My spring semester officially begins tomorrow and I don’t think that I’ve prepared myself near enough for the return to madness. This should be my last semester- providing that I stay on track and complete my thesis on time! That means that I have to start collecting data as soon as possible, since I’m hoping for at least 500 participants. Luckily Racheal, my classmate, and I are collecting data together since our thesis topics are closely related. We’re posting our survey online and recruiting participants through college undergraduate classrooms within the Bay Area. Once data is collected, then it’s on to data analysis. That will most likely translate to hours and hours in the lab, crunching numbers and trying to make sense of it all. Then I can write up my results and discussion for the official manuscript. I just have to keep reminding myself to take this one step at a time. Otherwise, I’m just going to delay my progress by completely overwhelming myself.
On top of the whole thesis situation, I’m also teaching this semester- two sections of statistics. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also a little anxious. I co-taught the class during the summer, but this time I’ll be on my own. Plus, one of the sections is at 8am, which is going to kill me every week! Factor in the hour-long Bart ride into the city and the 20-minute or more wait for the bus and it looks like I’ll need to leave my house no later than 6:30am. On the bright side, I was able to coordinate my classes and all of my meetings into just two days each week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, which leaves the rest of the week open for my work at the hospital.
It looks like this is going to be another crazy semester! Wish me luck…
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
25 Random Things about Me
I had so many interesting responses to this note that someone tagged me on Facebook, that I just had to post this again here:
Hello everyone! I never do these things, but I enjoyed reading everyone else's so much that I thought I'd give it a try. Enjoy!
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I have little to no concept of “left” and “right.” Strange, I know- I don’t even get it. Yet oddly, I seem to have no trouble perceiving north, south, east, and west…
2. Although I don’t bite my fingernails anymore, I still chew on them when I’m stressed or intently thinking about something- it’s a hard habit to break!
3. My hair grows like a weed and I donate it to Locks of Love every couple of years.
4. I hate Cheese-Its, and not necessarily for their taste. Instead, I’m very bothered by their shape. However, I do enjoy Goldfish on occasion. The same goes for most other foods, meaning unimportant details about them irritate me and therefore prevent me from consuming them, such as shrimp for their odd, slimy consistency.
5. I truly appreciate the automobile industry. Although I’m no expert when it comes to cars, I understand the basics. It’s more of the design aspect that I enjoy, like the body style and the appearance details. Point out any car on the street and I can probably tell you what make, model, and year it is.
6. Speaking of design, I think I missed my calling as an architect or an interior designer. I’m addicted to HGTV and anything else design related.
7. I hate the phone. Do not leave me a message because I will not check it.
8. I also despise computers. I have no patience for them and get extremely irritated when they do not perform as I desire or take too long to do something.
9. I’m upset that my recent dentist appointment resulted in two cavities. It is most likely due to the fact that I have a major sweet tooth for all things candy and chocolate, like the sour gummy worms that I’m munching on right now…
10. I opt for organic/all natural whenever possible.
11. I never took the SAT and I’m about to graduate with a Master’s degree. Go figure.
12. I’m awesome at parallel parking.
13. I’ve been attacked by a wild turkey more than once.
14. Most people think that I’m a feminist- hence the retention of my last name- but I’m far more domestic than one might think. I cook, I bake, I sew, I decorate, I craft, I paint, I clean… and I actually enjoy it.
15. I’m terrified of bees.
16. I would classify myself as a classic introvert. I prefer time to myself, I take a while to warm up to people, and I’m only social on occasion. Luckily my husband is the complete opposite, so I think we balance each other out quite nicely.
17. I live by To-Do lists.
18. I think that my sense of style is constantly lacking. I love to shop and pick out new things, but they are always of the same variety- jeans, simple shirts, tennis shoes or slip-ons, and lots and lots of coats.
19. I’m teaching two statistic classes this semester at my university and I hope to find a real teaching job as soon as I graduate- hopefully a part-time position at a nearby community college.
20. I kill plants. Do not give them to me unless you can arrange for my husband to care for it.
21. My sister and I are constantly mistaken for twins. When we’re out together, we’re always asked who’s older. If we suggest that they guess, their response is always that I’m the older one!
