GTI Mods

T.G.I.F.T.

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

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

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

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%

 

I Think I’m Clever


GRN JKT is license plate speak for “green jacket.”
The GTI is a Volkswagen Golf.
The Masters is a big deal Golf tournament.
When you win the Masters, you get a green-colored sport coat.
The black GTI has been jacketed with a green-colored vinyl.
I was shooting for clever.
Or is it too obtuse?

I Made The Cut

 I really tried to go for a walk today. I got my usual hot Salted Caramel Latte and went over to walk around the Salish Ponds, which I haven’t done in a couple months. It was a sunny day, but the temps felt like the low 30s because of the 10 MPH winds (gusting to 15), and now that the leaves are off the trees, there was no respite from the winds. I lasted a whole 1/2 mile before getting back in the car and coming home.

The highlight of the day is PDX Wraps posted a yearlong recap of some of the stuff they have done in 2025, and I’m proud to have made the cut. Go watch it on Insta; they do a wide variety of stuff besides my humble GTI.

Shoulda Woulda

Friday was supposed to go a little something like this:
1) ride exercise bike
2) eat breakfast
3) grocery shop
4) get a latte
5) go to the coffee klatch
6) start a jigsaw puzzle

I missed #1, did two, three & four, didn’t do five and never made it #6. Instead of the last two I did number seven instead. Not too long after lunch PDX Wraps called and said the car would be done by 2:30ish. So I ordered up an Uber who picked me up a little after 1:30. What would, if traffic free, takes 45 minutes took close to an hour twenty minutes. It took about a half hour until the car was done then I set off home. The weather was dreary and I hoped to find a not so dreary spot to pull over and take a picture of the GTI, but I had no luck with that. By the time I got home an hour and a half after leaving Sherwood it was almost full on dark. So I snapped this one teaser image for now with hopes that a bit of sun materializes in the next couple days.