stopping to take some pics
The pics are up.…
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
before... and now
There was a movie a while back that I wanted to catch, Before Sunrise. Of course the premise appealed to me, falling in love with a complete stranger on a train traveling through Europe. Does it get any better than that? But for some reason I never saw the movie. I don’t know, perhaps no one wanted to go see this or I was too insecure about seeing it by myself in theater full of couples and swooning girls. Who knows, but it fell off my list until recently.
I happened upon a review for Before Sunset, the sequel to the movie I never saw which triggered something… Then I finally saw the sequel. Again foregoing a venture to a theatre by my lonesome. So yes, I finally got around to them and played both back to back while huddled on the couch wishing so much that such a thing could happen. The exquisite feeling of connection. Meeting a love, perhaps the love. The moment when everything just goes together so well that you’ve nothing but to think, to feel that it was just simply meant to be.
Is it a sad thing to want something so? There was a thought, more rather a fantasy I suppose, that I nursed every once in a while when at complete odds avec ma vie d’amour. A notion that I would run away to Europe and happen upon that one, that she who would make everything just right. A silly notion I know but yet I cling to it. There was a moment that I came so close. Once in that ville francais de Bayeux and once that night in Paris. The minor problem being that she wasn’t the one; well at least I wasn’t for her. But so it was.
The ironic thing about being a hopeless romantic, and most cruel at that, is that one truly is hopeless. When you idealize that moment or that someone so much so that it becomes the Holy Grail then it becomes completely unattainable. Nonexistent and never to be had. But then again you see it happen every so often all around you, and not just in movies, music or literature. But for real, right in front of you – palpable and tangible. Which makes things all the more confounding. Because it’s real, indeed, just not for you. Hence the hopelessness because things never change if you can’t move on from it; if you can’t let it go. The one thing you want most in life and you need to set it down and walk away from it. Tough.
Anyway, to get away from my dreamy sentiment and foolish self-pitying that so often rides shotgun to my venturing into poignant romances, these two films have to be the greatest natural representation of “clicking”. You almost lose; no in fact you do lose the notion that the dialogue was scripted. Instead you are watching two genuinely affected people find their way into each other. And as you watch the two simply talk to each other, play off each other and then eventually surrender their true thoughts, you can’t help to think that’s exactly how it is when you meet someone you just connect with. It’s such a beautiful thing, so simple yet so inherently dramatic of course it makes for great cinema. Yeah, it’s good stuff. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
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Monday, January 10, 2005
they freakin baked me cookies
Okay, I promise I’ll quit gushing about the new car purchase… soon, but today I was genuinely surprised. The personalized website, I thought, was a nice touch but what did I find when I got home today? A tin of gourmet chocolate chip cookies on behalf of the Acura dealership for my new purchase. Dude, my car company baked me fresh cookies! Okay, they didn’t but it’s a cool image. I know, I know, it’s just cookies especially what I paid them, but still!
Some would have expected congratulations and thank you card or something (along with the requisite “tell us about your car buying experience” follow-up survey) but this was completely unexpected. I mean I was happy with the purchasing process and the servicing so far (when I had the extra accessories installed) has been fantastic. Granted, I haven’t dealt with too many new car purchases or if this dealership is indicative of all Acura dealerships. I can’t say what the norm is, but my experience so far definitely could make me a life long Acura fan (if the company busts out a rear-wheel drive V8 I’d so be their bit… um, I’d like them a lot). I’m extremely impressed. This could be the start of a long, wonderful relationship.
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Saturday, January 08, 2005
a new thing
So it’s been a week with the new lady and to be honest it’s hard to keep the hands off of her. It’s like she wants to go out all the time! No I haven’t met the strawberry blonde of my dreams (unlike the man Sam), I’m talking about the new car.
It’s like I’m sixteen again with a freshly minted license burning a hole in the Velcro wallet. I’m pouncing on any opportunity to take the car out for a spin. Oh I forgot to pick up orange juice, back to the grocery store – twenty minutes away. Say, I haven’t driven down that road before, better check it out. Hmm, there’s a new sale at that one linen store I’ve never been to all the way across town; maybe I’ll find something there! Yeah, the car is a lot of fun to drive. In fact, too much fun. Don’t worry I haven’t got a ticket yet, but it might just happen soon and often. Like I mentioned in the last post, it’s just too fun shifting through the gears and before I get to fifth I’m already up at eighty. I’m talking almost every time I stop and have to go again. The stop sign at the end of the street. The traffic light to turn into the shopping center. Out of the garage! Okay, I’m not that reckless. But still. I would have never thought that little inline-four would be THAT much fun to stroke. Mind you it’s not enough to fully massage the loss of power that could have been had behind the wheel of the M3 or G35 coupe, but it’s a scar I can live with for the moment.
I’ve been practicing the finer art of rowing; rev-matching, double-clutching, heel-and-toe. It’s been a little rough. May take some time to get some of that stuff down, and even more to get it to a point it becomes natural. But how pimp would it be to take a corner, decelerate then accelerate (shifting from fifth to second or third) all smooth like with no bucking at all, just smooth forward motion while the engine screams for more. Oh yeah! I was able to accomplish the feat a few times and I’ll say being able to command such a smooth transition, well it was pure joy. Maybe if I become proficient enough, I could hit up an autocross!
