The Potter Blotter

Our local newspaper has started a new daily feature to kick off this Summer O' Potter: the Potter Blotter, where each day they will feature a Harry Potter-related story or discussion. Today's story featured a charming interview with a man who read the books, got fascinated and decided to make a wand for his son. It led to a whole new career for him; he now makes wands full-time. I loved the answer to this question:

Q: What do your kids think about your job?
A: My son and I try each [new wand] out after we make it. The law of averages says one of these times the garage door's got to blow up. It's got to.

The first real breakdown

It was a lovely day to bike, sixty seven degrees F. I got the bike loaded up, a few minutes later than I would have liked, and headed out. About a half mile from home, I stopped for a stop light. When the light turned green, I shifted gears to get moving faster, only to hear an ominous clatter. I tried shifting again, and the pedals froze. Oh, no.

I pulled off to the side of the road, got off, and took a look. As I'd feared the chain had jumped off the sprockets. I tried to muscle it back on and immediately got myself covered with grease, with little to show for it.

A kind passerby stopped to give me a hand, telling me that he used to work at a bike shop. He helped me thread the chain back on the sprocket, but we were still unable to get the pedals to turn. "I'm afraid you might have a busted derailler," he said.

So I called Rob (yay for unemployed husbands who are at home in the morning and can come rescue their stranded wives), who brought the Jeep, a bottle of Go-Jo, and a roll of paper towels. I cleaned off the grease and we threw the bike in the back. He drove me to work and will drop the bike off at the bike shop today.

If the derailler has to be replaced, how much can I expect it to cost? Alas, I fear I will lose all my money savings from bicycling for the month, or maybe more.

Note to self: put some latex gloves in the bag for similar emergencies.

Mood: rueful

Glenn Greenwald feed

I'm indebted to minnehaha B. for telling me about the columnist Glenn Greenwald, a constitutional law and civil rights litigator who writes thoughtful commentary on present political events. He is now at Salon, and although there is a feed set up, I see that only five people on LJ are following it. Friend greenwaldsalon and check him out.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to madlori!