Is a black cat in your path ALWAYS bad luck?

Okay, a little history. I think I've hit a bird once while driving. I've been in the car for several "roadkill" accidents or incidents (including a sad time a little rabbit became grill art on my Poppie's minivan on a trip to Big Ben). But, I've never seen the animal coming and then heard the thump-thump... Until Saturday night. Dave was driving. There was no avoiding it, I realize. I became hysterical, sobbing out loud. So loud that I woke Hannah and frightened her a little. In the midst of my sobbing, I started laughing at myself a little, but then I was horrified that I was laughing and ended up crying some more. Poor Dave. We thought the cat didn't know what hit him/her. Dave surely didn't know what hit him either. He pulled over at the first gas station and checked for any signs of the innocent animal (there was none). I really am not superstitious about a lot of things, but there have been occasions where a black cat has walked across the street ahead of me, and I turn around if an easy alternate route is available. So, my question is if you squash the black cat as it crosses your path, is that worse or better luck? I mean, it didn't make it all the way across our path... Just to the front tire. (BTW, Dave swears it was a skunk to ease my mind and at the very least he saw white, but I saw legs moving as the black shadow ran out in the street, and the skunks I've seen waddle close to the ground... I'm convinced it was a black cat.)

Hitting the books

So, I'm on my kids' cases regularly about the importance of reading. Last week, one of them called me out and asked what I was reading these days. I was mortified that I couldn't answer because I don't have time to read. I got home and picked up a book Dave got me for Christmas. (Okay, I really got it for myself because I saved on shipping from Amazon if I ordered more, but I let him put his name on it and count it as his gift!) It's Water for Elephants, and it's actually pretty good. My problem with reading, though, is that I can't put it down! It's ridiculous, but I actually stay up later to read than I do to grade papers, clean house, or anything productive... BUT, I can tell my kids that I am reading now. Next time, I just hope I can pick up a book and take a little more time to get through it.