Bought some premium gas tonight and the knocking has almost entirely disappeared after a 15 or so mile drive.
After work today I drove around and snapped pictures of myself while I drove. I hoping to recreate/update my self portrait I took several years ago that I have posted over on Picture Yourself.
Purchased Today: $13.50
Money spent since 03/03/03: $2523.80
Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/03: 259
My buddy the service manager at Rader did call yesterday and told me they would get the check out to me that day – I’m not holding my breath.
The Cowboy Up T-shirts were on backorder – so I cancelled it. Maybe I’ll get one for next spring….
New toy arrived via UPS today, a Minolta Diamage Scan Dual III. Dragged out the boxes of slides that have been in the back of the closet since the early 80’s, so now the “fun” begins. I figure I have about 1,200 of them. They don’t look too bad until you scan them to 3300 x 2500, then there is all kinds of junk on them. I guess a brush is in order. I think I’ll also need a small light table too, kind of tough to sort through 40 slides while holding them in one hand and holding one at a time up to a desk lamp.
Like a digital Johnny Appleseed I continue to leave lit bits of myself all over the Internet.
When I posted this photo for a Theme Thursday entry last month, one of the comments was from David at 1,000 Words asking if I’d write more about it. A couple of weeks later I finally did, here is the entry: What is it about the beach that draws us?
Today was an Indian Summer-like day here in western SC, near 80, but breezy. The low-level winds were feathering the edges of the white clouds with a bright blue sky for a background. At our lunchtime walk around the parking lot I brought the camera and snapped a half dozen images. I submitted them to the Enchanted Ceiling web site, both were accepted and you can see ’em here and here.
Well, I’m hoping that is what it is. I was tempted to put an octane booster in the tank to alleviate the knock, but I’m a real cheapskate, so I’m going to wait a couple more days and fill it with premium and see if that does it. Back to the mountains this weekend for more leaf peeping. Dragging some more Miatas with me this time because I’m leading the Master’s Miata Club’s Forage For Fall Foliage run on Saturday.
Purchased Today: $0
Money spent since 03/03/03: $2510.30
Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/03: 259
Still waiting for my reimbursement check from Rader. Called last Monday and was told that I would get the check sometime that week. Just as soon as they got approval from Mazda. I called again today and was given the “Gee, I don’t know why you haven’t gotten it yet.” excuse. He took my phone number and told me he would get back to me today. Did he? Nooooope.
Noticed some engine knock (AKA pining) this weekend when driving in the mountains. Then today it was noticeable on some of the inclines here in town. Naturally I suspected the knuckleheads at Rader didn’t set the timing right. Easy to do if you don’t RTFM, as the ’95 Miata’s timing marks are different from every other years (I wish I knew what Mazda was thinking there.) I came home and hooked up my timing light and it was set to 11 BTDC which in spec, should be 10 plus or minus 1 degree. I guess I owe them a mental apology, but I’m going to hold on to it at least until this belt makes it further than the first and they get me check for the $61 towing charge.
Purchased Today: $0
Money spent since 03/03/03: $2510.30
Started down, still down.
Top Transitions since 02/02/03: 259
Looks like the Yankees have rebounded after last night’s close game 3-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. They looked flat and were probably emotionally spent after the 7 game series with the Red Sox. It is the bottom of the seventh as I write this and they are up 6-0.
They beat the Red Sox in the ALCS because of the “Curse of the Bambino. The Marlins beat the Cubs in the NLCS because of the Goat Curse. When the Marlins are eliminated and the Yankees win the series in 7 games, what curse will the Marlins blame it on? The curse of the small salary?