Live With The Nerds
Don't Be One
July 2002
Just about every other day we're trying out new marinades, usually because
we can't remember what we put into them a couple of days before. I've managed
to start catching up on my movie deficit, but the results have been a bit disappointing
even the highly anticipated movies have been a bit flat.
Still haven't gotten back to finishing the baseboards, but that may wait till
I get my new double-bubble windscreen next week, then I'll put that and my
mini turnsignals on, before starting back on the baseboards. The re-fi is underway
but it appears I won't be able to consolidate my home equity LOC, and may have
to switch to another mortgage company (too bad, I liked WaMu). The upside is that
I can get a no points, no cost 5-1 loan at 5.75, so my monthly will be just about
the same, but it won't fluctuate when the rates start to rise (I'm on a straight
ARM now)
Saturday night Elena and I ate at the Mt View Obon, food was good as always, but there
wasn't any dancing (just on sunday nights for a bit) so we wandered off to see a movie
instead. Sunday I volunteered at the Children's Health Council with NetApp. We usually
do the donor reception and then get a free pass to see the concert. This year it
was Trisha Yearwood, not bad, although country. Supposidly Garth was in the audience
but he didn't go up on stage at all.
Tuesday I gave blood, and had a fairly decent bp (130/80) I think its because
I've started exercising again, oh and it appears that I've lost a bit of weight
too, guess I'll stay on the slim-fast for a while longer (just 3 times a week though).
On the house front I'm in the process of re-financing the townhouse so that I
can get out from under my ARM while the rates are really low. Good timing too,
not only are the rates low, but it appears that the units in my complex are selling
fast, and for significantly over the asking price, I might even be back to the same
price level as when I originally bought. I still have to do the baseboards, I'll be more
motivated now that an appraiser will be coming to inspect the premises. Oh and this
past weekend I bought a BBQ (decent size, low price $79, at Long's Drugs of all places)
it didn't come with a tank so yesterday after a rather annoying bait and switch at Home Depot
(yeah, like those filled tanks were anywhere near new) Elena and I hunted around
for abount an hour looking for a propane dealer, unfortunately they were all closed,
so I finished the assembly tonight, and hopefully tomorrow I can get the tank filled.
Then it'll be BBQ mania ...
Friday the shopping madness began, there was the obligatory t-shirt and souvenir spree,
followed by a hunt for various accessories. There was fate in the wind, I found
the jacket (Joe Rocket Ballistic Jacket) I'd been looking for at a great price
($149, regularly $249)
and pants (Joe Rocket Phoenix Pants) for an even better price ($109, regularly $130).
I was initially going to pass on the pants since they were a bit large (XXL) but
since I'm going to wear them over clothes it wasn't such a big deal.
As always we spent a good deal of time in the hot pits, and in our suite. Managed
to get back around 6 to meet Elena so we could all go out to eat (Sardine Factory, mmmmmm)
Saturday, Elena spa'd while we watched the races in the shade (with a TV). There was
even more shopping, and I stumbled across the helmet I'd been looking for (Arai, Quantum/f
Okada 1, the blue and red one) at a very good price ($399, regularly $550, locally for $449)
the Arai's are hard to find discounted since they've stopped allowing mail or internet
orders.
Saturday night was the bike fest, Elena and I caught dinner at Abalonetti's on the wharf,
good food, but not great service. The bike fest was huge easily twice
as big as last year, but not very rowdy at all. Sunday was some excellent racing
although more people crashed than last year. There was more shopping too, I'd been
eying a pair of Sidi Motosport boots, but they weren't on sale yet. I went by again
to find only 1 pair in my size left, and they were willing to give me another 5% off
($117, regularly $130) so in the bag they went, now I was just about outfitted from
head to toe, unfortunately I didn't find any gloves I liked. Still searching I ran
into the exact short stalk marker lights that I wanted (Lockhart-Phillips Iridium
Short Stalk IV's check out my bike page) they cut me a pretty decent deal for 2 sets
($32, no tax, regularly $34+tax)
A spendy weekend indeed, but now I'll be relatively safe commuting on my bike,
and I definitely won't be overheating from lack of ventilation ;)
Forgot to mention my brush with fame, turns out that Matt LeBlanc
rode an Aprilla Futura (silver) up from LA and stayed at our hotel,
didn't actually see him till the last day though. He mentioned that he
also has a Mille R (faster but no bags for travel).
Yeah, I might have been able to beg a ride from Elena, but she had already
lent me her car, and she was busy entertaining her ex from Toronto for the
long weekend. For some odd reason he didn't want to meet me, go figure.
Anyway that gave me plenty of time to work on my major bike project, you
can read all about my new renegade pipes
here quite the adventure
and quit satisfying after it was all done. I've also been busy updating my
site picture wise. There are new updates on
my bike as well as pictures
of my wrecked M
I was so busy with the pipes that I missed all of the 4th of July movie openings
(of course, Elena went to MIB II while entertaining) and now its a short week
as I'm off to Laguna Seca for 5 days with Carey and the gang. I think it'll
be painful cuz its just the major heat wave down here now (in the 100's) and it
doesn't look like its going to cool off till the end of the weekend. I'll catch
up on the movies after I get back, hopefully I'll start more regular updates too ;)
This past week has been really busy at work, but I still managed to get
a day of vball in, as well as start a new session of bball. In any case
its been bbq mania, as I got it all set up, and Elena got the tank filled up.
Work has been busy, busy, busy, but I was feeling pretty good so I tried
to play bball on Saturday. Seemed like everything was fine, but was pretty sore
on Sunday, ice, stretch and I felt better than ever on Monday, so I played vball
at my league, but instead of setting I was strictly Libero, it all went well, and
the back wasn't any more sore than normal. Looks like I'll be back to a normal sports
routine soon.
Yeah, it was a long, hot almost week-long, weekend. World Superbikes at Laguna
Seca. After showing off my pipes to Carey & Jo (they liked them) we headed down
to Monterey early (wed). Thursday we caught the aquarium (cool jellies) before heading
out to the track for the afternoon. We beat the shopping rush, and then checked out the
layout for Friday.
Ok, seems like forever, been really, really busy at work, the back
was getting marginally better, then, before I knew it, it was the holiday
weekend. This time I had plenty of rest, and managed to take my bike in
for it's first 500 mile tune-up. Because the car is out of whack, I had
to walk to and from the shop, good thing it was only about a mile away.
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