I got a package from my (car) dealer today. It includes a thank-you card, a shiny Nissan keychain, and a well-stocked bag of emergency stuff that I suppose I'm supposed to keep in my trunk.

The emergency bag contains a flashlight, first aid kit, gloves, tire puncter seal spray, jumper cables, and a flare! "ALWAYS POINT AWAY FROM FACE AND BODY WHEN IGNITING AND AFTERWARDS." This will make car trouble fun again.

I guess Christmas a only a few days away. I remember it being a really big deal for me years ago. With two birthdays in the family this week plus my sister's return from Australia and a bunch of work stuff, I haven't really thought about it much. I haven't even seen that claymation movie about Rudolph and the misfit toys this year. You know, the one with the gay elf who wants to be a dentist.

We still haven't figured out New Year's Eve. The venue will be somewhere in Calgary, but that's all the planning committee has been able to decide so far. Don't get me wrong; I still expect to have a great time.

Last night's party had a few surprises. It was a fun evening in the end, though.

In what I'll categorize as a follow-up to last month's wacky adventures in fine dining, I was invited to dine at Muse, a new restaurant in Calgary where the chef is a friend of a friend. I could really get used to sitting at the chef's table and having the food and wine chosen by people who know what they're doing. The past two months have involved more fois gras and arugula than the past 20 years and I'm not complaining.

Dessert was an amazing chocolate cake thing with cherries inside and melted brie with walnuts on top. Being uncooth, I blurted out "Hey, chocolate and cheese!" After all, I listened to it only a few hours earlier during the drive back from Canmore. After the meal, the chef came out and asked us what we thought of the dessert. "You see, there's this band called Ween..." he said. Awesome.

I also got to use "catharsis" in conversation. The girl I was talking to seemed like the type who would say stuff like that normally and I don't think she realized that I was joking around. Really, the only way the evening could have been better is if we'd run into Mike's dad there.

My car is parked outside, depreciating even as I write this. I should have plenty of time to get acquainted with it when I drive to Calgary in a couple of hours.

I am now insured and registered. I've never seen a clean license plate before. I can't be bothered getting my car today. Maybe tomorrow. Monday at the latest.

I'm scheduled to pick up my car today. I still don't have insurance. Details to follow.

I'm scheduled to pick up my car on Friday. I have to get my insurance sorted out before then. I thought I was still insured on my dad's car, giving me a nice long stretch of insurance history, but it turns out that he removed me from the policy last year. This means I'll probably have to pay a premium as a "new" driver despite driving (occasionally) for over 7 years without so much as a speeding ticket.