Buying a car...Barb style

Did I need a new car?

No.

Did I want to help stimulate our economy?

That is the answer I am sticking with.

I set out to test drive a few cars.  Normally, I would find one that I adore and sign the papers but this time I was going to be adult about it and take a few for a test drive.

Luckily, I know a few fine folks at Foothills Lincoln Mazda in Spokane and they let me take a few cars for a few days and I was able to really test drive them.

First one, a Lincoln MKX.  Very pretty.  A 2008 black beauty. 

Second one, a Mazda CX9.  Very sporty.  A 2011 black beauty.  (Do you see a pattern)

I love SUVs but when I asked my dear friends about these two cars I received several comments:  You realize Lincolns are for old people?  The piping on the inside looks like a race car.  This is big...are you sure you can parallel park it.  Why do you need seven seats? And finally, one of the best, why get a new car anyway...your car is only two years old?

So, the real question...why do I need a new car? 

People take lots of pride in driving up in their brand new vehicle, but all too often people purchase cars that they can’t afford.  They do it more for image, status, and pure ego.  In the long run what they end up doing is robbing themselves of savings.  The first thing a person needs to ask is: Why Do I Think I Need A New Car?

• My car is too old
• My car is too ugly
• My car is about to break down
• The repairs are costing too much
• I need dependability
• I’ve had this car too long
• I don’t want it to depreciate much more

And the list goes on.  I've heard a lot of silly reasons as well, but it is usually because the person is saying anything they can to get into a new car.  Bottom line, I had 60,000 miles on my car.  I didn't need a new car at all.  I wanted one.

So, my third test drive.  A 2011 Silver Metallic Mazda CX7.  A bit smaller, bug deflector (very important), a Yakima rack (for what I am not sure) and a hitch for my bike rack (the most important thing).  Actually, that is coming...the rack needs to be put on.  See...it wasn't a perfect car.  However, it has a camera for my rear driving that I do (I try to stay away from that), blue tooth (which actually echoes and sounds like I am in a gas chamber and bun warmers.  

Done.  Purchased.  Who says "third time isn't a charm?"

I am a new owner of a new car.  I love America. Oh, that's right Ford sold Mazda. Or, did they?

Amidst the world financial crisis in the fall of 2008, reports emerged that Ford was contemplating a sale of its stake in Mazda as a way of streamlining its asset base. BusinessWeek explained the alliance between Ford and Mazda has been a very successful one, with Mazda saving perhaps $90 million a year in development costs and Ford "several times" that, and that a sale of its stake in Mazda would be a desperate measure. On November 18, 2008, Ford announced that it would be selling a 20% stake in Mazda, bringing its stake to 13.4%, and surrendering control of the company. The following day, Mazda announced that, as part of the deal, it was buying back 6.8% of its shares from Ford. It was also reported that Hisakazu Imaki would be stepping down as chief executive, to be replaced by Takashi Yamanouchi. On November 18, 2010, Ford reduced their stake further to just 3%, citing the reduction of ownership would allow greater flexibility to pursue growth in emerging markets. Ford and Mazda remain strategic partners through joint ventures and exchanges of technological information. Nice work guys.

Music Lessons

I love to sing.  I sing in the shower.  I sing in the car.  I sing at the gym. I sing in the grocery store.  I tend to make up lyrics and often times words and my beat and rhythm are spot on...in my mind. 

Actually, my mom asks me quite a bit if I flunked choir in high school.  I started singing in elementary school - I believe it was mandatory.  You know, the recitals and the plays?  Remember, the Christmas pageants and spring concerts?

I participated in all of them from elementary school to junior high and on into high school, I learned tons of songs.  The one's I remember the most were, "Frosty the Snowman" and "Edelweiss." Yes, I learned a pleothra of music however I didn't quite have the pipes for the Spokane Children's Choir (actually had to bow out and become a board member) nor did I try or get accepted to Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music however I do love to sing.  (By the way, I always wanted to be a soprano...but I am not...I am a proud alto). 

My father played the piano.  He was good.  My mom played the piano.  She was good.  

I took lessons.  I wasn't too good.  In fact, my piano teacher said I should try a new instrument. 

