A Sheet of Ice

Well, a funny thing happened. I was driving to work and turned into the parking lot. There was what looked like about 1/2 inch of snow covering the entire parking lot. Thus, seeing the conditions, I took the turn much slower than I normally would have. I immediately began to slide and released the breaks completely. So, here I am, sliding around this slightly downhill slope, no touch my break so I will have control, and aimed right at the curb. My thoughts were as follows:

"Well, I have a few choices here... 1) I can try to drive over the curb, so I don't hurt my tire. No, that wouldn't work, I'd just get stuck in those bushes and probably dink up the bottom of my car. 2) I can turn my wheel a little to try to drive onto, but not over, the curb. I might be able to recover from the slide then. If I can't, then chances are I'll get a front and a back tire stuck up here and won't be able to get out... or I'll hit that parked car. 3) I can just leave my wheel parrallel to the curb so that it'll smack it and stop the slide, then I'll be fine. I won't hit that car, I won't get stuck in the bushes, and I won't be sliding. Hmm, I think I'll take option 3."

I straightened my wheel some, so it wouldn't slam in directly on the side and let myself nail the curb. Everything seemed OK until lunch time. I got in my car started driving, and when I hit 25mph, my steering wheel started to vibrate. I had no idea what was going on. I took it into the Firestone and it turns out I bent up the wheel (the actuall wheel, sometimes called the rim) pretty badly and had to replace it. Cost $70 to replace that part, and I decided to get snow tires for my front tires for an additional $150. So, I'm all good now.

The funny part about all this, though, is coming up. I was talking to the lead programmer today and he was talking about his "Midas Touch"... I still don't know why he was. When I asked what he meant, he said: "Oh, I hit the curb yesterday and bent up the wheel on my car". I couldn't help it. I split my side laughing. After a stunned second he said: "You did it too, huh?" I agreed with him and we had a good laugh wondering how many others had done the same thing. He got his wheel replaced today on his lunch break.

Great times, Great weather, Great cars.

I love Utah in the Winter!

Two Angels

I wrote this after my most recent break up. I thought this X was the one. Turns out she was not. I had some disturbing realizations about her during the breakup that I was apparently blind to while we were dating. I met one of the most awesome people I know on a road trip shortly after this break up. In 4 days time she showed me that their are people out there who are vastly superior to this X. While I still cared for this X at the time (mostly because I'd been dating her for 2 years) I had glimpsed something far better. This poem describes my feelings at the time and gives an image of the choice I had to make between the old and the new.

-= Two Angels =-

I stand here looking, my future unfolds,
and a fork in my path becomes clear.
The threads of time pull me on,
the fork I now approach.

Which choice, which path, must I choose?
my life hinges at this fork,
for once I choose, I cannot turn
this choice cannot be undone.

The right is narrow, straight and true,
but challenges creep along the way,
The left seems easier at first glance,
but further on the way grows rough.

My way unclear, my choice unmade,
and life throws in a little more.
An angel beckons from each path
telling me which way to go.

One says left, the other right,
conflicting messages fill my head:
"This way's easy, come to me."
"This way's worth the struggle!"

The familiar angel to my left,
smiles as she beckons me down the path.
The fire haired beauty across the way
pleads with me to choose the right.

Familiarity gains my trust,
but something holds me to my place.
That way grows dark, holds pain unseen,
and, yet, she beckons... why?

Her plea seems hollow, unattached,
as if it has nothing to do with me.
It's what she wants, and so she asks,
but does she want what's best for me?

To my right, again I look,
and meet that penetrating gaze.
The honesty in her eyes I see,
the sincerity of her plea I feel.

My heart is torn, my mind goes mad,
why does this angel care?
I barely know her, yet she calls,
she beckons, pleading, to choose her way.

Why is she so sincere?
She does not have a thing to gain.
And, yet, her plea rings in my head,
and slowly my feet begin to turn.

She draws me on, my choice seems made,
as joy and happiness consume her gaze.
The angel to my left cries out,
begging me to choose her path.

My stride grows strong, my resolve more firm,
as familiarity loses trust.
I choose the path that is sincere,
my journey continues as it must.

I walk along, the left trail fades,
the choice is made, and cannot change.
I meet the angel, she smiles with joy,
and now I know what my new future brings.