Most Liked Automotive Blogs (377)

I might as well write a blog…
So, since I’m trying the sober and alert route, I have been working on my house.

When I first moved here, I was involved with a guy from NJ. I came out of a very controlling marriage so I was happy to wear the pants. Unfortunately, everything began to unravel. He failed to mention an opioid addiction. That coupled with being a mama’s boy left me responsible for everything. Things got worse and I took the couch.

Things began building up. The mail, because I couldn’t pay the bills, the personal belongings being tossed wherever they could fit. My world became a survival of the chaos. And so things progressed until I felt like I lived in an episode of Hoarders. There was no rhyme or reason.

The depression got worse. The drinking got worse until my environment became debilitating.

A few years ago I managed to successfully kick the loser out. Since then, I’ve felt as if I failed miserably and self medicated accordingly.

I took a turn 12 days ago. I have some appliances coming on the 26th and preparing. Rather than just organizing my kitchen and basement, I am organizing my home deliberately.

I have turned a small bedroom into a dressing room. All my shoes and boots go there. I have purchased attractive lidded boxes for my art supplies. I have purchased beautiful rugs in light tones to combat the dark wood trim and floors. I hung some cheerful yellow window treatments for my kitchen. They look great with my vintage, ‘50’s lemon yellow table

I’m tearing out the carpet and laying down vinyl tile for ease of cleaning.

All this work gives me vision and purpose. I’m not doing it to have guests. I’m doing it for me. I haven’t had the urge for a beer. I’m feeling more in control.

If anyone out there needs some motivation for a cleaner house, check out the Secret Slob on YouTube. That woman is great.

i've notice a growing phenomen among the blogs. it's spreading faster than the dreaded C. there is no vaccine.

it is the passive aggressive tactics of the controlling know-it-alls. the suggestion that if one disagrees, the result is being accused of ignorance or a lack of brains. this arrogant display of verbal insults seem entirely spewed by the male population. their belittling barbs fall short of their marks.

the infantile remarks written by such reminds me of little children in bibs, while their toxic drool is collected in the folds.

these so-called men are laughable, at best. their go-to insults exhibit their lack of imagination and are clear examples of a stalled mind.

in addition to my abstinence from alcohol, i'm going to try to abstain from blogs i don't agree with. this is more of a challenge but i look to certain members for guidance and inspiration. this doesn't mean i won't engage on my own blogs, but i think in the future, i will again look to certain members for their guidance and inspiration and delete the unsavory. you know who you are.

after a day of mowing, trimming, sweeping, scrubbing and mopping, my fridge didn't make it on the truck.
it's sunday so i can't call Lowes customer service until tomorrow. i wonder what day it's coming?
sigh...............................
i was so excited

I have an issue with aggressive drivers using a merge lane. Yesterday, must have been aggressive driver Tuesday. In the morning on the way to an appointment, driving in a construction zone I was approaching a merge lane where two lanes merge into one.
There were lots of warning signs, traffic cones and plastic guard rails in a 30mph zone. Having passed this road several times before, I was already in the main lane and not the merge lane. Traffic was slow, but 2 drivers in Tesla's had to force their way into the merge pushing out other cars that 'gave-way' or be involved in an accident.
Usually, it's someone in a BMW doing a stunt like that.
I worked for a guy who had a truck with oversized bumpers and jacked-up tires. He always pushed into a traffic situation that forced the other drivers to stop, letting him in, especially when he tooted a horn as loud a train.
Last night was a close call. I'm on the interstate highway in the left lane that opens to the express lane. It's after 9pm and traffic is moving smoothy. There is a merge lane for people exiting the express lane that feeds back into my lane. Unexpectedly, someone shot out of the express lane and attempting to eclipse me. It happened quickly as I didn't see him accelerating. The warning light came on my mirror but there wasn't enough room for 2 cars. I shifted to the right as a white BMW passed me within inches of side swiping my car!
I like my car and though I'm shopping for a new one, I'd like the purchase to be by choice and not because my car was trashed by an aggressive driver in the merge lane.

Last year I was internet shopping for a new car. Something a little larger than what I currently own. There's nothing wrong with my car, I just want to up-size. With 42,000 miles, the factory tires have enough tread for a few thousand miles more. The problem is the interior noise when driving on the highway is noticeably louder. Less rubber, more road noise.

