Archive for April, 2012

17 Apr

Goodbye, my Jetta

Posted by Allison | Squirrel Thoughts in Funny Things That Happen To Me, Life and Such.

Last Friday, after a week of suspense following her untimely encounter with a crazy-ass, uninsured drunk driver, I had to say goodbye to my beloved Jetta.

It was a bit emotional, I’m not gonna lie. Sure, she may have had a few flaws, but when you’re with the same car for seven years, you get a little attached, imperfections and all.

Now, in times like this, we could choose to wallow in our sorrows and dwell on the tragedy that befell our dear, sweet Jetta. But let’s try to remember the good times instead.

Like when she couldn’t ford an inch-deep creek without bottoming out and losing half her front bumper.

Or her infamous malfunctioning-alarm stage, which convinced everyone on my block that I was a certified psychopath.

Or the time she broke down on the way back to Great Falls from Missoula, and I had to take a Greyhound home, using what little change I could scrounge up to haggle for bus station bananas because no restaurants in the podunk towns along the way accepted debit cards.

OK, so it turns out she actually kind of sucked. Nevertheless, she will live in perpetuity, thanks to:

a) Google Street View

2) The fact that the accident happened on a Sunday/holiday/slow news day, and the local NBC affiliate had nothing better to report on.

Rest in peace, dear Jetta. Rest in peace.

3 Apr

It’s ‘Titanic’ 3-D, bitches

Posted by Allison | Squirrel Thoughts in Other.

Hey meme-makers, stop ruining the moment.

While awaiting the start of “The Hunger Games” at the theater the other day, a preview for “Titanic” in 3-D came on. Without missing a beat, I turned to Zach and, much to his chagrin, started reciting lines from the preview, perfectly in sync with the characters. (“They called it the ship of dreams. And it was. It really was.“)

See, like every 12-year-old girl growing up in America circa 1997-98, I was obsessed with that mesmerizing blockbuster. More precisely, I was obsessed with the one and only Leonardo DiCaprio. (Still am, really. Though I hear he’s a bit horrid-looking in “J. Edgar.”)

Now that it’s returned for one more magical stint in theaters — in 3-D, no less — I’m determined to re-create the experience all over again.

Which means I’ll need to watch it in the theater no fewer than five times.

And buy every copy of Tiger Beat and BOP and clip out every photo of Leo I can find.

And start a collection of said clippings, modge-podging my favorites to the outside of a manila folder that I keep with me at all times. Duplicates will line my locker, natch.

And record “My Heart Will Go” on cassette tape every time it plays on Star Station, Helena’s infamous purveyor of soft rock and adult contemporary hits.

And purchase not only the regular movie soundtrack, but also the second bonus release, called “Back to Titanic.” [That’s right. There was a second “Titanic” soundtrack, and I spent my (parents’) hard-earned money on it at ShopKo.]

And stay up until 2 in the morning with Ange-Pange, waiting for even more Leo photos to load on dial-up AOL. Yep, our love for him was so strong, not even dial-up Internet could keep us from expressing our devotion.

I know there are plenty other ways I could re-create that special time in my life, but I really shouldn’t embarrass myself by listing them here.