South of Sunnyside

Late last night I learned a few things:

1. That the Baskin Robbins commercials are effective (I’m not debating whether or not they’re annoying)
2. That if you’re going to go out at night for ice cream and cake, you should make sure that you don’t have a headlight out
3. That if you do have a headlight out, and you get pulled over, you should make sure you that your registration doesn’t say September 2009, and that your insurance card isn’t from 2007
4. That Fresno PD can be very understanding
5. That ice cream and a slice of cake are much more economical than ice cream cake

There you have it. Knowledge is power, and power tastes like ice cream and cake (and cake).

I’m trying to be patient with the neighborhood, but we’re still almost two weeks out from Halloween. As in, it’s October.

So why are my neighbors hanging Christmas lights?

At least they’re taking their time and hiding all the cords…

Kim and I stopped by Belmont Nursery on our way home from breakfast. This is probably one of those “I guess you should have been there” stories, but if you know Kim and me well, I’m sure you can imagine the tone and facial expressions in the following conversation.

Me: We’re looking for a fast-growing shade tree to plant next to our front bedroom.

Nursery owner: Well, how tall do you want it to grow? How tall is your house?

Me: (thinking)

Kim: (in serious tone) Well, it’s a single-story house. I don’t know—100 feet?

Nursery owner: (looking at Kim like she’s crazy)

Me: (looking at Kim like she’s crazy)

Kim: (with a look that acknowledges that her calculations are a little off) Oh, no, it’s probably more like 65 feet.

Me: Let’s go with 15-20 feet.

Nursery owner: Right. Well, maples are probably what you’re looking for.

I love her more every day.

The sign on HWY 180 says completion of the extension east will be in 2011—this used to say 2012, which seemed likely when the project was put on hold during last summer’s budget debates. But today I noticed that the section immediately easy of Clovis Avenue has been striped, and the exit signs are installed.

Further east, the merge onto the old highway is completed, and can be driven on (it’s required, actually, if you want to travel past Temperance Ave.). So, what are they going to do over the next two years?