Year: 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

We went downtown last night to get an ice cream. The place was hopping. That was to be expected because the middle jewel of Aiken’s Triple Crown, the Spring Steeplechase, was yesterday and it routinely attracts 30,000 people and a lot of them hang around town long after. The restaurants were packed and there were several venues with live music. We arrived at the Sweet Cow Creamery at just the right time, we were next in line to be served and by the time I paid for our ice cream there were a half dozen people storming the door to get in.

This morning after watching last Thursday’s episode of Lost with breakfast, we went out and got lost in Hitchcock Woods. As usual, we were not really lost, we just didn’t know exactly where we were. The map hasn’t been updated in a long while and there are quite a few new trails that can confuse us for a short while.

To help you through the next few dark days until April 24th, go to the Lost Island Video and see want some talented Losties have created.

So far I am 31 of 48 in my March Madness picks leaving me only 20 points behind the leaders and next round games are worth 15 points. That’s the good news, the bad news is that there are still 15 of the 21 people entered ahead of me. Unlike last year when I watched none of the games, this year I have actually watched a few of the games. The b-ball players these days love their tats. There was one guy playing for Memphis who I could have sworn had the whole Declaration of Independence tattooed on his upper arm.

We are taking the day off from work Tuesday because the BMW’s are coming to town. We can’t start driving until 9:00AM, but that is OK because I have the perfect way to spend those pre drive hours — baseball. The FRS open the season in Japan against Oakland and the game starts at 6:00AM on ESPN2.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 86

Dark Gray

At today’s MMC Tech Day I finally painted the insides of the headlight housings. I have been wanting to do this since 2004 when the Mazdaspeed Miata came out and they had the same treatment.

Came out pretty good. The icky black glue that holds the lens to the back section left behind a couple of “strings” on the lens. After I had the light all together and back on the car I went to clean it with some Goo Gone. Big mistake. It cleaned the glue right off but it also took off some of the plastic lens. I just spent a couple hours with some 2000 grit sandpaper, toothpaste and plastic polish to clean up the lens. It is still not 100% clear, I might have to get some polishing compound to bridge the toothpaste and the plastic polish.

FYI, WD-40 will take the glue off lickity-split and not “melt” the lens.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 86

74,000 Sequins

74,000 SequinsDonna is in the other room watching the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships on ESPN. Tonight was the Ladies Short Program which Italy’s Carolina Kostner won.

I am in front of the computer watching the NCAA basketball tournament. With 28 of 32 1st round games played in the “Big Dance” I have correctly picked exactly half, which leaves me nearly dead last and in the company of people with names like Susan, Lorrie, Kella & Jean…

We went back to Augusta today to order our tile for the bathroom. Afterwards we went back to the Home Depot in Evans to try and get a look at the top color for the vanity we have picked out. The floor tiles are grayish-blue and there is a stock color by the company that makes the vanity we have picked out called blue pearl that we wanted to see. Our Home Depot in Aiken had a sample of every other color but that one. When we told the tile lady that we really did want to see the vanity top before ordering. She asked what the color was called and when we told her, she said we have a sample of that and she showed us. It was a lot more black than the blueish tinted web photo, but it would definitely work.

I still wanted to see what Pegasus called Blue Pearl because it might be completely different. Well the nice new big store in Evans did have the color and lo and behold it was just like what they had at the tile store. As we walked the bath aisles there was a vanity sitting in the middle of one that looked awfully familiar. Wait a minute that is our vanity! It was at a reduced price because it was damaged. There was a whole section with that style stuff in various sizes, including the desired 48″ one. These things, according the HD web site, are online order only, what’s this store doing with them?

Donna went up to the service desk to ask if we bought it here would they transfer it to our local store. The person wasn’t absolutely sure, but delivery would be expensive for us because of our over 25 mile distance from the store. We weren’t buying just then, so we figured we would ask that question at our store later. Big mistake, the people at our store knew even less. They even doubted that the store in Evans had what we saw with our very own eyes.