22. Sadly, I’m horribly uncoordinated and highly accident-prone. Ask Eric or Elaine about my dance recital when I was at Berkeley!
23. Our cats not only sleep on our heads at night, but they usually sit on the dining room table with us when we’re eating- we’re complete suckers for these two 25-pound furrballs.
24. One of my most cherished items is an old book that I loved as a child- My Turn on Earth.
25. I took up a new hobby of blogging and I’m secretly enjoying it.
Hello everyone! I never do these things, but I enjoyed reading everyone else's so much that I thought I'd give it a try. Enjoy!
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I have little to no concept of “left” and “right.” Strange, I know- I don’t even get it. Yet oddly, I seem to have no trouble perceiving north, south, east, and west…
2. Although I don’t bite my fingernails anymore, I still chew on them when I’m stressed or intently thinking about something- it’s a hard habit to break!
3. My hair grows like a weed and I donate it to Locks of Love every couple of years.
4. I hate Cheese-Its, and not necessarily for their taste. Instead, I’m very bothered by their shape. However, I do enjoy Goldfish on occasion. The same goes for most other foods, meaning unimportant details about them irritate me and therefore prevent me from consuming them, such as shrimp for their odd, slimy consistency.
5. I truly appreciate the automobile industry. Although I’m no expert when it comes to cars, I understand the basics. It’s more of the design aspect that I enjoy, like the body style and the appearance details. Point out any car on the street and I can probably tell you what make, model, and year it is.
6. Speaking of design, I think I missed my calling as an architect or an interior designer. I’m addicted to HGTV and anything else design related.
7. I hate the phone. Do not leave me a message because I will not check it.
8. I also despise computers. I have no patience for them and get extremely irritated when they do not perform as I desire or take too long to do something.
9. I’m upset that my recent dentist appointment resulted in two cavities. It is most likely due to the fact that I have a major sweet tooth for all things candy and chocolate, like the sour gummy worms that I’m munching on right now…
10. I opt for organic/all natural whenever possible.
11. I never took the SAT and I’m about to graduate with a Master’s degree. Go figure.
12. I’m awesome at parallel parking.
13. I’ve been attacked by a wild turkey more than once.
14. Most people think that I’m a feminist- hence the retention of my last name- but I’m far more domestic than one might think. I cook, I bake, I sew, I decorate, I craft, I paint, I clean… and I actually enjoy it.
15. I’m terrified of bees.
16. I would classify myself as a classic introvert. I prefer time to myself, I take a while to warm up to people, and I’m only social on occasion. Luckily my husband is the complete opposite, so I think we balance each other out quite nicely.
17. I live by To-Do lists.
18. I think that my sense of style is constantly lacking. I love to shop and pick out new things, but they are always of the same variety- jeans, simple shirts, tennis shoes or slip-ons, and lots and lots of coats.
19. I’m teaching two statistic classes this semester at my university and I hope to find a real teaching job as soon as I graduate- hopefully a part-time position at a nearby community college.
20. I kill plants. Do not give them to me unless you can arrange for my husband to care for it.
21. My sister and I are constantly mistaken for twins. When we’re out together, we’re always asked who’s older. If we suggest that they guess, their response is always that I’m the older one!
22. Sadly, I’m horribly uncoordinated and highly accident-prone. Ask Eric or Elaine about my dance recital when I was at Berkeley!
23. Our cats not only sleep on our heads at night, but they usually sit on the dining room table with us when we’re eating- we’re complete suckers for these two 25-pound furrballs.
24. One of my most cherished items is an old book that I loved as a child- My Turn on Earth.
25. I took up a new hobby of blogging and I’m secretly enjoying it.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Weekend Getaway
I’ve wanted to plan a weekend retreat for Eric and I for quite some time. With my spring semester looming right around the corner, I thought the long weekend with the MLK Jr. Day holiday on Monday would be the perfect opportunity. Plus, we just had to take advantage of the amazing (yet odd) weather patterns we've been having lately. At first, I thought that Carmel or Monterey would be a good destination, but since we’ve been there so many times, I thought it may be better to trek to a new place that neither of us had been before. So I decided upon Mendocino. Some friends of ours traveled up to the area not long ago and came back with some beautiful photographs. So with just two days to plan our adventure, I managed to book a decent hotel room in-between Mendocino and Fort Bragg that had a vacancy and researched some fun activities to do while we were there.
