Small Saw 1. Big Tree 0.

Just in case it ever comes up, when the borrowed neighbor's chainsaw fails to start, the proper next step is renting a real chainsaw, not seeing if your old 12-inch electric originally purchased by your grandpa will get the job done.

Although, if you stay at it long enough (and the motor doesn't burn up...) it will.

Notice the top half of the big trunk beyond the fence - I had to take down a few sections of fence and roll back the wire to drop the big sucker. The skinny tree next to it I used a hand saw on after the chainsaw motor did give out.

Swine Flu. Bunker. Done.

So if this swine flu thing gets bad, send all correspondence directly to the bunker. That's why all that canned chili and Milwaukee's Best is down there...

It's Actually Not to Keep Gus In

It's to keep Hanna out.

And Dance.

And Coco.

As much as we like the neighborhood dogs - and we do quite like the neighborhood dogs - we decided that they don't need to spend as much time on our front porch as they had been. Most of the time it's not a problem, but first thing in the morning it can actually be dangerous as Crazy Hanna throws herself at us and Gus throws himself at her. One too many mornings when Diane had to start her day yelling at dogs and trying to keep from getting her knees taken out led to the gate.

It swings out, of course, so you can bonk crowding dogs with it, if need be. Had to buy the latch and primer - rest I already had.

Because Everyone Needs a New Automotive Plan

So if nothing else, my automotive decision-making processes are interesting.

Here's the latest candidate - early '80s Mercedes 300 SD turbodiesel. Big, bulletproof, high-20s mpg long-distance cruiser.

Decidely not a sports car, but that's what the '02 can do. Any thoughts from the gallery?

A Picnic Day Picnic

Had a lovely Picnic Day picnic in Davis yesterday. Picnic Day is UC Davis's big spring celebration. (We've gone three or four times now, once in pouring rain....) Yesterday was beautiful weather, but we didn't stay on campus very long.

Gina and Ben had a barbecue at their house, so we were on campus long enough to grab Frankie (who came over on a bus with the Cal Band) and head out to G&B's 40 Acres of Stuff. (Not their stuff, but they live among it...)

Nancy was down from Oregon visiting Dee, so they drove up as well. We brought the dogs, and everybody had a great time. (Great burgers and beans - them young'uns can cook.) Gina's apparently unclear on the whole sunscreen thing though.

It was our second weekend outing in a row with dogs and Gus is a crackup when we get home. He jumps out of the car and immediately launches into his best menacing bark - in all four directions. Not sure what he thinks other people and dogs are doing while he's gone, but he damn sure wants them to know he's back and to knock off those shenanigans!

Unrequited Car Lust; Unresolved Car Issues

I'm having car issues.

One broken nut KO'ed the 2002 for far longer than one broken nut should. (I have a new tranny being shipped from a dismantler on the coast - should get it late next week and hopefully be back to 100% shortly thereafter.) It's on the road, but leaking trans fluid and not a long-distance option.

The little Toyota truck that gets us to and from the dump is probably going with Frankie after he graduates (and it needs an O2 sensor replaced...)

The Hyundai has 110,000 on it, and we plan to keep it around for many, many more. When we replace it, the replacement needs to meet the following criteria:

• Safe
• Reliable
• Economical
• Comfortable
• All Wheel Drive

And that's a list that starts to limit your options...

Without the AWD requirement, there are many decent options. But because of where we live, AWD isn't a convenience. We don't go to visit the snow once in a while. We have to get home in it on a seasonably predictable basis, and yes we can chain up and yes I do chain up but it's not a safe or enjoyable activity.

And, if Frankie does need the truck after graduation, there's that to consider. I haul more than trash (and Diane's shed components won't fit in my BMW's trunk...)

I know even in the short term I probably need to look at a decent used Civic or Corolla, just so we have a second distance-worthy option. And I will.

But all the photos in this post are pictures of cars I've posted before; cars I've lusted after, wanted to buy, or even planned to buy sometime in the last two or three years.

It's a pretty good photo array, I think, and there's not a civic to be seen...