Saturday, July 29, 2006

It has been so hot lately that the rain today made for a really nice change. I took advantage of the opportunity and sat out on the porch just listening to the rain fall.

Today like most Saturdays is just a catch up day. Laundry, homework, etc. You get the idea.

I finally wet sanded the clear coat on the Miata trunk lid this week. It looks much better now. No waterspots, no primer, and no bare metal. It will do.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Last week I ran into a friend during lunch, let's call him Mr. Sturgeon. No really. He was surprised to see me in a Miata, and David in another Miata. Mr. S previously had a Miata, a red NA much line mine. At the time I believe he was even el president'e of the local Miata club, Rocket City Miata Club. Anyway, he mentioned that he missed the car.

Yesterday I saw him again. This time he was test driving a nice shiny new red Miata. He said he was trying it out for a friend who wanted his opinion. Yeah right.
A friend of mine, let's call him Matt, wants to sell his 1969 Karmann Ghia. If your interested, let me know and I will get you some info.

This would be a fun car for someone like my Dad to have in his driveway. Hint, hint.
Here is the contest.

Here is my entry.
Mmmm, cookie!

There is a cookie monster living in my house and I think it is me.

Tonight I had two of the last three chocolate chip cookies. Yum. This weekend I am pretty sure I had the last chocolate chip cookie. Last week I know I had the last three oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies. From the weekend before, I recall peanut butter cookies with Hersies Kisses on top, and then chocolate chip cookies again earlier that week.

No wonder it is time to go on a diet. I will probably wait til we run out of cookies though.

C is for cookie, that's good enough for me,
C is for cookie, that's good enough for me.
C is for cookie, that's good enough for me,
'cause cookie, cookie, cookie stands for C.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Oh Yes Wyoming!

I read this week that only 1% percent of people online generate content. I am part of that 1%.

I am also proud that my content is part of the 90% as noted by Sturgeon's Law.

I sent a photo into this contest. Look for a picture of my car. I have already picked out my prize. I will win of course.
I have had two more naps since I mentioned napping a few days ago. As far as I can tell, I haven't been getting less sleep, but I sure have been tired lately. Perhaps it is the heat wave.
2006 Volkswagen - Bug'n in July Car Show

Today's car show was probably the best one I have been to this year. The show consisted of all Volkswagens and the car count was probably around fifty or just under.

There were a couple of resto-mods there, one had been featured in a magazine, a couple of Karmann Ghias, a few new Beetles, but by far the major of the cars where all old style beetles.

There were no split windows (1953 and older), but there were 3 ovals windows(1953-1957). One of the ovals was looking for a new owner. The car was unrestored, but most of the original stuff was still there. The guy was looking for an offer, any offer. The engine was intact but seized up. I am sure he will find someone to take the car home with him. One guy standing there said he already had 9 Beetles at home. The seller assured him he needed a nice even ten to complete his collection of projects. Hopefully that car will find a good home.

The other two ovals, a red one and a white one, were both restored. The red one was nice, the white one was incredible. Someone had obviously put a lot of time into it.

On the way out I talked to a guy that was trying to sell a 1967 White Beetle. He wanted $300 for the car. I tried to convince Mr. Wallen that this time share opportunity was too good to pass up. He only had $20 so we kept walking.

The show was at Point Mallard in Decatur. It was two days long and was being held under the large pavilion. Being under cover was nice, because it finally rained today after what seems like months. The temperature was about perfect today, amazing considering it was July.

If your interested in a VW time share, just let me know. I think I could store it in garage in front of the Miata. Of course the truck cab would have to move out to the shop.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Sleep deficit?

Today when I got home, I sat down on the sofa and fell asleep.

Yesterday when I got home, I sat down on the sofa and fell asleep.

Last Friday, if you may recall, when I got home I sat down on the sofa and fell asleep.

And the best part, is that I didn't have trouble sleeping later that night. Now if I could just figure out why I seem to be needing more sleep lately. Perhaps it is from riding around in the Miata in 100 degree heat.

Did I ever tell you about the big orange sofa I had in my apartment after graduating from college. I was nearly 2 miles long and extremely awesome for napping.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Shiney Red Boot

This weekend while I was doing nothing, I decided to have another go at improving the appearance of the Miata trunk lid. Ultimately I would like to get the car repainted next spring but in the mean time I was just trying to cover up some primer that had surfaced. The wind alone was the culprit for the exposed primer on the boot.

The first step was to wet sand off the remaining primer from the last attempt. I don't know what went wrong, but I ended up with a horrible mess. The clear had wrinkled up badly. This took about 45 minutes. I used 5 grits of paper attempting to be careful not to sand through any of the base coat. I did have one blowout about the size of a nickle. No worries though.

I applied 4 medium coats of clear. I think I was using rustolem, but I don't recall for sure. So far so good. I did all the work in the garage with the door up. I ended up with a few dust particles in the paint and a couple of drips (not runs) from the paint can nozzle. The surface has good color and is fairly smooth with the few exceptions I already mentioned. A little time wet sanding should remove the orange peel. Good Job. I think when I am done it will actually look better than the bonnet.

Yeah, yeah, I never can remember which is which. Boot and bonnet. I had to look it up to verify I was using them correctly.

