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mercury! back up off me!

so i keep hearing that mercury is in retrograde, i don’t know if that is exactly at this moment or what’s up but…

today, i ate bad yogurt and got sick, my car overheated on the way to the first day of the big time ruckus round up where ruckus network folks from the beginning till now are gathering to talk about today and the future, i fixed it with coolant and water – YAY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME FIXING A CAR – and then got pulled over by oakland popo (i immediately started thinking “please don’t shoot”) for license plate light being out (found out i don’t even have one there at all), and when i went to hop in the car after dealing with popo the driver’s side door was jammed and wouldn’t shut. my sweetie sat in the back and held it closed while i drove slow with hazards, meaning we had a flintstone experience getting home, then figuring out where to park it so it wasn’t super obviously stealable, taping it shut, and still making it to the ruckus pub quiz in time to enjoy the open bar.

this would be special if it was in any way unique, but the thing is, every time we have a major ruckus event, i have car issues (this is all within 3 years, as i of course didn’t have a car OR drive in NY). my first cali car battery died at the ruckus holiday party. then, on the same car, the breaks went out after a very dramatic day and i had to use my foot to stop the car on the drive home. my second cali car blew up after leaving an amazing ruckus tactics summit – i left it charred to death in los banos. now this, my third cali car, a freebie passed on thru the ruckus network, has more problems than i can list with tact. but she’s a red car 2-door and i love her…

i think part of the reason for this ruckus event/car trauma alignment is to keep me grounded. my instinct during big ruckus events is to be completely present to every single thing and try to make sure everything is perfect. the car trauma reminds me that there are things beyond our control, that aren’t personal. also, that you have to think in a maintenance way about any vehicle you ever hope to take anywhere, and ruckus is this dream vehicle heading towards justice if i ever saw one, and it won’t just rev up and go the distance if it isn’t properly cared for. so my mechanic mind is the one that is called for (once again), and all vehicles are envisioned by humans and thus it must be withing the human capacity to maintain them…

that said – mercury, you have done enough for me this round. go retrograde on others and back up off me! im good, thank you, and farewell!