More Memories

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One cool character leaning on his 1974 Datsun B210


 
Dug into the old photo albums looking for some photos that could be called memories to put inside the ceramic jar on the sideboard. I found a couple worth scanning, including the one above, which shows a very young me leaning on the first car I bought for myself, a 1974 Datsun B210.

I think I might have posted about this in the past, but I could be wrong. At the time of the photo, I was a couple years in the Navy, and that hair was way too long to be in regulation for a 3rd class petty officer. The trick was I worked from four to midnight, so there was little chance of dealing with the higher-ups who might notice. I bought my hat a couple sizes larger so that every evening I could tuck it under the ballcap and go about my business.

It was fun while it lasted, but eventually I got busted by a master-at-arms and was written up. I was coming back to my barracks after checking on my laundry in the main building. Knowing I was in for some trouble when I showed up at work the following afternoon, I proactively went to the barbershop that next morning and got a high-and-tight regulation haircut. So when I did get to see my supervisor, I was already PO3 A.J. Squaredaway. He tore up the report, and my hair never got that long again.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 23.8%

 

What A Slug

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I did my usual 10-mile bicycle loop where I end up at Stomping Grounds for a muffin and my salted caramel latte. I think they make their muffins there, but whichever one I’ve had has been great. Today was one I hadn’t had yet. It looked different, but I didn’t ask what it was, because of my past taste experiences there. It didn’t have a distinguishing flavor, but I did get mild hints of orange citrus. There were also small black specs that I assumed were a sort of spice, but I couldn’t get any flavor from them. For a bit my mind went to ants; I thought I’d heard that they had a citrusy taste. It couldn’t be, could it? I was dining outside, so I went inside to return the plate & fork and toss the trash. I asked the barista what I just ate, and she said, “That’s Earl Grey tea, plus cream.” “Ahhh, that’s what the specs were: tea leaf bits.”

Since that bike ride, I have not left the house, due to the usual lazy day activities: TV, Red Sox, and some jigsaw puzzling.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 26.8%

 

I Learned I Have It OK

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Purply Flowery Things

The usual coffee and doughnuts at the community center were replaced by coffee and doughnuts with a corporate muckety-muck of the owners of the community speaking to us. There were a lot of complaints about how the land lease cost has risen over the years. Mine has gone up by 12.5% (I’m assuming that is pretty close to what everyone else’s has done as well), and I haven’t noticed it. But being a 55+ community, there are a lot of folks here that rely totally on Social Security, and they are feeling it. Fortunately, because Donna was a big adherent of IRAs, I have that as an additional buffer. And because she made sure we put at least 10% away each payday, unless I start buying luxury cars instead of small fun cars, I’ll be okay even if I manage to make it to my 80s.

On a sad note, today I deleted the link on my desktop to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s YouTube channel. Kimmel is still there; maybe I’ll add Late Night with Seth Meyers in Colbert.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 34.1%

 

Missed Opportunity

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Yesterday, when leaving Stomping Grounds with my favorite latte in hand as I stepped off the curb to head back to the car, there was an attractive woman walking towards me across the parking lot. We both stopped to let a pickup truck leave its spot, pass between us, and head for the exit.

She was smiling, and as we walked towards each other, she asked, “Is that your Miata?”
“Yes, it is,” I said. “How did you know?”
“Well, you had a smile on your face as you were walking that way.”
(maybe I was smiling just because she was)
“It’s a lovely spring morning, the top is down, I’m going for a drive,” I replied.

We introduced ourselves. I said, “I’m Brian,” and she replied, “I’m Anne.” She said that she used to have a Miata, but it was stolen several years back, and she missed it. We then spent the next few minutes comparing Miata stories and general life stories before she headed into Stomping Grounds and I walked to the Miata.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I thought to myself, I should have asked her if she wanted to go for a Miata drive or even let her drive it. I felt an easy connection, and maybe she did too, but I was too shy/introverted to ask. Now I’m really regretting it. And I didn’t look for a ring on her finger; she could be happily married. She was holding some papers, so maybe she was going into the building to visit the insurance place or Edward Jones and not Stomping Grounds.

I think I’m going to have to try and get my latte purchase next Thursday for around the same time of the morning…

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 34.1%

 

Walking Math

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I have a free pedometer app on my phone, and I use it whenever I remember to. A few weeks ago I found my way to the settings page. The stride length default was set at 27″. Mmm… I wonder what mine is? I brought out the measuring tape, laid it down the 15′ hallway, and walked the plank. I did some cipherin’ and ended up at twenty-three inches per each step.

While walking along the Ch’ak Ch’ak trail, there are spray-painted eagles, through a stencil, all along its length. When I start on the Troutdale end there is an eagle right at the start with the key. This is all leading up to “Who’s right?”

This morning I turned on the pedometer at the start and walked until I found the fourth eagle at the mile mark. I was keeping track as I went. At each eagle I’d check what the pedometer read, and it was uniformly accurate. But it wasn’t showing .25 per; it was showing .20 increments. I kept going to see if there was another eagle in another two-tenths of a mile, and there was! Was the key wrong? Was it supposed to have been 1/5? Was my stride length mismeasured? Is the pedometer whacked? Stay tuned.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 34.8%

 

No Car Day

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Daguerretype Miata


 
When I said “no car day,” I meant I didn’t drive a car today, not no car content day. The photo above was from yesterday morning’s walk. When I finished my loop, I noticed that I had parked in the same spot as the GTI from last Saturday morning. So I gave the Miata the same “photoshop” treatment as I did for the GTI.

Instead of driving to get my morning latte, I walked for it. I’ve done this about 3 or 4 times, and every time I get back, I swear I won’t do it again. Two-thirds of the trip is on fairly busy roads, and along most of that, there are zero sidewalks. Plus, the traffic makes it very noisy for listening to podcasts. This time when I got back, I didn’t swear I’d never do it again, so maybe this will flip the switch, and I just not do it again.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 35.5%

 

Track, Daily, Crush

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Track Daily Crush
1999 Panoz AIV Roadster 2007 Mini Cooper S 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood
Because it has NA Miata side mirrors. I wonder if there are trackable roll bars for these. I want this, even if it does sounds like another old low-mileage car that will cost me a lot of money. The only reason to not crush this is if your father had one and now you are a grandfather, too.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for or were bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Track: Factory Five Mk3 Roadster Bid to USD $37,800 05/14/2026
Daily: 1995 BMW M3 “Touring” Sold for USD $17,000 05/14/2026
Crush: Mazda T2000 Dump Truck Sold for USD $4,954 05/14/2026

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 31.4%