| Mathematician Steven Strogatz shows how flocks of creatures (like birds, fireflies and fish) manage to synchronize and act as a unit -- when no one's giving orders. The powerful tendency extends into the realm of objects, too. |
I called Just Tires in Cary, and for about the third time now, I definitely got the impression on the phone that they'd rather I not come in today. Interestingly, I usually call around a holiday or on a Friday, and it makes me wonder if they aren't saying what they do, just so their day can be easier, or they can got out of there earlier.
I took my car up to Jiffy Lube, where there is one line for Oil Changes and another line for N.C. Inspections. I pulled up and veered toward the right, the N.C. Inspection line as that was my priority today, but I said to the woman who worked there, as she approached my car, "I really want an inspection and an oil change. Which line?"
"Just stay to the right; that's fine," she said.
In way too short of time, my car was done. "Did you change the oil, too?" I asked.
"You wanted the oil changed?" asked the very same woman I had the conversation with when pulling in.
"Yes," I said, and I waited another 15 or so minutes for my car to be pulled back around to have the oil changed.
I was kind of surprised that my car passed inspection with the "Brake" sensor light that stays lit all the time. The $30 inspection charge included the new, "E-Sticker Fee" of $6.25.
Wondering how instpections are going to line up with the registration renewal, of which mine comes in March, I checked online to see if I was going to have to get my car inspected again in March, and if so, if the cost was going to be pro-rated. To my surprise, and delight, I won't have to get another inspection until March of 2010.
I started straightening up a little around my house. It's really getting a little overwhelming in here now with more "stuff" coming in from the holidays.
I finally wiped off the inch of dust—both on top of the desk in my living room, and on my bar. Disgusting. I both chipped the top of a crystal decanter and then cut my finger on it. Annoying.
When beginning this blog entry, I got pulled into yet another TED video:
| Filmmaker Newton Aduaka shows clips from his powerful, lyrical feature film "Ezra," about a child soldier in Sierra Leone. |
I heard from the first person to write me about my holiday photo card—one of the folks I went to China with. I thought those folks would probably appreciate that card the most.
Her email included affirmations of friendship. Sweet.
I got to Flex at around 10:30, and it was surprisingly dead in there. I spent most of my time talking with Joshua ("youngster" who works at Whole Foods) and Brian ("youngster" who is dating, or has dated, Van, who's at dancing a lot).
After a short while I sensed some possible "young love vibes" between them, so I carried my ass to Legends. I watched the show with Steve H., who was there on a date gone bad, which I only know, because when I went up to give him a hug, he said, "Save me."
I thoroughly enjoyed the show, as it had Jasmine Addams in it, who is one of my favorite entertainers, and whom I rarely see, because she usually performs over at CC's, where I haven't been in ages. I once gave her a $20 tip while she was performing. Also in the show were Coti Collins, who did a couple of Reba songs, and Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, who I just like a whole lot more now, since I saw her in Pageant.