Ride on

I knew it was going to happen. My baby would grow up. So, on my way to Milwaukee last Friday I figured I'd be ready, camera phone in hand, for the big moment. My Shaniqua was going to hit her 100,000-mile mark.

But on our way to Germantown last Saturday to see The Toys, I realized she was going to do it for Gregor instead. YOUUU BITCH.

Good thing I was sitting in the front, so I could document the action anyway. Kind of.

PROOF!

I bought my black 2003 Toyota Camry, a.k.a. Shaniqua, in October 2006. She had about 75,000 miles. With the exception of replacing the battery and tires, she's been pretty low maintenance. Of course, I still get routine oil changes and tire rotations, plus check the fluids, car washes regularly, etc. If I'm good to her, maybe she'll return the favor.

On average, car owners put about 10,000 miles per year. I'd say I'm right on track, and since Toyotas stay on the road for an average of 900,000 miles (give or take?), I'd say I've got years to go with her.

Music week: Songs to drive by

I can be an aggressive driver; which you might determine based on some of the selections in this list. But hear me out; the majority of these songs are based on a few criteria:
A. How excellent they sound when you roll the windows down.
B. Singability behind the wheel.
C. Loudness

And, yeah this too:
D. Aggressiveness if someone pisses me off.

At least I take it out by turning up my music, instead of getting out of my car and starting a fight.


1. Goin’ Up The Country - Canned Heat
Okay… Number one in the category. I’d say the flute really brings this one home. You need to listen to this song in late spring on a sunny day, with your windows rolled down and your arms out the window.

2. Red Morning Light - Kings of Leon
I FUCKING LOVE THIS BAND. I'm pretty sure this song was featured in a car commercial, but I don’t remember which one. One where the car flies around curves without discretion and throws up dust as it leaves you there. But if you listen to this when you're driving, you are that car.

3. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - Postal Service
Add a little techno beat to some catchy lyrics and you've defined Postal Service. Deathcab's frontman displays his musical versatility with the entire album "Give Up." It's also pretty funny that UPS samples some of this band's songs, considering their name.

4. A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
Another phenomenal Brit band, these guys are probably vulgar douchebags in real life, but they also kick ass. This is the first song I’ve ever heard from the band. I love singing it in a British accent – but it may take at least 10 times before you understand what in the hell he’s actually saying.

5. The Set Up (You Need This) - Reel Big Fish
I saw them my junior year of high school. Energy! Talent! So loud! It's my favorite song from "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" I like singing this song as loud as fucking possible, in hopes that the people around me won't necessarily think I'm weird, but absolutely crazy.

6. Waterfalls - TLC
Just for Michelle -- because nothing quite says driving 15 hours through California and Oregon like “Waterfalls,” with dancing and singing to boot. Especially when it's recorded via shitty camera video.

7. Thickfreakness - The Black Keys
A two-man band from Akron, this is the first song I'd ever heard from these guys. This album (same as the song title) is more raw (rawer?) than the ones that follow, and listening to the thing in its entirety helps when you're passing assholes on the road.

8. Excuse Me Mr. - No Doubt
Good for the highway. It's got a fast beat and catchy chorus. Plus, I like the 1850s-burlesque bridge with the piano and jazz horn.

9. Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix
Check the title. Plus, it's Hendrix. No question, there's great guitar -- but even though he still jams it's more controlled, and stays with the faster tempo. Great for cruising on a highway.

10. Longview - Green Day
From my favorite band in high school, you can't really do what this song's about while you're driving.

Runner’s Up: Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah; Blinded By The Light – Manford Mann’s Earth Band; Drive My Car - The Beatles; Bad Habit - The Offspring

Roll with the punches

Yeah, I'm gonna complain. Deal with it.

After having the most exceptional weekend (:D), it becomes easier (and harder) to appreciate shitty days. Especially on a Monday.

Here's why:

*I woke up getting about half as much sleep as my body wanted. I even skipped my shower this morning to sleep in an extra 15 minutes.

*My car wouldn't start this morning. Now, I anticipated this. Friday afternoon the engine had trouble turning over, but still started up. Then, Saturday I had some trouble, but the car still got going. I had to wait until 9 this morning for Triple A to show up and give me a jump. Turns out my car battery had a bad cell.

*I dropped a Benjamin to replace said battery.

*Showed up at work around 10:30 AM -- 2.5 hours late.

*I thought I broke Gregor's monitor because it went haywire when I turned on his computer, and the screen looked like it did when your NES would take a crap and not play a game right.

*Apparently, after leaving three voicemails and two messages in one week, some organizations still don't understand the idea of returning a phone call. I need that PR now dammit.

