So bored, I figured I would post.

Hello. This will probably be a short post as I have little news to report.

My car is fixed--the key will now turn in the ignition thanks to the addition of a new lock cylinder, which, at a cost of over $100, is hopefully a steal. I'd like to say I'm really elated about my exciting and sexy new lock cylinder, but, unfortunately, I'll only be using it for a maximum of two weeks. At least the car will be easier to sell now that it works.

Speaking of which, if anyone wants to buy a sleek and stylish 1990 Oldsmobile 98-Series with 97K miles on it, let me know. My asking price is $1,500, but if you say you read about it on my blog, I'll knock it down to a cool grand. That's what we like to call "The Crepuscular Ray Difference."

I've also bought three new books for reading in Japan. Two are by David Foster Wallace--Oblivion, a book of short stories which I have not read, and Infinite Jest, a brilliant book which I began but didn't finish before letting someone borrow it (stupid me!). I forget who currently has my old copy, but now I have a new one and plan on starting over. The other book is The Sot-Weed Factor, by John Barth. This one comes recommend by Errol, my cell-mate back in high school (and much of junior high, elementary, and kindergarten).

All three books total about 2,200 pages, and their combined weight will probably add another $5-6 to my overall shipping expenses. But it should be worth it--the last time I was in Japan, I had quite a difficult time finding books in English (go figure). I can now add these three books to others I've been reading, but haven't finished, as well as others I've been meaning to start, but haven't gotten around to. With all the reading I'll be doing, I'll likely return from Japan with a massive, pulsating cranium that is even more brutally eye-catching than my current head.

On this freakish note, I'll conclude the post with a 3D piece entitled "My Uncle Cthulu", by Fred Bastide. If you've ever read H.P. Lovecraft (another author on my "to-finish" list), then you might recognize Cthulu, the immortal god of sheer terror and unpronounceable names. Cthulu represents a horror so intense that the mere sight of him (it?) regularly renders those who witness his sick, terrifying majesty utterly insane. Apparently, he's also an avid motorcycle enthusiast and relative of Bastide's.

Enjoy!