There's a big fire somewhere in the national forest, and so the air smells of dust and ash, and when I walked out to the parking garage this afternoon, my beautiful new car was covered in a fine layer of grey ash.

Did I mention that I got a new car this weekend? Cos I did.

I was stuck in traffic in it for the first time today. Remembered really quickly what it's like to clutch in traffic. Mmm.

I got a new car! We've been looking for a car since before Christmas. I knew exactly what I wanted: a dark blue 2006 Civic LX. We were told by every dealership we visited that said car did not exist in the entire state of California.

Undeterred, my husband started emailing dealerships in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon to no avail. So, he called Honda corporate, and they gave him the name of a dealer that could order directly from Honda.

That dealer told him, "OK. If we order it, it'll take 2-3 months to get, so let me double and triple check first and make sure we can't get you one that's already built." We didn't have much hope.

On Friday, he called back. He told us that there was one -- EXACTLY what we wanted -- in Thousand Oaks and it would be here by Saturday and we would have to buy it on Saturday. We said great.

The only catch was, the money we were going to use to buy the car? Is in our ING account. And takes three to five days to transfer to our bank account. Hmm.

So! My mother and father agreed to lend us $15,000 until Monday so we could buy the car.

So, we did. I am EXTREMELY happy.

zzzzzzzzzz

I am so. Tired.

You know what the definition of "inevitable" is? Inevitable is that when your bosses tell you that you are no longer allowed to work more than 30 hours per week, you will suddenly need to work 8 or 9 hours a day, every day, for two weeks straight.

Inevitable is that projects will get left until the very last minute and that it will then be my responsibility to take care of it before the deadline. The deadline that we have known about for days, if not weeks, and which is suddenly looming only moments away.

Inevitable is that things that were, for days, not important enough for other people to take care of, will suddenly become imperative and entirely my problem.

I started working at 8:30 this morning and I left at 5:30 this afternoon, with no lunch break and barely even time to go to the bathroom. I had to supervise our new intern AND my boss. And I have to do it all again tomorrow.

TIRED.

BOOK, The Amazing New Device!

Amazing New Device!

This product blows away PCs, TVs, DVDs and XBOXs

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade named: BOOK

BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it.

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere -- even sitting in an armchair by the fire -- yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc. Here's how it works:

BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.

Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKs with more information simply use more pages.

Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it.

Unlike other display devices, BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, and it can even be dropped on the floor or stepped on without damage. However, it can become unusable if immersed in water for a significant period of time [sam adds: and should be kept away from heat sources]. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of selected information for instant retrieval.

An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -- even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarkers can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK.

You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS).

Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. Also, BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

Brandon's response to the Coffee Spill Jesus: "You shouldn't smell the Lord!"

oh lord...

You've seen the Toast Jesus.

You've seen the Tortilla Jesus.

Now, witness the Coffee Spill Jesus!!!

(REALLY funny. Click. You know you want to.)

monday

1. There is a bit in "The Secret Garden" when Mary's Yorkshire maid tries to explain to her what "wuthering" is.

Today, the wind is wuthering in Southern California. It has been wuthering all night. It has knocked over all of our potted plants and quite a few tree branches, and I am more than a little nervous about going to work in my 11th floor office.

2. Our cat has discovered that there is a little cave created by the table cloth over the little end table we have the phone on. She has also discovered that that is where I stowed a roll of bubble wrap. She has made a bubble wrap nest. It's actually quite adorable.

3. We went to KFC for chicken strips last night, and they were out of chicken. How does KFC RUN OUT of chicken? (They had strips, but no Original Recipe chicken pieces, and they were asking people to wait 45 MINUTES to fill their orders. Sheesh!)

4. On The West Wing last night, a nuclear reactor between my house and San Diego went into meltdown, and, watching the show, I realized that if there ever were a disaster like that out here, we would be toast, because we would not be able to evacuate. You think the traffic jam on the 35 was bad before Rita? Imagine trying to get all of Southern California to go somewhere. It simply wouldn't happen.

Yet another reason to move ASAP.

5. A dear friend of mine goes in for tests today to see if she has to have surgery to find out if she has endimetriosis. Prayers are appreciated.

google is good

Hooray for Google! I was a little worried about you when you announced that deal with AOL (aka: The Devil's Internet), but this thumbing of your big digital nose in the general direction of the government has me thinking you guys might still be riding your bikes to work and being the cool kids on the net. More power to ya.

Damn the man! Save the Empire!

Virgin Insanity is on the FRONT PAGE of the Dallas Morning News today, and the lead story on the DMN website. After a pleasant interview with Michael Young of the Dallas Morning News Thursday night, the guys expected they might make the cover of the Metro section -- they never expected the front page!

You can read the article on the Dallas Morning News website (you may be prompted to register, but registration is free -- access the article from the Dallas Morning News home page today without registering).

Virgin Insanity Website

The Virgin Insanity website is up and running! I've spent a lot of time getting it to look pretty and be functional, and I'm proud of it. =)

Be sure to bookmark it and visit the VI news blog for all your up-to-the-minute breaking VI news!

Also, the boys of VI are meeting with a reporter and photographer from The Dallas Morning News as we speak for an interview that is set to appear on the front page of the Metro section this Sunday! WOO!