And this...

...is my just-purchased,  2011 Honda Insight. It's a half hybrid, only has 36,000 miles after three years, gets 40 in the city and better out, got stellar reviews, has a great Carfax, and it only took four hours of sweating in a sweltering dealership and saying the same thing over and over again whilst listening to harrowing Iraqui War stories (we got to see actual scary wounds! ) before the price I started with was agreed to. 

It's a smaller hatchback, but still room for stuff, plus it's 8 years newer than what ive been used to. And frankly, hondas are a little more fun/zoomy than Toyotas.  Cross my fingers it's half as good as R2. 

BEHEMOTH!

This is the monstrous double-cab Silverado that was the ONLY vehicle available to rent in Robinsville (?), New Jersey yesterday. It's freaking huge. You can a car like my old one cowering behind it. 

His Final Resting Place

R.I.P. R2D2

What a great little car for nine years. Such a horrible death in the stark, scorching nastiness of the New Jersey Turnpike. 

Thanks for the 190,000 miles, R2. (sniff)

I am perhaps overly sentimental about cars.

For some reason, the two lobster pics are reversed. Curious.

Darth Lobster

Here is my friend Robyn on the verge of succumbing to a violent lobster, bent on survival. Her husband did brandish tongs but then fled leaving Robyn -one of the toughest cookies on the planet- to tong Mr. Crazy-ass Lobster to a watery boiling death. Ben and I wept and held each other as the lobster cursed our mothers and perished,  screaming. He was delicious. Note how Robyn resembles Dali with her insanified lobster. 

Oops.

Attack of the Giant Lobster

Here is Robyn dealing with a recalcitrant x-pound lobster.  He fought nobly,  but was simmering gently within a minute.  And was delicious,  I might add.

A driving range is a peaceful place

Glad to hear everything went well.  Call you in a bit. 

Great things I forgot about yesterday!

Robyn's insanely cute mom (and Robyn herself who -genetically- is also insanely cute) and most importantly, a delectable lobster roll. Not just insanely cute...delicious! 

Flea marketing and Wii!

Went to a giant mile-long flea market. Both sides of the road and a hundred yards deep on each side.  An impressive collation of crap. My friend Robyn took me. We came last year too.

Then I settled down with her kids so they could kick my ass at Mario Kart.  In typical kid fashion her son, Adam,  said,

"I'm an expert at this! Do you know how to play?" 

"Well, no, I've never used a Wii before." 

"Let's play the hardest level which I'm an expert at!"

Things did not go well for me. But it was hugely fun. This is her daughter Shannon. I finally managed to kill her off with red shells and  regain a vestige of my gaming dignity.