At about 8:00am on Saturday morning, we packed up the Acura and headed north. I decided that we would opt for Highway 1, since I had never traveled along the northern coast. What an amazing day and a beautiful drive- we could not have asked for any better! With our sunroof open to enjoy the 70-degree weather, we winded up and around the highway, marveling over the beauty of the ocean and its crashing waves right beside us. We passed through Bodega Bay, with their quaint inns, tiny shops, and marvelous views- we decided that our next mini-vacation trip would be here.
Unfortunately, my camera battery died just as we reached a family of cows nestled in the grass just steps from the highway. What a sight! Quite upset over the camera incident, I insisted that we stop in the next town- Point Arena- to buy a disposable camera at their general store. We passed by the lighthouse to snap a few photographs before we made our way back to the highway. Unfortunately the lighthouse and the museum were closed for renovations, but we did enjoy driving past the tiny café with its sign that proclaimed, “Last café ‘til Hawaii” since the Point Arena Lighthouse is the western most point of the state of California.
We arrived in Mendocino just in time for an early lunch and found our way to the botanical gardens, since check-in time for the hotel wasn’t for a couple of hours. With a picnic lunch in hand, we walked through the botanical gardens, which were not as lush as they would have been during the spring or summer months, yet beautiful nonetheless. We found a bench overlooking the sea and relaxed as we munched on our lunch.
After checking into our hotel for the night and taking a quick nap, we decided to head down to our hotel’s private cove to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful sight. As the coastal chill started to set in, we walked back up to our hotel room and got ready for dinner. I envisioned a romantic dinner somewhere in Mendocino, but we were shocked as we drove through the tiny town at just past 6:00 in the evening to find but one restaurant with lights on. After looking at their small (and expensive!) menu posted out front, we decided to keep looking. We drove through Fort Bragg to find the same- very few places open. It was early on Saturday evening, but oddly, there was no one out on the streets. What sleepy beach towns! A little disappointed, we finally settled on Round Table when we found that it was one of few restaurants open.
We headed back to our hotel and to our surprise, Eric found that our hotel television had CSN+ with the Sharks hockey game on. So we watched a few minutes of the last period. I had brought some supplies to make s’mores so we then went out onto our patio and roasted some marshmallows over a fire as we marveled over the stars. It was amazing how many stars could be seen when we were far removed from the glaring city lights- I even saw a shooting star.
The next day, we checked out the hotel’s tiny continental breakfast before packing up the car and driving up to “Glass Beach.” I had read online that an old bottle factory once inhabited the shoreline near Fort Bragg and disposed of their unwanted glass and debris right into the ocean, as did the locals. After the city intervened and the bottle factory was long gone, it seems that Mother Nature decided to reclaim her beach- all of the old glass pieces from years past have been transformed into millions of tiny rounded pebbles that sparkle in the water and wash onto the shore. I couldn’t help but collect a few pieces for myself as we explored the reef area, snapped some photographs, watched the crashing waves in the distance, and snapped some more photographs (I remembered this time to charge my camera the night before).
Our next activity before calling it a day was a kayaking tour. Neither of us had been kayaking before, and since my previous research on yelp.com had given this particular company great reviews, I decided to make a reservation. We met our guide and another young couple on the beach, suited up in wet suits and life jackets, and pulled the kayaks into the water. Cruising on a tandem kayak, Eric and I quickly learned that I was not particularly coordinated with my paddle (surprise, surprise!). But we made do. The original plan was to tour the sea caves in and around the area, but since the swell was high that day, our guide decided that it wouldn’t be safe to do so. Instead, we paddled around and saw starfish on the reefs, learned how to catch a wave (we almost fell twice, but it was great fun), and witnessed what our guide called “the blowhole.” It was a hollowed rock near a large reef that spouted just like a whale each time the swell rose. Although the kayaks were not the most comfortable things to ride on (think leaning back, knees bent, and no back support for almost 2 hours), I think we both enjoyed ourselves. Completely drenched in salt water, we quickly cleaned ourselves off and changed our clothes before settling back into the car for the long drive home.
