Finally

The correct parts for the Emperor’s brakes arrived at work this morning and within an hour and a half after getting home, major stopping power was returned. The first time I stepped on the pedal during a circuit of the block for testing, it was eerily reminiscent of the first time I drove a car with power brakes, an unexpected demonstration of Newton’s First Law of Motion.

More madcap ways to place a photo of you inside different images – Fun Box Photo.

My favorite:

 
Although this one is more appropriate because the photo I used is from my 1978 passport:
 

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 156

Three years, no burning buses, y’all are back for one day…

Tonight’s Final Jeopardy category is “16th Century Thinkers” and I think the odds are pretty good the answer question will also be the name of a character on TDTVS.*

The title of last night’s LOST episode was ” He’s Our You” which is how Saywer described to Sayid who they were bringing him to, the Dharma Initiative’s very own “torturer”, a fellow named Oldham. Both Donna and I felt he looked eerily familiar. My initial thought was Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector, but knew that wasn’t even remotely possible.

It wasn’t until I read something today that gave it away – “Hi, I’m Larry, this is my brother Daryl and this is my other brother Daryl.” That’s right, William Sanderson. Probably what really kicked him from the depths of my addled brain to near remembrance was that he played a character named J.F.Sebastian in Bladerunner and he seemed to be wearing the eyeglasses of anothe Bladerunner character, Edlon Tyrell.

*It wasn’t, it was Martin Luther.

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 154

Maybe I’m Not Ready…

…for baseball season. At least the FRS may not be. Last night I posted that they were tied with the MFY 1 to 1 in the 8th inning, well in the bottom of the inning the Yankees scored 6 runs, unearned runs mind you, to win the game 7-1.

I am ready for tonight’s episode of TDTVS.

I am also ready to get the brakes fixed, but that ain’t happening until at least Friday night now. The parts got to the dealer on Tuesday, but I decided I didn’t want to deal with driving 60 miles with the last 8-10 in hectic capital city traffic, so I had them ship the stuff to me. Parts arrived today and wouldn’t you know it, they were the wrong ones. I called the part’s guy back and he said, “Oh yeah, there are two kinds of brakes for your year car, you must have the hard suspension. I’ll get the right parts and ship them right to you and they should get there Friday.”

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 152

Less Than 2 Weeks To Go…

..and I’m ready.

Although technically I’m not eliminated from the office March Madness contest (to win it #1 seed Louisville has to lose to #12 seed Arizona and my other remaining 14 picks have to be correct), I am ready for the tourney to be over and get to the start of the baseball season. Right now I’m listening to a pre-season baseball game between the Sox and the Yanks (it’s tied 1-1 in the 8th) and it is going to be great to have something to listen to each evening.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 151

Be Careful What You Wish For

My previous digital camera used to annoy me by always forgetting my settings. Because I usually favor one way of shooting, every time I turned it on I would have to change the same series of settings to my liking. My current camera remembers everything and starts up right where I left off. Even the zoom if I want.

The last photos I took were last Tuesday of Charlie Pace while monkeying around on the floor indoors. I had the white balance set for incandescent and the exposure set 1-1/2 f-stops open so I could turn off the flash. The ever helpful Panasonic TZ3 started right up that way Saturday in Hitchcock Woods which is why the dozen or so photos I took of trail name signs look like the one above, washed out and kind of blue. I thought the image in the LCD screen looked a little off while snapping away, but chalked that up to the very bright sun I was in.

Now I’m kind of wishing this one would forget sometimes.

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 151

Almost an Affair

A married Irishman went into the confessional and said to his priest, “I almost had an affair with another woman.”

The priest said, “What do you mean, almost?”

The Irishman said, “Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I stopped.”

The priest said, “Rubbing together is the same as putting it in. You’re not to see that woman again. For your penance, say five Hail Mary’s and put $50 in the poor box.”

The Irishman left the confessional, said his prayers, and then walked over to the poor box. He paused for a moment and then started to leave.

The priest, who was watching, quickly ran over to him saying, “I saw that. You didn’t put any money in the poor box!”

The Irishman replied, “Yeah, but I rubbed the $50 on the box, and according to you, that’s the same as putting it in!”