Photographic Aspirations and Inspirations

While sitting in my mystical time travel cube most likely looking at photos at flickr I had a creative moment and thought of a photo or photos that I would like to take or try to take.

I lack the equipment that I need to take the photos. Even if I had a small waterproof camera execution could be rather difficult as well but could be interesting none the less... So I've spent most of the morning and part of the day not buying a waterproof camera, how long this will last nobody knows...

Driving Updates I'm doing much better at stick than I was last Friday. I still kill it from time to time but multiple times at the same stop, well not usually but last week I'd kill it a few times at one stop.

I'm also noticing the traffic lights are conspiring against me. To attempt to cause me as much embarrassment as possible and generally stress me out. But it's okay as I'm getting more practice and soon it will not be an issue at all if the progress over the last week has been any indicator.

Also I filled the tank up again last night so I'm on my third tank of gas. I could have gone longer on this one but I'm gonna be heading to Vancouver, WA. after work today so I took care of it last night as now I'm good to make the trip up and back...

Six Speeds I'm doing much better than I was last week with my car. I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of the Manual Transmission. Killing it much less than before like can count the number of times in a day on one hand rather needing all my fingers and toes for just a single trip. I did have a couple issues in Grants Pass going through downtown but it still wasn't as bad as it was in Eugene the day I got my car.

It is already a very fun car but as I get better it just becomes more and more fun. I can hardly believe how well it handles, rides and goes. I always loved how my '94 325i handled and went but damn what a difference 14 years can make.

Dear Drivers of Eugene.... Dear drivers of Eugene.

I would like to send my sincerest apologizes to anyone stuck behind me today as I worked my way home from the dealer with my new car. I am sure you found it as frustrating as me maybe even more so. But I was in a bit of a panic and rush as I was knew I was causing others inconveniences as I stalled out at nearly every light. Up until now I have not owned a car with a manual transmission. I have had a bit of practice here and there, but not nearly enough.

Please patientpatience with me. I hope to be moving fluidly among you once again with in a week, hopefully less.

Thank You for your understanding and patientspatience.
Ben

Wednesday Is Car Day!

So after the call yesterday I didn't think I would be getting my 128i until tomorrow. But I got a call this morning from my "Client Advisor"at the dealer ship and it's ready today.

I'm going to have to order floor mats. Can't decide if I want the rubber ones or the carpeted ones. The rubber would be great for easy clean up considering some of the places I go and find my self tracking some dirt and junk into the car. The carpet ones are less industrial. I'm pretty sure will be getting the trunk liner.

Now if only 3:00 would roll around...

Still Waiting...

Thursday Thursday Thursday!!!!
I should be picking up my car Thursday. I was given the option of Thursday or Friday. I was hoping it would be Wednesday but it didn't sound like Wednesday is an option. This will leave me with pretty much no time to figure things out prior to south to Grants Pass for the weekend for a family reunion, either that night or Friday morning.

Family Reunion
My Dad's cousin Jill has put together a reunion of their cousins and their children. I'm not 100% sure that the scope is limited to cousins and kin. But it is not going to be a small event.

I actually just got off the phone with my Dad who was looking for some photos that have apparently gone missing. I had made an offer to scan them and get them on CD or DVD a few years back but I'd never gotten the photos to do so. I do hope they turn up as it there is a great deal of family history in those photos.

When the Dealer Calls

Got a call today from my "Client Advisor" at BMW of Eugene. My car is at the dealer waiting to be prepared for me to take delivery. Which was guessed to be Wednesday or Thursday.

So after I got the VIN from the dealer I called to get insurance setup. Which is still less than what I was paying 4 months ago for insurance. I fear I may have follied on setting up the insurance as it doesn't start until Wednesday, which wont be a problem if I pick up Wednesday or Thursday but if it magically is ready on Monday or Tuesday I will have have to wait to pick it up because of insurance...

So this week should be pretty good. New car, 4 day work week, 4 day weekend...

At the Prep Center.

I logged into the Owners Circle to track my car today. It looks like I spent the last couple weeks tracking the wrong boat. Because the tracking system says it is already at the Vehicle Prep Center. So after wetting my self I called my Sales guy and asked him if we had or could get an ETA he guessed next week sometime but he was gonna look into it to see about nailing down a date. He called back and said more like the end of the month 27thish he thought, figuring 10-12days for prep center and then another couple days at the local dealer. But he did admit the info they had could be off.

I'm still hoping for next week. According to some of the forums some of the cars on the boats that came in this week are already being delivered. Plus there are no more boats scheduled to come in with BMWs until next week. Another rumor is that the cars that are spoken for are processed first... So if I'm lucky next week. If not late this month...

Trans Oceanic

The boat carrying my undelivered car went from the Atlantic Ocean through Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean yesterday. I watched it go though the Miraflores Locks and depart to the Pacific Ocean around 7pm last night on the webcams the Panama Canal has.

I think after just a month of not having a car to call my own, I am ready to be independently mobile again. I been having dreams about my having my car or getting my car the last few nights...

My guesstimate of taking delivery for my car is late this month or early July. It should be unloading at the Port Hueneme on June 20th. Then it has to be processed by BMW, then loaded on to a truck and brought to Eugene. The processing can take a few days and the truck ride would take a day or two as well depending on the number of stops it has make.

Goodbye Keisha Keisha had stopped eating late last week. Her mobility had been declining for sometime but she still loved to go to the barn and be with her various people and animal friends.

A handful of her friends, including my self, went with her to what would be her last outing and visit to the vet yesterday. I was glad to be there and be able to see a friend off.

She will be missed.

Delayed.

Presumably my car is several days into it's multi week journey to North America. I think they drew the lose two turns card or maybe pirates slowed them down as they are now set to arrive two days later than what was originally projected.

The ship is supposed to be going through the Panama Canal on the 10th then to where they will off load around June or 18-20th. So it will likely be early July or Late June before I get my car. Unless of course pirates decide they want a big ass boat full of cars...

Alex Nichols

I had a dream that featured my friend Alex from High School. So I thought I'd google him today and see what I could find. I've found some photos of his international travels but and at least 3 diffrent Alex Nichols that are software developers around the country. Not sure which if any are actually him, but that is a job that would suit as he was pretty much chief programing nerd in High School.

I'm sure he is doing well. But not sure what he is doing other than traveling.