rajafacesbothways

Riding the Rails

Leaving Cincy Amtrak station about 1:30 a. m. for Chicago--on to Salt Lake and renting a car there to explore Bryce and Zion National Parks for 5 days, then riding the rails to San Francisco to spend 3-4 days.

Will rent a car and drive up the coast with stops in Portland and Seattle where Patsy, Katy and I will catch Amtrak on 9/11 back to Cincy and home. We're due to arrive at 3:17 a.m. on 9/14. We aren't getting sleepers so won't arrive "refreshed". That's okay. The journey not the arrival is what counts.

Am not taking my laptop, but will try to blog occasionally from hotels or motels. I assume there is internect connection west of the Rockies!

Norse Horse Update

Took my car in for an oil change to Catfish and he said Billy Bob, who bought the Norse Horse, called him about a leak in its transmission.

I commented that it also had needed a new muffler when Billy Bob got the car.

Catfish's comment: " A guy like that don't bother none with fixin' a muffler. He probably took it out as soon as he got it home."

Catfish has added another mounted buck deer head to his walls. I told him in Chicago they hang certificates on their garage office walls. But then, this is Kentucky.

Spoiler Alert

This is a spoiler alert for yesterday's entry concerning the new Toyota. The last photo of the locally filmed commercial may reveal early disclosure of Toyota's latest design.

Named That Car

I had decided to name my Toyota "Traipsin' Toy". It should feel more user friendly with a name. 

However, " Mary From California" suggested "Uma Karuma", Japanese for horse car. I love it! Just the kind of idea I had been searching for; a play of words off of Norse Horse. Thank you Mary, whoever you are!

Is it just me? Or is naming a car what women do who live alone with no pets?

Norse Horse Has Hit the Trail

Sold the Norse Horse today to a muscular man with a pot belly, a curly pony tail, Debby Sue? tattooed on his beefy upper arm (the question mark followed Debby Sue's name) and a roll of cash.  And to complete the transfer of title, his name was  William Robert ---------.
A true  Kentucky Billy Bob is now the undisputed owner of the Norse Horse.
He says he is a  mechanic along with other jobs and will take good care of the car. That car owed me nothing, so I was happy to sell it for a decent sum.
I'm SURE it will go another 50,000 miles, especially fro someone who can repair it at cost. Now I got to concentrate on putting another 230,000 miles on the Corolla--still unnamed--to make it worth the change.

Flashes and Beeps

In comparison to the Norse Horse, my Corolla's toots and whistles are cup holders, AC, CD player and radio. That's good. I no longer need to hold my coffee between my knees when I drive and hum my favorite tunes with the windows down.
However, it also has an intimidating lock system and constantly urges me to do what I  would automatically do in my car--close doors, fasten seat belt, etc. as though I can't think for myself. I'm still unsure what lever releases which door, gas tank, and trunk.  And the car key is a $200 coded system that encourages me to never allow it leave my fist. Cars  definitely have become complex over the past 21 years.

I do really like this car. However, the Volvo let me make the decisions--now I feel the Corolla is in control.

Take One--Leave One

Picked up the Corolla this morning and left behind the Norse Horse at Catfish's garage. It's now facing Broadway with a price sprawled across the front window.
The Corolla had 55555 on the odometer but it looks like new.
Below is the interior of Catfish's office. not your usual car showroom.  But hey, this is Kentucky!

Car Talk

Catfish checked over the red '05 Corolla CE I'm reluctantly considering buying and found no problems with it. (reluctant because it means severing my relationship of 20+ years with the Norse Horse.) Although I still haven't driven the Corolla, I'm one step closer to making the decision to put the Norse Horse out to pasture...or on a sales lot.
 I hate to admit that I'm so attached to a car;  it's probably because of the rich history we have shared.
 Okay. I'm shallow. Somehow ending relationships with men never seemed this difficult.

Lucky Sevens?

The odometer on the Norse Horse read 277,777 as I left Lexington yesterday.

I know--777,777 would be more impressive, but that would involve space travel.

Decisions-Decisions

A friend extended a generous offer on a well-maintained '98 SUV with 153,000 less miles on it than the Norse Horse.

After much consideration, I declined.  I decided to go for broke and get the kind and color of car I want when the Norse Horse has to be shot, be it next week or a couple of years from now. I lived without a car cupholder this long--I can continue that struggle.

Playing it safe can take away the adventure of life---b-o-r-i-n-g. (But probably smart)