*My chicken and bacon wrap for lunch from Subway tasted like ass. Also, Subway in general, tastes like ass.


So, I'm going to rationalize:

*I only didn't get enough sleep because of having such a great weekend.

*My car didn't die while I was in the middle of an intersection, or when it was -20 degrees outside.

*Money no matter.

*My editor kicks ass, and probably understands more than most because we work for an auto mechanic magazine.

*I did NOT break the computer.

*I got to enjoy and share 10 dozen cookies, eat Capital Grille and BW3s (!) this weekend. On top of seeing the MSO, making pancakes Saturday AND Sunday, going bowling and seeing a real life singing gnome.

I just hope Tuesday starts off a little better.

Driving my ice box

Judging by yesterday's blog, you probably think I'm content, sitting in holiday bliss with a hot cup of nog and some Manheim Steamroller on the radio.

Not so ... because it's FUCKING cold outside.

I headed out to my car around 5:30 this morning to head to the gym. I made sure to put on a hat and gloves, because I heard the temperature was dropping overnight.

I sat in my car as it warmed up. The hat and gloves were NOT enough. My fingers froze, my nose ran, my body shivered...

I looked at my car clock and thermometer. 9 degrees. NINE degrees?

Now, I can handle the mid-30s. I'll even deal with a meager 25 degrees, on occasion. But 9?

That's a single digit. I can count that number on my fingers. I thought, "There are more holy commandments than the weather is warm right now. WTF am I doing outside?"

On top of that, my windshield was completely iced over. I wasn't about to wait 15 more minutes, cutting my workout down to a measly 45. So what do I do? Crank the heat, turn on the defrost and GO.

I drove halfway there with my head ducked and aligned with the middle console, so I could peak out the center of the windshield, where the ice melted.

I made it and didn't die.

And it's only December.

Negotiator hater

I've owned my Toyota Camry going on two years now. I haven't run into trouble yet (knock on wood), but I credit preventative maintenance and knowing the limits of my vehicle to keep it in near-perfect running condition. After all, it's an investment.

I clean out garbage on a regular basis (unless I'm living out of the thing for an entire weekend). I replace filters and check fluids, including oil, making sure to get an oil change every 3-4,000 miles. That means rotating my tires every other.

So I didn't hesitate when my friend Tom let me know last February that I needed to replace my tires before the first snow fall of next year, because the tread had worn so much.

Now it's the middle of September. It's time to bite the bullet and drain my checkbook for the big investment.


I remember when I signed the contract for my car...

Two Octobers ago, I went back to Mark Toyota in Plover, WI after walking along the lines of used parked cars a couple nights before. My brother came along (for dude support), and I decided to test drive the black '03 Camry I had checked out.

I wanted it. Bad. It rode like a dream, compared to my shitty Ford Contour. It had a CD player, cruise control, power everything and came Toyota Certified for 100,000 miles. Plus, it was black.

I played the used car dealer game. He was a younger guy, maybe mid-twenties -- so there was a possibility one of us might take the other for a fool.

I sat down in the office, talked about price. The sticker sat at $18,900. No way could I afford something like that. He came back with 16 and change. I suggested something less than 15... it had over 70,000 miles. I had done my research -- the car was worth a little under $14,000 according to edmunds.com, with the mileage. He went back, said we could discuss.

I wanted to see the car again.

We checked out the gadgets, opened the trunk, turned on the stereo. I suggested $13,500. He went back in. The final price was set at $14,000. He invited us back inside for paperwork, but I declined. I told him I'd think about it.

Then he said, "If I have your word, will you take $13,500." Yep.

On the contract, I had to cross out my first name, then my last name, I spelled them wrong I was so nervous. I couldn't control the adrenaline pumping through my body, and couldn't hide the wide grin on my face. I just negotiated for, and bought, my first car.

Back to today...

I had looked up prices for tires online, and at the local Goodyear. It was about 30.00 cheaper per tire to go with the Internet price (before taxes and shipping), but I'd have to have someone mount and balance them. I called Goodyear, and said I was told $124.95 a tire, and $60 for the install. I could get them about $20 cheaper on the Internet, and would they match?

He thought about it, but said they couldn't go that low. I suggested $10 off per tire. He explained online purchases are more difficult to cover with warranties. Plus, Goodyear offers free tire rotations for the life of the tire. But -- he agreed to the new price.

I'm getting new tires Friday. And an oil change.

It takes some gall, and I get uncomfortable doing it, but negotiating is a great way to save money, and build some skillz. The worst they can say is "no."

All you have to do is ask.