really good, and Special Vehicle Team has yet to come out with a clinker. The Volvo S60 T5 also has better performance, and I'm sure is a hundred times more dependable and safe (and actually Mustang also does well in crash tests, because it's built really solidly). You're also probably short enough to drive a Miata, though I don't know about it for a Michigan winter. I can't put the top up, my head sticks through.

Yeah, head room is really an issue. Bill has to be able to drive and ride in the car. Miatas are out. I'll look into the other models you mentioned. The mustang is also out - I've driven rented mustangs and found the arm room to be cramped and the feel of the car to be wrong for me.

I'm not crazy about the hatchback style, either. I really want to be able to take passengers. I guess, following your link, that takes out the STV focus. I don't like the headlight style on the focus either

Ah well. And I suppose the discount isn't enough for you, either.

okay my computer freaked a little while I was writing that last reply.

You will please keep in mind, Chad, that I have never bought a car in my life. The car I drive was given to me by my mother. It has decent milage, it has an absolutely bitchin' turn radius for a four-door, and it was 100% cheaper than any car I might have to buy.

However, it is a 1988 car, the ceiling is coming off and the rust is getting out of control, so Bill is trying to get me shopping. And you know what? I hate shopping. So please don't mind me if I'm touchy. This whole conversation is about getting me to drive something other than a Nova already, so now is a silly time to hassle me about it. I'm just saying, this is what I have for comparison - I want better engine performance, at least as much passenger and cargo space, and some comparable handling.

Forbes reports the Volvo S60 T5 has a longish wheelbase, which is the opposite of what I'm looking for. They also say the seats are uncomfortable, but with the rest of what they say I'm guessing it might be worth a test drive. --But it costs a lot more than the Impreza.

I do appreciate your input. Ideas are good right now. Thanks.

Aha. There is a 4-door sedan version of the Volvo S60. Still kinda expensive though.

And the S40 is smaller, I think, but doesn't have the power. You're welcome.

Y're welcome.