10 21 pm pdt [ accident ]

Matthew and I decided to restart our weekly tradition of movie and farmer's market on Sunday morn. He slept late, so we missed the first round of movies, but I knew we could make the second round of screenings at matinee prices if we hit the farmer's market before the film. When he woke he trotted off to watch Formula 1. We ended up leaving late and he was driving with a bit of speed.

One after another we got stuck behind slow cars. Neither of a said a thing but there was a cringing tension each time we bypassed one slow vehicle to find ourselves behind another.

It became clear that we weren't going to make it. I suggested we just do the farmer's market, since I wanted to get lettuce, tomatoes, and onion for veggie burgers.

We went into the Caldecot tunnel and I put the air on recirculate so we wouldn't be sucking fumes. We came out of the tunnel and all traffic slowed. I wondered why. Matthew swung into the left lane. He pointed past the right lane to the offramp which was about a block away and said, "Accident," just as I noticed it.

My first impression was that the accident was recent -- the police had not arrived yet -- and involved several cars but they seemed to all be scattered about instead of piled up together. I focused on a man who had obviously been in the accident and was staggering up the road in a daze. I noticed a car sitting on its side -- something I've never seen before and which looks eerie with its unnaturalness. I wanted to ask if we could pull over to see if we can help but I thought it would be too difficult from the left lane.

Suddenly I heard the sound of screeching tires. I looked forward to see that we were driving through the wreckage of an accident. Apparently whatever took place occurred in the left lane and then traveled all the way across the freeway, down the embankment, and onto the offramp. Matthew had slammed on his brakes and locked his tires because the guy in the lane next to us was looking at the accident instead of the road and had drifted well into our lane and was about to hit us. This guy starts cussing at us for reasons I will never understand.

He pulls up next to us yelling; I help up my finger and looked away. He has just nearly killed us. He can yell at my finger all he wants. He gets pissed and speeds away at a dangerous pace. We try to exhale our adrenaline.

And the accident faded into a memory as we perused the farmer's market and saw a movie.

7 49 pm pdt [ accident II ]

On Saturday we were told we were rejected for the aprtment we wanted -- due to reasons of credit. I asked if "it was negotiable" and when I offered to provide a copy of my stock potfolio as evidence of my ability to pay rent, the lady who had show us the aprtment agreed to bring the idea to the building owner. Matthew and I both felt she would brush us off until today, when we received a call from her saying we could have the aprtment. She gave me details on the cashier's check I would need to produce tomorrow (which will leave nine dollars in my bank account). We're meeting her tomorrow night at 7:30.

I was momentarily terrified. What if this was a bad decision? This place is very overpriced, but the location couldn't be better. So when my Homefinders update came in my inbox, I called two places and made appointments for this afternoon. If we hated them both, all of my concerns would be alleviated.

We were headed down the hill, trying to make our firt appointment, when a fire truck pulled out of a remote street, sirens blaring. We followed it at a long distance until it stopped. Another flipped car appeared before us. It was blocking the street so we had to double back. I hoped the driver was ok.

The place we looked at had a fireplace and high ceilings, but was nothing compared to our future home. The owner really liked us and offered to throw in an extra parking spot. We communicated with each other with quick subtle looks.

The next place was as funky as could be -- one quarter of a dome shaped building. Matthew wrinkled his nose. We headed home.

And now I shall post yesterday's cooking photos:

[ 3 years: ]

three years ago today: We are trying, without much luck, to make plans for this three day weekend..

two years ago today: Earthquakes are actually kind of fun while you are experiencing them; it's just too bad that people and property have to get hurt.

one year ago today: I stayed up too late last night, watching this fascinating show on the biological evidence that women cheat as much as men.