This might make me an incredible nerd, and perhaps even a bit of a narcissist, but I just created a blog devoted to Volvo 140s. I just have this unreasonable love for our car (the wagon), and will most likely be the owner of yet another one shortly. Hopefully I can post not only good stories and misadventures, but also some useful repair and technical information for those of us out there who own and/or love these cars; it can be pretty difficult to find much information at all about the 140, online or otherwise, so please comment and ask questions if you have any, I would like to turn the blog into an extensive resource. It should be fun, so check out the '140 bricks' link under 'glovebox' on this page. Oh, and if it works out and I get the '68 142 this weekend, you can count on an account of the build-up, from it's current $300 state to *daydream warning* a lightened, beautified, super-charged Euro-style race machine. Stay tuned...

Back to San Francisco this weekend. Too much driving, too much gas, too expensive. However, it means my brother Daniel and Anna's brother Joe get to each head for home and I get another Volvo 140. Bad timing for good things...

26 hours straight behind the wheel does a number to a body. I did actually sleep for about 30 minutes when our brakes overheated coming down out of the mountains that border Death Valley, but that was it. It is the first time I have made it that long without a total meltdown, and it makes me proud---but I can certainly say I don't want to do it again for a very long time---which will be easy, because gas prices completely broke us. Oh well. Roughly 3500 miles, two families and piles of close friends later, we are home, pooped, and looking forward to lying low. Goodnight all.

European cars from the '70s with fake wood grain dashes are simply awesome. My '77 Rabbit and now our beloved '72 Volvo are fine examples of a unique kind of motoring. A small racing steering wheel, a tach and cool vintage wheels on a car that really doesn't go that fast...brilliant! Anyway, I believe I will soon be adding this '68 to my collection. I can't help it, God made me this way.

Gearing up for another epic road trip. Ojai-to-Portland-to-Spokane-to-Butte, and back to Ojai, via the 15 and Vegas. Nine days and 3000 miles of friends and family from far away, all in the the trusty Volvo 145. We are not leaving for another week, but I am already thinking about it with rising excitement. I love traveling by car. My brother Daniel is coming back with us and staying for week with the hopes of some creative brain-storming and story-writing time. We may end up with some cool new art to post...and he will be playing the guitar non-stop!

Cold coffee is gross. Still, when you drink it at the rate I do in the morning, that sharp cold bitter shock to the mouth has a sense almost of comfort and nostalgia. It reminds you of other cold tired mornings; good ones, and really bad ones. Of course I prefer it warm, but it is undeniable that with a lovely cigarette in the morning, cold coffee, though not as pleasant as hot, is never unwelcome.

Well, I'm back from Austin. Steve is leaving tomorrow, for fifteen months...

And here in California it is sunny and warm, not too much to do, and quite beautiful. We are very lucky.

I've wasted enough of this morning.

Time for work.