cjsmith: (Default)
cjsmith ([personal profile] cjsmith) wrote2005-08-31 01:49 pm

First driving day a success so far

1. Got to work. Woohoo! (I may start biking in if my feet can do it, but that probably has to wait.)

2. Got to a lunchtime appointment in Cupertino. Woohoo!

3. Got the car smogged. Passed. Woohoo! The numbers say it's "very clean", cleaner by a good margin than the average car that comes in for smog checks. (That makes it WAY cleaner than the average car on the road, given that California's smog laws grandfather out all the really dirty ones.) At age sixteen, this car is doing pretty well for itself. I'm pleased to know that it's probably good for another few years, barring accident.

Still haven't had to switch back to the post-op shoes. Errands are getting done. Life's looking up.

[identity profile] quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com 2005-08-31 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Life's looking up.

Woo-hoo!! :-)

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, did I forget to say WOOHOO? ;-)

Yeah, it's a relief.

[identity profile] lesliepear.livejournal.com 2005-08-31 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Feet not hurting that much? Yeah for being on the road!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
No kidding. If I were able-bodied (and I may soon be again!) I could WALK to work faster than public transport will get me there. In fact, one time when I had car paperwork issues and I had to show up in a court in Palo Alto, walking back to work (at the Mountain View/Sunnyvale border) from there beat the bus, too! There is no reason in the world to use the public transportation system in this part of the Bay Area, unless you have foot or leg problems, because walking or bicycling will beat it every time. Gawd I am glad I have the use of a car again.

[identity profile] lesliepear.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
So happy that you could still be a foot again!

I hear you on the walking. I like that I can walk now from where the bus leaves me in NYC to my office. (I could before but it was at the distance where the subway was faster).

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmmmm, subway. I may have to move back to a real city some day. (Tongue-in-cheek use of the word "real".)

[identity profile] just-cyd.livejournal.com 2005-08-31 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
conga-rats!!! it must feel wonderful to be driving again! (and double-conga-rats on the car. i hope my car has as long and healthy a life)


[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Toyotas are real little workhorses. If they still made the Corolla nice and small, and its body shape and its dash weren't so damned ugly these days, I'd just plain buy another one when this one died. As it is I have to think hard (poor me). :-)

[identity profile] lesliepear.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
My husband's 1997 Geo Prisim is basically a Toyota Corolla. He has over 115K miles on it and doing fine. Failed inspection due to bad windshield wipers, which we'll replace this week.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
I believe it! (I'm a little over 130K miles myself.)

Go Corolla!

[identity profile] shadopanther.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
My 1989 Toyota Corolla is now at 213,664 miles (original engine) & still going strong. *grin* (Even if it DID threaten to run out of oil today; probably as a result for being over-due for service. 3qts of oil added, it's much happier -- even if I still need to do the rest of the service soon.)

[livejournal.com profile] jemstone liked how my Corolla handled so much, he bought himself a 1997 Toyota Corolla (which probably has over 130K on it now).

-- Shadopanther

Re: Go Corolla!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed. They're sturdy little cars. When I was at the smog check place, an older guy pulled in with a Mazda. After he overheard me asking how clean mine was running he complimented me on my choice of car. I asked how his Mazda was doing for him. He said he was a repair shop guy and was bringing that car in for a customer -- what his family owned was two Toyotas. That says something!

[identity profile] rampling.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Yaaaaaay for driving again! Freedom!!!

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-01 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Amen! In this part of the Bay Area, no public transportation is as fast and efficient even as *walking*. When ya can't beat walking, there's a problem. Mobility is a very handy thing to have.

[identity profile] ruggedbear.livejournal.com 2005-09-02 12:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You know, it's the little things we take for granted that bring the most joy.

[identity profile] cjsmith.livejournal.com 2005-09-02 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed. My first full shower (after foot surgery) felt SOOOOOOOO GOOD.

[identity profile] jupiter29.livejournal.com 2005-09-09 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
This makes me very happy. :) I'm glad things are going so well in your recovery. I can't wait to read more... which, luckily, I should be able to do since this was posted 10 days ago. ;)