The Drive - for the Umpteenth Time

I skipped last night - Nel, George and I drove up to Wichita Falls and didn't get in until about 12:30am.  I was up for a while after that but too lazy to log in with the wi-fi.  I'm actually too lazy to blog tonight as well, but since I've never missed 2 days in a row.......

I HATE the drive between Houston and Wichita Falls.  It takes between 6 and 7 hours and there really isn't anything attractive or exciting to do along the way.  There might be a couple of pretty places in Texas, but none of them are on this route.  I can't even guess how many times I've done this drive over the years.  We moved from H-Town to WF when I was in 3rd grade, but my brother remained in Houston so we visited from time to time.  The real trips started when I decided to attend law school in houston  - I've lived there ever since and have no idea how many times I've gone back to the Falls.  My father can't travel so Nel and I try to visit my parents every couple of months. 

Because we live on the southeast side of Houston, the first hour and a half are just getting across town.  We've become creatures of habit in our old age so we usually make the same stops on every trip.  From H-Town to WF we almost always stop at Texas Burger in Madisonville.  When doing the reverse loop we always stop at a place in Waxahachie. 

One reason we don't mind making this trip is that we can bring our cat George along with us.  He's a great traveler.  He basically just sleeps or chills, occasionally coming up to the front to see what's going on.  I'd travel well too if I had it as good as him.  We always take the Tahoe, and set everything up for him about like he has it at home.  He has his bed, his litter box, and food and water - it's like a moving hotel room.

We'll be here for a few days before heading north to Minnesota for a week.  The high temp in Wichita Falls for the rest of the week - 104 - 107 - 110 - 112 - 111 - 110.  You get the idea.  I can always count on our trips to Brainerd in the summer to be a respite from the Texas heat, but they've been having some abnormally hot days.  They'd better get their act together before Tuesday! 

Random Items

Some random “Things I think I think”:

·        I think the ‘Tracker’ from Dominos Pizza when you order on-line is pretty cool.  I’m not sure why, but I love the updates like “Cindy is preparing your pizza” – “Cindy put your pizza in the oven” – “Bob is doing a quality check on your pizza” – “Dara just left the store with your pizza”.  It’s pretty accurate too. 

·        I think that while the show “Big Brother” on CBS is stupid and unwatchable, “Big Brother After Dark” on Showtime every night is bizarrely addictive.  It’s nothing more than a live feed from all the cameras in the Big Brother house for a few hours, but watching these people combat boredom while being locked up without outside contact for months can be really interesting.  It’s kind of like that movie “The Truman Show”, except the subjects are aware.  I love hearing the constant monotone commands from the producers blaring over the house sound system towards the ‘contestants’:  “Brendan, please go to the diary room” – “Adam, do not obstruct your microphone” – “Danielle, you are not allowed to talk about production!” – and my personal favorite “Jordan, stop singing!”

·        I think that people who don’t use liquid fabric softener are really missing out.  It makes a HUGE difference in the softness of your clothes after a few washes.

·        I think if the EPA really wanted to promote increases in average fuel mileage for vehicles, they would start pimping diesel.  Europeans have known for years what we in America seem to be blind to:  If you really want to get 40, 50, or even 70 miles per gallon without having to worry about plugging in your car every 40 miles, diesel is the way to go.  (I’m not a fan myself, I’m just sayin…)

·        I think we’re going to start seeing Fiat 500s pop up all over the place.  You would expect it on the left coast and even certain parts of the northeast, but I think they’ll take off everywhere.  Our Fiat dealership here in Clear Lake is already open with nothing but 500s lined up in all colors like a rainbow of Italian Skittles.

·        I think BMWs SMG Transmission sucks!  They make some of the best cars on the planet, but you HAVE to buy the manual version because the SMG (which is what they consider the automatic version) is annoying to the point of madness.  There’s nothing wrong with a manual, but not in something you drive everyday (unless your commute is the Nurburgring).

·        I think I’m going to have to shut it down for softball until I can repair my knee (how pathetic).  I played tonight and I had to have a pinch runner every time I got on base.  I can’t run and I can’t move.  I can pitch, but it’s got to look pretty sad.  I’ve gone from being one of the fastest and most agile to a stationary old man.  We won though – we beat the team that won last season’s championship 11-2.

·        I think (still) that teams are really missing the boat on Vince Young.  He was released by Tennessee today.  All the sports commentators are talking about him being a bust.  They’re crazy!  Question: Can you name every QB in the league that has a better winning percentage than Young since he joined the league?  If you said anyone past Manning and Brady you’d be wrong.  The guy was the Rookie of the Year and a 2-time Pro Bowler.  He’s never going to look like a traditional NFL QB.  If a team would just put him in with an offense that allows him to move the pocket and gives him a run-read option, he’d be fantastic.  He got stuck with a coach who didn’t want to draft him and it never worked out.  If he ends up in Philly backing up the dog-killer he may get a chance to play in that type of offense.

