short takes

[cellio]

It's very icy out tonight. Sidewalks that were clear and dry at 7:30 were icy enough to be a real challenge at 8:00. And the stuff coming down (not too heavily) seemed to be rain when airborn, not sleet. I guess it was freezing rain, but I thought it was too warm for that by a degree or two. The roads seemed to be fine; it was only walking that was a challenge. I'm done venturing out for the night.

Pittsburgh Geeks Buyout Bingo (link courtesy of the person behind gregleg_feed).

I called my car-service provider of choice to make an appointment for the annual inspection. I also asked if we could make a specific repair at the same time, and he said sure. He then began to ask for details. "Make?" Mazda 323 SE. "Year?" 1989. "Wait -- is this the little blue hatchback?" Careful attention to individual customers or noteworthy car -- you be the judge. :-) (I don't think of my car as noteworthy, but they hadn't even asked for my name at that point. In fact, they never did.)

Yesterday I got email asking if I could go help make a minyan for a shiva house if someone else did the driving, so I said yes. Turns out the family is small (and not all Jewish) and they live way the heck out (next county!!), so they needed some help. They were grateful, and I got to spend almost an hour and a half in a car with my rabbi alone, which was nifty. We almost never get to just talk, as opposed to talking about the agenda of a deliberately-scheduled meeting. (Aside: I think my rabbi now knows that he shouldn't necessarily take MapQuest's word on things. Oops.)