102

Last night as I was driving to school, the weather man on the radio reported the temperature to be 99 F with a heat index of 102. Nice evening to have the top down. Actually it wasn't so bad with the car moving while the sun wasn't shining on me directly.

Forecast for the rest of the week: hotter.

Monday, July 17, 2006

A friend called this evening to tell me it was all my fault. Today he bought a 1966 Mustang convertible off of Ebay. Straight six, three speed. The car is currently near Syracuse, New York but will soon be coming to North Alabama.

If you need someone to talk you into buying something you will probably buy anyway, give me a call and I will talk you into it, but remember if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, that doesn't necessarily make it my fault. After all, a horse by any other name is still a horse of a different colour.

A horse is a horse of course of course,
Unless it's of course a talking horse.
A talking horse, of course of course,

It must be a pony car.
Today it was hot. A friend made one of those trite comments comparing the temperature and that of Hades. Those were not his exact words. I mentioned that while the temperature was about right, the smell was all wrong. I am pretty sure hell smells like McDonald's hambugers. I worked at the Golden Hiney for a couple of years in HS and I am pretty sure I know what hell would be like. And yes, I do believe everyone will be wearing brown polyester pants.

The last time I was as hot as today was just a couple of weeks ago, around July 4 when I was out in the driveway sandblasting. A few of the pieces I blasted that day haven't been painted yet. Unfortunatly two of them already have a couple of rust spots on them. I am pretty sure it is where sweat dripped on them.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Nothing

The family has gone to Maryland for the weekend. I am here.

Yesterday when I got back from Mobile, I unpacked and then sat down on the sofa were I promptly feel asleep. An hour later I was ready. Ready.

I had no idea what I would do all weekend. Nothing. I eventually made up my mind. Nothing. Or pretty close to nothing.

I did make a few exceptions to my plan to do nothing. I worked on the truck a little. I may even do it again tomorrow, if my plan to do nothing doesn't get in the way.

Nothing.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Mobile, Alabama

Here I am, here I am, here I am.

Early Wednesday morning I left Huntsville heading down here, to Mobile for work related purposes. Yee haw!

I drove the Miata, but I left the top up. The was already hot when I was loading up the enormous trunk of the Miata, so I decided top-up was probably required for most of the trip. Plus I didn't want to turn into a lobster. Plus I had to work when I got here so it probably wouldn't do to be all sweaty.

Wednesday turned out to include almost a full day of work after making the 6+ hour drive. Today included a 13 hour work day.

How was the food? I had a pretty good shrimp po-boy at lunch but the restuarant name was probably not worth remembering. For Dinner I dined with the King. Burger King.

This is not the worst hotel I have stayed in either. Though it definitly ranks second. Rank. Ha!

I got on the sloop John B. All that moaning reminded me of the song.

Hopefully the weather will allow a little top down time on the drive home. We'll see.

I got 30+ MPG on the way down. Probably because it was down hill (south) all the way here.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

After about five minutes, this entry was still zero words long. And five minutes later, more of the same.

Friday, July 07, 2006

I accidentally solved my Rubik's cube tonight.
And for the record, I fixed the phone on Tuesday, July 4th. The solution was simply to replace some of the wiring in the attic. I did this early in the day to avoid the heat.

Sandbeard

Getting the phone fixed left me plenty of time in the heat of the day to stand out in the driveway and sand-blast some truck parts. By the time I was done I was a walking sand castle.

I blasted the motor mounts and the replacement front cross member I bought at the junkyard in Hazel Green. I also touched up the transmission cross member. It still needs a litle bit of work as does the front suspension cross member. Maybe next week.

Movie Suggestions

Netflix provided us with a couple of pretty good movies this week. The Last Samuri and The Butterfly effect. I enjoyed both movies despite the leading actors. Amazing. Check-em out.

Who wants to go see a movie? The new Depp/Pirate movie opens today. And I still haven't seen cars.
This thing with my internet access being flaky would be a good excuse for why I haven't blogged lately. Only we know the real reason.

L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

It is uncanny how many folks I know who have recently created a page on myspace.com. And the answer is, "No, I don't have one." Why not?

L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

Upcoming events on my calendar:

July 9 - Athens/Decatur, Alabama - 19th Annual Greater Tennessee Valley Antique Car and Harley Davidson Show. I attended last year but I didn't see all the cars. Someone told me there were over 600 last year. I doubt I will see them all this year. Why?

L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

July 22-23 - Point Mallard, Alabama: Bug'n In July 2006 Car Show. Air cooled farfignugen. I am looking forward to this all Volkswagen show, however I will not be going both days. Why?

L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

I have the strangest feeling I have misspelled a word. I could run the spell checker and proof read my grammar, but I won't. Why?

L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S

Wrong. The correct answer is consistency.

Monday, July 03, 2006

The phone has been out for a couple of days. I had the pleasure of trying to track down a short in the phone wiring up in the attic this afternoon. After a few trips up there, I decided to call it a day.

I think I have figured it out. I made a trip to HD for some wire today. Tomorrow I will ascend into the attic again.
Home again. Had a great weekend at the race.

Michael Sanders Michael Schumacher got pole. Massa in the 2nd Ferrari had 2nd position.

The 3rd round of qualifying was pretty cool.

I believe 5 cars crashed in the first corner of the race. Unfortunately Kimi was one of them. Only 9 of the 22 cars finished. Schumacher won, Massa second. (Just like last year)