Quadrophenia

My parents said that they would buy me a scooter to get to work and whatnot. They both purchased electric scooters, really cool ones (I got to test drive one). They are being delivered in a couple of weeks. They go about 25 to 30 mph, which is okay, but they have to be charged every 20 miles or so. So I have to decide whether I want a gas-powered one or not.

I really want a gas-powered one because of several reasons, all of them of the same level of importance. First, I have always been in love with the Vespa style, the vintage, retro style scooter. Those are hard to find with electric ones. Granted, Vespa just came out with an electric one, but it's far too many bones for my parents to shell out (plus I think they're from the UK).

It doesn't have to be a Vespa brand, obviously, I mean don't want to shell out thousands of bucks, which is understandable. But just something with that classic look to it.

All of the electric models at which I've looked, all have this newer, sporty type of frame, which doesn't really suit me or my style. But as far as the pro's for electric scooters go: In Texas, you don't have to get a special license for an electric scooter. Which means, I wouldn't have to take (and pay for) a special class, or take a behind-the-handlebars test at the DMV and deal with the whole process of that. Also, and this is a BIG pro to go electric: No insurance. That's right - if you drive an electric scooter, you don't have to pay any insurance. You don't have to get it registered, or get it inspected - all of which costs money and takes up much time.

So, back to the gas-powered. The gas-powered scooters go faster, and you don't have to charge them. They're solid - not as light and plastic-y, and, as I had stated above, the frames are more my style. But then again, the prices are going up and up with gas, and will probably never be cheap again. Not to mention my carbon footprint...I'd rather make minimal tip-toe prints on rice paper.

So what's it gonna be?? I'll let y'all know - but I could use your input. Leave me a comment if you like and let me know which kind you think I should go with! Happy Summer and Father's Day to all!

Days of Thunder

In return for enduring all of the hot, humid days here in the DFW area, every month or so I hear the sweet, distant reverberation of the electric fantasm to come: Thunder. I've encountered some massive t-storms in my life, the bolts of which have burned themselves into memory - like the time, as a kid, lightning struck our neighbor's yard, sending both me and my dog running into the garage crying.



Over the years, however, my fear of those rumbling monstrosities has turned to curiosity - and gradually, I began to fall for them - hard.



Texas has some incredible t-storms - from what I've heard, some of the best in the country. You can not only feel, but smell the electricity in the air, as the storm charges up the ions to an excited state.

One good indication that a nice t-storm is about to start up, is the most obvious - the weatherman (or woman) reports it. I was inspired to write this blog today because there are scattered t-storms forcasted for today and tomorrow, which I first heard about almost a week ago on the news. It's amazing that they can be so accurate (most of the time), while forcasting something that is to happen up to 10 days from now. They were right, too - this morning, when it was still dark out, I actually managed to snap a picture with my phone of the distant, flickering lightning.






Another sign that the T-storm is really getting good: Tornado sirens. Placed strategically around town, they're meant to serve as severe wind warnings, followed by a voice on a loudspeaker repeating "Tornado Warning" a few times. To me, they also act as loud, storm-chasing enthusiasts, letting me know, "Hey! It's getting really intense out here!" They have an ominous, emergency-type cry that evokes grainy images of atomic bomb tests on fake plastic sububs in the desert. My friend and I had a conversation once about how they sound exactly like the sirens in the movie Silent Hill - the ones that start up whenever the dark, evil realm of the underworld is about to take over. When these go off during a storm (or during their 12 pm Wednesday test), I compulsively imagine the ground cracking and falling away, warped little limping ghouls crawling out of the firey depths. I wonder, in the event of such a happening - or better yet, a zombie attack - would these same storm sirens go off? And, if so, would the siren be followed by vocal instructions on how to fight them off? Such are the things I ponder...



In Oregon, I grew up so used to the rain that most of the time I didn't even bother with an umbrella. But now that I've experienced Texan rain, I've grown aware that rain is not the same everywhere. They say it rains constantly in the Northwest, but what they don't realize is that it's more of a fog-like mist. Sometimes it gathers strength and drizzles more heavily, but generally it's not that intrusive. In Texas, however, the term "raining cats and dogs" has new meaning - it's a virtual high-pressure shower. The drops are big, fat, and heavy. It feels as though someone is tossing bucketloads of water directly on your head. The streets flood. People crash their cars on the freeway. It's as if all that heat and dryness has been sucking up all the moisture and storing it somewhere, only to dump it all in one or two days of hardcore t-storming.


But I digress - there is just nothing more romantic than watching or listening to a crazy thunderstorm with your significant other. The soothing sound of the raindrops hitting the roof; the powerful and startling thunder that makes you shiver and want to hold each other tighter; the electrically-charged static in the air that creates goosebumps and stimulates all of the senses; and of course, there's always a good chance the power could go out! Then you're left with candlelight and a natural strobe-light show. And that, ladies and gentleman, is why I love thunderstorms.

Dreaming Big

Next up on the growing-up list: Buying a house.

I never thought I'd be hunting for a house to buy, but it's actually happening. Technically, my boyfriend is buying it, but who's getting techinical? We're ready to leave the apartment and find a house. At one time it seemed like an idea that might come to reality in the distant future - however, various signs are arising that tell me moving day's coming up soon. The frequency and growing interest in various HGTV and DIY shows; using phrases like "when we have a house..." and "...for our house" (it's a great thing for a girl when her boyfriend can distinguish between cherry and mahogany, wood laminate vs. peel n' stick tile, "just purple" or plum); and, of course, there's the fact that we are actively searching for one.

It's a buyer's market - that's what everyone's been saying for the past year or so. It's true, too. When I first moved to Texas from Oregon, I was shocked at the prices of homes down here. It's not just the economy - it's this part of the country. In Oregon, a nice, 3 brm, 2 bath home in an upper class suburban neighborhood would run about $350,000 or so. However, if you want a brick home, those are usually in the hills and can be up to a million bucks. Seriously.

Down here, you could get the same house that you would get in the ritzy parts of an Oregon city, for $150,000 - made of brick, with a pool and hardwood floors to boot. Of course, other factors come into play - there's sales tax down here (but no state income tax in Oregon).

Enough of that numbers crap. Here's a weird thing about Texas homes - we have to water our houses. You heard me correctly. The soil here is made of clay, and it contracts and expands with the weather. Put a foundation and house on that stuff, and it warps and moves all over the place. Thus, you have to water the foundation so it doesn't up and move the house - creating cracks and stuck doors, warped floors, etc. That being said - ALL the houses we've looked at thus far have foundation problems. It's almsot a given that there's going to be some cracks in the walls.

What we're looking for: A 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. That would be one master bedroom and master bath for us, a guest room, guest bath, and a computer/music/sewing room. It's gotta be up-to-date, meaning no 1960s flowered orange linoleum and peeling paint. Originally we were thinking "no pool," because of the maintenance - but now that summer's here, we've changed our tune. A pool or hot tub would suit me just fine! I'm not opposed to throwing a bit of chlorine in there and sucking out the bugs with a hose or net - if it means I get to float around in luxury.

The neighborhood is the final piece of the home-buying puzzle for us. Recently, we found a wonderful home that would have been absolutely perfect for us - had there not been a total garbage heap of a neighborhood a couple streets over. It's strange how the neighborhoods here fluctuate from street to street like that: One minute you're driving through a beautiful, nicely landscaped suburb, and the very next you're rolling up your windows and locking your doors. I'm all for diversity, but living near a trash-and-car-part-strewn lawn doesn't thrill me.