Me And My Car
I've briefly mentioned how I love my car in previous blogs, but I thought this subject deserved its own entry. For the past few years, I've been the proud driver of a 1997 Nissan Maxima GLE, and in these years, I think I've fallen in love to the point where I don't think I ever want to give up my baby. (I don't think Olivia reads my blog, so that's probably a good thing). Anyways, a lot of guys will know what I am talking about, but the fact is that the relationship between a man and his machine is one of the most important in life. It might sound like overkill to consider it a relationship, seeing as how one side is living and the other is not, but I don't think there is any better way of describing it.
In any good relationship, the two sides are relatively balanced. That is, one should never dominate the other. If all you expect from your friends is to serve you, or do what you want them to do, that is hardly a healthy situation and chances are, it's not gonna last long. But, if by way of being friends, you "serve" each other, not doing things only to get something in return, then a true bond is formed and the relationship benefits both sides a whole lot more. When it comes to cars, a lot of people just see it as a thing to carry them around. We fill it with gas because we need to, and we step on the pedal and go. When the car breaks down, we curse at it and blame the car for being a piece of crap, not ourselves for failing to maintain it well. Sadly, these people fail to recognize their car as a relationship, as a friend to be treated with respect and care. As a result, they miss out on the benefits of such a relationship in the end.
Ok, so I realize that there are very many cars out there that are actually crappy, and that they break down even when the owner puts a lot of work into it. I'm very sorry for the owners of such cars, but keep in mind that most of you have some choice over what car you get. Of course, not everyone can afford a Benz or Lexus, but say you have around $20-25,000 to spend on a new car. This would allow you to pick between a mid-range Chevy Camaro and a pretty good Honda Accord. At the risk of insulting some Camaro owners, the one who chooses the Camaro is obviously more interested in speed and flashiness rather than the reliability and class you would find in an Accord. Then, should we feel sorry for the Camaro owner when, 5 years down the road, their car is falling apart, while the Accord is still running like it was new?
Anyways, when it comes to my personal experience, I drove an aging 1990 Ford Taurus for a few years before I got the Maxima. That thing was a piece of crap, my mom got it because it was a cheap used car, not realizing that it was cheap for a reason. When it came to be my turn to pick a car, I vowed not to buy American. Not because I am unpatriotic, but because it's very obvious that Japanese cars are a much better deal in the long run than domestic. I wanted a 4-door, because I like 4-doors, so that left me choosing between the Toyota Camry, an Accord, or Nissan Maxima (or to a lesser extent, the Corolla, Civic, or Altima). In the end, I figured that I did not want a Camry or Accord because every single Asian family has one. So, even though Nissans are not as reliable on the whole as Toyotas and Hondas, I went with the Maxima because it was a little bit cooler looking than the others, and with a little extra kick from the engine in comparison.
Since that time, I have not regretted for a moment that I chose the Maxima. I have been in love with this car pretty much since the first time I got in, sat down, and test drove it at the dealer. Other kids like to parade around in their 2-door sports cars, but I have never envied someone's Mustang or Celica. My car isn't all that slower than those, and it's supposed to be a family sedan.
Anyways, back to what I was saying about maintaining a relationship with my car. By now, a lot of you are probably thinking I am acting queer, but let me assure you that I am purely heterosexual. I'm sure I can't be the only one who understands that your car is more than your slave, more than a combination of moving parts. It is, in almost every sense, a living, breathing companion. So, I don't merely fill it with gas and go, waiting until the day it stops working. I put in my own sweat and blood to take care of my car, like it takes care of me.
Filling it with the right octane fuel is only a start. I recommend that anybody who owns a car should also wash their car and change its oil on their own at the very least. These are two relatively simple things that will help keep your car running smoothly and help you build a better bond between you and your car. When you take it to Jiffy Lube or Walmart to get your oil changed, it might save you time (and even money, maybe), but you lose out on the opportunity to take care of your baby yourself. It's like sending your kids to day care, when someone else is taking care of your children, who knows how they are gonna turn out. Well, if you don't have any idea what kind of engine oil people are putting in your car, what kind of oil filter they are using, and whether or not they tightened the bolts carefully, then don't complain if you don't know why your car is leaking or why the engine isn't sounding as quiet as it should. All you did was drop off your car and keys, and pick it up 20 minutes later, paying 15 bucks or so to have someone else do your job.