We have got a 10% off coupon (Thanks Patti) and it would be nice to take advantage of the discount on that high priced item. It has to be used on a single in store purchase, so I guess we will need to figure out how to do that. Unfortunately in this case a Miata is not as good as a pick up truck because of the objects size. We may have to borrow a friend on this one.

On the way back from Augusta the Emperor passed the 74,000 mile mark.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 86

March Madness

The Freighter captain puts the beatdown on one of his own crew.

“You can’t kill yourself Michael, the Island won’t let you.”

We find out the real reason Tom is called Mr. Friendly. 😀

Ben’s sharpshooter guns down the French Chick and Carl.

After the NCAA Tourney is over we will still have 3-1/2 weeks until Lost returns.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 86

Libra

Because of where the date of my birth falls in the Gregorian calendar I am considered a Libra. The symbol for Libra are the scales of balance representing the balance that Libras continually seek in their selves and their life.

I don’t put much stock in astrology and my wife doesn’t either, but one or both of us must subconsciously because it is my job to balance the checkbook. And when I get done posting here I need to get back to seeking what happened to the $5.41 the bank says we have that I don’t think we have.

An interesting side note (or maybe not): Libra is the only inanimate sign of the zodiac, all the others represent either humans or animals.

Might be something to this astrology after all, because I am constantly seeking ways to be inanimate.

The FRS almost didn’t go to Japan for Opening Day.

To get you ready for tomorrow’s Episode 8 of Lost here are a couple of theories on what the “Island” is all about:
1. Coolest. Theory. Ever.
2. The Great Gedanken Expriment, a Tale of Time Travel and Schrodinger’s Cat

They are kind of long, so you might want to save them for next Thursday night, because Lost won’t be on. Tomorrow is episode eight of thirteen total for this season and there is going to be a six week break before we get to see the last 5 episodes (dang writers strike.)

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/08: 85

It’s very stressful remodeling a Bathroom, Jack

The Home DepotLast Saturday we were in Augusta for an MMC breakfast event. Afterwards we went over to look for ideas for our bathrooms remodeling project. We visited home improvement warehouse number one and marveled at the selection of stuff to choose from. We looked at new bathtubs, tile for the walls & floor and fixtures.

“It’s not easy, but marriage is wonderful. Let’s face it, every decision that you try to make takes twice as long, because you always have to talk them into it.” — Bernard Nadler

A tub is a tub, so that wasn’t too much of an issue. We think we found a floor title we both like a grayish-blue 12 x 12 and thought we would just go with a plain 6 x 6 white for the shower walls and tub enclosure walls. But we couldn’t agree on faucet style. Well, truth be told, neither one of us could come up with one we liked enough to try and talk the other into it. Off we go to the competition, home improvement warehouse number two, which was literally right across the street. We struck gold on the faucet here, we found a style we both agree on – Savannah by Price Pfister.

On the way home we stopped in at The Tile Center in downtown Augusta and got some professional help. The woman who helped us listened, suggested, listened some more, held our hands until we found our perfect tiles, 13 x 13 blueish-gray for the floor, 10 x 13 white with a slight gray marbling for the walls and a 3 x 3 blueish-gray accent. Thanks Janie.

Monday, Contractor #2, who we saw on Friday, called with their preliminary bid. Yikes! can you say steep? It was 2-1/2 times more than the first contractor’s bid. And they weren’t including as much of the materials as the first guy either. We have pretty much decided to go with Contractor #1, but if we do we need to do more shopping. We need to pick out a vanity and top for the bigger bathroom.

Tonight we visited both big box home improvement stores here in Aiken. These are actually almost a mile apart and much smaller than there Georgia counterparts. We really didn’t get much accomplished except for more confusion. And actually, we found some stuff we like online, but it is hard to spend that much money without seeing it in person. We are leaning towards this: Pegasus Exhibit 48 In. Vanity and think it will look nice in the room, but we will need to get a top that, not necessarily matches, but at least coordinates with our floor tile…looks like another trip to The Tile Center is on our agenda.

You think watching Lost will make your head hurt?

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
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