So I have a few things I need to discuss in this journal.

First, I noticed today that I'm up to 68 watchers, which means that the next one is a special one, if you know what I mean. Maybe I'll do something special, but I can't promise anything.

Next on the list is a big one. I own a 1998 Ford Expedition. Shortly after 9:30 EST this morning, while I was driving on the Interstate, it caught on fire. Good news is, most of the vehicle only suffered smoke damage, but the front passenger seat is gone, and the truck is now unusable. Here's the full story:
While I was driving, I noticed a burning smell. Now, normally, this is a big signal, but I'd been having problems with the truck for a few weeks, so I didn't think anything of it. But then I noticed an orange flickering glow reflecting off of the fake wood paneling on the dashboard. It was then that I saw the fire under the front passenger seat. I pulled off to the shoulder, grabbed what I could, and called 911, then called my mom. Within a few minutes, I could see the truck filling with smoke, and some of it leaked out between the doors and windows and such. Luckily, two guys in a pickup, with an empty car dolly trailer (that'll be important later) stopped, and offered to help. One of them opened the passenger door, releasing a big puff of brown smoke (thanks to the leather seats). They were able to extinguish the fire using a couple water bottles, the remnants of my iced tea that I'd been saving for later, and half a gallon of windshield washer fluid I had stashed in the back of the truck. They pulled out my iPod, which I'd left in the center console in my rush to evacuate the vehicle, as well as some other things which I was highly appreciative of. A state trooper pulled up and took my information, and radioed to the firefighters that the fire was out. Then the fire department showed up, saw that the fire was indeed out, and left. The trooper noted that I had pulled off the highway in an area with a very narrow shoulder, so we (the two guys and I) managed to push my truck a few dozen feet to a place with a wider shoulder. The trooper confirmed my story and my information. He then suggested using the guys' car trailer to haul my truck a mile or so up the highway to a gas station at the next exit, which we did. We met my mom there, thanked the two men and the trooper profusely, and got my truck off their trailer. I had somewhere to be, so the two men offered to take me there, since they were going that way anyway. My mom stayed with the truck for a while to call the insurance company and take pictures (which I now have copies of). In the end, it turns out that my insurance won't cover it, and I can't really afford to get it fixed. What this means is, I am now without the truck I bought in November. I'm still not entirely sure what I'm going to do with it, beyond getting it towed back to my house. I'll post pics if you want, assuming it's allowed under the current version of the AUP.....

Finally, I received an unexpected phone interview with a place I had submitted an application to earlier this week. I thought it went well, despite the fact that they're looking for someone to start immediately, while I can't start until May, after I graduate from college. So we'll see where that goes.

Thanks for reading. I just had a ton of stuff on my mind that I needed to unload, in the hopes that I might get some sort of response.