A Historic Day

Today marks the observance of one of those grade B holidays, one that quite a few people get off but that I suspect isn't celebrated at Indian Casinos. That would just be wrong.

Lots of youngsters on message boards are showing a lot of nervousness about yesterday's nuclear test, the one performed by North Korea. In this case, I find age to be a good thing, a mollifying factor, if you will. While many of today's kids are freaking out, some of us have experienced this nuclear fright quite a few times. I'm not saying the test is a good thing (and I can only hope our president doesn't respond in ways I think likely), but I've peered more than once into the end of civilization and am, perhaps, a bit jaded as a result.

Although I know better, I'd like at least one kid to say, "Oh, this is what it feels like."

In personal news, my crappy car won't be delivered until tomorrow. The guy selling it told me Friday he'd call Sunday after fixing the three things he promised to take care of. He'd fasten up the exhaust system (it's only solid back to the catalytic converter he installed), replace some missing interior panels, and take care of the keys and locks. The ignition system, when I saw it, was dangling, and Mark had been starting the car with a screwdriver.

It took him several rings to answer his phone, and he didn't sound as chipper as I'd hoped. He sounded less happy when I reminded him that I'd need a new smog certificate (the one he'd gotten was in June, and they're only good for ninety days).

"I guarantee you it'll pass," he said. "If not I'll buy the car back."

I stuck to my guns. "Why don't you take care of it, and we'll do the car thing Tuesday instead of Monday?"

"What about the cost?" he asked. "Will you cover that."

"Last time I checked, it was the owner's responsibility."

He muttered something about spending more money on the car, but agreed to eat the cost and give me the car Tuesday. I let him know that instead of delivering it, I'd be willing to come pick it up, and he acted as if he liked that. I could understand his unhappiness at spending the extra money (he'd put quite a bit into the car to get it registered and off the "non-functional" list), but it looked to me as if he was pretty much breaking even. Maybe he expected to make money on his car investment, but I think that's pretty unrealistic.

So, no car today, but maybe tomorrow.