So I'm in Talala, which is about 40 miles north of Tulsa. I'm at my brother's house, and Lightning the cat is keeping me company.

* * *

Yesterday I bought a new tire. It turns out I didn't have road hazard warranty like I suspected, but they did pro-rate my tire. They sold me the new tire for $30, plus labor, and a few fees (including a fee for disposing of the old tire). The total cost was $44. Not bad considering the tire I got is typically about $75.

When I was putting my tire back on my car, Scott (Matthew's padre) noticed that my brake pads were awfully thin.

* * *

Mi hermana, Deena, and I worked promotional today! Last week, I responded to a post on Craig’s List looking for help with the Get Animated tour by Cox & Cartoon Network. Cartoon Network started Get Animated to encourage kids to be active this summer. Think VBS kinda recreation--tennis, inflatable obstacle course, grab bags, limbo, soccer kick, bikes. This event is touring across the country. One of my favorite things about the event is that it was held at the Oklahoma Aquarium.

We started setting up at 10:30 this morning. Set up lasted until 2pm, and nothing worth reading about happened during that time.

The event opened at 2, and that's when the day really got fun. The first hour I supervised the tennis court. But then I switched with the girl at the bike stand. Two kids' bikes were mounted so that they wouldn't move, but you could still pedal. So I'd time the kids for 3 minutes and make them pedal as hard as they could. I also gave them lessons in bike safety. "Do you wear a helmet when you ride?" "It's best to ride in tennis shoes, incase your toes get in the chain!"

In addition to a nice hourly wage, we got great Cartoon Netwrok dry-fit shirts.

* * *

We finished at 1am last night. Richard (brother) and I replaced my front brakes, fixed a loose CV joint boot, and rotated my tires. Now I'm proud to list all the work I've done on my car.

• replaced the oxygen sensor
• diagnosed and fixed a problem with the radiator
• replaced front brake pads
  

The plan for tonight is to replace the back brake pads.

Flat Tire

EXT. WILSHIRE BLVD. NIGHT.

We see Daniel's Camry cruising down the rural end of Wilshire. Tree lines sandwich the hazardous road.

INT. DANIEL'S CAR. NIGHT.
Both of Daniel's hands are on the wheel and his window's down. He's swaying off beat to Le Disko by Shiny Toy Guns. He's alone.

A sudden thud and jolt to the right rip his attention for the radio.

DANIEL:
Acthung! Never hit a pothole so hard.

There's no immediate damage, so Daniel keeps driving.

EXT. MATTHEW'S HOUSE. MORNING.

Daniel gets in his Camry, starts it, and drives six feet. Somethings not right. He parks the car and goes straight to the front right tire. Totally flat.

* * *

So I've been driving on a spare since yesterday morning. Matthew's dad, Scott, helped me examine the tire. We found a large bubble where the side wall was busted. These are still pretty new tires, so I was pretty upset about replacing it.

I called my brother (he bought the tires for me), and told me I had road hazard warranty on my tires. But I don't have the receipt. I'm going to visit Hibdon Tire today, and see if they will replace the tire without the receipt. Hopefully! I'd rather not spend $70 dollars on a new tire.

I'm in Tulsa for the weekend, and typing this in a rush. My 7 year old nephew gave me a time limit on the internet, then he's going to play games. 8...seconds.

Day at the Dairy

INT. MATTHEW'S HOUSE. MORNING

Daniel teeters down the bunk bed ladder. He staggers to the fridge and pulls a gallon jug filled with a blue liquid. He pours himself a glass and drinks.

DANIEL
Hope this isn't anti-freeze.

* * * * *

I started a temporary job today with Midwest Technology Applicators, Inc. today. I worked with the owner, Drew Johnson at the Braum's farms in Tuttle, OK. Basically, we cleaned a damaged section of the floor with denatured alcohol, put on a conditioning/bonding element on the damaged section of the floor, then covered the bonding element with mortar. I enjoyed the getting to see the inside of the Braum's dairy plant. I saw ice cream cartons being shot through clear tubes (like drive-through at the bank). I saw plastic milk jugs being made. I saw split milk, but no one cried over it. The job was enjoyable, but working in the 38 degree cooler wasn't.


This Friday I'm working with MTA again, this time in Tulsa at a machine shop. I'm looking forward to a dry and hot place.

* * * * *

I bought The Spinal Cord Perception at the Showbread concert last Friday. The most notable thing I have to say about Josh Porter's writing style is that he includes a lot of social commentary--particularly about the rock music scene.