What Has Christmas Become?

Phone conversation with my sister the other day: We (she and her husband) are giving out Gift Certificates this year, where would you like yours from? You can give me a GC to Amazon.com she continues, you can even email it to me.

I know I really shouldn’t be bothered by this, it is only a few steps further down that slippery slope from the trading of “Wish Lists” that we have practiced these last years, but still somehow it feels like we have crossed a line to me. Why bother. The past few years I have suggested donating to charities in each other’s names, after all none of us needs anything, but I have not been met with enthusiasm. Next year I’m not asking permission, I’m just asking what charity. It’ll be that or nothing. You want something from Amazon or Sports Authority, go buy it.

Weekly Wrap Up

Monday – Always wondered what all those seagulls were saying… Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!

Tuesday – The busted piece is still sitting by the PC here. You can’t see that it is missing and Donna ain’t bitching, so I ain’t fixing. (I’m not a complete idiot, I’ll put the piece in a draw in the garage just in case we do decide to fix it.)

Wednesday – There has been a lull in the searching for a litter bag for the new car. Probably crank it up again on Saturday when we are out shopping for other things.

Thursday – Finally posted that fellow’s picture. Top left sunset photo.

Friday – I have nothing to rant about, in spite of a trip to the DMV (it went smoothly), so I am reduced to this lame idea of updating the rest of the weeks posts. What happens tomorrow if nothing happens tomorrow?

That Was Quicker Than I Thought

We decided to run over to the DMV after work and see about transferring the license plate over to the new car. According to the SC DMV web site I knew I needed to complete Form #400 and have several pieces of paper pertaining to the purchase of the vehicle.

When we got there the first hint of possible trouble was the front parking lot was full and the back nearly so. When we got inside the place was teaming with humanity. I wanted to back out then and there, but Donna said, “We’re here, let’s try.”

First stop and 4 people deep in line is the triage desk. This women makes sure you have what you need or gives it to you to fill out first. No one gets into line unless their paperwork is in order. I had the paperwork already filled out, but I didn’t have a Title or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. I explained that the tag/title clerk at the dealer told me I didn’t need it as she had taken care of that for me earlier in the week. We are waved into the Vehicle Services line.

4 back in line again here. There are 3 clerks for our line, so it shouldn’t be too bad, hopefully (one clerk was tied up with the same people the whole time we are in the building.) We get lucky and the other folks in line in front of us have easy things because we get to a clerk in like 10 minutes.

She takes my completed Form 400 and enters the VIN into her computer. Asks who my insurance carrier is and says, “That’ll be three bucks.” She prints a receipt and my new registration card. She hands me back all the papers and says bye. She didn’t look at any of the stuff the web site said to have. I could have filled out just that one block of the form and it would have been enough. It was all in the computer. Probably would have needed more stuff if the dealer hadn’t registered for the title a couple days before.

I got home and removed the temp tag. I briefly contemplated leaving the dealer’s frame around the plate, but didn’t. I may still put it back or add a different one, the stark mostly white plate needs a black border I think. Maybe one of those thin metal ones. Christmas is coming…

I Guess Psychologically I’ve Given It Up Already

With the purchase of a new Miata (actually, it is with the selling of the old) I no longer have barndoors. I am mulling over what to do about the Barndoor Fan Club that I have dabbled with for the past 4 years. I want to give it up, but I hate to see it fade into Internet obscurity (it’s already there) oblivion. I would like for some one to take over, but who. Plus, my Blogdom resides there, so I will have to relocate, ay!

Someone sent me some pictures for posting last Thursday, a couple of nice shots of his Miata in various situations, usually I post them the same day or at the latest the next day. It is a week later, and I still haven’t posted them. I feel bad, but not bad enough to actually do anything about it. Maybe tomorrow…

SSK

Installed the last of mods to the Miata for the near future, the Moss Motors Short Shifter Kit. Taking the console off the new cars is not much harder that it was in the old one, just, surprise, different. They hid the middle screw under the power window switches instead of the ashtray which had me stumped for awhile, then I went to the garage section of the mother lode of all knowledge that is Miata, Miata.net.

When I pulled the stock shifter out I looked down in the turret to see what color the oil is in there (it was icky black and thin when I installed the SSK on the old Miata) only to discover that it was very dry in there. Not totally, but the level was much lower than I expected. May have to put some in there next time I visit Clunk & Thunk.

After installation the shifter seems shorter than I remember, I’ll let you know what I think tomorrow after I have driven it.

It Doesn’t Seem Like Too Much To Ask

I have looked high (internet) & low (local Wal-Mart) and I cannot find a simple litter bag for our new car. We want one just like we had in the old car just in tan. It was a small thing, maybe 6″ x 9″. All I can find when I search the net is the Lewis and Clark bag and it is like 12 x 18, yikes, it must be for SUVs. It would overpower the Miata interior. All I can find in the local stores is stuff in black and sized somewhere in-between the above two (which is still too big even if it was the right color.

I’m going to track one down, don’t worry, I’m on it like a dog on a bone.

Money Mod #2

Today I did the 10th modification to the new Miata, front & rear mud flaps, but it was only the second mod I spent money on. The other eight were leftovers I removed from the Laguna Blue car before I traded it in. If you ever want to see what I’ve done, just click on the BtR Equipment Package link over to the left.

I’m sure the mud flaps would have been quicker to install on a lift in a well lit garage, but in my cramped quarters with just a drop light, I figure an hour and a half wasn’t bad. The second flap always went on a lot faster that the first, so with that familiarity I’m sure I could put on a set tomorrow in under an hour. I wonder how long the dealer’s book says it should take?