Rants

Is That A Monument In Your Pocket? Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

Washington MonumentAfter a mediocre breakfast at the Holiday Inn, hey it was free, Donna, Sally and I put on our walking shoes. We walked down to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, crossed the Potomac and visited the Lincoln Memorial. Then we did the war memorial tour, Vietnam, Korean and then the Big One, the new WWII Memorial. (Wonder where the WWI Memorial is? Kansas City) We then trooped all around the tidal basin to take in the Jefferson Memorial. Even though we are midway through the 2 week Cherry Blossom Festival, the trees refused to cooperate with the festival scheduler, they peaked a couple days before. Because of last Wednesday’s rain and wind there are very few blossoms left on the trees. It is colder and windier than it should be for this time of the year which made the walk back to our hotel a very uncomfortable one. I bet we covered 5-6 miles.

We took a minor break to let our bodies get back to normal operating temperature and then jumped in the rental car to drive to Sterling, VA. Donna and I convinced Sally to come with us and drive BMWs to benefit the Susan Komen Foundation. From looking at the BMW dealer’s website I knew is was on VA28 north of Dulles Airport. We got on 28 going north and drove and drove and drove until 28 turned into VA7 and disappeared. Donna in the back spotted a couple of the Ultimate Drive cars going the opposite way, so we ambushed one and got on his tail. We hung with him until he ended up at the dealer (even with his wrong turns.) I signed up to drive, Sally was going to drive cars too, while Donna was going to do her usual navigator details. The three of us did a familiarization loop with me at the wheel of a 750, Sally sitting right seat and Donna in the back. Next, I drove a Z4 convertible and Sally drove Donna on a loop in a Z4 coupe. I went back to the rental car to get my camera and as I walked to the front, Donna and Sally went by in the Z4 I had just dropped off, shouting “Catch us if you can.” By the time I got loaded in a 335i convertible, I didn’t see them until I was finishing my loop and they were pulling out of the dealer’s lot in an X3. I hurried and got in a 335i Coupe to try and catch them. No such luck, Sally must be driving like a madwoman, because not only did I not catch them, but by the time I returned the coupe they were long gone in an X5. Deciding that I was just getting further behind, I didn’t even get another car, I just waited for them to return.

After my 4 laps and Sally and Donna’s 5 we decided to take a lunch break. Before we left though we signed up to help them ferry the cars to their next dealer in Arlington where they would be doing it all over again tomorrow. It was a little after 2 PM and they wanted us back at 5 to get prepared for the big caravan. Earlier, while we were searching for the BMW dealer, we had passed a mall and where there is a mall, there is always a variety of restaurants. Trouble was we could remember where it was. It took us about 45 minutes and once even asking directions, before we found someplace called the Dulles Place or something like that Dulles Town Center. Ended up at a Red Robin. What we all had was good, but the bill was like $40 for the three of us, which seems a little high, even for a gourmet burger place.

As if we didn’t walk enough in the morning, after lunch we walked around both floors of the mall to aid in our digestion. We then headed back to BMW of Sterling to wait until it was ferry duty time. I guess we must really be gluttons for punishment because when we got back the three of us loaded up in a 335i sedan and did a loop with me at the wheel. Quickly followed by Sally driving Donna and I around in an X3.

Seeing as we are staying in Arlington, it didn’t make much sense for us to ferry two cars to Arlington, get a bus back to Sterling, only to have to drive back to Arlington in the rental car. So Donna elected to drive the Pontiac G6 and jump in the 19 car BMW caravan and follow us in, saving about an hour and a half or two of DC driving time. Sally drove an X5 and I drove a Z4 Coupe. Donna was originally going to follow me, but when Sally went by first she just hooked up with her. I started about 6 cars back from them, but with all the traffic and stoplights there was no way to keep everyone together. As a matter of fact I got split from their group at the first light and once again never saw the ladies until I got to the end at the next dealer.

