Tim: Hit the Halfway Point.

I’ve known Tim since my freshman year of college. I remember how he introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Tim Winter. Like Winterfresh. Want a piece of gum?”

We were neighbors our sophomore year, and for some reason, spent a good amount of time driving around together. And one time in the car, he taught me how to parallel park in a way that made more sense to me than anyone else’s explanation.

1. Pull up parallel to the car in front of the open spot. PARALLEL. Not angled at all.
2. Back up slowly.
3. Once you hit the halfway point, turn the wheel sharply and maneuver your way into the spot. Your back tire will probably hit the curb. That’s okay.
4. Turn the other direction and straighten out.
5. Done.

Thanks to Tim, I can parallel park in ANY spot in Chicago, left or right, snowbank-filled or pothole’d – even in front of a $150,000 Maserati (and no, I didn’t even tap it!).

Hey, Tim Winter (like Winterfresh) – next time we hang out, remind me to show you my paralleling skills in action. Then maybe I’ll make you a breakfast burrito to thank you for the many, many dollars you’ve saved me since I don’t ever have to park in an overpriced garage. Deal?

Stacy: I’m not sure why I never tried this!

Stacy and I have known each other for a little over three years. She’s cute. She’s small. She’s concerned about other people’s welfare. She’s friendly. She’s a fire survivor. And to top it all off, she has six kids.

ALL BOYS.

She just posted this on her Facebook wall with the comment, “I’m not sure why I never tried this!”

Stacy, I give you my personal permission to do this whenever, wherever. You’ve earned it. :)

Lynette: They’ll come back and sue you.

Lynette’s daughter Maret is a good friend of mine who was in town this weekend for the Chicago Marathon. (I’m so proud of her.)

We all got together for dinner tonight. And as (I would assume – I don’t know, I’m an only child) is typical, the siblings started talking about their mom and the stuff she’d say to them when they were kids.

My favorite:

“Two to the chest, one to the head.“ I knew that expression, but Lynette’s explanation was better than any previous ones I had heard: “Because otherwise they’ll come back and sue you.”

Makes sense. And I laughed so hard I almost cried.

Next time I’m faced with a situation in which this will come in handy, I’ll be thinking of you, Lynette.