Three strikes, you're out!

So, I've been experiencing some car trouble. I drive a standard and have had my car for 5 years. I'm not overly aware of the make-up of vehicles and how they function, but I do know how to check the oil and where to put the wind-shield washer fluid. Over the past few weeks, my gears have been a little hard to shift into and on Monday my clutch pedal got really soft and I had a real hard time shifting. I thought to myself..."Self, I'm sure that my clutch needs oiling or more lubricant or something". I talked to my Dad and he said that's probably what the problem was.

Okay, so I go to my MECHANIC on Wednesday morning and tell him what's wrong and that I think I need to top up my fluid or lubricant or something. He automatically dismissed this idea saying, "That's rarely what it is...It's probably that you need to replace your clutch". Little did he know that I replaced it about 8 months after buying the vehicle. So, upon further investigating on my part and some poking around under the hood, the problem is, indeed, low brake fluid. Why standard vehicles require brake fluid to lubricate the clutch, I'm not sure...but that's the problem. Strike one against men who think women know nothing about cars.

Strike two is the fact that I was poking around under my hood in the university parking lot at 9:30pm and none of the 10 men who walked by me offered to help me out! Or even to inquire what the problem was!! Okay, well, maybe this shouldn't be a strike against men who think women know nothing about cars...maybe they were all scared that they would look stupid because they know nothing. But, I'm including it anyways.

I drove to Canadian Tire this morning to buy some brake fluid. The guy at the counter asks me what make and model my car is...I tell him, "94 Honda Civic CX hatchback". He looks at me incredulously and says, "Wow, you really know what your car is!" Strike 3!! Come on! Women aren't necessarily stupid when it comes to cars! And really, how many guys profess to being able to change their own tire or check their own oil?

Flutterby

As many of you know, I've started writing my thesis and processing my data into graphs, figures and tables. My defense should be sometime in August of this year. I've realized over my university years that I work well with deadlines, and so have gotten pretty good at making deadlines for myself and keeping them (the important part!). Right now, my first deadline for myself is handing in my first draft of my thesis to my advisor on May 28th...giving me 40 days from today. I feel that I'm coming along well, getting things done slowly, but allowing me to be a socializing butterfly while I write. Never before in my university experience have I been so relaxed and happy with my life...it's a nice feeling.

I'm sure part of it is the great company that I have in the Ellis Building: my fellow peers and the Soil Science department staff...I'm going to miss everyone! The sad thing is, is that things are already starting to change. Students are staying at home to write a bit more often, spending days in the lab, getting back out into the field for their summer research or getting jobs (not something I suggest if you want to ever finish your thesis!). The lunch room is quieter during coffee break or lunch time... The main group of "Soilies", however, are still managing to get out to a local bar or pub over the weekend to unwind. Guys, thanks for another great night last night! I will miss the craziness once the summer is over.

Okay, well, back to reading and writing for me!

One of my plants decided to flower and I thought that I'd share the fragile flowers with you. They are quite small...about the size of my pinkie finger nail.