Dutch costumes should only be resold on wire hangers.

“Let’s push it out of the road and into the church,” said the Michigander.  Yes! Let’s.  As a friend pointed out, I was “lucky there was one nearby.”  Friday was my Jeep’s first day with its new Michigan license plate.  I made it approximately half of a mile before it broke down in the middle of Holland.

If you’re unfamiliar, this license plate was a long time coming. Months of struggling with the California DMV ended with a blog post, contest, and subsequent connection to two fantastic California DMV employees, Jan and Kitty, that Arnold should promote if he hasn’t already.  Arnie can you hear me? I consider it a major life achievement (check!) that a DMV employee called me at home.

"Plate it your way" -State of Michigan

As winner of the contest, Micah Lande was given the opportunity to design my new Michigan plate.

A friendly neighborhood Republican helped push my car out of the street and half-into a parking lot that is shared between a church and the Holland Tulip Time Festival Store.  A patch of ice and tolling church bell prevented us from making it all the way.

Have you seen those mini shorts with writing on the butt that many teenagers think they can pull off but can’t?  My car was essentially wearing butt shorts as it stuck out of the church parking lot.

Don't dare bring one that's not laundered.

Before I even finished dialing AAA I was pre-annoyed with the tow truck company.  What do you do if you work in a job where you are set up for failure?  It is impossible to be excited when calling for a tow, but what a design challenge! Can the experience of a tow ever exceed expectations?

When you are stranded, even in your own town, you see things you would have otherwise missed.  It’s neat to be forced to look at what’s around.  The feeling is similar to doing user studies in design.  How else would you know that the Dutch Costume Resale next week is the 59th straight resale?

It's official.

Remember the days before mobile, internet-ready phones when we read Sweet n’ Low packets as we waited for coffee, and shampoo bottle ingredients as we sat in the toilet at a friend’s house?  Your mind seeks something, anything, to take in to pass the time.

When the truck finally came my Jeep was hoisted up and its butt shorts were rolled through town.  The process was fast – too fast. Shouldn’t there be more pomp and circumstance?  I waited 45 minutes for a process that only takes six?  What a great word – pomp!  More things in life should involve pomp.

There’s a strange exhilaration that comes while watching your car being driven by another car.  Is everyone looking at me? Hey everyone, look at me! It’s a combination of awkward exposure plus pride.

Butt shorts.