I bought tires for my previous car a little over 3 years ago for around $600. A few months later I changed cars. Today's prices for new tires with mounting, road hazard and free flat repair is going to run around $1,000. If I'm going to change cars... now is the best time or I'll be buying tires. At that point, I'll wait another year before car shopping again.

A few months ago I went through the motions trying KIA, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru. Nothing jumped out as my #1 choice. They each had some nice features, but none had all the features I really wanted. Strange... the things I think are important aren't many, but to get those items, it requires additional feature packages costing thousands more.
Okay, I'll get over that.

The dividing line is a cross between a hatchback to a small SUV.
Who/What are the possibilities?

Subaru Crosstrek, is a car that's jacked up a few inches. It's big on safety features but weak on the electronics. I do like the old-fashioned hand brake. This is a possible for simplicity.

Honda H-RV is an SUV, bigger for 2023 than the previous model. Lots of features, I didn't like the height of the front hood. The car had an offensive odor, possibly from the leather seats. Maybe that will go away. Good availability, I could have one in the model and color choice within a week.

I'm ruling out both KIA and Hyundai. Beautiful cars, I don't think they are going to last 10 years. That's what I'm seeing in reviews and from personal experience.

Today, I went to Mazda and tried a Mazda3 hatchback and the CX-30 SUV. Both are nice. The SUV has sufficient horsepower, but it was tame both in steering and braking. I tried some rough driving and it wouldn't accept it. Slamming on the brakes didn't happen. It stopped quickly, but the car is very computer controlled and rides like a larger vehicle. I do like the ground height. Seats were firm but comfortable.
The hatchback handling was more to my liking. Quick lane changes and jamming the brakes produces a quicker stop than the SUV.
Both cars have nice seating, but lacked on the 'visual' of the electronics. I'm told the GPS map needs an upgrade. Both have a large (but different) center console, not to my liking and their choice of color is limited. Priced within my budget... Mazda is near the top if I had to choose.
Also, Toyota keeps sending me emails to buy my car... but they have nothing to offer me this year. Three months now they said I could test a Prius Hybrid but all coming in are pre-sold and no chance to test drive or actually sit in one for comfort. They are taking NON-REFUNDABLE deposits to order one with a 2 to 3 month wait. It won't be a Toyota this year.

The signs are on the highway. Now that I'm doing half the miles as I did when I lived in Miami, I still enjoy a drive on a few roads in south Florida.
This was the case on Sunday when I drove to Miami Beach to drop off samples to a customer, catch a few model helicopter flights with friends, get a haircut, visit my daughter and grocery shop. I logged in more than 150 miles.
The 2 main roads were I-95 and I-595 that each have 5 lanes.
Speed limit on both is 65mph.

Yesterday I was in the middle lane for most of my travels and at times doing 80-85mph.
But... that doesn't matter how much I exceed the limit as cars fly past me on both sides. What pisses me off is when they swerve around and cut in front of me from both sides so aggressively the 2 cars almost collide.

It's not like I'm doing 50 being tailgated and in the wrong lane, but I find that I have to prepare well ahead of my exit as cars that normally merge to the right into the deceleration lane. Often I see drivers who are willing to drive on the right shoulder, cut in front the car making an exit, then skate across 2 lanes to get back into the flow of traffic.

I did have a theory that worked for a while... Stay in the left lane and limit the number of morons to only the right side. I did have one try to sideswipe me on the left as he squeezed into the safety zone.

Slower traffic keep right...

COVID hit and car buying changed. New cars were in short supply with no new inventory to replenish stock. Used car prices shot up where cars coming off a 3-year lease are selling for the same price is new.
One day I'm reading that's all going to change and another day I'm reading this inflated car prices isn't going away anytime soon.
I'm getting messages from the dealer where I bought a few years ago... they want to buy back my car. I'm just out of warrantee and have been toying with the idea of something slightly larger. In doing so, I'll miss having a car that gets around 35 miles per gallon.

I keep shopping, but nothing interesting has jumped out to get my attention...

a rebound love affair that offered a new start.
relocated 1300 miles, painted all the walls
the movers came
while he was passed out
i did my best but lost myself
i'm sober, awake
have focus and faith
starting to find myself
again
my chaotic dwelling
mutually changing
to find some peace
being me

I am dying to find each and every person whom I offended.
My tragedy is, I remember them but they have forgotten me
.