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i got the car inspected today at a gas station close to belmont. i waited in the office, reading old magazines from a large cardboard box, warming up from the heat fan on the floor, while emission tests were being performed on the car. the car passed inspection, but the mechanic warned me that the left front wheel bearing was misaligned, and would need to be tuned up eventually (as much as $300, but since it wasn't my car, i'd leave it for my parents to take care of). i drove to home depot briefly to buy some lawn bags, the place crowded with home owners out supply shopping for their weekend projects. i got $20 worth of gas from my neighborhood gulf gas station before returning home. i spent the next hour with my sleeves rolled up, outside raking leaves. the trick to picking up leaf debris without gloves is to not look at what you're picking up (so you won't get squeamish). i ended up with 3.5 bags of leaves, and pruned back the ivy growing on my backyard fence. i also went down into the basement and turned off the water main for the outdoor faucet, in preparation for the winter.

the rest of the day i spent huddling underneath a blanket on the living room couch, watching television until i fell asleep and the sky grew dark. sometimes i wish i could just put a bed bed in the living room, so i could just sleep here, and when guests come to visit, they get in bed with me. in the evening i warmed up some meat buns for dinner, alternating between saving private ryan and a crusade documentary. i took a hot bath before going to bed.