It’s Beginning To Look…

Oh? Tanenbaum.
…a lot like Christmas.

Yesterday afternoon we got a Motoring Challenge point, but in the morning we did some Christmas shopping for the rest of the people on our list that weren’t going to happy with a wreath to decorate their front door. We had some kids to buy for, 1 nephew, 2 nieces and a 5-year old off the Angel Tree at work. We visited several stores looking for just the right items, but in reality we ended up getting almost everything for the 4 of them at one store. We then did a little halfhearted shopping for ourselves with Donna a little more successful than I.

Yesterday evening we decked the halls. The first order of business is to set up the tree. I assembled the two halves and plugged it in. The bottom part lit up and the top stayed dark. Dang. Maybe that explains the extra string of lights in the box? So I plugged it into the spot where the top lights went and tried my mightiest to get those 50 bulbs to cover the top. Nope, couldn’t do it. That’s when I remembered that only the bottom half of the top half was out last year and the 50 bulb string could compensate for that.

Instead of going to out to the nearest store and buying another 50 light string, we said, “Screw it, let’s get a whole new one.” A check of the Home Depot web site showed that there was a nice 7-1/2 pre-lit tree for sale for $120 that would fit our needs. Only one in stock though. Quick like bunnies we got dressed and headed over. Looked for the tree, approved of its looks, located the unopened box and came on home.

Took a bit longer to set up, but that was mostly due to the fact that it is 60% larger than the old 4-1/2′ tall one it is replacing. And boy has pre-lit artificial Christmas tree technology improved in the intervening 8 years. This thing is miles nicer – fuller & more realistic – plus it cost less than that old tree was back then.

Number 10

Car Show - Aiken Horsepower Association December Cruise-In

We missed this morning’s Cars & Coffee in Augusta, it was just too comfortable in our warm bed, but we found the Aiken Horsepower Association December Cruise-In a bit over a mile from home for Car Show #10 of 10 possible in this year’s Motoring Challenge. A far sight better than the 2 we claimed last year.

There are 10 points left out for us to get and we have 25 days to finish them up. Two cities A & K we’ll grab on our way to Hilton Head in two weeks where we also planning on getting 2 points for the Atlantic Ocean while we’re there. Four points are right here in Aiken and the last two are in Charleston.

Motoring Challenge Points 1, Approx Miles Driven 5
Totals So Far: 159 points & 8810 miles

Where is my NB love Mr. Blipshift?

Just might be coming to the internet soon…

A couple weeks ago I sent in a rebuttal of sorts to the then latest Blipshift T-shirt, well today, I received this in my email inbox:

Thanks for your blipshift submission. We read your idea loud and clear, and we think it has great potential (plus we agree, it’s time for an NB design)!

It’s pretty typical for us to go back and forth with the idea to either modify it or suggest further tweaks, and we will be working with our talented artists community and in-house pit crew to transform this idea into a blip-tastic design. For this one we’ll probably start by reaching out to the artist of the original NA shirt. Once a finalized design has been made, we will get some more details from you, and can get it scheduled for printing. Then when people ask you, “Whose awesome idea was that?” you can say, “Mine!”

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Cheers!
Daniel
-team blipshift

Looks like I’ll be adding a new Blipshift Miata shirt to my T collection. Maybe a hoodie too. Oh, and a poster. I hope Santa leaves me some money in my stocking.

161,000 Ants

Hank Pym

Scott Lange with the help of about 161,000 ants saves the world free certain destruction by defeating the evil genius scientist Darren Cross in Marvel’s Antman.

Put the most interesting part of the movie for me was the character played by Michael Douglas, Hank Pym. He was wearing what I think might be my next eyeglass frames, the Advocate in clear from Old Focals.

Not too far east of Modoc, SC the Emperor passed through the 161,000 mile mark.

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 06/25/15: 121

Fam Damily

Destination - Family Reunion

We have been keeping our eye out for a Family Reunion to crash for the past 11 months and figured we’d stumble on at least one, but alas, nope. So when we agreed to come up to Hendersonville, NC today, not only was it to visit my sister and her husband, but it was to have a mini family reunion, as my brother was visiting them too.

While three of us are are not much of a family, we are pretty much all of it. Donna and I never had kids, my sister and her husband have only raised some cats, while baby brother never even bothered with the marriage part at all. As for the reunion qualifier, this is just the third time we have all been in the same zip code in the past eight years. Plus, before that it was even less frequent…

Started down, went up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 06/25/15: 120

Motoring Challenge Points 1, Approx Miles Driven 160
Totals So Far: 158 points & 8805 miles

What Did You Want It For Then?

November’s breakfast was yesterday and the responsibility of the new President of the MMC He picked Betsy’s in downtown Aiken. When he asked me to post the info on the web site he said to have everyone meet up at the usual gas station off Exit 1 of I-20 and could I send him a copy of my route I used the last time I did the very same run. I assumed that meant he was planning on leading the group from there to the breakfast spot. Silly me.

Donna and I arrived at the gas station about 6 minutes before the appointed 8:00AM meeting time and were surprised that there was no one else there, especially the event organizer. A couple minutes later another car showed up. By 8 o’clock there were three cars, but none were the leader of the breakfast event. We waited another ten minutes and when the President and event leader never showed up, I ended up leading the small group on a slightly different route to the breakfast place.

When our three car caravan arrived at Betsy’s there were already two Miatas outside. One of them belonged to the President of the Club and when we got inside he and another member were just finishing their meal.

When I asked what he wanted the route map for all he said was, “That was if I did do the route I needed to study it because I don’t have a navigator.” So I asked did he read the post on the web site and the reply was, “No, but I figured it out when my dining companion asked where everyone else was.”

What could I say, I just went over to the table with the rest of the group than drove in together and ordered some breakfast.

Started down, went up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 06/25/15: 117