Make-up post #1: The bad

So I was all ready to mow the yard today. It was finally sunny, dry enough to not leave humongous ruts in the yard. I get the mower out, get it ready, and... the gas cap.

Where's the gas cap?

I knew I had the gas cap on when I put this sucker away last time. But it's not here. I can't find it. I feel like the biggest dork for losing the frickin' gas cap on my mower, and having no clue where it is. So, no mowed yard, and I have to hope that the parts place in Lawrenceville has that part in stock. *sigh*

Make-up post #2: The *whoa*

Today we met up with fiannaharpar's dad while he's in town for a few days. We had dinner with him last night, and went to the Phipps Conservatory today followed by dinner at Mitchel's (formerly Charlie's, formerly G's) for wings and bar food. It was fun, and nice to watch him interact with Pookie.

But when we left Phipps, he wanted to give me something. He drove his vehicle around to my car, then brought out some kind of silk-covered cover and a long piece of fabric. Then he said, "Wait, there's more." That's when he pulled it out.

He bought me a 6'koto.

Apparently, he got it an auction at which he was looking for a chair. At least, that's all I know he was going to get from previous phone conversations. This was totally unprovoked, I swear. I was not thinking to myself, "Gee, I wish my father-in-law would get me a 6' koto at a local auction!" Oh, and not only that, it belonged to the co-producer of Dawn of the Dead. According to the magic Wiki, that's Richard P. Rubinstein.

The instrument is beautiful. The fabric is a cover for the koto. I need to get many things, though, like bridges, picks, new strings, and a method book for the damn thing. Y'know, simple things that everyone who's everyone has for their koto. You understand, right??

Holy frickin' cow.

I will be taking pictures and posting them later this week, of the current condition of the instrument. I'm still slack-jawed when I think about it. He so totally didn't have to do that. I can't wait to get this puppy slicked up and playing it.