I’ve Got Bad Gas

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

So Far Twice

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.

I Hear You Knocking

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

Damn Yankees

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?

420 Miles

The trip to Asheville and back was a partial success. We found the May event hotel and picked out what range of rooms we would like to stay in. An OK place. Used to be a Hilton as that is what it is called on the Asheville map we have, but now it is a Holiday Inn. A short trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway was frustrating on 2 levels. The leaf peepers were out in full force and they were traveling at a very slow speed most of the time. The colors along the road seemed to be at their peak as there wasn’t any green to be seen, but the colors were very muted, all shades of brown and what was red or yellow was not bright at all. We didn’t even stop at any of the overlooks for both those reasons.

The weather was great, perfect convertible weather, sunny, low humidity and lower 70s. The Miatas we spotted were a perfect 9 for 9 with their tops down. C5 Corvettes were 1 for 2, as were the Porsche Boxters. A Toyota MR-2 and a Honda S2000 had their tops up. Mustangs were 1 for 4 and Chrysler Sebrings were 2 for 4.

Purchased Today: $23.00 in gas
Money spent since 03/03/03: $2510.30
Started down, went up, back down, back up, still up.
Top Transitions since 02/02/03: 258

Color Schmullor

The fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway were all muted, not bright at all. It seemed like the color was at it’s peak or just past as no green was anywhere in sight, but everything looked almost monotone. And the other 1,000,000 people driving the parkway were afraid to go faster than 30 miles an hour. I love the Parkway, but never again in October.

Misery Loves Company

The Director of Operations of our plant is a Cubs fan and after they lost game seven he kiddingly said to me, “Maybe we should form a Loveable Losers Club.” I told him I would be in soon and sure enough the Yanks beat the Sox in the 11th inning of game seven. First thing this morning I dispatched this email:

From: Bogardus, Brian [ASCO/AK]
To: Irvine, Rich [ASCO/AK]
Cc:
Subject: I’m In
Sent: 10/17/03 7:39:00 PM

The first meeting of the ASCO Loveable Losers Club meets this Saturday at 8:00 PM in front of the TV.

Agenda as follows:
Opening) We Should Be There
1) Unreasonable Placing of Blame
2) Wallowing in Self Pity
3) Crying in Beer
4) Group Hug
Closing) Wait’ll Next Year

Brian