milestones

for the first time EVER, all of my shoes will fit in a single container. even though i kept both pairs of fuck-me pumps.

progress, itinerary, fun fun fun

today i got the trailer hitch installed. they managed to drill three extraneous holes (each about 1" diameter) in the frame of my car in the process. the mechanic who changed my oil a couple of hours later said he doesn't think they'll cause any trouble, but that i should probably get them patched so water doesn't get in through them. i'll worry about it when i get to TX. i just don't have time to give a shit right now.

instead of driving to Vegas Sunday, i'm going to stop in Barstow. it's a better midpoint between here and Tucson, plus i'll miss a lot of traffic. the predicted high temperature for most locations between here and Barstow on Sunday is between 108F and 110F (that's about 42-43C, for you metric types). man, it's a good thing my air conditioner is fully charged. and this is why i had my oil changed today, i mean, aside from the fact that it was tragically overdue. i figured it would be a good idea to make sure my coolant was topped up.

anyway. Google Maps estimates SF to Barstow at about 8 hours. towing a trailer, it'll probably be more like 10. it ain't nothin' but a party, y'all.

so. Barstow to Tucson on Monday. that's another estimated 8 hours, meaning another actual 10 hours or so. i'll have to leave pretty early in order to get there in time for dinner with madbodger and fizzygeek. did you guys have any sort of schedule? i'd hate to miss out on that restaurant shaped like a giant cow skull. on the up side, by the time i get there, the temp should be down to a relatively balmy 102F. woohoo!

Tuesday i stay in Tucson, where we'll visit Tubac and the cats will get a much-needed respite from the heat by spending the day in an air-conditioned hotel room, the lucky bastards. thunderstorms are predicted, and the temperature is expected to reach a mere 96F. i shall be extremely put out if i don't get a thunderstorm.

Wednesday it'll be back onto the highway for me, and another 10-hour drive, this time to Van Horn, TX, which is as far as i can tell distinguished only by its convenient location approximately midway between Tucson and Austin. the predicted high temperature there is a frigid 92F. i plan on wearing ski pants and a turtleneck, lest i catch a chill.

finally on Thursday i'll strike east toward Austin, arriving 10 more hours later. by that time i expect my car to smell like a busy locker room after a particularly long and arduous (i initially mistyped this as 'arguous', which probably should be a word) football game, and i hope bquinlan and valkyrie_kitten will be ready to hose me down as soon as my feet touch their driveway (est. temperature 96F).

have i ever mentioned how much i hate hot weather?

pointless milestones

i just put in my last load of laundry ever in this building.