I will no longer be updating Iron Guide (see below). Instead, I am now writing at my new, personal blog. Though that will be about some of the newer things I'm doing in life, if you want to see updates about Louie, Lester, and now Dusky, add me on Facebook -- there's enough ridiculously cute pictures to go around.

It's been a crazy, crazy month: one [nearly] totaled car, two half-marathons [with a very sick puppy], and a brand new job [sort of]. Needless to say, I haven't been very good about keeping this blog updated. People have actually scolded me for not updating. I'm sorry! Really! It won't happen again! =P

So, yeah, the car. I just got it back from the shop yesterday and, all told, repairs on the car cost the insurance company $10,900 and took more than three weeks. Fun stuff. What happened? Going home from a friend's place a few weeks ago, I was driving along the highway in the rightmost lane, waiting to get out a few exits ahead. Traffic was pretty light, with an SUV a few car-lengths ahead of me in the left lane and a couple other cars trailing behind somewhere. We were approaching an intersection, a pretty small one without any stoplights or anything, when, with just a few dozen yards remaining, the SUV driver decided to try and make a right turn... which, you know, doesn't work so well when you need to cross three lanes of traffic and have a car between you and the intersection. To make a long story short, I ended up slamming straight into his passenger compartment, which completely smashed my fender, caused my bumper and underbody to basically fall off, popped up the hood six inches, and shifted the entire engine compartment to the right by two inches. I had to kick the door open to get Lester and I out.

The best part? After the impact, before I even had a chance to glance back, I felt a little lick at my neck. "What was that all about? That was fun! Let's do it again!" Lester was just looking up me, looking a little puzzled but happily wagging his tail and nonchalantly stretching as if he'd just gotten up from a mid-afternoon nap. I've been watching Lester like a hawk for car-riding issues since then, and, as far as I can tell, he could care less. It's a bit like when I slept through the Northridge earthquake, I think -- I thought it was fun, a little like a roller coaster. :P In either case, it must be a Lab thing. When we first got Koji many years ago, we discovered that he'd been somehow traumatized by the car and spent the first year coaxing him in and out of the car.

On the bright side, not having a car [and electing not to get a rental for awhile] has encouraged me to start taking the bus again, which means that Lester has gotten all sorts of experience with odd smells [and odd people], riding in rackety, noisy compartments, dealing with crowded spaces, and [unsuccessfully] not eating every crumb in sight. Minus the garbage-mouthing, Lester has become quite the savvy public transit rider. The drivers on my route know him on sight now. =P

To tide you, my gentle but impatient reader, over until the next set of Lester pictures, here is Lester putting on his most innocent face, trying to convince me that he's not really "on" the bed. I mean, really, what does it really mean to be "on" the bed anyways?

Labels: Lester

Permalink | Written at 6:27 PM | Post a comment | 4 comments | Trackbacks

YAY you're back!! We were getting worried there. Glad to hear you and Lester are okay :)

And Fielder and I agree with Lester- clearly he's got two paws planted firmly on the ground, AND he has his "I am invisible you can't see me" face on,so no, he is not "on" the bed.
Permalink   | Posted by  Natalie at May 27, 2007 9:50 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, but hey atleast Lester gets bus time! And that is so good that he isn't afraid of cars. And Chappelle does the same thing Lester does, but only in the car, not on the bed, mine is too high for him to try that. :)
Permalink   | Posted by  Kelsey and Chappelle at May 28, 2007 2:05 PM

Hiya Lester! I never thought of doing that...good idea, I either get all the way on the bed or stay on the floor,I'll need to try that sometime!!!
Permalink   | Posted by  Rei at May 28, 2007 2:10 PM

We're very glad you're back!

Sam, Juneau, and Geisha
Permalink   | Posted by  Hobbes Dogs at May 30, 2007 2:31 PM