No Gas Fights Allowed!

It takes some time to get to know the norms of a new location. For instance, here is Oregon, gas stations are not self-service. You pull up to the pump, shut-off your engine, pop open your gas cover and than sit on your ass while a gas station attendant refuels your car for you. That is right. It is actually illegal for me to refuel my own car.

The first time I encountered this unusual standard, I was annoyed. Come on! I am perfectly capable of refueling my own car. I have been doing it for years. Even when I was young my parents charged me with the task.

Apparently, only Oregon and New Jersey abide by this ridiculous statute. There are a number of reasons that these two states site to validate the statute’s necessity. One reason addresses gasoline’s inflammability. (Yes, inflammable is correct; just ask Strunk and White. Although, don’t ask them about the many other glarring errors in my posts; every post would be covered in bright red proof marks.) Yes, gas station fires happen. I’ve seen it… in Zoolander!

It is only natural that my mind should jump right to the orange frapuccino and gas fight scene from the movie Zoolander. Maybe Oregon is home to a large number of fictional, idiot models whose parents never taught them not to mix orange fraps, gas fights and open flames.

Wake me up, before you go go.
Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo.

Wham! I just got smacked with another scene! Family Guy: Jungle Love. In this episode, the audiance lands smack-dab in the middle of a random musical interlude—Jitterbug [see Musical Moment #7].

Ah, the wonder of my train of thought. Maybe it is good that Oregon does not let me pump my own gas. You can never guarantee that my mind-wandering won’t interfere with my ability to pump gas without starting a fire.

The Move

Oh, it has been busy. My lack of posts is the result of a big move.

Readers, welcome to Oregon =D

New posts to come…

A Taste of Mystery a la Spellman

After years of gobbling up literary classics, historical fiction and chick-lit hits, I am breaking into a new genre. Not fantasy… that was so the new thing for me six months ago—my reading habits are constantly evolving. Mystery books, here I come!

Naturally, it all began at work. I spend several hours a day staring at books in every genre (*the worst of which are found in the ever-messy Craft/Hobby section*). A week ago, I organized the mystery section again. Only this time, I was drawn in to several titles.

For Austen fans, there are mystery series that star Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy or even Jane Austen herself. There are even mysteries that have a flavor similar to a romance novel. Mysteries solved by cats, mysteries solved from the beyond, mysteries solved by cooks (and saturated with recipes). Despite all the years my childhood home has bubbled over with mystery books (my mom is an avid reader), I am only now taking conscious notice of the genre.

My first taste in the world of mysteries is a series written by Lisa Lutz. The Spellman Files is the first of the series. Let me tell you, it is a great read. My bet is that I fall within the age range of Ms. Lutz’s target audience (*I get the impression that the series is the publisher’s chance to draw in a younger demographic of  readers to the mystery genre*).

I am not about the summarize the novel—especially since I have yet to finish it—but suffice it to say that being part of a family filled with individuals trained in Private Investigation tactics results in constant chaos.

Can anyone say movie/TV potential? Yup, I can see it coming…

Check out Ms. Lutz’s website for more about this entertaining series: Lisa Lutz