Missing my "rolling therapy"

While we were in Germany, whenever I was in a funk, we took a drive. That drive usually consisted of going 120mph+ on the autobahn ~ 1 hour north or south and ending up at a race track. Once there, I would put in some track time. That was the most cathartic "therapy" I had ever found for myself. After 3-4 rounds on the Nürburgring, I would be exhausted and happy. 15 minutes on Hockenheimring could have the same effect. Unfortunately, that isn't an option anymore.

Yes, driving is still helpful for me at times, but nearly as much as in Germany. Having gone as fast as 155 behind the wheel, driving over here feels like a hell (unlike the Green Hell, which was Heaven). Now, a thrilling drive is one where I don't get stuck behind a tractor. Wooo! So now I need to come up with an alternative to my "rolling therapy." Especially since there is so much involved in going to a track day here in the states.

So, where does that leave me? I am not really sure yet. I just wish going to the track was as easy here (and cheap) as it is in Germany.

PS - I have already started another entry as well, but this one was the quickest to finish.

Random Musings

Figured I would post one big-ass-post regarding a bunch of recent thoughts and goings-on...I guess I will start with a brief commentary on Balloon-Boy:

I'm glad they plan on pressing charges. Even if it wasn't a hoax, those people are freaking idiots, but I am doubly glad that child protective services will also be taking a look into things. They reportedly have taken the kids out of school on multiple occasions to chase storms. Really, is that where you want to have 3 small kids following you. And that Rap video by the kids? Come on! Seriously. My opinion of that family....

Ugh...what next. Oh, well, it wouldn't be a blog post without mentioning the Nobel Peace Prize. Did you know it comes in Cracker Jack boxes now? lol....but seriously. MAYBE....and I mean MAYBE, Obama will do things during his term to warrant earning the peace prize. But, this isn't middle school, we don't give out medals for participation (Oh, that's another rant I need to start). I am not going to say Obama would never deserve it, and given the specific award, he might complete steps toward that, but that is for time to tell. (Even the Washington Post had an article pointing out that it might be unconstitutional for him to accept it while serving in office without the prior approval of Congress && the money isn't his to donate to charity, and get the tax write-off on, but rather it becomes the US Government's money).

Ok, participation trophies....I mean, I know we want everyone to feel wanted, and valuable, etc... but I shouldn't get a trophy for coming in last place. You don't get a promotion when you are an adult if you are the worst person in the office, you get fired (unless you work in the government, and then you eventually do get promoted). We need to start weening kids off of these participation trophies and allow competition sports in middle schools (wasn't allowed in Howard County so you had to play in youth leagues...so why did we have a mascot and if it is so evil, then why do youth leagues exist in the same county?). Don't get me wrong, I have trophies from little league, and they actually MEANT something. I made the All-Star team twice and my team one the league one year. But the trophy I got for being a shitty bowler in a father-son league, or a ribbon for participating in the turkey trot in middle school (3mile walk/run) I KNEW were utter bull-shit and don't hold any meaning. (I enjoyed the bowling league that one year, and didn't need a participation trophy to know that)

I guess I have a bit of diarrhea of the mouth right now, because I actually feel like typing more. There are aspects of living in Germany that I really miss. The Autobahn and the race tracks are two major components of that. Nothing is more relaxing for me than a quick run up to 120mph+. Unfortunately, that would get me arrested over here if I were caught, so I try to avoid that (I plead the 5th on whether it has happened or not back here). Anyway, that was like my own brand of therapy. Being back here, driving around just isn't as helpful as it used to be. It is still one of the things that helps me the most when I am strung out, but just doesn't cut it. I also miss the frequent photo opportunities of amazing sights. Castles, the Rhine, old architecture, cathedrals, and LOTS of really expensive cars (We passed/were passed by Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, and Porches EVERY time we were on the road...and I am not talking Boxters here, 911GT2, 911GT3 and Carrera 4S models).

Work hasn't exactly been helping matters back here either. Yes, I hated my job there the second half of the tour, but back here, I went from a shitty job, to a job that was SUPPOSED to be amazing (and might be at some point). Right now, it just sucks ass because I have too little to do. If it weren't for the whole mortgage payment, bills, etc... I would quit and get a job that I enjoyed working part-time. Alas, that won't be happening any time soon.

Well, I guess I have rambled enough. I suppose I should change the title graphic of my site since we sold the 1er, but with the Jetta also driving like shit, I will wait till I can resolve that before making that the banner.