So, I picked up a piccolo. It was a bit embarrassing at the time. (PS, I still have it).  

Now that I am older, I find that it shouldn't of been embarrassing at all.  Heck, the piccolo (Italian for small) is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written. This gave rise to the name "ottavino," the name by which the instrument is referred to in the scores of Italian composers. John Philip Sousa wrote the famous solo in the final repeat of the closing section (trio) of his march "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

For those of you who know me, I have quite a bit of air.  In junior high, I picked up the trumpet and decided to give it a whirl.  It wasn't the saxophone...which is the "coolest" of the horns but it appeared to be lighter for me to carry/hold.  I played in the city band.  Yes, everyone, the city band.  

I was proud to play the trumpet (I don't have it anymore).  The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. 

So, why do I tell you about my music lessons?  I think everyone should try one or two.  Why?  

Music brings people together.  It allows us to experience emotions.  And, above all music gives us soul.  

Music leads to singing, dancing and eating.  

It brings spirit to the world.  

5 weekends, 4 rides, 3 events, 2 funerals and a wedding

Today marks Columbus Day.  I know this because I am fortunate enough to have today off.  I work in the financial industry and no, I'm not a high priced exec on Wall Street.

I had a post already to go yesterday and after an hour of writing, it was no where to be found.  Very similar to Christopher Columbus.  I was surprised when I clicked to Google this morning and they didn't have a picture of the man who looks like a woman or any of the apparati he may have used to navigate his expedition. 

According to Wikipedia:  he was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements in the island of Hispaniola, initiated the process of Spanish colonization, which foreshadowed the general European colonization of the "New World."  

So, today, Columbus Day, is officially a day when the people of the USA are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community.  In Hawaii, Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverers' Day. 

The last five weekends I have traveled on the road and was unable to blog.  I know some of you missed me, and I am sure many of you didn't but I thought it might be fun to share where I've been and the journey I took to get there. Let's call it, "My little Columbus Journey."

The last few weekends mark the end to summer and the start of the Fall season.  Why not start it out with a trip to Seattle?

• University of Washington vs. Eastern Eagles.  We showed up in full force that day in Seattle. Not only was it sunny, some say, the bluest skies are found in Seattle, but we fought hard and were just three points shy of coming out of Husky Stadium with a "W."   Go eagles!  I had some time to take in a few sites and cycled along the waterfront and the piers.

• Next up, another weekend on the coast to attend a funeral of a colleague from work and Lake Limerick to visit family.  My mom was a real trooper on this trip as I drug her to the North Bend Outlet Mall.  Thanks mom for going on another road trip with me (weeks prior we went to Tekoa, Washington for my 94 year old great aunt Fern's funeral.  A little known fact...my aunt is the reigning watermelon seed spitting champion (not in the Guinness Book of Records mind you but Tekoa). 

• A bachelorette party in Anaconda, Montana for my friend, Michelle, was on the docket for the following weekend.  Let's just say, "what happens in Anaconda, Montana stays in Anaconda, Montana.  One hint, it involved the electric slide."

• A quick visit six days later to Yakima, Washington for a bike ride and a winery visit to Windy Slopes.  Nice people there at Windy Slopes.  Mike and his wife, Liz, have created a well-liked and respected winery.  Mike brings more than 35 years of farming experience to the vineyard, along with a hard-earned reputation for producing fruit of the very highest standard. As the winemaker, Liz has worked hard to produce the best quality wine, which has been represented by the awards she has earned on her 2004 Syrah, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon and her Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend, Exclamation Point! 

•  The summer wouldn't be complete without attending the actual wedding of my friend Michelle.  Michelle and Scott Morley were married on October 1 in a beautiful church, St. Timothy's, in Georgetown Lake, Montana.  The groomsmen wore kilts.  They told us they weren't baring it all however only one of them showed us his bloomers.  The bridesmaids (of which I was one), donned in crimson (in honor of the University of Montana Grizzlies - Michelle's alma mater).  It was tough to wear Griz colors but the dress was so darn beautiful, I was honored to do it.

And, so my adventures continue.  I am packing to leave for Washington DC tomorrow.  I won't be sailing the oceans blue like Christopher Columbus did but will be flying the friendly skies.

