“Local” Bookstore

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Along with my lunch in Sandy yesterday, I stumbled on a small bookstore in the town. It was actually in the shopping center I pulled into to find my lunch spot. After eating I headed back, it’s called Once Upon A Tome, so points already before I even went in. Turns out it is a small shop that has been open for only one week shy of a year. They have a decent collection of both new and used books. Of the used ones I looked at, the books themselves were in near-perfect shape. I ended up buying one used book and one new.

I have been missing going into a physical bookstore. I live in “Portland” and there is a very famous bookstore called Powell’s Books here. It bills itself as the world’s largest independent bookstore. It’s a tourist attraction for crying out loud. I have never darkened its door. Mainly because it is in the downtown of the big bad city, but also because it is 4 stories tall; I’d never be able to find a book, too many choices.

Back in Klamath Falls we would visit our local independent bookstore, Canvasback Books, once a month on haircut day. It was easy as we walked right by it on the way to the salon. I liked buying a book a month for two reasons: I like to read an actual physical book more than something on a screen, and it was nice to support a local business.

As it just so happens, I got my haircut the day before my trip to Sandy. Now that I know about the place, maybe I’ll revive the haircut/book-buying event combo. The only thing different will be a 15-mile drive one-way instead of it being right on the way. The drive to Sandy is a nice low-traffic one and is literally only a mile further away from me than Powell’s…

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 14.1%

 

T.G.I.F.T.

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Took the GTI for a spin this afternoon to wear off the tacky residue of the stickers that are on the tires when they are new. And to take some photos of the car showing what the new wheels look like.

My destination was Sandy for lunch. I had no idea where I was going to eat once I got there though. At the start I was thinking that I would go Mexican, and because it was Friday, maybe I could snag some fish tacos. I stopped once I got in town and hit up Google for a recommendation. Oooh, a barbeque place with outdoor seating, so I made my way over to Sandbar BBQ.

I got seated and handed a water and a menu. The waitress asked, “Do you want something besides the water?” I did and asked for iced tea; off she went to get that and looked at the menu. Hmmm, brisket, chicken, or pork…over to the right column I spotted tacos, and they had fish! So I got fish tacos at a barbeque joint, and they were damn good. I guess a return visit is in order so I can actually try the BBQ.

Thank Goodness It’s Fish Tacos

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 10.2%

 

The New Bronze Age

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The last three wheels and tires for the GTI showed up late afternoon. I got them all mounted, but when I was done, it was too late/dark to get photos. The wheels came with center caps that have a big S on them because the manufacturer is Sparco. The original wheels have the VW logo in them, and I would like that, but the diameters weren’t the same, so I couldn’t swap those center caps from one wheel to the other. I bet I could get my buddy in Albuquerque to custom-make some that have a VW on them. Or maybe make them with GTIs instead.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 9.9%

 

Bye Buds

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While chatting with neighbor Tere over the fence several weeks ago, I noticed an odd-looking thing that sort of surrounded her ear. At first I thought maybe they were cochlear implants, so I didn’t ask. I did what anyone would do; I entered long strings of words into Google until I got a picture of what she was wearing. They were bone conduction earphones.

That sounded really good to me because I have several in-ear earbuds that I have trouble keeping in my ears. I have three sets, one for each car and another to use while in front of the PC, and all of them don’t stay in my ears very well. They all came with three different sizes of the flexible cones to allow for a fit in many sizes of ear canals. I’ve tried all three, but none stay put.

I’ve been mulling it around, and then on Saturday the person in front of me in line at the coffee shop had a set on, so I went home and did some research. I searched for reviews and tests, and then I put in “best bone conduction headphones,” and the consensus winner is the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, which retails for $180. Wow, I have to think about that. Of course if you check Amazon for these things, they start at $20 and work their way up to that $180.

The clincher was that just two days later, after the Google and Amazon searches, what should appear in my Instagram feed but an ad for bone conduction earphones. Nice work Internet! I figured instead of getting something via that way, I’d go to a review site and click on an Amazon affiliate link. Instead of the $180 top-of-the-line, I’d just buy the regular OpenRun Pro (no “2” on the end) for 70% the cost of the big boy.

Fedex arrived this afternoon with one wheel and tire for the GTI. Hopefully tomorrow the other 3 arrive…

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 14.0%

 

Two Days In The Life

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Monday was pretty much a washout as well, but at least I got out of the house for a coffee. I also swapped vehicle order, putting the GTI up front; it is its week to be driven. Also yesterday, I pulled the trigger on dedicated summer tires on new wheels for said GTI. They’ll be here tomorrow.

Today I got out. First was a trip to the ATM to take out some cash, then I went to Fred Meyer for a couple items I should have bought on my regular Friday trip. I know I could have gotten cash out at the grocery store, but I like to take it out in a big chunk, which exceeds what Freddy will let me take out. Plus I needed to take the GTI out for a spin. I needed the practice too; I actually stalled the car taking off from the first light I came to. On the way home I grabbed my usual latte, and even though I had ridden the exercycle for 45 minutes this morning, I walked a mile and a half while sipping on it.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 17.3%

 

Track, Daily, Crush

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Track Daily Crush
1960 MG
MGA 1600 Roadster		 1993 Mazda
RX-7 R1		 1976 Lincoln
Continental Mark IV
Historic racing,
here I come.		 I bet I can tow
the MG with this.		 There is currently a
lien on the car…

Here is what last week’s cars sold for or were bid to (if the reserve was not met):
Track: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Sold for USD $60,600 06/04/2026
Daily: 2018 BMW 330i xDrive Sports Wagon Sold for USD $22,500 06/04/2026
Crush: Oldsmobile Toronado Airstream-Bodied Camper Sold for USD $14,000 06/04/2026

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 19.6%

 

How Was Your Weekend?

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Thanks for asking.

Saturday was a washout, literally. I rained all day. I only stepped outside of the house onto the side porch once to verify that the loud noise I was hearing was in fact a downpour. The Miata had just its fabric cockpit cover on. But that was just fine, as the cars are covered by an awning/portico, and unlike the southern thunderstorms, the rain falls mainly straight down, not sideways.

Neither car moved today either. I did get out for my typical Sunday bike ride to breakfast at Stomping Grounds. And in spite of the promise of no rain, when I started out, it was cold, damp, and lightly misting. Instead of turning downhill to start the usual route, I turned right and went to get the muffin and latte first. I figured if it still felt like that when I was finished eating, I could just go home and get on the indoor bike. But afterwards it had started to warm up a touch, and the mist was gone, so I did my route backwards. The only downside to going in the opposite direction was it finished on an uphill instead of a downhill blast.

I am about 4 episodes from the end of season three of LOST, and it is starting to get weird, which is saying a lot for the show.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 22.0%