·        I think the US Soccer Federation did the right thing today by firing Bob Bradley.  He seemed like a nice guy, but the team was getting worse, not better.  I think the next coach should be a foreigner.  There are very few times I would say something like that, but I think a foreigner would be more objective about our talent (or lack thereof) than another American.  Bring on Juergen Klinsmann – he already lives in Cali.

I think (I know really) that I hate packing.  Hitting the road tomorrow and it always annoys me to have to plan what I will need for the next week (or nearly 2 in this case).

1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS

I’ve been trying to avoid political issues as much as possible – primarily because it exhausts me.  I’ll crack from time to time and go on a rant about some issue or another, but not tonight (although I’m really wondering why ANYONE thinks Michelle Bachmann is in ANY way qualified to be president based on anything she’s done to this point - an inexperienced member of congress from a broke state that's about as far from center as you can get - sound familiar?). 

Since I don’t want to talk about the debt ceiling or immigration or a flat tax (at least not tonight), and since I’ve got a LOT of things to do tonight, I’m mailing it in with another VEHICLE REVIEW!!! Yeah!!!!!!

Spinning the random selection wheel……suspense……suspense…

1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS

Well, I wouldn’t call the VehiCROSS a “cool” car, but it’s at least interesting.  It’s probably one of the strangest looking vehicles around.  Basically a Trooper underneath, Isuzu produced only 4153 of these things for the US market over 3 years (99-01), which, combined with their “odd” appearance, has created a bit of a cult following.

I bought this one at the Texas Hobby Auto Auction.  I can’t remember what I paid for it, but it wasn’t too bad because this isn’t really the type of vehicle that sells well here.  My personal opinion of the truck was not particularly high.  It was very small, rode rough and loud, and was underpowered.  It’s probably most similar to a Jeep, but without the ability to go open air.

I always thought the V-VROSS nose looked like a snake (see the 2 fangs with the eyes on top?).  I certainly wouldn’t call it an attractive truck, but you’re not going to mistake it for anything else.

The interior on this one was equally interesting.  Isuzu simply called it “Black/Red” but I thought it looked more like brick to me.  Of the 2005 built in 1999, 564 had this interior matched with a black exterior.  The seats were leather Recaros.  This one also had a neat little aftermarket stereo that had a display with dancing palm trees and other entertaining / distracting scenes.  Overall the truck was in pretty good shape and seemed to wear well.

I can’t say I would buy another one of these, but I have to admit that I haven’t seen more than a handful on the road since I sold mine.  I sold it on ebay and it ended up going to Portland, Oregon (where we just returned from last week and where it should fit in nicely).  It would make a fun little Jeep-type truck, but not for the money they are still bringing due to their rarity.  I also think it would make a much better truck for a girl than a guy.

251.4

My weight this morning = 251.4.  When healthy (meaning two good legs – a status that is seeming less and less probable lately) I can carry 250.  It’s not ideal though.  I should really be somewhere around 225, even if it’s not the same version of 225 I played college soccer at.  I’m terrible at losing weight.  I can do it when I’m active because I don’t mind hitting the road for a few miles at 2:00pm when it’s 100 degrees outside or playing soccer three times a week.  Unfortunately the only things I can do at the moment are hobble through a game of softball a week and play a little golf. 

I saw an article titled “20 Habits That Make You Fat”.  I thought I’d go through them and maybe see how I stack up.  The article backs up everything on the list with data and research, but I won’t go into that here. 

1.     Eating ‘Low-Fat’ – Of all the things on the list, this is the one I was most surprised by.  Their explanation was very technical, but it basically boils down to saving a few calories but replacing harmless fats with low-performing carbohydrates that digest quickly.  Regardless, I’m good on this one.  I NEVER buy anything low-fat.  Nel does, but I make her buy me regular stuff as well (mayonnaise, etc.).

2.     Not Seeking Nutrition Advice – This is definitely a habit I have.  I don’t think I’ve ever really read anything about a diet or glanced at a nutrition book.  I don’t even have a subscription to ‘Men’s Health’ or anything like that.

3.     Sleeping Too Little or Too Much – I used to be guilty of sleeping too little.  Four or five hours a night was it for me, and less was not uncommon.  I still go to bed at around three or four most nights, but I sleep a little later so I’m actually probably right in the optimal 6-7 hour range.

4.     Eating Free Restaurant Foods – I’m guilty of this most places.  Whether it’s the breadsticks at Olive Garden or the chips at just about every Mexican place (or the rolls I ate with a little parmesan when we had lunch at Angelo’s today), I usually do graze while waiting for the main course.

5.     Drinking Soda, Even Diet – I should get double negative marks for this one.  I’m a soda-holic.  I’ve done a little better lately by trying not to drink any before lunch or after midnight, but it’s a drop in the bucket.  I know that if I simply stopped drinking soda, I would probably lose pounds at a staggering rate (if my body didn’t go into shock), but I just can’t do it.  I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, I don’t really have any vices to speak of other than soda.  Some men like to come home after a long day and pour themselves a glass of Taylor Fladgate Scion Porto, pop open their Daniel Marshall humidor, light up a Montecristo 75^th Anniversario and kick their feet up.  I enjoy a Dr. Pepper on the rocks.