New Server

Well, I moved my web hosting. It is now hosted in my basement. Ahh, they joys of high-speed internet access, a linux box and dyndns

What's going on

I figured I would write a post about everything that has been going on in the last couple weeks. It hasn't been long since my last post, but a lot has happened. My grandmother passed away on September 16th after having suffered a severe stroke on September 14th. My Aunt made a video that was shown at the funeral home (I will try and get that up on YouTube within the week) and my step father delivered a beautiful eulogy.

Mom mom hadn't had it easy these last few years, having suffered from pulmonary hypertension for the last 4 years, followed by a battle with cancer that she beat. The stroke came on suddenly, she had been playing Freecell, and won her first two games ever. Chrissy and I were supposed to be heading there for dinner on Tuesday (Originally we were supposed to go on the 11th, but they had to reschedule because they had a viewing to go for for a friend's death). Pop pop was home and was able to quickly summon help, but it was a battle she just couldn't win.

Heather flew in from Cairo (and brought a cold with her) for the funeral. She spent most of her time staying at our house and it was good to see her, just not under the circumstances (nor was it nice catching the cold). It was nice to see everyone in the same room for the first time in ages..the normal holiday crew and the folks from the hill.

Well, that is all I want to post for now...I will be sure to follow up again before too long.

It's been a while

I have been meaning to update, I just have managed to distract myself with other things. Facebook Apps, PS3, fetching things for Chrissy (she has a broken Fibula). So, the Jetta is still driving crappy, I meant to work on it this weekend, but did an oil change of the Rabbit instead (it was due) and we went Grocery shopping, the Ravens game and the NASCAR race were on, and I have been feeling a bit fried from work.

Things I will be checking on the Jetta include the EGR and anti-shutter valves for build-up of residue and the timing. I also have Diesel Kleane in the tank, but we aren't driving it much right now because it is misbehaving. The Rabbit is running great but it is now at 39,000 miles because it has been getting so much use with the Jetta being problematic.

I did manage to get the Rabbit working with Amber turn signals (and will eventually enable the rear fog once I feel like climbing under the dashboard). I want to put front fogs on the car too, but all of the OEM-style kits are expensive (and we have a lot of other things to pay down right now). I did manage to seel a bunch of old PS3 and X-Box 360 games though, and rather than buying any new games right now, I am back with the Game-fly 1 game membership (Think Netflix for video games). I have already rented 2 games I would have seriously considered buying to find out they wouldn't have lasted long (Ghostbusters and Wheelman). Ghostbusters was an awesome game, but too short, and Wheelman was too GTA feeling.

The Ravens' game was great to watch. Flacco had a great start although they were a little sloppy at times still. As for NASCAR, it is a shame that Dale Earnhardt Jr couldn't make the chase, but it is great to see Mark Martin riding on top. I am not going to even mention the other Baltimore based major sports team....sad...just sad.

On the movie front, Chrissy finally watched Crank (I had gotten that on iTunes while I was still in Germany) and we watched Crank 2 today. They are very strange in some of their filming angles, and the plots are WAAAAY out there, but it is a fun ride and very entertaining. A couple other recent movies I have watched is Echelon Conspiracy and Dragonball Evolution. Echelon Conspiracy was a good watch, but Dragonball, well, let's just say I enjoy the cartoons MUCH more (even if they are just as strange and cheesy).

As a side note, I am watching a fellow MD alumni, Shaun Hill, beating the Cards! GO TERPS!

Well, that was a very ADD-ish post, I guess that is all for now. Just wanted to say, hey...still here...even if I don't update much. Honest. Plan to update more though. Maybe I will post my opinions of socialized healthcare...I have a scar to prove I have dealt with it (in Germany) so I have more insight than many Americans do.

The car saga continues

"A long long time ago (4 weeks) in a car shop far away my auto(the Jetta) went in the shop. "

Ok, now I will elaborate. 5 weeks ago, the Check Engine Light came on. 4 weeks ago, I dropped off the car at a well-know shop for european auto enthusiasts (that for now shall remain nameless). We will call this 'Shop A.' My Cam shaft and followers were shot. COMPLETELY shot. It was almost time for a new timing belt, so they changed that and the water pump as well. They also changed the oil cooler because it was possible that some metal shavings had made their way in there as well. $3800 and 1 week later, I pick up the car. I get about 7 miles from the shop, and with a big white cloud of smoke, the car looses all power and I pull to the side of I-295. FUN!

They tow the car back to the shop. They change 2 fuel injectors, all four fuel injector seals, and the car still isn't running right. Through this time, they never mentioned one price, and they often proceeded without talking to me first. After 3 more weeks, they call in a Diesel specialist from a VW Dealership (also to remain nameless at this time). We will call this 'Shop B.' He saw some strange things and wanted to look at it at the dealership. Shop A has it towed to Shop B at their expense.

