Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Winter Moon<\/p>\n
Carlson Toyota. \u00a0Getting the Rav4 oil changed and 30,000 mile diagnostics. \u00a0It was a busy Friday afternoon, not as I had hoped. \u00a0My reasoning went that if I got there before 3 pm I should be ahead of the after work crowd. \u00a0The reasoning probably wasn’t wrong exactly, but the conclusion I’d drawn was. \u00a0Other old folks were in there with their cars along with mothers with young children, all the folks that have available time in the afternoon like I do.<\/p>\n
The crowd at Carlson has a much more diverse feel than its Anoka County location might suggest. \u00a0Yes, we’re a pretty white county in a pretty white state, but Carlson employs many Hmong and Vietnamese as mechanics (technicians) and back office workers. \u00a0When I spend time waiting for an oil change, it’s always clear that the customer base is 15-25% asian. \u00a0Not all Hmong or Vietnamese either. \u00a0A few Chinese and Koreans as well and today, in a beautifully colorful winter hat, I spied my first Tibetan there. \u00a0African-Americans are less frequent, but they are there.<\/p>\n
I watched one young African-American going over his bill, in detail, with a tall asian woman who looked Chinese. \u00a0She had a full head of black falling curls and at first, from a distance, I thought she was African-American, but when the encounter finished she headed back to her office and her asian features were apparent. \u00a0It is after all an asian car company and I suppose that has some influence.<\/p>\n
Having a lot of time, an hour plus, much of which I spent reading Toppling Qaddafi, a change in behavior that everyone knows but goes little remarked was the shoulders slightly hunched, head bowed prayerfully, fingers flicking over the small hand held computer we insist on calling a phone. \u00a0This behavior is so common that it seems ordinary yet even 5 years ago it would have been unusual to see almost all of the adults in the waiting area, maybe 30 people, at one point or another assuming this position.<\/p>\n
Almost does not include a certain contingent of older white males who either had constraint or had not yet entered the smartphone era. \u00a0Kate hasn’t. \u00a0Below that strata though, everybody had their phone out at some point.<\/p>\n
Though the screen of choice for me was my kindle paperwhite, I still dutifully checked my e-mail, the weather and my calendar. \u00a0I rarely use the phone app, but I’m right there praying to the wireless gods to bring me good information, soon. \u00a0Right now.<\/p>\n
Oh. \u00a0Yeah. \u00a0Oil change. \u00a0Multi-point inspection. \u00a0Changing of air filters in the cabin. \u00a0The cabin. \u00a0When the did the front seat area become a cabin? \u00a0Other various lubes, fluids and filling tires with air. \u00a0$152. \u00a0Worth it because a well-maintained Toyota is a thing of beauty forever. \u00a0Well, maybe a thing of transportation for ever. \u00a0Still a good deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Samhain \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Winter Moon Carlson Toyota. \u00a0Getting the Rav4 oil changed and 30,000 mile diagnostics. \u00a0It was a busy Friday afternoon, not as I had hoped. \u00a0My … Continue reading At the Car Dealer<\/span>