I don’t know what the hell is going on. About two-weeks ago, just after I decided to not tow my cute burnt-copper-colored Scion behind a U-haul and instead drive the beastie all the way to Florida, it developed a difficult to diagnose slow leak in the rear-passenger-side tire. I had a full-load of Snapples and water that morning and I thought that something might be amiss. With the low profile tires the ride has always been a bit rough but this was crazy. So, every morning for a week, until I got a chance to have the tire replaced, I had to stop at a gas station on my way to work to re-fill my poor tire. And then, after having the tire replaced on last Saturday I was shocked to find it flat again the following Monday. Another trip to Firestone. They couldn’t find a leak in the tire or crack in the wheel and decided to replace and epoxy the valve and rim. That seemed to work, but didn’t engender too much confidence that I wasn’t going to be revisited with this problem, probably at a most inopportune time. Damn.

And then yesterday evening, after a very long day with my students, followed by lots of book packing, I walked up to my car and discovered that someone had torn the rear windshield wiper off of my car, leaving only the bolt and empty space where the wiper had previously been. I was too tired to get mad but it really soured my mood. Previously when my car(s) have been vandalized I usually have to remind myself that whoever did this has no idea who I am and just does it on a dare or moment of stupidity. But finding it like that in my school parking lot where I’m pretty well known, I can’t imagine that this was completely random. Little amoral f*ckers, just another reason why I’m glad to be leaving. Sad that someone had to sour my attitude when for the most part all I have are great memories of my students. Damn. I guess it’d be much worse if I felt trapped and didn’t feel like there was nothing that I could do to change things and make my situation better. Only two-and-a-half weeks to go. I need to get out of here before something else decides to break. JBB

Music: The Royal Scam from the album “Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-1980 (Disc 3) [Box Set]” by Steely Dan