Gwen and I went in to get our Oregon driver's licenses today. After some frantic last minute studying (QUICK, you are at an 11 way stop driving an 89 Accord with a bad muffler and you want to turn right on a three way street on thursday; do you have to give right of way to a bee flying south by southwest?) we both passed with scores of 93%.  After I got home I inspected my new card more closly. I turned it over to see just what vehicles I am alowd to operate, low and behold I find that I can operate "Any emergency vehicle operated by a firefighter." I read the line again to make sure I wasn't mistaken. Sure enough, If the local firestation (1/4 mile down the road) came to my door and asked me to drive the big red truck, I could!
   
    It gets better though, it says ANY vehicle. I have oft seen on the news figherfighters fighting run-away forest fires with helicopters. According to the state of Oregon, I am a helicopter pilot. I've played enough video games to know that flying a helicopter is as easy as moving a joystick around, so if someone happens to leave their helicopter running while they dash into 7-11 for a slurpee, I just may have to go on a little joy ride.
   
    The moral of the story is, next time you see a fire engine barreling down the street, pull over right away. If for no other reason than it may be Justin Bodeutsch at the helm. Furthermore, if you ever hear a loud whirling noise descending on your front porch, it's not the FBI coming to get you for that song you downloaded illegally, it's just me, literally dropping by.

    My mom and brother are in town for the weekend. Yippee! Among other things, my mom brought us these sweet silk robes from . Don't we look dapper...