Saturday, November 19, 2016

Never too early?

I'm starting on some New Year 2017 resolutions now - why wait?  I'll beat the rush and have a 30+ day head start.

I'm looking to get back into running - have been on hiatus for a long time (too long?).  So signing up for the 2/19/2017 Austin Half Marathon is a good idea.   Mr. John was pretty excited to hear about that one.  Baby I'm Back!  Anybody get the 70s sitcom reference?

I went to Lector training at church today and they fooled me - it was Lector AND Lay Eucharistic Minister training.   So now I am trained.  I'll give it a shot...

I'm planning to join the crowd for handgun shooting on Tuesday - hope they'll have me.   Never easy to break into a new group but it should be something to try out one night a week.

More to come..



Saturday, November 12, 2016

Car Under Repair

In for repairs from a rear end collision is my 2011 BMW 535i.  I had told a friend that the repairs were being done by Keith.  I told her that if you had a $200,000 car, he would be the one to do the repair.  That went over her head, but when I was talking to Keith, he pointed out a $180K car, a $150K car, an $80K car and so on.  "Occasionally we work on a boring car, like a BMW" he said.

Now then, I said, this 2011 model is the F10 body style of the 5 series, the first in the 2011-2016 run of that body style.  The new body style, called G30 is out now for 2017.

The 2011 model came in 5 configurations.  I would say the 535i with the 3.0 liter Inline 6 cylinder, twin turbo, giving 300 hp. is the most desirable overall.  It has plenty of power, 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, top speed of 140 mph/240 Km/pm.  And 30-31 mpg on the Highway

The 528i has a 2.0 liter twin turbo engine.   Better gas mileage but less power.

The 535i X Drive is all wheel driver, better for cold  and snowy climates (which we don't have)

The larger engines are somewhat of overkill/upsell for those wanting more:  550i with a 4.4 L V-8 engine and the M5, with a V10 engine, 500 hp.

This 535i comes in a very desirable color combo, Black exterior and Cinnamon Dakota Leather interior ( a $1400 option)

The 2011 models didn't come standard equipped with Navigation, heated seats or satellite radio.  Three less things to break.  I like to think it is hot rodded in that respect to lessen the weight.

Very sophisticated crash system with multiple airbags.  It even has a rear crash sensor which activated the headrests forward to reduce whiplash.  I can attest that it worked great.  So did the brakes which I had to put to the test.  It stopped on a dime.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

80s concerts

I recently saw Rush-Time Stand Still about the fandom of the Canadian trio. There were many fans who had seen many live shows. But I seemed to either have slept through those opportunities - or maybe I just didn't choose to spend the money. Of course, concerts were not as big of a business back in the 80s.

Here's the major concerts I did see in the 80s:

Van Halen - Austin - 1981 - my first time. Like many first times, it wasn't that great. David Lee Roth was so drunk...he forgot the words to "Running with the Devil"

The Police - Austin - 1983 - The Fixx opened. Outdoors at the Meadows. Synchronicity Tour. Who knew it would be the last for many years.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 1984 - Austin. Great show. Southern Accents tour.

Dire Straits - Madrid, Spain, 1985 - right before they blew it up with Money for Nothing.  That time it was me who was so drunk.  Not the best way to enjoy a concert. I was truly on the front row - the show was outdoor and I was right up front.

 Madonna - RFK Stadium 1987 - Level 42 opened. Washington DC - an early stadium show. Who knew she would still be filling stadiums in 2016?  I had two women with me for that show - now that IS the best way to enjoy the show.

In college in Lexington VA in the 80s, we had a lot of music booked into our little town for entertainment.  So I went to nearly all of those shows:

General Public
REM
The Romantics
The Temptations
The Spinners
George Throughgood and the Destroyers
Violet Femmes
Otis Day and the Knights
The Time

I even say the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the college pub.  Can't remember much more specific than that.

I was not that much into Country music then, but I did see a memorable performance by George Strait in 1989 in the rodeo arena in Kingsville, Texas.  Doesn't get much more Texas than that.