I think it might be that my formative years were in the 80's. There is absolutely nothing that says summer to me like a grand selections of songs from the 80's, played while driving, windows open, and tonight, sunroof open too. used to be we had a lovely convertible - not kid friendly, but a treat nonetheless. I miss Lulu (the van) dreadfully, and am royally pissed at absolutely no resolution with ICBC on even starting repairs. But driving around town tonight picking up camp photos and lemon meringue pie with the sunroof open did me some good. Unless it's just the sugar high from the pie...

I have reservations to go camping, leaving on Sunday, at Rathtrevor Provincial Park(http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/projectgo/parks_pages/victoria/rathtrevor.html), in Parksville, here on Vancouver Island. Its reservation only, and the whole campground is pretty much booked for the summer within days of the reservations opening up. I booked 10 nights, and am damned if I'm going to miss out. Last year I waited too long and had to settle for another park about 1/2 hour away, which was still lovely, but not the same at all. And we have friends joining us - one of X's close friends, his mom and his younger sister, for a couple of nights, plus maybe some other guests. So this car thing has got to be figured out ASAP. Even if I go with a loaner car, it'll suffice. But I need to figure out where Lulu is going to get repaired, and get my hands on a loaner...

Plus there's Harry Potter Friday night, a very big deal since Rob is the event coordinator for Bolen Books and they're hosting a skookum big launch party that X and I need to attend. Followed by avoiding all media and internet until i read the book - camping, right? Though Saturday night is also Luminara, and i also don't want to miss that - its become an annual tradition for X and I. We're going to a lantern making workshop on Wednesday, and were to be dressing up in pirate costumes - I had hoped to create a pirate princess outfit (when else can I get away with wearing my skull tiara?), but wanted to do the fitted bodice and everything and that might have to wait. I can always pull on my fairy wings, of course.

Anyways, we're still at square one, though I hope to have more answers tomorrow. And hopefully a shop for lulu, even if it means going over Thursday to meet with people and pick up a loaner car and start to hash it all out. So long as I'm back by Friday night, even if I take the last ferry.