Miatatude

Poker Run

Today was a big day. We went to Warner Robins to participate in the MidGA Miata Club’s annual Toys for Tots Poker Run. we left the house at 7:45 AM to meet the rest of our Club members at the GA Welcome Center. There were only 2 others who showed up, Tony Cappucci and Karl Johnson and Tony wasn’t making the trip, his wife was home sick so he was going to go back home and play nurse. We had to pick up the Rushtons (Scott and Lisa) in Thompson, GA about 30 miles down the road on the way to our destination. After a meeting in the McDonald’s lot our 3 car caravan headed out. The poker run was scheduled to start at 1:00 PM and as it turned out with one missed turn in Macon and a slow Pizza Hut lunch we got there about 10 minutes after 1. Our 3 cars were almost the last to sign up. The MidGa folks had arranged for some media attention, one of the Macon TV stations had sent a camera man down to shoot some footage (I wonder if we made the news?) They also had a photographer and reporter from the Macon newspaper. The reporter was looking for an empty seat to join in the fun and Karl volunteered, so I’m sure we’ll get in the paper. The loop for the run was 60 miles and nicely laid out, with for some reason, easy to follow directions. The only down side was the fact that it never made it out of the 40’s so we kept the tops up for almost all of the drive. After picking our last card we made a potty stop at a McDonalds. We realized that we only had a couple miles to go so we put our tops down to trick the crowd at the finish into thinking we did the drive that way. We let them stare and point a bit before we admitted we just put them down recently. They had prizes for the top 6 hands, cash for the top three and other items for the other 3. Donna and I ended up with 4th place with a pair of 9s and a pair of 5s. We traded the turkey frying kit that wouldn’t have fit into the trunk, nor did we want, for a gift certificate to the Atlanta Bread Company. Also cleaned up on door prizes too. We all did, they only had 22 cars show, I’m sure due to the weather, but had prizes for like 50.

Another thing big thing was the total mileage. Turns out it is 165 miles from our door to the old Wal-Mart parking lot in Warner Robins. So with the round trip and miles involved with the poker run we ended up driving 390 miles today. We got home almost exactly 12 hours after we left. I took my hat off about halfway home, but as I sit here typing this it still feels like I have it on. When this is finished I’m showering and going to bed.

Started up, went down, went back up, still up.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 317

Look Back With Sadness

Blogging early because it is baby-sitting night. We still call it that even thought the boys are no longer babies. Ten years ago Donna gave as a Christmas gift to another couple in the Bike Club our services as babysitters for one weekend evening a month for the next year. At that time their one son was 2 years old. This gave them to opportunity to go out on a “date,” have dinner out, see a movie, whatever. Four years later we got a year off after their second son was born and he got old enough to leave alone with us. The boys have gone from not wanting to leave our sides and go to their bedrooms until their parents came home to going immediately to their rooms to play Nintendo. One thing that hasn’t changed it they still don’t want to go to sleep.

In January when it is 35 and raining I’ll look back with sadness of today’s missed opportunity. Another perfectly beautiful fall day and the Miata traveled whopping 5 miles today. A morning trip to the grocery store and a lunch time trip to retrieve sandwiches…

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 306

Shame On You People

It was our half day off Friday, so after work we dropped the top and did a nice long drive on a perfect fall day. While out driving we noticed a slew of convertibles out too. Three Mustangs, a Sebring, a Z3, a Miata and an Audi TT. Only the TT had their top down besides us. WTF? it was 70 and sunny with low humidity, if the top wasn’t down today I doubt it ever goes down. Shame on you people.

Started up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 306

13th Anniversary

Went to the Master’s Miata Club meeting in Augusta tonight. Nice turn out, 18 members and one guest. The Creer’s brought along a family friend, Lorraine Page. It was Lorraine’s birthday and we all sung happy birthday to her. Lorraine is famous for this hit song.

Today is also my 13th anniversary as a Miata owner. This is my second Miata, but if you added up the mileage from #1 and #2 I have been in a Miata for 225,000 miles.

Started down, went up, went back down, up again, still up.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 305

Neat Hat

December weather (with a twist of March) in November today. Progress. The sun came out and we hit the 60’s, but the wind came sweeping down the plain. Went out for the monthly Aiken Bicycle Club meeting at the Aiken Brewing Company in downtown Aiken. I had a hamburger that was OK and washed it down with a . . . . coke. Did buy a new Palmetto Cycling Coalition hat for $15 dollars Donated $15 to the Palmetto Cycling Coalition and got a neat hat as a thank you.

Started up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 302

There Is Always Next Year

Today’s high temp was 54, which is approximately 20 degrees colder that the average high temperature for this date. To boot it rained on and off all day. Felt like a January day here in my fair city, Aiken, South Carolina although it is only early November.

Speaking of November, I finished up making November’s CD Mix of the Month. Burned the CDs last night, printed the labels and liner notes and packed for mailing at work today. Submitted for your approval this month is a Christmas music mix. Since the mixes have been showing up late in the month if I waited until December to do the Christmas thing folks would get it too late.

Wouldn’t you know that my latest Christmas CD came in the mail today, too late for any song to make it into the mix. Too bad, Dobby Dobson’s version of White Christmas from “Reggae Christmas from Studio One” is almost as good as The Drifters version I included. There is always next year.

Started down, went up, still up.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 301

One Seemed Sure Catch

The only reason the top went up today was because I washed it. It was very chilly 42 degrees this morning too. Today was our little membership drive at our sponsors, Rader Mazda. We had a real good turn out and had fun to boot. Lots of visitors, a couple of Miatas stopped by and looked us over and left, a couple of “Fast & Furious” types stopped and looked and left maybe a half dozen Miatas showed and hung around a bit and chatted. I figure maybe 3 new perspective members, one seemed sure catch. Some folks had fun talking a father and son into test driving a Miata, they didn’t buy, but hey. One of the members took pictures, see ’em here. (That’s me in the red, white and blue rugby shirt.)

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/02: 300