When we returned home, we were pleasantly surprised that the kids were happy and fine (we have never left home for more than a day without arranging a sitter to check in on them). In the end, it was a fun and exciting getaway, but I think we were both happy to be home.
At about 8:00am on Saturday morning, we packed up the Acura and headed north. I decided that we would opt for Highway 1, since I had never traveled along the northern coast. What an amazing day and a beautiful drive- we could not have asked for any better! With our sunroof open to enjoy the 70-degree weather, we winded up and around the highway, marveling over the beauty of the ocean and its crashing waves right beside us. We passed through Bodega Bay, with their quaint inns, tiny shops, and marvelous views- we decided that our next mini-vacation trip would be here.
Unfortunately, my camera battery died just as we reached a family of cows nestled in the grass just steps from the highway. What a sight! Quite upset over the camera incident, I insisted that we stop in the next town- Point Arena- to buy a disposable camera at their general store. We passed by the lighthouse to snap a few photographs before we made our way back to the highway. Unfortunately the lighthouse and the museum were closed for renovations, but we did enjoy driving past the tiny café with its sign that proclaimed, “Last café ‘til Hawaii” since the Point Arena Lighthouse is the western most point of the state of California.
We arrived in Mendocino just in time for an early lunch and found our way to the botanical gardens, since check-in time for the hotel wasn’t for a couple of hours. With a picnic lunch in hand, we walked through the botanical gardens, which were not as lush as they would have been during the spring or summer months, yet beautiful nonetheless. We found a bench overlooking the sea and relaxed as we munched on our lunch.
After checking into our hotel for the night and taking a quick nap, we decided to head down to our hotel’s private cove to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful sight. As the coastal chill started to set in, we walked back up to our hotel room and got ready for dinner. I envisioned a romantic dinner somewhere in Mendocino, but we were shocked as we drove through the tiny town at just past 6:00 in the evening to find but one restaurant with lights on. After looking at their small (and expensive!) menu posted out front, we decided to keep looking. We drove through Fort Bragg to find the same- very few places open. It was early on Saturday evening, but oddly, there was no one out on the streets. What sleepy beach towns! A little disappointed, we finally settled on Round Table when we found that it was one of few restaurants open.
We headed back to our hotel and to our surprise, Eric found that our hotel television had CSN+ with the Sharks hockey game on. So we watched a few minutes of the last period. I had brought some supplies to make s’mores so we then went out onto our patio and roasted some marshmallows over a fire as we marveled over the stars. It was amazing how many stars could be seen when we were far removed from the glaring city lights- I even saw a shooting star.
The next day, we checked out the hotel’s tiny continental breakfast before packing up the car and driving up to “Glass Beach.” I had read online that an old bottle factory once inhabited the shoreline near Fort Bragg and disposed of their unwanted glass and debris right into the ocean, as did the locals. After the city intervened and the bottle factory was long gone, it seems that Mother Nature decided to reclaim her beach- all of the old glass pieces from years past have been transformed into millions of tiny rounded pebbles that sparkle in the water and wash onto the shore. I couldn’t help but collect a few pieces for myself as we explored the reef area, snapped some photographs, watched the crashing waves in the distance, and snapped some more photographs (I remembered this time to charge my camera the night before).
Our next activity before calling it a day was a kayaking tour. Neither of us had been kayaking before, and since my previous research on yelp.com had given this particular company great reviews, I decided to make a reservation. We met our guide and another young couple on the beach, suited up in wet suits and life jackets, and pulled the kayaks into the water. Cruising on a tandem kayak, Eric and I quickly learned that I was not particularly coordinated with my paddle (surprise, surprise!). But we made do. The original plan was to tour the sea caves in and around the area, but since the swell was high that day, our guide decided that it wouldn’t be safe to do so. Instead, we paddled around and saw starfish on the reefs, learned how to catch a wave (we almost fell twice, but it was great fun), and witnessed what our guide called “the blowhole.” It was a hollowed rock near a large reef that spouted just like a whale each time the swell rose. Although the kayaks were not the most comfortable things to ride on (think leaning back, knees bent, and no back support for almost 2 hours), I think we both enjoyed ourselves. Completely drenched in salt water, we quickly cleaned ourselves off and changed our clothes before settling back into the car for the long drive home.
