A few weeks ago I wrote down this random prompt: All the cars I’ve owned. I saw it tonight and thought, what an interesting conversation to have. So, here it goes.
- Olds 88: I bought this car off a teenage girl for something like $450. It had one headlight and turned like a fat dinosaur. Still, once it got on the open road that car could flat out move. I still remember doing 95+ down the I-35 with a backseat full of DJ gear trying to make it to a set.
- Chrysler Cirrus: Eventually the Olds gave out, and I needed to get into something functional. I found this wonderful purple Chrysler Cirrus and christened her ‘Jellybean’. Soon it was the ‘bean racing down I-35 with a backseat full of DJ gear. One day Jelly Bean burst into flames and rolled to a disappointing stop in the middle of the industrial district of Des Moines, Iowa. I managed to walk to restaurant and call someone to cover my DJ gig and someone else to come get me. The ‘bean never ran again.
- Nissan Maxima: Once I went foreign I knew I was in love. Maxi was my first luxury car and represented everything I looked for in a vehicle. Unfortunately, my mind never accepted the loss of this car. In truth, I probably blacked out whatever happened to it. I’ve since gone back to the Nissan well time and time again.
- Honda Element: The one thing I remember about this car is the first day I owned it. The seal on that beast was incredible. I’m talking luxury level noise blocking. I couldn’t hear a peep of the outside world–which is why when I saw the police car coming at me from the opposite highway slam on the brakes and switch to my side of the highway I wondered, who the heck is he after. I hadn’t heard the other car that had been chasing me, siren blaring, for quite some time.
- Nissan Quest: At some point you have to start being a good driver, and start being a dad. No more speeding, because mini-van is here! We bought a mini-van in AZ and I met a guy at the dealership who happened to be the coach of the Flagstaff Hitmen. He invited me to come try out for the team. I did. I played one year for the Hitmen and was interested in returning, but it was too hard on the wife. Its too late now to play anymore. My knees are very much against it.
- Pontiac Grand Am: Never buy a Pontiac. Within a month of owning it, something in the drivetrain snapped and the car became inoperable. Pontiac sucks rocks.
- Nissan Altima #1: I should be dead. I’m quite aware that having an Altima is why I am not dead. We were in an accident that ended with the driver of the other car dying. Given my early driving history you may be wondering if it was me who caused this. No. Truthfully, despite speeding through the empty roads of Iowa, I learned to be a more in control defensive driver as a result of moving to the accident capital of the free world. That, and the car saved my family. A car ran a stop sign and thundered on to the highway in front of us. I was able to turn my vehicle just enough to survive the collision.
- Nissan Altima #2: You know I went and got another one.
- Scion XB: I love this car. No stories to tell until all the stories of this car have been written. I’ll say this: The Scion has room for days.
- Nissan Altima #3: Yep, I’m a straight up addict. Or loyalist.
Some Thoughts:
- Amidst all the outrage and mock surprise about the Clippers owner’s racist rant tape I feel I need to say something: Stop acting like you’re surprised. We are talking about a league that, like football, essentially operates in the same fashion as the slave trade did–right up to the part about getting paid. Players are poked, prodded, examined, ran through drills, and basically put on display like meat until the auctioneer tells them whose chain to put on–I mean hat. The entire thing is televised like it is a sport in of itself. You don’t see that for leagues that aren’t considered, as Charles Barkley put, ‘black league(s)’. I’ll say more once I know the facts.
The Custom in New York - Interesting day of youth soccer. Our clear cut best 4-5 player moved up to the 6-7 league because he wasn’t challenged. We thought the team might struggle as a result. Nope. Up until today only 4 kids had ever scored goals for the team (including our #1 guy). This game 4 kids scored, including my own kid who knocked in 7 on the way to a 10-1 rout. I guess they were laying low and letting the good player do all the work. Now its game time.