In the same way, it pains me to see so many people relying on the automatic carwash at the local gas station to clean their car. It's a simple thing to do: get a bucket, sponge, hose, and a few cleaning agents and towels. When you just drive through a one-size-fits-all car wash, there's no way it will get all the nooks and crannies of your car. And, it's bound to wear away at your paint's glossy finish in the long run, if not waxing in some dirt or unwanted water along the way. Just imagine if you had to take a shower by walking through a machine like that. High-speed spinning brushes press up to you until it feels "resistance" while high-powered jets of water spray from every direction. Then, globs of soap are splattered all over your body, before the brushes and jets return to rinse. Not only is this system gonna miss some spots, but I personally hope that it does miss certain spots, the sensitive ones especially. I would definitely be wise enough to wear an athletic cup or something at the very least. So next time you think it would be a good idea to take your car through the wash, please consider the pain. When you wash and wax your car yourself, it will make your car so much happier and appreciative for not having to endure the brushes and jets. And not only this, but you will get to know each and every last corner of your car's body, every nick and scratch, every stain in the carpet, every little detail that might all seem like imperfections, when in reality, they are all marks of age, or personality, of experience... making the machine more alive and less of an inanimate hunk of metal.
There are plenty more ways to treat your car right, but realistically, not everyone has hours on end to spend working on their car. I think it is one of those things where you get what you put in. I may not do as much for my car as some fanatics might, but I think I take care of it more than the typical owner. This car has given me so much through the years, and it's been one of my best friends, that it's the least I could do in return. There's few things I enjoy more than taking a long drive, just me and my car, listening to music and chilling for a bit. And when I need some time by myself to clear some thoughts, I take a couple hours off to wash my car, and that has never failed to cheer me up or at least get my mind off other things for a while.
My car never complains that I don't spend enough time with it, nor does it get jealous when I turn my head to check out a Ferrari going by. When I got my speeding tickets, or when I crashed into a mailbox, we shared the pain together, just the two of us when nobody else cared or understood. My baby isn't ever gonna leave me for another owner if I go through hard times. And I wouldn't ever trade in my car for a newer model unless it died, and in that case, there would still have to be a period of mourning. It never says a word, but I know what it's feeling at all times. Without my car to drive, I would be absolutely miserable, and without me to drive it, so would my car.
There are few things I love more than my car, because it's my car, I'm its owner, we have a great relationship, and it makes me happy. Some people have pet dogs, some people love fishing, but my car is what brings me joy. It's so much more than something to get me from one place to another, it's like my best friend. Don't laugh at me, it's true.
"I like to max in Maximas" - Notorious B.I.G.
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Monday, July 29, 2002
The Joys of Napping
With my schedule the way it is these days, I have been forced to take naps in the late afternoon-early evening every day in order to stay somewhat alert for the rest of the night. When I was at school, I was also known for my messed up napping habits. I would sleep at like 5 am, wake up for class at 9, go to class for a couple hours, come back, play Starcraft, and then nap for like 3 hours. Or, I'd pull an allnighter, try to make it through an entire day, then give in around dinnertime and "nap" for 16 hours (seriously, I did that). Anyways, you might consider me to be something of a nap expert, a nap connoiseur, if you will. So here are some of my thoughts on this wonderful art of life.
A lot of so-called "experts" say it is good to take short, 15-minute naps during the day as refreshers, rather than a long extended nap. To this, I say "pish-posh" and heartily disagree. So what if they have "medical degrees" and "years of research" and "scientific evidence"? Experts schmexperts... I really can't imagine getting anything out of a puny little 15 minute nap. It's comparable to eating 1 Pringle for a snack. It's like the Diet Coke of naps, "Just one calorie, not nappy enough."
Anyways, to me, a nap isn't a nap unless it's at least an hour and a half to two hours. Real men take long naps (real women, too). I personally feel very dissatisfied with a nap unless I wake up in a complete daze. You know what I mean, when you have no idea what time it is, your hair is all messed up, the wrinkles of your blankets and sheets are permanently engraved upon your face, arms, and legs, and drool is running continuously down your chin to your pillow. Ah, that's the stuff.
Whenever I get the chance to take a nice long nap, I make it a big deal and prepare for it in advance, kind of like when people invite a guest over and they prepare in advance. Well, when my favorite guest, the Nap Fairy, is coming to visit, I gotta make sure everything is in its right place (hey, that's a Radiohead song, "Everything in its Right Place"). That is, I gotta brush my teeth, wear my most comfortable clothes, shut down my computer (the sound of the fan gets annoying), and, for those naps when I treat myself to some extra sauce, I turn off my cell phone and lock my door. Ah, talking about it makes me want to take a nice long nap right this moment. But I guess I can wait for another 7 and a half hours. So as you can see, I don't take naps lightly, nor do I take light naps.
