kevin_standlee | Oct. 23rd, 2006

Today we were up around four hours early (relative to when we've normally been getting up) so we could drive up to Portland early, collect Lisa's VW from where she'd left it at her friends' place, take it to the mechanic, and then take me to the airport. We even had an idea that we might get me on an earlier flight, and she could then take the Big Orange Ford Van to Big O Tires, where she would have the van's tires rotated.

( How Wrong We Were )

The flight back to Oakland was routine, thank goodness. Everything was on time, and I got the shuttle from OAK to the BART/Amtrak station just under ten minutes before the scheduled arrival of my Capitol train that would get me home. Unfortunately, a brush fire along the tracks between Martinez and Richmond caused an hour delay on the westbound train. The train ride itself was short and uneventful, but got me home later than I expected.

It was a very stressful day. I still don't actually know if Lisa got home safely, because she leaves her phone turned off most of the time, but I also know that even if the spare failed, she has AAA Plus coverage that will get her home, so I assume she made it -- I'll presumably find out tomorrow when she calls me. Unfortunately, with the Vanagon in the shop, her little Toyota pickup not running, and the Big Orange Van now suspended, she's stuck until further developments, which doesn't make her at all happy. It's not like Mehama has much in the way of public transit.

Update, 24 Oct 15:00: Added photo of the van, courtesy of