CTBNL

Now That’s Embarrassing

This morning as we backed out of the driveway, I got into the street and when I shifted from reverse to first – I stalled it. Just exactly like the last time I drove when David came over for the swapping test drive thing. I am sure I will probably get used to giving it a little more gas before letting out the clutch because of the lightweight flywheel. Just as sure as I am I will get used to the 1/2″ higher take up point of the clutch. Hopefully sooner than later.

At 6:30 in the AM around here there is hardly anybody awake except for usually one other neighbor going to work in the opposite direction from us and sometimes a person out walking. It was kind of damp and misty morning, but I could easily see a neighbor up ahead coming towards walking his two mouse-sized dogs. So I restarted the engine and while I did, simultaneously started turning the steering wheel to the left to go around him.

This time I gave the car a little more gas and got the clutch engagement just right, so I got a smooth forward motion, but it was accompanied the sounds of a large pack of excited howler monkeys emanating from engine compartment. I pushed in the clutch and coasted by the dog walker with a meek wave and only one or two monkeys saying hello to him as well. About this time, Donna joined in on the screaming too as she was mortified at the noise we were making (me too, just not so loudly.)

I shut the car off and the belts stopped squealing and then Donna did too. I started the car back up and the monkeys were still at it a little, so I slowed down a bit to make a u-turn back to the garage for the belt dressing spray. I pushed in the clutch and the noise stopped, so I slowly let it out and normal quiet had returned to Dunbarton Oaks. I chanced one more start from the stop sign at the end of the block and when the squeal didn’t happen again we kept on going. The car was quiet for the rest of the commmute in.

School Girl Crush

Because the deal was done and the car wasn’t to be delivered to Boardman Road1 until Tuesday evening, I spent yesterday afternoon at work like a school girl with a crush on a boy who was going to ask her to the senior prom. But instead of idly writing my first name with his last name in the margin of my Biology II book, I recolored my windows login picture from maroon to silver and added a roll bar to it…

Windows 10 Profile Pictures

 

1. Seriously, how good a deal was this? When was the last time you bought a used car and they delivered it to you?

The Emperor’s Reign Ends

The King

Sunday night at 8:00 PM fellow MMC member David Adcock spammed the Club with an email that he needed garage space and was selling his 2002 Miata. Twenty minutes later I noticed it in my inbox. Two minutes later after conferring with Donna, I made an offer. Fifteen minutes later David countered somewhere in the middle. Ten seconds later I agreed.

David’s car rolled off the assembly line in February 2002 and the Emperor followed in August of the same year, so although different model year cars, they were actually built only a half a year apart.

David (who now I really have to mention in the will) bought the car with a mere 43,000 miles on it a year and a half ago. When he bought the car he did a bunch of updates that practically paralleled what we have done to the Emperor in the last year or so – shocks, springs, clutch & brakes. The differences were he replaced the radiator and hoses (which was on our short list) and the Emperor has a year old top while the car-to-be-named-later still has the original (and it is still in great shape.)

Because I have driven this car before recently, I really didn’t need to test drive it, but he insisted and rightly so because Donna hadn’t ridden it yet. We took it for a quick neighborhood spin, but because it was misting I didn’t do anything stupid. Donna said the same thing I did after a drive in it, “Boy, it’s nice to be in a quieter car again.” This car is exactly what Dr. Kildare prescribed for us, its just like the Emperor only 120,000 miles newer.

Making Everyone’s Dreams Come True

Posting has once again gotten really light, another whole week between posts, but behind the scenes the pace at Life of Brian HQ has been hectic. The Board has met with the regional and local VPs. Managers have powwowed with minions. And through the power of group knowledge (and a little luck) we have solved the unsolvable conundrum.

Brian & Donna dreamed of a trouble free Miata. Brian dreamed of no Check Engine Lights. Donna dreamed of not having a monthly car payment for the next 5 years. Brian and Donna dreamed of a Miata that was just like the one they have, only better. David dreamed of more garage space.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 06/25/15: 209