When we returned home, we were pleasantly surprised that the kids were happy and fine (we have never left home for more than a day without arranging a sitter to check in on them). In the end, it was a fun and exciting getaway, but I think we were both happy to be home.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A Tribute and An Introduction
In an effort to diagnose the existing problem with my Probe, we traveled to a few auto part stores one evening to price a new oil pump and oil pressure switch. Not to our surprise, the parts we needed were not available. We’ve run into this problem quite frequently with this car. Then followed the typical speech from the sales clerk: "Probes have been off the market since ’97… we can special order a generic part for a ridiculous amount of money... or you can try to track down another Probe or a similar Ford/Mazda at a junkyard somewhere and hope that they have the piece you need…" After an unsuccessful search on ebay for the parts, I started to worry. I knew that a trip to Pick ‘n Pull may not prove beneficial- if I were lucky enough to even find a car like mine, the probability of them having the specific parts I needed (in working order) would be slim to none.
So, after our exhausting trip to the museum last week, I convinced Eric to travel a few more miles down to Burlingame, where there was a fabulous car for sale that I had found online. We chatted as we walked onto the lot, quickly rehearsing our plans that we were in no rush to purchase a new car right away. I quickly found the advertised car parked right in the front lot. It was beautiful- a royal blue metallic coupe with black leather interior and a 6-speed manual. I test drove the car around the block. Wow. That car had some horsepower! And the clutch was smooth- the gears shifted like butter. Eric then drove the car around for a few minutes as I marveled over all of the exciting features, buttons, and compartments.
After a brief talk with the pushy salespeople and Eric’s quick response that we simply couldn’t afford it at the price they offered, we headed back home. I wasn’t disappointed really. After all, if we were to purchase a new car, we would definitely need to think about it and avoid acting on sheer impulse.
That night at dinner, we asked our family members their thoughts. After all, both Eric and myself are not terribly familiar with the car buying process- we both have only bought one car. After some encouraging feedback, we decided to sleep on it and decide the next step in the morning. Morning came and my opinion hadn’t changed- I loved the car. So did Eric, apparently, because we were soon traveling back to Burlingame for some more negotiations and a second test drive (we wanted to test all those awesome gears on the highway). I figured, if the car was still there, then perhaps it was meant to be.
The head salesman allowed us to take the car out on our own and we quickly decided that this could be the car for us. As we brought the car back to the dealership, we prepared for a debate. We wanted a few minor details repaired, like a cracked side mirror, and we wanted a warranty to assure that anything else we were unaware of would be repaired without question, since the Carfax report showed an incident (just a minor fender-bender). We decided upon a number and headed into the office. After a heated debate and second and third trips to the dealership to argue over their "miscalculations" (I’ll omit this portion of the tale- don’t ever shop at Mike Harvey Acura in Burlingame) the salesmen agreed to our terms. We got the car for the price we wanted with the extended warranty. In the end, despite the shady dealership that we had to deal with and the headache that ensued for over a week, we can finally say that we did get a great deal on an awesome car. But before I introduce the new car, I must pay homage to the beloved Probe that has served me well for almost 7 years now. I’m sure many know that I easily grow attached to things, despite their inanimate nature. And I tend to be fairly sentimental, especially over things like this…
My Probe was Truly Loved
We met in July of 2002 when I was seventeen. One Saturday afternoon, I convinced my dad to take my sister and I down to E. 14th where there was an array of used car dealerships. I had been working for over a year at that point and I decided that I needed to find a car soon, since I was to begin college in just one month. Elaine and I browsed at a few dealerships and found a couple Ford Escort models, a car that I could definitely afford. But the styling was so boring and most had far too many miles for me to even consider. Then, we stumbled upon a very small dealership with what appeared to be a 1993 silver Ford Probe parked right in the front row. In no less than a minute or two, I briefly made a round looking at the car and decided it was the one. It only had 52K miles and was in pristine condition, except for the small ding in the rear bumper. My dad, who was hesitant to simply select a car based on its appearance, decided to test drive the car first (I did not yet have my license at this point). He mentioned that the muffler needed repair and that the tires were worn, but I decided to buy it anyway and wrote a check for 3.5K. My dad drove the car home and my family had an impromptu celebration dinner.
