In The Clutch

If you didn’t see Artie’s comment from yesterday:

I have to say that I like the car. A lot. It drives very nice. Good choice in cars.
You’ll have to let me know what you think of it…when are able to drive a stick shift that is.
Sorry, I had to give you a hard time. But you will seriously like the car.

There’s some ugly truth in that in reference to the stick shift. Yes, I confess. I got a car that I can’t drive…for now. For I am not proficient in the ways of a manual transmission.

But I am learning.

On Sunday Kari took me out in her parent’s Jeep to an empty parking lot so I could practice. After about 30 minutes, I was able to start, stop, reverse, and shift up and down through third. I also practiced on a few minor inclines to see if I could start from a dead stop without rolling backwards.

Later that night I drove the Mazda all around my neighborhood and even to Kari’s house and back. Now I just need to keep on practicing to get the feel of the clutch and master the hills of Tallahassee. Because, seriously, you never realized how hilly Tallahassee is until you have to use a manual transmission.

And yes, I do like the car and the way it drives.

In other news, I’ve got a new Artie’cle for you today! Enjoy!

Finally, for all the talk about Minivans out there, I will stay that the KIA deal where you buy a van and get a free car was really tempting. However, we decided that in the long run, it would not be a good investment along with the negative stigmata surround that brand. I was really looking forward to doing a retro, 70′s style can with disco ball and gold shag carpet on the floor and walls of the van. Well, it was either that or an A-Team or Scooby Doo throw back paint scheme. Heck, I could even live in it down by the river.

But no, I’ve got to have kids playing soccer before I can consider purchasing a minivan.

The circle is now complete. When I met you I was but the learner. Now, I am the master.

Celebrity Miis (Miis are personal avatars you create on the new Nintendo Wii).

Fish Tank.

“Dude, I can’t get a good look inside this oil tank. Hand me a match.”

Hail: 1, Airplane: 0 (Look at the bottom of the first post for the attached images).

Crossword.

So there is hope for me after all!!