Oh man it's dark outside right now. I hope we don't get struck by a frickin tornado.
Ok, so naps are great and all, but even I will admit that they have their limitations. I'd take sleeping in any day over a 4 or 5 hour night's rest and 2 hour nap. And it's definitely inconvenient to depend on taking a long nap in the middle of the day. So that is why I value a good nap so much, because the opportunity to enjoy one is such a luxury that is not to be overlooked.
The moral of the story is, don't call me between the times of about 4:30 to 6 pm today.
With my schedule the way it is these days, I have been forced to take naps in the late afternoon-early evening every day in order to stay somewhat alert for the rest of the night. When I was at school, I was also known for my messed up napping habits. I would sleep at like 5 am, wake up for class at 9, go to class for a couple hours, come back, play Starcraft, and then nap for like 3 hours. Or, I'd pull an allnighter, try to make it through an entire day, then give in around dinnertime and "nap" for 16 hours (seriously, I did that). Anyways, you might consider me to be something of a nap expert, a nap connoiseur, if you will. So here are some of my thoughts on this wonderful art of life.
A lot of so-called "experts" say it is good to take short, 15-minute naps during the day as refreshers, rather than a long extended nap. To this, I say "pish-posh" and heartily disagree. So what if they have "medical degrees" and "years of research" and "scientific evidence"? Experts schmexperts... I really can't imagine getting anything out of a puny little 15 minute nap. It's comparable to eating 1 Pringle for a snack. It's like the Diet Coke of naps, "Just one calorie, not nappy enough."
Anyways, to me, a nap isn't a nap unless it's at least an hour and a half to two hours. Real men take long naps (real women, too). I personally feel very dissatisfied with a nap unless I wake up in a complete daze. You know what I mean, when you have no idea what time it is, your hair is all messed up, the wrinkles of your blankets and sheets are permanently engraved upon your face, arms, and legs, and drool is running continuously down your chin to your pillow. Ah, that's the stuff.
Whenever I get the chance to take a nice long nap, I make it a big deal and prepare for it in advance, kind of like when people invite a guest over and they prepare in advance. Well, when my favorite guest, the Nap Fairy, is coming to visit, I gotta make sure everything is in its right place (hey, that's a Radiohead song, "Everything in its Right Place"). That is, I gotta brush my teeth, wear my most comfortable clothes, shut down my computer (the sound of the fan gets annoying), and, for those naps when I treat myself to some extra sauce, I turn off my cell phone and lock my door. Ah, talking about it makes me want to take a nice long nap right this moment. But I guess I can wait for another 7 and a half hours. So as you can see, I don't take naps lightly, nor do I take light naps.
Oh man it's dark outside right now. I hope we don't get struck by a frickin tornado.
Ok, so naps are great and all, but even I will admit that they have their limitations. I'd take sleeping in any day over a 4 or 5 hour night's rest and 2 hour nap. And it's definitely inconvenient to depend on taking a long nap in the middle of the day. So that is why I value a good nap so much, because the opportunity to enjoy one is such a luxury that is not to be overlooked.
The moral of the story is, don't call me between the times of about 4:30 to 6 pm today.
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Pop-up Ads Suck
I think for as long as I have used web browsers, Espn.com has been my "Home" page. I know it shows that I value sports maybe a little too much, but it's always been a solid site to open my browser with, providing a quick summary of the top sports stories as well as some interesting columns that go more in depth. So, I never thought twice about setting all my Home pages to espn.com.
That is, until now. Lately, the page has been opening up pop-up ads every time I load it, which was annoying me more and more by the day. At first, the windows were just a little nuisance which I got used to closing. But today, it seemed like they had switched to some sort of super-pop-up-ad that opens up but makes it hard for you to close by switching between the espn window and the ad window until both are fully loaded. I don't think this was by design, but I open up new browsers probably over a hundred times during the course of the day, and as you might expect, by mid afternoon (around now) I was soooooo pissed. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be on a slow internet connection and have to go through that.
So I wrote a nasty email to the folks at espn.com who brought such atrocity upon my life, but being quite confident that they don't give a schnitt about my ordeal, I will probably end up having to change my Home page to something else before the pop-up madness makes me flip. Here's the thing: I know that me writing a strongly-worded email isn't gonna change anything, and that's pretty much why I don't usually do that kind of stuff. But, if more people write emails, and more people switch from espn to some other site, then they will be forced to take notice. I'm hoping this will happen and that the idiots who decided to sic these dumb ads on me will be forced to endure punishment similar to what I faced with these stupid ads this morning.
