I was invited today to a "party" given by the parents of my son's latest love interest. A birthday party I was told. I arrived in the best casual I had (I've gained weight in the past years, so my fav clothes are presently unwearable)..

Anyhow, I also had to drive my ugliest truck because all other trucks and vehicles are presently broken down (get to that in a minute).

Parents were nice, if not a little bland. My son told me before hand: 'mom, don't talk about politics or religion or anything else that is controversial." So I was polite and towed the line.

One observation. The people's house was nice, they were nice. They showed me their library, very impressive woodwork, spiral staircase, glass cabinets and bookcases lining a wall on first floor and a balcony on second. But what were the books? Fiction, paperbacks, pulp fiction. More pulp fiction and sci-fi than I'd ever seen, save for a booth at a flea market. And the furniture seemingly unused and not a book withdrawn.

Now, I'm not a total snob, far from it. But I see this all the time. Why do so many people seem so loathe to think or read? Intellectalism is still a fringe activity it seems.

I don't envy people like this anymore. They have financial comfort but they are empty, so woefully empty and they feel it, they just think they can somehow buy themselves full. A pity.

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On another note. I work on my own cars. I have for years. I like to, it gives me a way to kick the male establishment and I like to save a buck. I learned from an old mechanic and I used to work on small engines in a shop when I was about 18.

But my garage space and time are getting used up, so I took my sorry old Volvo down the street. I told them to check out the front end, think the tierods are out.

They called me up to tell me that the 'backup lights don't work' the 'horn is not working' and that I need a whole new steering rack. He then proceeds to patronizingly tell me that 'volvo parts are expensive you know.'

That's why I shop at junk yards. I wanted to say.

Well, sorry. You lied. I wanted to tell them.

The backup light BULB is out.
The steering rack is damn fine. I told them I put it in just a couple years ago. He seems taken aback, I can hear him suck in his breath over the phone. Told him, nope the rack is working just fine. Its the tie rod ends and thank you for confirming that.

He argued with me about his rack theory. Of course he would, its his right to be right, he's a man and I'm wrong no matter what I say. I'm a woman and should just shut up and accept my position.

There is a little tiny plug under the car that attaches to the switch for the horn, it consistently comes off. I know that. I won't buy a new horn mechanism.

Anyway. I'll take the car home and then bring it back for a final state inspection after I've completed all the work.

Or maybe i won't. I liar is a liar.

Next resolution. To stop trying to prove to jerks that I am not a dumb female. Stop trying to make liars honest.