Take in the aromas of the season.  Enjoy the colors, the crisp nights and the beauty of your journey.

Wheelchair bound, anyone?

My mom and I traveled to Seattle this weekend.  We headed over for a quick trip; hit a funeral, visited relatives, saw an old college roommate and shopped the premium outlet mall in North Bend.  

My mom is 71 years old.  Her mind is keen and she is spry however she needs a hip replacement...about 10 years past due.  

I realize I am not the parent in this relationship but as her one and only limited edition (only child), I think it would be wise if she'd hang up the cane and either get a motorized scooter or invest in the 21st century tools available for ailing knees, hips and other body parts where they stiffen up and stop working after 4 pm.

I admire her tenacity and her ability to care for the elderly.  She volunteers four times a week for a senior care center and believe it or not, some of them can run, she, on the other hand cannot.  It happened several years ago.  I've asked her if she had polio as a child or if she was born with one short leg but she can't recall.  Did you fall?  Did you go to the doctor?  PS, she hasn't had a physical in 40 years.

On this very sunny day in North Bend, a community nestled under Mt. Si, mom and I were on a mission to shop.  I told her we'd check out a wheelchair.  "Really, I've never been in a wheelchair," she said.  "Well, you've never seen me power shop through a mall before either."  My mom eats really slow (great for digestion - not so great as a slow walker).  

I placed her in the wheelchair and we were off.  First stop, a nice undergarment shop.  The door (not wide enough for a wheelchair), needed to be open on both sides.  One of the nice attendants noticed we were having a bit of trouble and jumped to our rescue.  

This happened over and over again.

The aisles were narrow.  We were unable to navigate most stores. 

The parents with strollers.  Same thing.

Just a bit of advice store owners...we purchase items.  We stimulate the economy.

Why don't you accommodate for special needs?

All of us will have aging parents.  

Ask the question.  

"Mom, will you please get a hip replacement?"  I want you to walk on your own.  I don't want to place you in a stroller.  Your too old for that.

I will step down off my parent soapbox and say, "mom, I had fun."

In the Pit

It's not the Indy 500 or the Daytona 500.  The smells may be the same, the cars have the same purr but the sites and access were different.  

It was my first experience at a drag strip.  Yes, the Spokane Raceway Park.  It was 97 degrees, there were about 20 fans in the stands.  I asked my friend, "should I bring ear plugs?"  She said, "oh no, it's not like a concert where it's consistent."  I shouldn't of listened.  You see my ears are 10 years older than hers.  

She took us to the special check in point where we received orange wrist bands.  I signed on the dotted line to have entry to this area.  Some how, I asked myself why I had to sign to receive a paper wrist band but I was curious and printed away.  

Before all of that, I entered the park with several options to choose (none of which I knew where they went).  One was entry to the track, "no, probably not a good idea."  The other, exit off the track.  "Why yes, that sounds good."  Not so much.  I spotted my friend waving her hands.  "You do realize this is the return lane for those cars that just got done racing?"

No.  I didn't know.  It's quite confusing.  Not a lot of signage.  Which, I thought for a race track, they would be good at that.  After all, the racers use signs to stop, go, slow, speed, caution, and breathe.

I was quite amazed that Spokane County has a couple of race tracks - a drag strip and a full round.  I was introduced along time ago to the horse track and the greyhound dog park (not to be confused with the new type of dog parks) but this type of track doesn't allow betting.  They should.  Because they don't allow ice cream.

It's the hottest day of the year and the announcer (while waiting endless minutes to see racers) announced, "get your nachos, pulled pork sandwiches and ice cream at the snack truck" - Daddy's Belly Deli to be exact.

Of course, we tried to order ice cream.  "We can't sell you ice cream today.  We have it but I would get in trouble if I sold it to you."

Really. This makes for quite an interesting exchange.  To watch this unfold is something.  What do you say to that?  On the other hand, they have 2 lbs of french fries (the TUB) or hot peanuts on the menu.

But no ice cream. 

We made our way down to the track.  The point at which I should've pulled out my ear plugs.  Oh, that's right I didn't bring them.

