Matt the Geek

I get to go home on Saturday morning. This makes me happy, I love spending time with my family. Yeah, it's a 6 AM flight, which means I need to be to the airport by 4:30AM. Oh well. I get to go home. It's worth it.
While I was here in Virginia, I've had some time off. In that time I went to the Ferrari dealership that is around the corner to take pictures. I found my car there. Yup. The Lamborghini Gallardo. It was an awesome yellow. Only 230-some thousand dollars.
There was also a car show at the Lowe's hardware store over that weekend. I took pictures of that too. Some beautiful cars there.

# posted by Geekboy : 12:36 AM

For work I had to drive a vehicle out to a co worker for a truck swap, so his could get needed repairs. Thing is, I was driving from Mooresville, NC and Brian was in Santa Ana, CA. This meant I just drove almost the entire length of Interstate 40 West. Some 2400 Miles. I was piloting a 2005 Ford F550, which is a nice truck, but also like a baby semi-truck. It's a good thing I like to drive. And also, the way I see it, if I am to be away from home, I at least want to be doing something other than being at the shop working hard at finding something to do.
Along the way, I learned that the people from PotterCast, a Harry Potter podcast I listen to, were going to be in Santa Fe, New Mexico on June 17. Which, by chance, is right where I was going to be on June 17.
And then I got to Santa Ana and was informed the Boeing truck was going back on the road soon, and so last night/this morning I flew from John Wayne Airport to San Francisco, and then to Washington-Dulles in VA. I landed at 6:30 this morning, caught a taxi to the hotel, and promptly fell asleep.

Speaking of driving, or really the lack thereof for my wife, her car broke again. As I am sure you all have memorized, I wrote back in September about her Dynasty breaking its Left Rear spring mount. Well, now it's broken the Right Rear spring mount. Which was supposed to have been re-enforced after repairs to the Left side. And my Audi still needs a fuel pump. Yes, I have recurring automotive issues. The VW had the bad juju with its starter, and it had a fuel pump issue too.
A list of cars we have had, and their problems:
1986 Ford Escort GL (mine)1992-96: This didn't have many problems until my abuse of it got to be a bit much, then it blew the valve cover gasket, twice. After the starter died, I got rid of it.
1987? Pontiac 6000 (Tracys): I dont remember much, but I know it had exhaust issues.
1989 Pontiac Grand Am (both?)1996-2000?: Had ECU issue, a fuel leak, the exhaust fall off right after the manifold, and more computer issues. And ignition coil issues.
1989 Ford Econoline van (Tracys) 2000-2002?: Spare fuel tank had a leak above half full, oil leak, then the computer died.
1977 Ford Mustang II (mine) 1997-2001: I had this car for 4 years, but it needed a new engine when I got it, which I new ahead of time, and the car was given to me. Finally got it rebuilt in the spring of '01. Was near perfect. Late summer had the brake master cylinder go out. A week after repairing it and the entire brake line system, I get head-on'd by a Honda Accord. On our anniversary.
1983 Chevy Caprice wagon (mine) 2001-2002: Gas tank leaked, all tie rods bad, alternator bad, tires all bad, rust everywhere, yeah.
1995 Ford Aerostar minivan (ours) 2002-2005: Started off nice. ABS didnt function. Then it hit a deer. After that the problems cropped up. Tie rods, tires, radiator, oil leak, distributor cap (2x), brakes/rotors (2x), spark plugs/wires (2x), exhaust falling off (4x atleast)
1988 VW Jetta (mine) 2005-2006: Hot start(or no start, really) issue. later I find this is common on the 85-92 VW automatics due to starter placement. LR wheel bearing, RF wheel bearing, RF axle, LR brake leak. Electrical gremlins and no time to fix them meant I got rid of it to someone who could care for it.
1989 Merkur Scorpio (Tracys) 2006: This was going to be a nice car. I thought. Had brake issues, transmission issues, and then finally broke the flywheel while on the highway. Had it repaired, but did it again, because the shop forgot to tighten the transmission to the engine! along the way we learned that Merkur's were money pits, so we got rid of it.
1993 Dodge Dynasty (Tracys) 2006-present, for now: Good at first. Then the afore mentioned spring mounts and a power steering leak. And an exhaust problem.
1992 Audi 100CS (mine) 2006-present: needs shifter bushings, but functional; needs front struts/mounts; power window relay; fuel pump dead. It's a nice car, I hope I can keep it a while.

If you made it this far, congratulations! You must have been bored.
Anyhow, I am out for now.
Goodnight.

Yeah, I am updating again. No real reason, just thought I would. I'm down here near Charlotte, in Statesville, NC. I had been staying in Concord, but the shop moved up to Mooresville, which is about a 45 minute drive from the hotel they had me staying in. The shop we are in now was once the home of JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr's race team. Getting there from Concord involved driving on Highway 3. And what do you find on ? Dale Earnhardt Inc. Someday I will stop there.

There is talk that when the Boeing truck goes back on the road, we will be heading back to Washington DC. To the Pentagon, again. Possibly even Capitol Hill. Maybe even more places there. We shall see...

As usual, the quest for a job closer to home has not paid off yet. Soon, I hope. I like being home, and around my Wife and kids.