100,000

At 8:00am CST on Mt. Vernon Rd and 31st St SE, just before Burger King, my car reached 100,000 miles. Some Tool song – wish I knew which one, they all sound alike to me – had just started playing on the radio. At 99,999 "Highway to Hell" was finishing its final note mere moments before the odometer turned. Do you think that means I am no longer on the Highway to Hell, or just that I have arrived?



I got my car new in 2001. I think it had something like 35 miles on it. It has taken me to a lot of places. My car has seen more states than most people I know. It has some rattles and creaks, just like its owner, but still seems to want more, just like its owner. I wonder if I'll manage to get another 100,000 miles out of it. At the moment I hope so because I can't really afford another car, and this one seems to suit me. Neither of us are happy driving in snow and ice but anywhere, anytime else we're ready to go.

In other recent milestones, Devlin and I celebrated one year together on Sunday. I have decided to move out of my hovel-like apartment into some place much nicer, and unfortunately much more expensive.  But it is literally across the street from work so my aging vehicle will see quite a bit less activity during the week, which I think is fine with both of us. I conducted my first official training at work yesterday which usher's in a new phase of my job. Thus begins a year and a half (hopefully, as lately work seems to enjoy laying people off) of travel and training on a very regular basis.

I am definitely still on the road.