Spring is supposed to be a happy time. Not only does the snow melt – at least in my part of the world – but the warm temperatures and clear roads mean that enthusiasts start to bring their cars out of hibernation. One week ago I made a special trip to the top secret location where my Mazda Miata rode out the snowy months in blissful slumber, intent on breaking it out from under its car cover. I was understandably excited – after all, it had been three months since I had last driven the car. While I enjoy my BMW, I have become quite antsy with just a four-door sedan to drive, and I was definitely craving some nimble, top down action.
When I arrived at the storage facility, I was dismayed to see that the garage was not nearly as dry as I had been promised. In fact, the entire front slab of the garage was soaked through. Undaunted, I removed the car cover, installed the battery and began to remove the collection of mothballs that I had sprinkled throughout the trunk, passenger compartment and underhood area. I then put the key in the ignition and committed the act that has haunted me for the past 10 days – I put the clutch in, turned the ignition over, and then without thinking let the clutch out.
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I have never been a huge Mac fan, but I have always been fond of fish and older computer hardware. As a result, ever since I was a teenager scouring the early days of the World Wide Web I have wanted to build my own Macquarium. What is a Macquarium, you ask? Simply put, it is a Mac which has been converted into a fish tank.
Something somewhat frightening recently happened in my life: I completed my first novel. In addition to the very satisfying freelance writing career that I have built for myself, I also enjoy creating fiction.
One of the things I enjoy most about the Miata is that it doesn’t have a roof. Well, it does have one, of sorts – it’s made of fabric and plastic – but it is almost never raised on my car, except when it has to be stored for an extended period.
Musings, tips and stories from years spent crawling through the electronic music jungle.
The old cliché that the internet is full of scams is in some ways still accurate today. As in any situation where you are asked to part with your money, when shopping online you should always make sure that the person you are doing with – virtual or otherwise – is on the up and up.
I can remember how long the road trips from my hometown into the big city seemed at the time, and how amazing it was to see all of these gleaming new cars and trucks arranged in the displays that littered the main exhibition floor of the Olympic Stadium.
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to renew my vows with the Canadian phenomenon known as Sloan. Sloan is a band originally hailing from the province of Nova Scotia, and they also happen to be the group I have seen the most often live – I am verging on my seventh or eighth Sloan concert.
This week I finally faced up to reality and put the Miata away for its first winter sleep in my care. While I know that many Miata-ites are comfortable strapping on a hard top and tackling the snow and ice without a second thought, I am not willing to deal with the eventual corrosion issues that Canadian winters would visit on my track car.
