Birth Day Gift?

So my wife is pregnant, really pregnant - she's due any day now.  I think we're ready for everything (logistically I mean - I'll never be psychologically ready for a baby in the household).  Anyway, the other day my sister-in-law calls me:

Shelley:  "Did you get Branelle a present yet?"  

Me:  "Present for what?"

Shelley:  "To give her in the hospital after the baby comes."

Me:  "Is that a real thing now?!?"

It had never occurred to me to get something for Nel for having a baby.  For one thing, we aren't all that touchy about gift giving.  Don't get me wrong, we buy each other stuff all the time, we just don't make a big production about special events.  And for another thing, if anyone should be getting a gift on baby day it should be me.  This was Nel's idea - I'm terrified of babies!  

I thought about it for a few days and decided it couldn't hurt to get Nel something.  She's awesome and certainly deserves presents for any reason I suppose.  But what to get her?  I thought about the obvious options like jewelry or purses.  Maybe I could run down to James Avery and grab something that was baby themed?  Nah, too predictable and Nel doesn't wear a lot of jewelry anyway.  A book of "Super Sexy Scott Coupons" just seemed cruel - she'd be stuck in a hospital and unable to cash them in.

I was struggling to come up with anything appropriate.  It needed to be a gift that celebrated the birth of our child.  Celebration….. Hmmm.  I remembered reading somewhere about a special edition Porsche made to "celebrate" the company's 100,000th 944 rolling off the assembly line in the late '80s.  I did a little research and sure enough, Porsche sold 250 1988 Porsche 944 "Celebration" models in the US in a special color called "Zermatt Silver".  Branelle has always said that one of her favorite places we've spent time in is Zermatt, Switzerland.  (By the way - naming a car color "Zermatt Silver" is ironic since Zermatt doesn't allow cars in the town at all.)  To make it even more appropriate, my first car was a 944. 

1) Nostalgic value - 2) Nel's favorite European spot - 3) A "celebration" - PERFECT!!!   

"Zermatt Silver" was one of two special colors for these - It sort of looks like silver with a hint of tan.

Now, to be honest I'm not much of a car person but if it makes my little wife happy I'm OK with another vehicle I suppose.  I started looking around and found two for sale - one of them was in Dallas.  I hopped on a plane after telling Nel not to have the baby until I got back (but secretly kind of hoping she would…..not really….but kind of). :-)

The interior is one of the "special" things that distinguishes the "Celebration Edition" from other 944s.  They call the pattern "Studio".

The car was in pretty good shape so I bought it and drove it home.  No issues really, just a few little items I can attend to in making it perfect (I'm sure I'll be looking for an excuse to get out of the house for the next few months anyway).  I couldn't find any giant baby themed bows to put on it like they use in the Lexus Christmas commercials every year so I just let her open the garage.

Just arrived home.  The car chewed up the four hour drive from Dallas.

I know what you're thinking ladies:  "Even though Scott doesn't like cars he went out and bought one for his wife as a labor present!!  He's so dreamy!  Why can't my man be more like that?"  Don't hold it against your hubby's girls - not everyone can be completely selfless all the time and the ability to buy "the perfect gift" is really something you're born with more than something you learn.  

This medallion is located in the glove box.

I wonder if she got me anything.  Probably not - just sayin.

B-Nelly in Zermatt.  See, no cars!

 

2001 Sea Doo GTX

Another random vehicle blog......

2001 Sea Doo GTX

 

My random vehicle blog program has assigned me a jet ski today.  While my watercraft history isn't nearly as extensive as my automobile history, I have had a few over the years and this is the first time one has come up in my blog program.  I had this GTX and a 2001 XP at the same time in about 2003 I believe.  They were both like new and a total blast to run.  The area we live in is great for all sorts of water sports and we used these quite a bit in both Clear Lake as well as launching them down in Galveston.  The GTX is a good jet ski because it balances a nice stable size with a big performance motor.  I think this one was some kind of special edition having something to do with Jeep, but I'm not sure.

The only complaint I had at the time was that the two Sea Doos were on separate trailers.  Having a two boat rig on a single trailer is awesome, but the trailers are usually too wide for a single garage space.  At the time, I wasn't using a warehouse yet for my collection so I didn't have unlimited space.

The GTX had to share a garage stall with another toy and I believe the XP was stored at a friends house - or maybe my brothers place.

Here is a picture of my brother and I trying to do something (I have no idea what).  While I enjoyed the boat the entire time I owned it, the maiden voyage wasn't without incident.  A group of us took both Sea Doos to Galveston beach and launched them right into the surf.  Unfortunately, someone forgot to put the plug in first and the GTX flooded leaving us with just the XP for the rest of the day.  Other than that, never had any problems with it.  I do have to say that jet skis on the beach is by far the most fun place to ride them.  Having waves, regardless of how high they are, is like having never ending ramps to jump and ride and bank turns from.