6.     Skipping Meals – Ummm…I never eat breakfast – does that count?  And while lunch is usually around the same time, dinner can fluctuate anywhere from 5:30 to 11:00.

7.     Watching Too Much TV – Damn it!  This is getting ugly for me.  I have to categorize myself as a “heavy user” when it comes to TV.  I watch a lot of shows at night if I’m home.

8.     Eating Too Quickly – I think I’m OK here.  I’m not a slow eater, but I don’t stuff it down either.  I’d say this one isn’t an issue for me.

9.     Ordering The Combo Meal – My wife saves me here.  She doesn’t like fast food, but left on my own I would eat a lot of it and always the combo – supersized!

10.     Facing The Buffet – Nel to the rescue again!  I LOVE buffets, but Nel isn’t really a fan so we don’t hit up Golden Corral or East Star very often.

11.     Eating Off Larger Plates – This one seems a little thin to me.  I think our plates are ‘normal’ size, and if we got smaller ones I really don’t believe it would make a difference.

12.     Putting Serving Dishes On The Table – No problem in our house because we never eat AT the table.  We are almost always in the living room watching TV while eating (so good on #12 – bad on #7).

13.     Choosing White Bread – This is one battle I win (or lose depending on how you look at it) in our household.  Nel would most certainly buy whole grain, but I like my bread soft and white.

14.     Taking Big Bites – I don’t think I do. 

15.     Not Drinking Enough Water – I’m getting better at this one, but I could still do more.  I like cold water when I’m hot, but not with meals.  I’ve taken to drinking water at night and when I go to bed.

16.     Having Overweight Friends – I think I’m good here.  My wife is extremely healthy and the few friends I do have are all thinner than me – maybe I’m the negative on their lists.

17.     Eating Too Late – I’m guilty of this one.  Even if I eat supper at a decent hour, once Nel goes to bed and leaves me unsupervised, it’s 50-50 if I’ll make it without snacking or not.  We really need to hire like an 18-year old Swedish nanny or something to keep an eye on me after 11:00pm.

18.     Not Using A Scale – I’m good here.  We have a great scale and I usually hop on in the morning to see how I’m trending. 

19.     Drinking Fruity Beverages – I don’t think I do this at all.  I drink Vitamin Water, but other than that I don’t drink much other than water and soda.

20.     Eating When Emotional – I’m not a chick.

So I’m probably about 10-12 out of 20 on these bad habits – to the wrong.  I doubt I’ll change the soda one, but I really need to try to find some improvements elsewhere until I can get back to a more active lifestyle.  The other option is Heroin (Amy Winehouse was always skinny) but we’ll call that Plan B.

1999 Dodge Durango SLT 4X4

I didn’t post last night.  I got busy doing other things in the office and then I just hit the wall.  I couldn’t think of anything to write about, so I didn’t.  The whole point of starting this blog was to make myself write something every day – no exceptions.  With that in mind, I’ve come up with a “mail it in” series of posts that I can turn out in very little time with even less effort.  Car reviews! 

While car reviews are interesting to me, I certainly don’t expect them to be interesting to anyone else.  If you check my blog and it’s me rambling on about some car with a few pictures, you’ll know I just wasn’t in the zone last night (or legitimately was busy with ‘real’ work). 

I actually feel like I could write something a little more substantial tonight, but I’m going with a car review so you’ll know what it looks like when I take the lazy route.  I’ve owned a lot of cars over the years – somewhere around 200 by my calculations.  I’ve taken pictures of almost every one of them and they each have their own file on my hard drive.  To make it more fun for myself (and more random for the blog) I’ve created a random selection program so when I want to do a quick car review blog I can just hit a button and it will select the vehicle I will write about that night.  I’m not smart enough to remove the motorcycles and boats from the program, so if one of them is selected I’ll just write about it.  It’s kind of like spinning a wheel and seeing what comes up! 

Here we go……..spin……….the randomly selected vehicle is………….

1999 Dodge Durango SLT 4X4

OK, that was extremely anticlimactic.  I was really hoping for one of the more exciting rides I’ve had over the years, but in following the rules I created for myself (and trust me, I do NOT want to be on the wrong side of me by breaking my rules) I will now blog about a Dodge Durango.

 
I bought this Durango at an auction (which is where I’ve bought the majority of my cars over the years) based entirely on looks.  As far as Durango’s go, I think this one was pretty sharp.  It had all the right add-on accessories and a mean sounding exhaust.  I’ve owned three Durango’s in total, but this was the first and best.  Like just about all Dodge products, it was cheap and plastic-ey inside, but it did have the bigger Magnum V8 they offered at the time.  I had this truck for over a year and have no real complaints other than it sucked gas at an alarming rate for a mid-sized SUV.  I ultimately sold this to a girl I knew at the time who really loved it – I think mostly for the color.  If I had to put this one on the Top Gear “Cool Wall”, I would have to go with “Uncool” (the options would be ‘Seriously Uncool’ – ‘Uncool’ – ‘Cool’ – and ‘Sub-Zero’).  I think this one was about as good as Durango’s got in ’99, but there were still a lot of better SUVs out there.