Sticker Shock

Neither of us went to the University Of Texas @ Austin, but the UT orange paint is rather pretty on the new truck.

On the other hand, all of the UT stickers and emblems are a bit much:




We joked around that the truck came with two kids:


Wimpy soccer playing kids, but they're ours now so shut up!
Not everyone can make the football team.

I shake my head every time I unlock the door:
I took these pictures today because without an insurance card I didn't feel comfortable taking a real drive outside the neighborhood, so I had to do something.
First thing tomorrow I'm going to scrape that shit off, even if it damages the paint.
I'll cover any damage with skulls or basses or cameras if I have to.


Nothing against UT--I just don't believe in false advertising.
This truck is in San Antonio now, where bright metallic orange is considered cool.
Hopefully I won't accidentally cut-off any Aggies in traffic and get a pine sapling or sheep's butt thrown at me.



UPDATE: I LOVE THIS TRUCK!!!
Finally got to drive it around town today, then to work, and I just now got home.
It's awesome.
Drives like a dream, solid and true.
289cid V6 Magnum motor, automatic transmission with overdrive, big tires that look almost new, immaculate interior (a surprise on a '98) and only 97k miles.
For what we paid, it's a freaking steal.
Cruise control was very nice on the way home tonight.

I need to scrub the bed and liner, buy floormats, and a drop-hitch + trailer electricals.
Tomorrow I'll polish the headlight covers and pick a CD to test that part of the stereo.
I hope my license plates aren't weird when they come in--no WTF-666 please.

At first I thought there was a suspension issue due to thumping sounds.
Turns out the spare tire wasn't winched all the way up, so it was banging around under there.
There's some minor body damage and the hood and bumpers are mis-aligned a bit, but when you drive the truck it's obvious that there hasn't been any wrecks in the past.
Alignment is perfect and it feels better than a 2010 Ford Ranger I have intimate experience with.
Looks like just the typical teenager parking lot crunches to me.

I'll shut up now...

Liberation Day

Free At Last!

It's been a rough week.
We cruised past our preferred Polish Used Cars lot on Monday and spotted this bright orange Dodge Dakota.
I stuck my fingers through the chainlink fence, like a child in 1946 Berlin during the airlift seeking candy.

On Tuesday I called and was informed that they didn't allow testdrives in the rain (let alone tropical storms) and that they would be closed on Wednesday.
(Strike 2!)

Sylvia got off work early today and we hurried over to check it out, and now it's ours.
Mine!
Several other people were interested--we were told this after the sale was complete, so it isn't BS.

The interior is incredible for a 12 year old truck, but maybe they just take better care in San Marcos?
It was originally green, but there are some UT Longhorn stickers so it looks like the orange paint was a present.

Bottom line is that I have transport of my own for the first time since my Honda Prelude got totalled on Nov. 12, 2009.
My life is about to change.
Hopefully I can reclaim some of my momentum and productivity, both photographically and musically.

Three For Free

The last week has been a blessing.
Free tickets rained down on us, and we got to attend some seriously great events.

I had to work, but Sylvia got 11th row seats at the UT game in Austin last Saturday.
It was hot and sweaty, but fun. She had a great time.

On Monday, we both got to attend the Metallica concert at the ATT Center.
In a corporate box.
With a parking pass that had guys shouting out orders and moving cones and I swear, bowing a little as we got to play bigshot and only had to walk about 30 feet to the entrance.

As expected, James, Lars, Kirk and Robert put on a great show.
The production was big and very professional.
Their sound engineer is almost as good as me--loud as hell but no ringing ears afterwards. I could explain how we do this but it would take a long time and you might fall asleep halfway through.
Best concert I've seen since Pink Floyd at the AlamoDome, although TransSiberian Orchestra is right up there, too.
Thanks, Julie!!!

Today we saw our third free show, and it made me get a little teary-eyed.
The SPURS played a full game against themselves at the ATT Center!
Silver against black, refs in shorts, no uniforms, Coach Pop in the stands, the Coyote and Silver Dancers, 1 dollar hotdogs and sodas, free admission, free parking.
Timmy Duncan won the 3-point contest after the game with 5/12 shooting!
All the new guys looked great, as did Manu and Tony, etc.
Bonner was hitting his 3s--"Everybody Clap Your Hands"!
New wingman Richard Jefferson was funny and charming when he MC'd the 3-point duel. You can tell this guy is already family.

After a summer spent making smart trades, smart draft picks (steals, more like!) and picking up some great free agents, the Spurs are looking healthy and hungry and deep.
This roster is the best I've ever seen, with every position filled with two talented guys and another trying to make the cut.
We're younger yet more experienced at the same time.
Crafty vets and talented youngsters--sweet!
Everyone is healthy and prepared to start slow and easy for the long season ahead.
The coaching staff has dropped a huge number of set plays from the book to help speed-up the learning curve for all the new guys, and their plan is to just let Tony Parker run the show and call it on the fly.
After what Tony showed us last season, this is a very smart move.

Timmy dropped 15 lbs, which is great news for his knees.
George Hill looked confident and smart on the court today.
He'll be a star point guard someday, with TP's help.

#21 Tim Duncan has only a few more years in his contract and his body, and the story goes that everyone in the Spurs organization, from majority owner Peter Holt on down to the towel boys, think he would look just dandy with a fifth championship ring for his thumb.
This summer was all about getting him that ring, and everything I've seen today tells me that we have the right people and mentality to make it happen.

I'll miss Bowen and Oberto and Kurt Thomas's crazy eyes, but the time to clean house was now.
Let's all agree to show our support and go to more games this year?
We need to do our part and help pay the luxury tax penalty incurred with all this rebuilding.
Even $10 nosebleed seats get you a really good time.
Drop $15 more for Parking Lot #9 and you can get out super quick and be home by 11pm--my dirty little secret that's worth every penny.
(Come up Houston Street from Walters and use the Freeman Coliseum entrance--tell the dudes you want Lot 9 and you can thank me later).

Pre-season games start on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.
I'm almost crazy with anticipation!
This is the year I get a Spurs logo tattoo.