Thursday, May 15, 2008

Clean for Now

They do a brisk business at the Fair Oaks Car Wash. But you never have to wait too long, even when they're busy.

I had finally pushed my car to the filth limit. It's not really my car, it's Boz's car. He'd been to the beach, and on several hikes in gloriously grungy places. He'd even brought along friends. They had nosed the windows. Then there's my neighbor's tree, in love with my (Boz's) car. Then there's smoke and ash from another brush fire on Mount Baldy above Rancho Cucamonga.

We're trying to conserve water around here, and I do my part (for example, by pushing my car to the filth limit). When you do wash you car, though, did you know it's more water-conserving to take it to a car wash than to do it yourself?

When they finished with my car at the Fair Oaks Car Wash, it smelled of lemon instead of beach dog.

13 comments:

Bob Crowe said...

A definite olfactory improvement. I have someone else wash my car (they do it in the garage in my office building) because I am
a) too busy
b) too lazy or
c) both of the above.

Profile Not Available said...

I never wash my own car, partly because I am lazy, but mostly because I just haven't the fortitude. And talk about pushing the filth limit...

I have learned to live with the opaque, nose-smeared window look, and the paw prints on the seats don't cause me a single moment of worry anymore. However, I understand all too well how that the lingering smell of an adventurous dog can make driving a little less enjoyable. I just wish the car wash wouldn't use a Vanilla scented spray...

I enjoyed touring your website!

Pont Girl said...

Thanks, Petrea. I did not know that it is more water-conserving to go to the carwash!! I always thought I was a bit lazy - but now I feel more green :)

Knoxville Girl said...

Ha - my truck is old enough to vote, and the dirt is all that's holding it together. So I consider myself a champion of water conservation. I like that idea better than the alternate (too-lazy-to-visit-the-car-wash) lol!

Anonymous said...

Coming from the east coast, the one thing that pops out at me when I step out of LAX is how incredibly clean and sparkling the cars are. I remember when we lived in CA, a carwash, including interior, was just about $5.00 ($3.50 on Tuesdays). Here they spray a little soap and run you through the sprinklers for $11.00. They don't even dry you off!

USelaine said...

Hey, I hadn't thought about Mount Baldy in a long time! It was the site of my first encounter with snow. I've got the decayed super 8 film to prove it too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi strangetastes! Man, I haven't been to St. Louis in a while (too busy, too lazy, etc.) Gotta get over there. Now you know, when you have someone else wash your car, you may be busy and lazy, but you're also probably doing the right thing for the planet.

Kelly!!! I grew up in DeKalb!!! I'm going to my class reunion this summer!!! I wonder if there's a DeKalb daily photo yet... Tell them to use lemon, or at least pine, surely they have that. Vanilla sounds awful.

Pont Girl, congratulations, you're a conservationist. You too, Knoxville girl. Like some kind of eco-hero!

Antjas, it's more like $15 for the cheapie wash here now. But at least they dry you off, vacuum the car and do the windows.

Hang onto that film, uselaine. Mount Baldy's about to be bald.

marley said...

Hi Petrea, I just read your comment/request about Lynn. I've been slipping with my catching up on blogs and didn't realise about Lynn. I don't know anything new but if I hear anything I'll be sure to let you know. I'm sure she'll be ok. She's a tough one :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Marley. Someone said her son would check in, too, and that she may be home as soon as tomorrow.

I like your cat blog!

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

How completely weird, but common to the life experience in Pasadena.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hmm. Perhaps you're right, Miss Havisham. Maybe I shouldn't be so forthright in some of my posts, eh? Maybe I should portray myself as a bit more posh?

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

Oh dear, my comment reads vetty differently from how it was meant. Oft times a bliggity blag will wather and rumble out of my mouth and slap itself onto some innocent soul of a blug. Forgive me.

Be forthright. Go forth!

Petrea Burchard said...

Dear Miss Havisham, you wather and rumble all you like. I can't help myself anyway.