That began our long relationship. After I officially had my license, the Probe took me everywhere I needed to go. It made sure that I didn’t have to walk home from work any longer. My friend Ashley and I carpooled in the Probe to Las Positas for two years. Then came Berkeley, winding though Tunnel Road and constantly circling campus in search of a parking space. A brief year hiatus from school, and the Probe moved all of my belongings into our new apartment after Eric and I were married. It was truly amazing the number of crazy things I could fit in that car- a quick fold of the rear seats and the ample space from the hatch allowed for an entertainment center, a reclining leather chair, and even a 46" flat screen television (still in the box!). Another move to the condo and the Probe was packed to the brim for a few trips to and from the old apartment. I soon started graduate school in the city, and the Prove was more than willing to make the long trip to and from campus. Lastly, there was the daily commute to my new job at Children's Hospital Oakland that it performed without hesitation.
All in all, it has been broken into twice and vandalized once. The first break in for nothing else than a cheap stereo deck resulted in a mad search for a new triangular side window- luckily Pick ‘n Pull had just the piece I needed. Same for the second incident, but luckily there was no harm to the windows. The time the car was vandalized, some idiot made off with my muffler and catalytic converter.
Looking at the car now, with its deteriorating paint, worn seats, and a few more dings than I remember making, I am thankful for the time I had with the Probe. The sight of it retired to the back parking lot of our condo complex brings me to tears, but I have to remember that the Probe has served me very well. It was not only a great starter car and a smart move for a kid that was putting herself through college, but it served as a driving force (literally) for my will to succeed in school, in work, and in life generally. It enabled me to get this far. I will be gravely disappointed yet grateful when I have to either hand over the keys to a mechanically inclined buyer or watch the car drive away on a tow truck to a deserving charity foundation… I am still undecided.
Thank you Probe =’(
Introducing the Acura CL type-S
Our new addition to the family is a 2003 Acura that sits happily in our covered parking space. It’s a royal blue coupe that delivers 260 horsepower from a 3.2 liter V6. I’m still learning how to use all of the imaginable options- I’ve used the heated seats nearly every time I’ve driven it and it’s quite nice to have a CD changer instead of swapping out CDs all the time. It has a sunroof, which we will soon enjoy once the spring and summer months arrive. And four cup holders! Most of all, the leather seats translate to less cat fur that we have to worry about! I really hate it when I leave for the day in nice black pants and arrive at school and work with lumps of cat fur all over me (the joys of our beloved, furry children- I really don’t know how so much cat fur ends up in our cars. Quite strange). I think Eric enjoys driving it as much as I do. Even though it’s a coupe, the backseat room is more than adequate- much what one would expect from a compact sedan. And the trunk space is enormous- never again will we have to worry about buying too much at Costco. All I have to do is press a button on my fancy remote and the trunk pops right open! The only details that we have left to take care of are the cracked mirror that the dealer agreed to repair, new headlamp and interior clock bulbs, and a speaker that is out of commission. Overall, we’re very happy with the new car and we think that it will suit us nicely for some time.
So, after our exhausting trip to the museum last week, I convinced Eric to travel a few more miles down to Burlingame, where there was a fabulous car for sale that I had found online. We chatted as we walked onto the lot, quickly rehearsing our plans that we were in no rush to purchase a new car right away. I quickly found the advertised car parked right in the front lot. It was beautiful- a royal blue metallic coupe with black leather interior and a 6-speed manual. I test drove the car around the block. Wow. That car had some horsepower! And the clutch was smooth- the gears shifted like butter. Eric then drove the car around for a few minutes as I marveled over all of the exciting features, buttons, and compartments.