It was just a 10 minute drive back to drop of Sally at her place where we said goodbye. A quick circle of the block and we were back at the Holiday Inn. Man that was a long, but very fun day. The only way it could have been better was if it was sixty degrees instead of forty.

I Forgot The Title

SouthpawOne Biscuit n’ Gravy for her and one Sausage n’ Egg Biscuit for him with a water to drink.

Meal Cost: $2.74
Tip: None
Spent Today: $2.74
Year to Date: $737.57

I’m charging up the camera tonight so hopefully the battery will make it through the whole afternoon tomorrow.

Alright, what is the gimmick with all the offers I’m getting for 1.99% or 2.99% on balance transfers ’til the balance is paid off. I’ve got a pretty big balance on one card that is at 15 or 18% and I’ve been tempted to give one of these offers a go, but I’m sure I’m missing something that will come back and bite me.

Called to set up my six month follow up urologist appointment and was informed that the doctor I’ve been seeing is opening up his own separate practice. I was more than welcome to stay with the group, but would see a different doctor. Or I could choose to stay with my current doctor. They couldn’t give me his new number because they didn’t have it yet (so the receptionist said.) So what happened? My guy has only been there a couple years and he took over the patients from my previous doctor when he retired. He didn’t get along with the other two in the group? Did he do something the other two didn’t approve of? Get caught with his finger in the wrong cookie jar? Are the other two that difficult to get along with that they caused the retirement and now the split?

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 98

North? South? What’s the Difference?

North or South Lake DrApparently there is a big difference. I have the address of the missing Lexington post office in the master spreadsheet as 929 N Lake DR STE B. When I wrote about not being able to find it yesterday I put North Lake Dr in the post. The reason we couldn’t find it was because I had made a map of 929 S Lake Dr and that was where we were looking.

It bothered me that I couldn’t find the place, so tonight I went to the Hardee’s web site and search for Lexington locations and there was one at 917 South Lake Dr. I then went to the Postal Service site and repeated the search and it was then I realized that there was a difference between north and south – about 2-1/2 miles.

Two garden salads (Blue Cheese for me, Italian for her) and a 14″ 5-topping pie (sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, onions and banana pepper rings) at Ferrando’s in the alley on the way home from work. Water for both to drink. As usual we have half the pizza left for dinner another night at home or maybe lunch one day instead of a microwaved packaged meal.

Meal Cost: $20.56
Tip: $3.44
Spent Today: $24.00
Year to Date: $734.83

Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 96

Save Radio Paradise

..and all the other smaller Internet Radio Stations. No money required, just a little bit of your computer time.

The US Copyright Office has released their new set of rates for the payment of royalties by Internet Radio — royalty rates so high that they will put Radio Paradise and every other US-based indie webcaster out of business.

What can you do? Sign the online petition and open letter to the US Congress. My signature number is #10423. Then please send an email message to your Congressmembers. You can use the suggested text, change it, or write your own message. I also suggest that you print your email (you’ll get a copy) and mail it to your Representative and Senators and, to show them that you really are a committed geek boy, call their offices. You can look up their addresses and phone numbers here.

With the Tress and the Horses and the Rocks and the Sheep

Lunch at the Stoplight Deli. We split a California Pita and a bowl of chili with two waters to wash it down.

Meal Cost: $10.87
Tip Jar: 13¢
Spent on Lunch: 11.00
Year to Date: $385.17

 
Ate diner out with friends at the Patagonia Grill, a new South American restaurant in Evans, GA. I had an Americanized version of Anticuchos, marinated pork on a skewer. Donna had Anticuchos de Camaron, grilled shrimp on skewers and covered with a white wine sauce. Again, waters to drink. Good food that definitely warrants a return visit..

Meal Cost: $33.87
Forced Tip: $6.00
Spent on Dinner: $39.87
Year to Date: $425.04

 
The Emperor got a sponge bath (Meguiar’s Quik Detailer and a towel) this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow’s nine city Post Office Road Trip. Prosperity, Little Mountain, Chapin, White Rock, Ballentine, Lexington, Gilbert, Leesville & Wagener.