You know, I’ve been so preoccupied with the driving aspect (as well an enthusiast should be) that I’ve yet to fully mess around with the other amenities. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight the urge to drive long enough to actually comb through the manual and play around with some other features of the navigation system. But I suppose since this one is a keeper, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other.
Oh by the way, Acura even set up my own personal website featuring my car and its exact specs. All with reminders of service intervals, recalls, and a place to keep track of any service done on the car, both entered by me and an authorized Internet Acura service department. I can even schedule appointments through the website. Now that’s just cool.
As for pics, that will have to wait, the battery for the camera finally crapped out and I’m waiting on a new one to arrive. Here’s a pic I got before the battery died (all that oil and stuff in garage was from the dying Camry).
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Monday, January 03, 2005
happy and new?
Happy New Year to everybody! I trust the Eve’s debauchery was kept to a minimum and the random kissing at midnight didn’t include way-too-inebriated Latvian sasquatches?
So what better way to start the New Year? With a new car. Yep. My beloved road-tripping, ever-dependable Toyota took it in the chin and I had to saddle up with another ride. I’m still feeling a bit of depression due to the loss and that a new car smell just doesn’t quite heal completely. Though it could be that the wounds are fresh and the fact that a previously nil car payment has become a not so nil payment could be non-mitigating factors.
I really thought I could drive that car for another 100k to 200k. But it wasn’t to be. I even planned to just keep the old car even after I decided it would be time to get a new car. Yet, the auto gods prefer to smite such hubris. And even though I gushed about the prospects of getting a new car I never really considered it because I liked what I had and remained patient for something that truly moved me enough to provide such an outlay of income. But things change when some choices are made for you.
And I did everything that you’re not supposed to do when being practical about purchasing a new car, especially when replacing an old one. I bought the first car that was shown to me. I took the dealer’s trade in-value. I bought brand new (05 model year with 4 miles on it when I got in it). I paid MSRP. I financed. Yep, after the many hours, perhaps, days I toiled in researching what car I’d like and the best way to buy I pretty much threw it all out the window. The elaborate scheming and negotiation techniques so meticulously crafted were for naught. And I didn’t even get the car I thought I wanted.
But, to temper the situation before you all shake your heads in shame, given the situation I was in I think I made the best choice. I opted out of getting the sought after 03 or 04 M3 (which would have had at least 20k miles of course and mostly likely require an extended warranty) and fought the temptation to splurge for a new G35 Coupe or late-model FX45. I got the best compromise I could find at the moment, a new Acura TSX. Yeah, another four door I know, but my stubborn sense of practicality permeated all facets of this decision. But the new car comes closest to satiating some of my need for sportiness (speed coupled with handling), interior quality and appointments, and aesthetics. The not so great is that it’s still front-wheel drive and a four-banger, so it’s “peppy” but not fast. Yes, some sacrifices had to be made.
Also weighing heavily on my decision, build quality and reliability (I hear Honda is pretty good in those departments). And if anything goes wrong I can count on Acura’s impeccable customer service (loaner cars, road side assistance, free towing, trip interruption coverage). And admittedly, fuel economy was a nagging concern that the TSX addresses quite satisfactorily. In addition, I got a car that I could drive for the next ten years nearly trouble-free, have paid off relatively quick (good considering school could be on the horizon soon) and be the only owner.
I got everything conceivable in the car pretty much standard (leather, moon/sun roof, “premium” sound, dual climate control, power everything, sport-tuned suspension, Xenon headlights to name a few) and I opted for the DVD navigation, which is actually pretty dang cool. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but the thing is pimp. I even got a three-month trial of XM radio, which I think I may go ahead and sign up for; it’s pretty cool too. And the biggest yearning of all? That’s right kids, I got a STICK. I can row now baby and I’m loving it! This is my first manual and it is crescent fresh. Fortunately, I don’t have to deal with traffic much on commutes so that’s a huge plus. I’m not all that experienced with all the sticks out there, but the close-ratio six speed and short throws on the TSX are quite nice. The “get up and go” is immediate all the way to gate five (all smooth-like without needing to beat down the engine), with the sixth gear a nice way to keep the fuel consumption low. And as I continue to learn proper shifting techniques and become more accustomed to rowing, I’m sure I’ll derive even more pleasure in controlling the machine. Did I say how sublime it is to have the “pep” on tap at my command? But the down side is that I think I’m faster than the car really is. And I haven’t decided if not realizing you're doing 80 by the time you’re done enjoying the shifts is a good or bad thing.
All in all I got a nice puppy instead of a racehorse, but it is oh so much fun to play with! And it helps to ease the loss of a good sidekick. Also, mom, don’t worry. I know I paid MSRP, but I did manage to finagle a couple of thousand dollars worth of options, mostly the A-Spec package wheels, fog lights and some other little overpriced accessories, into the deal for free. I learned some lessons in my first car purchase, despite having done my homework and as always things are different in the real world than in the books. But I got a ride I can be happy with for less than what I was willing to pay for a new car. I wonder what else this New Year will bring.
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