It’s Election Day

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It is election day where I live. I mean literally where I live. I’ve checked my naughty/nice list, so I sat down this afternoon and selected the people who I want speaking for me in matters great and small.

The mayor of Fairview is up for re-election, and he is running unopposed. I considered entering my name on the Write-In line. I’m guessing that they would disregard just one write-in name, but if there were two, maybe they’d note it down. I bet I could have gotten Tere next door to write my name in, but in the end I filled in the oval next to the current mayor’s name.

In other news, I voted for my “missed opportunity” Ann, even though she is a Republican. Sometimes you have to step across the aisle, and if you look closely at the ballot photo, you might see who I’ve been talking about.

Zero Drive Homework

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Instead, this morning I got on the bike and went for a ride. It was sunny, warm, and windy. There was a stiff easterly wind, so most of the ride was north/south. No bike ride is fully complete unless there was a stop at Stomping Grounds. I sat outside because of the weather, and I sat close to the building to avoid the wind component of the weather.

It is election season, so as I cycled the sides of the roads, they were littered with signs with candidates’ names. One of theirs was very prolific, as they were everywhere. Why place one when ten will do? As I sipped my latte outside Stomping Grounds, a memory was triggered.

Go read Missed Opportunity, and then come back.

When I posted that, I purposely left off the woman’s last name. Well, those numerous signs all held the same name, Ann with no last name. So, when I said I “felt an easy connection…” There are only a couple kinds of people who radiate that aura, people who do feel a physical attraction towards you or politicians. I think that explains the connection I felt…I manufactured it.

I have the Oregon Voting Pamphlet sitting on the coffee table, so for the heck of it, I looked for Ann and found her, but the B&W halftone thumbnail made it impossible to match it to my hazy memory of the event. At least now I can go on believing that Ann really could have been the second Mrs. Bogardus had I been quicker thinking.

Drive Homework #8

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Quoting myself from Monday about the possibility of buying the Golf R, “I can almost say with certainty that it would not feel like it is worth spending money on.” With me trading in the GTI I would still have to cough up an additional $22k. Car #11: I did really like the car. It is a step above in taughtness, and the extra HP is very welcome. I am not sensitive enough to detect any of the 4-wheel drive advantages on the test drive, but I think if I was going to use it to go to the track, it might be worth the extra dough, but for now I’m fine with the GTI. I won’t swear there won’t be an R in my future though.

Tomorrow I’ll make the calls to the salesguys for the R, the Cayman, and the Mini. It has been a fun week and a half, but I’m going to stand pat. I wonder if I should let the Everyday Driver guys know to skip the debate…

Drive Homework #7

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Morning:
It’s Halloween time again; I’ve got the fangs on the Miata, the human and dog skeletons are on the front porch lit with orange floodlights, and now it is time to make my usual mask from Wintercroft. This morning I headed over to Craft Warehouse to get some cardstock in red, yellow, and white to make the mask.

Afternoon:
In my quest to drive as many cars as I had on my original list, Car #10: I stumbled on a 2005 Mini Cooper S that was listed on eBay that was practically local with 133k miles on it for just $3,950. I contacted him, and we met halfway, so I could drive it. I took it for a quick spin east of Troutdale and ran it on a bit of the twisty roads there. I drove pretty well, and it felt its age, but I didn’t hear the supercharger whine at all. I asked him if the supercharger oil change had been done (it needs to be done by 100k minimum), and he wasn’t sure. He bought it used in 2007, so I’m guessing it hasn’t been done. I thanked him and told him I’d get back to him. This is a no-go.

Currently there is a 33k-mile 2004 Mini Cooper S 6-Speed on Bring-A-Trailer that I have my eye on.

Evening:
I’ve started playing dice with a group of 6-7 folks at the community center on Tuesday and Friday nights. They play a version of 10,000, and it is kind of fun; it is a reason to get out of the house and spend some time with my peers. We usually play three games worth, and it kills a couple hours. Last Friday somebody brought along a paper Burger King crown for the winner of the last game to wear. One of the ladies took it home, and it reappeared tonight, and it had been be-dazzled…

Monday, Monday

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Misty Morning on the Sandy River


 
I know I have been back from the Utah trip for a little over two weeks, but today felt like the first time since, like a normal day in Oregon. I know a lot of it was my wandering about all over test-driving used cars for a possible GTI replacement, but that is about to come to an end. There is one car left to try, and I can almost say with certainty that it would not feel like it is worth spending money on. I’ve gotten to the point where I think the only car I’d change the GTI for is a 1st Gen Mini Cooper S…