Month: January 2011

Snow Day

It was coming down slowly when we went to bed last night and it was still coming down this morning when we woke up, there was probably 1 to 1-1/2 inches of snow on the ground. We checked the local news channel’s web site and there amongst the school closings was a note that ASCO was opening with a two hour delay. We promptly went back to bed for 2 hours. When we got up a second time Donna packed lunches, we had breakfast and I went outside and swept the snow off the tarp covered car port, so it wouldn’t collapse like it did last February.

After first saying no I wouldn’t drive to work, I relented and said I’d give it a try. I put 3 cinder blocks in the trunk for traction (for reference purposes I could have fit 4 if I didn’t have the CD changer back there) and we set off slowly down the street. We made it out to the main road without too much trouble, but we were driving on virgin snow. When we got to a main artery the traction was much dicier because there had been some traffic through it, but not enough to clean anything off, just rearrange it. After a block or so of slipping around we decided to head back to the barn.

Donna could do a lot of work from home, so she monopolized the PC most of the day and I read a book. We’ll see how tomorrow goes. Tonight it is supposed to go back below freezing and traction will possibly be even more elusive on the resulting ice.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925

Fulmer’s Stable


Fulmer’s Stable

Fair weather cachers no more. Admittedly, we slept in an hour later, until 7:00AM, and lounged around DD reading the Sunday paper until almost nine, so it was a bit warmer than it would have been at sunrise, but it was still cold enough to require hats, gloves and a warm coat. We did a few caches (6 total) that were between here and Augusta. After a lunch break we headed off into Hitchcock Woods to check on possible locations for our first legal hide there.

While we were way out west in South Carolina looking for a couple caches we ended up close to a couple of car dealers, so we stopped in and walked around the lots looking at possible new vehicles. First up was a Toyota dealer and even though I had no Toyotas on the short list, I wanted Donna to take a look to see if there was anything there she liked. The only thing that caught her eye was a Yaris. They’re kinda cute, but too small in a non-premium way.

Across the street was the Nissan dealer. The first thing to catch both our eyes was a bright blue 370Z. Wow, at 33K, more than we were looking at spending. They did have a couple of Altima Coupes, one in gray and another in very dark red. They did have a 4 door in the blue, but it was an uninspiring shade of navy. On the way back of the lot we passed right by one of those new mini-SUVs, the Juke. Donna commented that it looked like it had been in fight and lost. You have to admit its funky profile has a passing resemblance to a recently pummeled head with knots on it. Her next words were, “Juke, they should have called it Joke.” Next week, maybe we will cruise a Hyundai dealer.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925

Rye Patch


Rye Patch

We had big plans to go geocaching this morning, but they fell through when we opted to sleep in and just stick around the house. We did go out later with a friend and grabbed 2 caches that were real close by, one in Hopeland Gardens (where the photo was taken) and one in the Aiken County Museum.

Right now Donna is in the other room on the laptop making big plans to go caching tomorrow morning. We’ll see how that goes, it is supposed to be 22° at sunrise.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925

Still More Car Shopping

I’ve expanded the search for the new car. The list from last month is still in play:

I’ve hunted down every other two-door car I could find in our price range except for a Mustang and then tossed in the Sonata’s younger brother, the Elantra, just for giggles. Here is the spec chart for these cars:

Again, all numbers reflect the difference between the Emperor and the new car (except interior volume.)

Let’s take each one at a time and discuss their relative merits and demerits. They are priced typically using the base model with mats and an Ip-odd adapter.
New Miatas Known quantity. Not real enamored with the look and fairly expensive compared the rest of the list.
Mini Fun to drive, cute as a button and fits in the garage. Quirky interior.
Genesis Sporty, with love it or hate it styling.
Sonata Best looking car of the group. But four doors and will probably be a dime a dozen by the time we get around to getting one.
Accord Positively sinister looking in black, but it is huge and will be hard to find priced in the lower 20’s.
Civic I’ve always liked the looks of the Civic Coupes, but haven’t had any looking being comfortable driving one.
Mazda RX-8 Sporty look and the chops to back it up, so it would an engaging drive. Most expensive on the list, lousy gas mileage and no blue.
Altima Has a little Infinity G37 Coupe look, but not nearly enough, so it comes off sort of dowdy.
New Beetle They aren’t making anymore of this model and if the spyshots I’ve seen accurately reflect the new New Beetle, ick, it looks like a squashed bug
Elantra I like the looks of this car, but it has four doors. This is the stuffed model to get it equipped like the Sonata, but it ends up being just 3 grand less than the larger car.
tC It’s got 2 doors. It is unexciting looking. Hope it is hoot to drive…
Focus This is the last year for this model and the 2012 model looks awesome compared to this car, but it won’t come in a coupe. Who knows, by the time we actually buy a car, if the new one is out, it may warrant a look.
Forte As with all the Korean cars, you get a lot for your money. We saw one in person this past weekend and I liked it, Donna not so much. Points off for trying to be different with the spelling of the word coupe.
CR-Z I seriously considered the CRX back in ’89 before I knew of the Miata’s existence and we were Honda drivers for a dozen years before Mazda won us over. Trouble is, this is a hybrid with all its faults (battery replacement costs) and hardly any of the benefits (gas mileage.)

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925

I’ll Take Bad 60’s Hairstyles For A 1,000 Alex


What are Muttonchops?

A fellow named Lawrence Harvey Luckham who worked in a Bell Labs Data Center in the 60’s posted some photos he took at work one day on his website. He even had the nerve to post the above picture of himself…

In the 60’s I was somewhere between the ages of 5 and 15 and I don’t have any photos of myself in that time frame. I do have one that would fit the Double Jeopardy category of Bad 70’s Hairstyles, my 1973 high school yearbook photo:

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925

I Think I’m In Love

While cleaning up my office for the move to the new digs in the back of the plant I came across my litter of Taco Bell chihuahuas (all two of them.) In trying to keep with management’s policy of not making our new cubicles into Shrine’s to Ourselves and maintaining a businesslike atmosphere I opted to bring the dogs home.

Not knowing what else to do with them Donna and I have decided to make them into geocaching Travel Bugs. The first dog to be returned to the wild is called I Think I’m In Love after the phrase it says when you squeeze it’s stomach. I’m guessing it was a special promotional item for Valentine’s Day in 1998, 1999 or 2000. After a dozen years or so the voice box still works.

Look for it in a cache near you. Or go your own on eBay.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 925