Two days later, having not heard anything, and after talking to Shop A, I call Shop B. The Service Adviser at Shop B sounds pissed off at the world to begin with, gets an attitude with me, tells me he isn't the actual SA for my car, but that SA is gone, but reads off my old phone and address (I have been there since the new address, but ok...) and I tell him that is wrong and ask him if I can update it. He only lets me give him the phone number (1 phone number, not even home/work), and is done with me.

Yesterday, after work...Chrissy calls Shop B from the car since we never heard anything from them. Our SA is already gone for the day. Since it is a simple request to find out what the status of our car is, and they are open for 3 more hours, it shouldn't be difficult for this other SA to provide a simple answer as to the status of our car. He finally takes our number and says someone will call us tomorrow and Chrissy tells them she would like someone to call us that night at which point he hung up on her.

Today, I call Shop B and our SA is actually there (Wow, did I win the lotto?) and I am transferred to her. She pics up the phone and says "Can you hold please?" I say "Ok" and then the count begins. 30 minutes later, she finally takes me off hold (maybe she was hoping I would just hang up). When I finally talk to her, she says the car needs a new turbo, but that they aren't sure when they could get to it. (Grr...more waiting) Oh, and the turbo will cost $2000.00!!!!! Now, why Shop A couldn't figure out the Turbo was now blown, I don't know. But now, I have paid Shop A $3800, will be paying Shop B $2000, won't get the car back till at least late next week if not later, and consequently have driven the miles on the Rabbit to almost the end of it's bumper to bumper warranty (and will be beyond that soon enough).

Oh, and for some reason the owner of Shop A would like to talk to me on Monday. It will be interesting to see how that turns out. And Shop A said they could probably do the turbo replacement for less, but seriously, would YOU send your car back to Shop A for a new turbo when they couldn't even diagnose the problem?

I will try to post again once I have spoken to the owner of Shop A. Oh, and I submitted a complaint to VWOA regarding the level of customer service at Shop B.

Long time no post

I know, I know...I have become a blog slacker again. I update Facebook with small posts so often that I don't bother to come on here and write long posts. It is also a matter of convenience, I can write a quick Facebook post from my cellphone. When I am home, my time on the computer is usually consumed by Team Fortress 2 (At least it is a better addiction than WoW...."Hi, my name is Mike, and I have been WoW free for over 1 year now")

Anyway, where to begin. I guess with the Jetta...what a fucking fiasco that has been. So, back on June 19th, the Check Engine Light came on. I had taken it to the shop a few weeks prior because I knew it wasn't running right, but that shop said that everything looked fine. So, this time, I took it to a different shop, and their first comment to me about the engine was that the dipstick had shot most of the way out of the engine! Turns out that the camshaft wore down to the point that the exhaust valve didn't open enough and exhaust went backwards through the intake and down past the piston rings into the oil pan causing the dipstick to dislodge itself. Not only was the camshaft worn, but 2 of the followers had HOLES IN THEM.

So, camshaft + followers + oil cooler (because of metal flakes) + timing belt (it was about due) + water pump (came w/ timing belt kit) + oil change + labor = $3800 Fine...get it fixed, pick it up on Thursday and go to take the Rabbit to my sis in B-more so she can borrow it till she leaves for Fla. The shop is near BWI...by the time I get on 295 North-bound just inside the beltway, I am now broken down. Car lost all power, let out a huge cloud of smoke, and sounded awful. I got the car over to the shoulder and called the shop while they were still there. They towed it back and still have it (and never called/emailed this afternoon to give me the update like they were going to).

So my master plan to have all of the bills paid off once the BMW was sold is now shot to hell because of car repairs. Oh, and the day after I found out how much the Jetta was going to cost to get repaired, we got a huge rock chip in the windshield of the Rabbit so now need to put in a new one. Also, the front tires on the Rabbit are down to the wear bars (when we were taking it to VW for service they didn't rotate the tires) so I am getting tires for the Hufs, putting the Hufs on the Jetta and the Biolines (Jetta's rims) on the Rabbit. Bills are now doing better, though, now that the BMW is sold (to Carmax unfortunately b/c in this economy, no one will pay that much for a used car...not even a BMW dealership). We don't have that monthly car payment anymore + we got a good chunk of money to put towards bills.

There are more stories to tell, such as the new desks, Chrissy's b-day party, and our day-trip to Cape May, but I actually need to "wake up" soon to go to work. Joy! Thanks for listening to me rant.