It was a special place,  the Pit.  Wait, there's another name for it.  The burnout box.  My question, "do you get into the burnout box or do you stand in the burnout box?"  Neither.

You follow your very knowledgeable friend, hold your breath from the diesel fumes, plug your ears, pray that the spinning wheels don't come off and watch with excitement your first ever drag race.  It's not just cars either; snowmobiles, motorcycles and an occasional lawn mower (I didn't witness the lawn mower) but I would love to race a golf cart.

I worked at Schuck's Auto Supply for a few years in college.  I was a parts associate.  I know a bit about oil filers, radiators, air filters, batteries, alternators and wind shield wiper blades so that might have prepared me for the drag races.  No.  It didn't.  I didn't think a car could fly going 140 miles or that women rule behind the wheel. 

Congratulations to Robert (his 1963 Dodge pictured).  You didn't win this race but it's about winning the the race of life. 

Thank you, Tamitha, you do know a lot about cars (your dad would be proud).

And, Corey, what can I say, thanks for telling me to turn left so I didn't drive my 2009 Mazda Tribute on the track because God knows they would've let me race.  

Anything goes at the Spokane Raceway Park EXCEPT ice cream.

What's Barb's next big adventure? Please answer my question...

I just finished my first triathlon.  Yes, I made it! After three weeks of learning how to swim, I struggled through the people and the seaweed, the muck and the merck.  Biked my heart out and ran to the finish.

Now, I would like all of you to determine what is next for me.  

You pick...the highest vote wins.  Some examples:  "Barb, why don't you learn how to snowboard or sky dive?  Or, how about a biathlon or travel to Ireland"

It's your turn.  What is my next adventure? 

You'll have seven days to share your thoughts and three days to vote.  Starting now...

A fish out of water, Barb learns how to swim

Learning how to swim at 41 years old was never my dream.  In fact, I had to sign up for a triathlon to make myself learn to swim.  My triathlon is August 21 in Medical Lake, Washington.   First the swim, then bike, finished off by a nice run.  

My best friend, Angela Brown is a bit to blame.  She said, "hey, want to do a triathlon with me?"  Can I really say no to my best friend?  Yes, I can if I had good boundaries and her pleading and cajoling didn't work.  I told her I didn't know how to swim back in March when we signed up.  She explained that the "Y" teaches swim lessons.  Well, the "Y" does teach beginning swim lessons.  They begin in May.  May came and went and I still hadn't taken swim lessons.  

Then June.  No swim lessons.  July came and I still hadn't entered the water.  Why?  Hydrophobia? No, I am not scared of water.  In fact, I take a shower everyday.  Was it procrastination?  

Yes.  

I suffer from what psychologists, Schraw, Wadkins, and Olafson have proposed; three criteria for a behavior to be classified as procrastination: it must be counterproductive, needless and delaying.  Similarly, Steel (2007) reviewed all previous attempts to define procrastination, indicating it is "to voluntarily delay an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay."

So, after doing a bit of research,  two weeks ago I took my first tadpole class with my infamous personal trainer, Grant Smith. Thank you to Kevin (my surrogate father), I was learning how to swim.  I've had four lessons now and my real test was swimming in lake water this week.  I attempted twice and lived to write about it.  In fact, I swam 1/4 mile in 22 minutes.  

I know three strokes:  

1.  the crawl (which isn't very pretty and seems to steam up my goggles and adds additional water up my nose)

2.  the breaststroke (had to scrap the legs on this one - I don't have rhythm and couldn't perform the necessary moves to successfully pass the Grant test)

3.  the side stroke (otherwise known as the picking apple stroke and God knows I love apples)

And, one lifesaving technique - how to tread water.  Yes, Grant, that might have been helpful to learn day one.

I think learning how to swim in your forties isn't a good idea.  It probably would've been better at age 4 however I am learning other lessons about myself:

1.  patience

2.  don't panic under pressure

3.  enjoy the moment

4.  experience new things

5.  lake water doesn't taste good

6.  when friends are hitting you repeatedly (while swimming next to you) to get you used to triathlon swimming, it creates bruising on forearms and legs

7.  self reflection

8.  seaweed is nasty

9.  never underestimate the power of prayer

10.  signing up for something with your best friend is a commitment