Breaking the 4th Wall (kinda)

Dear Reader:

If you don’t blog or aren’t familiar, you may not know that WordPress is nice enough to let me check my Blog Stats. I can see how popular certain posts are. I can see how people get to my blog (clicking a link on OKP, a link from someone else’s blogroll, from their email). What I cannot see, however, is your specific information (who you are, when you clicked, which posts you read). I don’t really want to be up in your business like that, so it’s good that way.

My point is, I know you’re here and while I appreciate it, I’d like to get your feedback and comments. This is how I’m going to know if I’m completely nuts and terribly boring or totally relevant and just plain awesome. Sometimes I put a lot of energy into what I’m typing and it’d be nice to know you didn’t just peek your head in and slam the door, but stayed a while, had a beverage and engaged in a little conversation. I know you know better. This is kind of like the time ?uesto demanded kudos on his MySpace blog. At least I am asking nicely.

By the way, the phrase “breaking the fourth wall” usually refers to an actor recognizing the audience and/or things outside of the context of the play/movie/television show. Comic strip characters have also been known to break the wall. Originating with Greek plays, I believe, the concept is that when on stage with an “indoor” set, there are three walls on the stage and the front of the stage, where the audience looks in, is where the fourth wall would be. When an actor acknowledges the audience’s presence (like when Martin deadpans to the camera), that’s breaking the wall. Me speaking directly to you, the blog audience is a stretch, but I just like the phrase. Sue me.

Partly Cloudy: A Car Story vol. 3

Finally back in Philly. You have no idea how stressful this whole situation has been. Not so much because of the car. Shit happens, ya know and I’m lucky no one got hurt. I was pretty stressed about having to rely on other people so much over the last couple of days. I don’t like flipping through my phone trying to decide who I can call for help. I don’t like borrowing money from friends. I don’t like imposing on anyone. I don’t want to ask anyone to rearrange their schedule/routine for my benefit. I had to do all of those things in the last three days. It sucked.

I guess it just goes to the kind of person I am. I almost exclusively depend on myself for everything. If life has taught me anything, it’s that the people closest to you are often times the ones least likely to be there in a pinch. In order to cope, I have learned to just deal with things my own way.

Anyway, here’s the update on the car. A generous friend of mine took a day from work to drive from PA to MD and cart me around the state handling my business. Had to drive an hour out from B’more to get to the State Police and get a release form. Then had to double back about 30 min. to get to the tow yard. Paid for the freakin’ tow (with borrowed cash, thanks to another friend) and then had to replace my tire. Luckily, I was able to get a tire I had in my trunk patched up and it carried me back to the City of Brotherly Love.

Still had to drive up 95 with my bumper in my backseat, but that’s alright. Now what? I need to replace my temporary tires and get to a body shop so I can get my bumper repaired.

The positive is that I’m back home and I got my shit. The negative is that I still have repairs to make and I don’t start working until next week (which means no paycheck until a couple weeks after that). Being a law student with a late-starting internship is bogus.

But, like always, I will just deal. I’ll get it handled. And I’ll do it all with a smile (or suntin’ like it).

I’ve noticed that my posts about the car situation have gotten a lot of hits. Either you all love to see tragedy, it’s a good story (with crazy pictures), or you are concerned with what’s going on. Regardless of why, glad you’re checking it out.