Anyways, this leaves me somewhat open to what my new home page shall be. So far, the possible candidates include:
1. cbs.sportsline.com, cnnsi.com - Two other major sports sites that don't have pop-up ads (I think)
2. www.google.com - A simple page that loads fast with no ads. I like google.
3. my.yahoo.com - I customized a page a while back on yahoo and it's pretty good. A Search bar near the top, weather, my email, news, links to my yahoo fantasy teams, and movie showtimes. Convenient and organized.
4. dudo509.blogspot.com - An awesome page that I visit frequently anyways. This guy has some of the most brilliant thoughts ever and we all could learn a lot from him. Plus, he's pretty darn good looking.
5. www.cnn.com - I've found myself visiting CNN a lot lately, maybe it's because I'm bored from reading sports all day, or maybe I am becoming more mature and world-conscious. It's not boring at all, as many people think, many of these stories are relevant and worth reading.
6. www.salon.com - You may have noticed that I included this site, which is kind of like an online magazine, on the links at the left of this page (I'll change them when I get around to it). I used to visit it more, but not so much lately. Still, it has a good coverage of recent events and overall, its writers put out well written pieces (unlike my blog entries). I doubt it will end up being my Home though, among all the other choices I'm listing.
7. www.espn.com - Ah, in many ways, I am still a stubborn, stubborn man. It's hard to change the habits that have been formed over 4 or 5 years, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Hmmm.... I think I am gonna grow up to be one of those old grandpas that annoys the crap out of everybody by refusing to listen to anyone.
If anyone reading this has any thoughts or suggestings about what I'm writing, feel free to contact me. Also, if anyone knows where the espn.com offices are located, please tell me so I can go reward them with eggs and toilet paper. Just kidding, vandalism is never the answer. But whoever wants to harrass espn.com with emails like I did has my full blessing.
I think for as long as I have used web browsers, Espn.com has been my "Home" page. I know it shows that I value sports maybe a little too much, but it's always been a solid site to open my browser with, providing a quick summary of the top sports stories as well as some interesting columns that go more in depth. So, I never thought twice about setting all my Home pages to espn.com.
That is, until now. Lately, the page has been opening up pop-up ads every time I load it, which was annoying me more and more by the day. At first, the windows were just a little nuisance which I got used to closing. But today, it seemed like they had switched to some sort of super-pop-up-ad that opens up but makes it hard for you to close by switching between the espn window and the ad window until both are fully loaded. I don't think this was by design, but I open up new browsers probably over a hundred times during the course of the day, and as you might expect, by mid afternoon (around now) I was soooooo pissed. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be on a slow internet connection and have to go through that.
So I wrote a nasty email to the folks at espn.com who brought such atrocity upon my life, but being quite confident that they don't give a schnitt about my ordeal, I will probably end up having to change my Home page to something else before the pop-up madness makes me flip. Here's the thing: I know that me writing a strongly-worded email isn't gonna change anything, and that's pretty much why I don't usually do that kind of stuff. But, if more people write emails, and more people switch from espn to some other site, then they will be forced to take notice. I'm hoping this will happen and that the idiots who decided to sic these dumb ads on me will be forced to endure punishment similar to what I faced with these stupid ads this morning.
Anyways, this leaves me somewhat open to what my new home page shall be. So far, the possible candidates include:
1. cbs.sportsline.com, cnnsi.com - Two other major sports sites that don't have pop-up ads (I think)
2. www.google.com - A simple page that loads fast with no ads. I like google.
3. my.yahoo.com - I customized a page a while back on yahoo and it's pretty good. A Search bar near the top, weather, my email, news, links to my yahoo fantasy teams, and movie showtimes. Convenient and organized.
4. dudo509.blogspot.com - An awesome page that I visit frequently anyways. This guy has some of the most brilliant thoughts ever and we all could learn a lot from him. Plus, he's pretty darn good looking.
5. www.cnn.com - I've found myself visiting CNN a lot lately, maybe it's because I'm bored from reading sports all day, or maybe I am becoming more mature and world-conscious. It's not boring at all, as many people think, many of these stories are relevant and worth reading.
6. www.salon.com - You may have noticed that I included this site, which is kind of like an online magazine, on the links at the left of this page (I'll change them when I get around to it). I used to visit it more, but not so much lately. Still, it has a good coverage of recent events and overall, its writers put out well written pieces (unlike my blog entries). I doubt it will end up being my Home though, among all the other choices I'm listing.
