The last time I posted here I believe I mentioned all the crapola that's been going on. Ever since last spring it's been one thing after another. I think the only thing that HASN'T given me problems has been my toaster. Lots of trouble with my car. I'd been taking it to the dealer, who has been spectacularly unsuccessful at diagnosing it. It's now at an independent garage in Santa Monica, while I drive one of their loaners. This loaner could be euphemisticly described as "basic transportation." But it runs. The odometer reads 90,000 miles, but I think it's really 190,000--there just wasn't room for another digit. In any case, the owner of said garage is a Japanese man, who couldn't have been nicer about helping me. He even let me take the loaner almost a week early, because I was afraid of a breakdown. To Mr Kondo, my thanks.