Started down, went up, back down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 53

Squish Squish

Shore BirdsWhen I stepped up to the refrigerator, as I went about my usual after work business of fixing of chilled drinks for us, my foot made a squish sound. It was water. There was a nice wet spot surrounding the fridge. I pulled it away from the wall to see water leaking from the coupler connecting the ice maker input line to the supply line. Dang. I hate plumbing.

I headed out to the garage and my tool box to get a couple of wrenches. I was not to be so lucky, just tightening the fitting had no effect on the leak. So outside I went to shut off water to the house. I really hate plumbing. With a trip to my local home warehouse store imminent and the water to the house off, I figured now was time to take a look at the kitchen faucet that had developed a drip. You could get it to stop by turning it off and then moving the handle a touch. Move it too little or too much and the leak stayed or even get worse, but I had mastered this shut off maneuver. On the other hand the major faucet user was not to happy with the arraignment. What the heck, Valentine’s Day is coming up.

At the store I bought the new washers and springs for the faucet and also the little ball on a stick thing controls the water flow. I bought a new coupling and as a extra precaution bought some of those little white plastic crush rings (or whatever they are really called.)

Back home I put all the new faucet pieces in and buttoned it up. Next I put the new coupling on the water line. I went outside and turned the water to the house back on. The faucet worked like a charm and was an instant hit with the spousal unit. The coupling on the ice maker water line was spraying a fine mist of water all over the place behind the fridge. And just like the first time, tightening it a little more with the wrench had zero effect. Back outside to turn off the whole house line again. Have I mentioned I hate plumbing?

I took the new coupling off and put the old one back on using two of the new white sleeve things. Success, no leaks (he writes, as he simultaneously knocks on wood.) Pushed the refrigerator back against the wall, but coiled the ice maker water line in such a manner as to leave the coupling easily visible for frequent checks.

By the time everything was tidied up and the tools put away it was much too late to cook dinner at home. Acropolis, here we come. Large Greek salad to split and a gyro each. Water for her and iced tea for me.

Meal Cost: $18.50
Tip: $3.00
Spent Today: $21.50
Year to Date: $355.17

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 43

Afternoon Snack

Mine! Mine!This afternoon I had the sudden urge to get a bag of chips or something from the gedunk machines in the cafeteria. I usually don’t need a snack, but today for some reason I just had to have something. This unnatural craving must have come from some leftover subliminal suggestion implanted during my watching of Super Bowl commercials.

Mixed in between the three soft drink machines, the coffee machine, the change machine and a sandwich machine are two snack machines filled with a selection of salty or sweet or salty/sweet choices. Even though the 2 machines have a nearly identical mix of products, before choosing an item you have to look over every item in each machine before buying something. Almost everything is a national brand, but there are usually a couple of regional selections. Today, if I wanted (and I didn’t) I could have had a bag of Danny’s Pork Bits, AKA pork rinds, AKA the skin of a pig with a layer of fat still attached that has been deep fried to a crunchy consistency. The nutritional information proudly displayed on the front said that a serving of this snack would have 7.5 grams of fat and 70 calories.

I opted for something I thought might be a healtier, a 1-1/2 ounce bag of Lay’s Sour Cream & Chive Potato Chips cooked in sunflower oil and advertising no trans fats. As I sat at my desk enjoying my chips, I read the back panel’s nutrition label and discovered that one serving of these chips had 15 grams of total fat and 240 calories. Wait a minute, how could this bag of chips have twice the fat and 3 times the calories of a larger 2oz bag of pork rinds (which are essentially fat fried in fat?)

I went back over to the machine and re-read the pork skin’s nutrition label again. Yep, 7.5 fat and 70 calories. Oh, here it is, serving size 1/2 oz, servings per bag 4, so if you ate the whole bag yourself, not sharing with 3 of your buddies as expected, you’d get 30 grams of fat and 280 calories.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/07: 33