7. www.espn.com - Ah, in many ways, I am still a stubborn, stubborn man. It's hard to change the habits that have been formed over 4 or 5 years, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Hmmm.... I think I am gonna grow up to be one of those old grandpas that annoys the crap out of everybody by refusing to listen to anyone.
If anyone reading this has any thoughts or suggestings about what I'm writing, feel free to contact me. Also, if anyone knows where the espn.com offices are located, please tell me so I can go reward them with eggs and toilet paper. Just kidding, vandalism is never the answer. But whoever wants to harrass espn.com with emails like I did has my full blessing.
Yao Ming
The latest #1 draft pick in the NBA just happens to be a 7'6" Chinese guy who can shoot three pointers. While it would be great to see him do well in the NBA, the more I think about it, the more I think it's gonna be a disaster. I mean, the guy is tall and everything, and I'm sure he has good fundamentals, but I fear that the first time he tries to put a body on Shaq will also be his last. He's gonna get so crushed it's not even funny. Shaq is gonna knock him over and eat him.
We've already seen skinny 7'6" guys in the NBA, and they usually end up being freak shows instead of dominating players. Can we forget Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley so easily, they might block some shots but they don't do much else other than stand there and look goofy.
And today I read an article on how they are gonna make Yao a huge endorsement commodity like Tiger Woods. Sorry, but that is gonna be more hilarious than anything. There is no way people in this country are gonna think this thuggish Yao Ming character is cool. Unfortunately, Chinese guys are not meant to be cool, especially oversized awkard-looking ones. Ichiro is cool, but Yao Ming is not gonna be Ichiro. At most, they might get him to appeal to the Asian-American community by having him do commercials for rice or something. And they might sell a bunch of "Yao #11" jerseys to Asian kids trying to be hip. But McDonalds and Nike should probably stick to players like Jordan and Tiger if they are any wiser.
Hopefully I am wrong, because heaven knows I would love to see a Chinese athlete succeed in professional sports (I almost bought a Bruce Chen jersey a couple years ago when he came up with the Atlanta Braves, boy, would I have looked dumb). But in a year or two, we may be looking at Yao Ming as the biggest disappointment, the biggest bust ever. I predict he will foul out every other game now that he isn't playing in China where everyone is like 2 feet shorter than him.
The latest #1 draft pick in the NBA just happens to be a 7'6" Chinese guy who can shoot three pointers. While it would be great to see him do well in the NBA, the more I think about it, the more I think it's gonna be a disaster. I mean, the guy is tall and everything, and I'm sure he has good fundamentals, but I fear that the first time he tries to put a body on Shaq will also be his last. He's gonna get so crushed it's not even funny. Shaq is gonna knock him over and eat him.
We've already seen skinny 7'6" guys in the NBA, and they usually end up being freak shows instead of dominating players. Can we forget Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley so easily, they might block some shots but they don't do much else other than stand there and look goofy.
And today I read an article on how they are gonna make Yao a huge endorsement commodity like Tiger Woods. Sorry, but that is gonna be more hilarious than anything. There is no way people in this country are gonna think this thuggish Yao Ming character is cool. Unfortunately, Chinese guys are not meant to be cool, especially oversized awkard-looking ones. Ichiro is cool, but Yao Ming is not gonna be Ichiro. At most, they might get him to appeal to the Asian-American community by having him do commercials for rice or something. And they might sell a bunch of "Yao #11" jerseys to Asian kids trying to be hip. But McDonalds and Nike should probably stick to players like Jordan and Tiger if they are any wiser.
Hopefully I am wrong, because heaven knows I would love to see a Chinese athlete succeed in professional sports (I almost bought a Bruce Chen jersey a couple years ago when he came up with the Atlanta Braves, boy, would I have looked dumb). But in a year or two, we may be looking at Yao Ming as the biggest disappointment, the biggest bust ever. I predict he will foul out every other game now that he isn't playing in China where everyone is like 2 feet shorter than him.
Wednesday, July 24, 2002
New Cell Phone Number
As of Tuesday evening, my old cell phone number no longer works. I got a new number in the (630) area code. If you would like to know, please call my cell and I will tell you. haha just kidding, I'm pretty funny aren't I. Anyways, I will hopefully get an email sent out to everyone who calls me ever, but if you are dying to know, try calling my house or emailing me to ask.
As of Tuesday evening, my old cell phone number no longer works. I got a new number in the (630) area code. If you would like to know, please call my cell and I will tell you. haha just kidding, I'm pretty funny aren't I. Anyways, I will hopefully get an email sent out to everyone who calls me ever, but if you are dying to know, try calling my house or emailing me to ask.
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