Rubber isn’t a pleasant smell. I’ve decided I don’t like it.

On the way to work yesterday, I heard a loud pop while driving on the freeway. Within 10 seconds, my tire warning light came on. I couldn’t make it to an exit but was able to safely pull to the shoulder.

This woman has changed plenty of tires; but never on this car. I carefully unpacked all of the brilliantly clean and functional tools that would get me on the road again, only to be startled by the manly voice of a Utah Highway Patrol officer. Yes, it is the one and only time in my life I’ve been thrilled to see one of those.

Try as he might, he couldn’t get the “locked” lug nuts off. We tore the car apart looking for the key. None. I sent him on his way. Forty minutes later, I had struck out with the dealer and the tire shop. Their solution? The key should be there; you’ll have to tow the vehicle so we can get your tire off.

UDOT Dave

Luckily, before I had finalized my towing arrangements, UDOT Dave pulled up, unloaded his lust inspiring set of tools, and found a way to get my tire off, and changed. I wished I had a pot of hot chocolate in my car so I could pour him a cup.

But now for the worst part of the day. Not having a flat tire, but sitting in the tire shop, surrounded by the smell of both cheap and expensive rubber, being told that all my tires are shot. The year old tires apparently were all very over inflated during my last oil change, and are almost bald.

I don’t like the small of rubber.

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I was so happy to open my mailbox this morning and have my very first dilemma to sort out. Colleen writes:

Dear Piper,

My daughter has a dog named Jake. She thinks that Jake should have a Facebook page. I just don’t know about that. What do you think?

Colleen in Utah

Dear Colleen in Utah,

First of all, what kind of self-respecting dog has the name of Jake? Of course, in reality there are no self-respecting dogs, so it makes sense after all.

Of course Jake should have a Facebook page. How else is he (I am assuming that with a name like Jake, the dog is a he) going to express his little puppy self? Just make sure that Jake will friend you and your daughter. This way you can keep track of what he is doing.

If he seems a little moody, you can check out his Facebook page and see if he has a crush or if it is just indigestion. Missing something in the house? Check out Jake’s Facebook page and see where he buried the missing item. Can’t think of what to put in Jake’s stocking at Christmas, check out his Facebook page likes and it will give you a plethora of ideas.

Hope this helps Colleen. Good luck to you, your daughter and the Jake.

And now for me, its off to nap.

Have a question for Piper? Just head on over to the Dear Piper page and send her a request. You won’t be sorry.

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October is one day away. Time to buy some pumpkins and of course lots of candy.

I ran across this great graphic for the holidays compliments of LookLoveSend.com. Enjoy.

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Humanity is optimistic, thus our endless pursuit of a better year than the last. Even when a year is spectacular, it would be demoralizing to assume that it couldn’t get better.

Long ago I gave up making New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I designate a theme for the year. This method is wonderful, because a theme touches each aspect of my life; health, career, personal, social, etc. It works for me. It helps me refocus when life seems to get bogged down. Whatever life throws me during the year, I reflect on my theme and how it can help me. It has never failed.

My theme for 2011 is INVIGORATE. What a great word. It exudes life and energy and motion. Thus, so will this year. It will be great.

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I love vampires. I always have. My mental exercise is to determine what physical things I would need to change in myself before being turned. Hair cut and colored. Check. Legs shaved. Check. After all, your vampire self forever stays like your physical living being was at the time of death.

A few years ago I wasn’t surprised that my daughter read all of the books in the Twilight series. Like mother, like daughter. She enjoyed Twilight, the book, but didn’t want to see the movie. We eventually rented it.

New Moon, on the other had, was a must see. After all, it had Jacob in it. My daughter loves Jacob, and would argue with me about who was hotter, Jacob or Edward. (She told me I couldn’t vote for Bella.) I didn’t read any of the books. Not enough sex or violence for my vampire tastes.

A few days ago we went and saw New Moon. I felt like it was a two hour therapy session, and I was the therapist who just wanted to slap Bella and then go pee. I think I was the only one. And when Jacob took off his shirt, every woman, teen, and tween in the audience audibly sighed. And then all the men, and me, laughed. And it occurred to me that there were just as many “older” women lusting after Jacob as there were teenagers.

So rise and shout, the cougars were out. A great homage to the series’ author Stephenie Meyer, a graduate of Brigham Young University. Cougars for Jacob. Rarr.

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