After a brief talk with the pushy salespeople and Eric’s quick response that we simply couldn’t afford it at the price they offered, we headed back home. I wasn’t disappointed really. After all, if we were to purchase a new car, we would definitely need to think about it and avoid acting on sheer impulse.
That night at dinner, we asked our family members their thoughts. After all, both Eric and myself are not terribly familiar with the car buying process- we both have only bought one car. After some encouraging feedback, we decided to sleep on it and decide the next step in the morning. Morning came and my opinion hadn’t changed- I loved the car. So did Eric, apparently, because we were soon traveling back to Burlingame for some more negotiations and a second test drive (we wanted to test all those awesome gears on the highway). I figured, if the car was still there, then perhaps it was meant to be.
The head salesman allowed us to take the car out on our own and we quickly decided that this could be the car for us. As we brought the car back to the dealership, we prepared for a debate. We wanted a few minor details repaired, like a cracked side mirror, and we wanted a warranty to assure that anything else we were unaware of would be repaired without question, since the Carfax report showed an incident (just a minor fender-bender). We decided upon a number and headed into the office. After a heated debate and second and third trips to the dealership to argue over their "miscalculations" (I’ll omit this portion of the tale- don’t ever shop at Mike Harvey Acura in Burlingame) the salesmen agreed to our terms. We got the car for the price we wanted with the extended warranty. In the end, despite the shady dealership that we had to deal with and the headache that ensued for over a week, we can finally say that we did get a great deal on an awesome car. But before I introduce the new car, I must pay homage to the beloved Probe that has served me well for almost 7 years now. I’m sure many know that I easily grow attached to things, despite their inanimate nature. And I tend to be fairly sentimental, especially over things like this…
My Probe was Truly Loved
We met in July of 2002 when I was seventeen. One Saturday afternoon, I convinced my dad to take my sister and I down to E. 14th where there was an array of used car dealerships. I had been working for over a year at that point and I decided that I needed to find a car soon, since I was to begin college in just one month. Elaine and I browsed at a few dealerships and found a couple Ford Escort models, a car that I could definitely afford. But the styling was so boring and most had far too many miles for me to even consider. Then, we stumbled upon a very small dealership with what appeared to be a 1993 silver Ford Probe parked right in the front row. In no less than a minute or two, I briefly made a round looking at the car and decided it was the one. It only had 52K miles and was in pristine condition, except for the small ding in the rear bumper. My dad, who was hesitant to simply select a car based on its appearance, decided to test drive the car first (I did not yet have my license at this point). He mentioned that the muffler needed repair and that the tires were worn, but I decided to buy it anyway and wrote a check for 3.5K. My dad drove the car home and my family had an impromptu celebration dinner.
That began our long relationship. After I officially had my license, the Probe took me everywhere I needed to go. It made sure that I didn’t have to walk home from work any longer. My friend Ashley and I carpooled in the Probe to Las Positas for two years. Then came Berkeley, winding though Tunnel Road and constantly circling campus in search of a parking space. A brief year hiatus from school, and the Probe moved all of my belongings into our new apartment after Eric and I were married. It was truly amazing the number of crazy things I could fit in that car- a quick fold of the rear seats and the ample space from the hatch allowed for an entertainment center, a reclining leather chair, and even a 46" flat screen television (still in the box!). Another move to the condo and the Probe was packed to the brim for a few trips to and from the old apartment. I soon started graduate school in the city, and the Prove was more than willing to make the long trip to and from campus. Lastly, there was the daily commute to my new job at Children's Hospital Oakland that it performed without hesitation.
All in all, it has been broken into twice and vandalized once. The first break in for nothing else than a cheap stereo deck resulted in a mad search for a new triangular side window- luckily Pick ‘n Pull had just the piece I needed. Same for the second incident, but luckily there was no harm to the windows. The time the car was vandalized, some idiot made off with my muffler and catalytic converter.
Looking at the car now, with its deteriorating paint, worn seats, and a few more dings than I remember making, I am thankful for the time I had with the Probe. The sight of it retired to the back parking lot of our condo complex brings me to tears, but I have to remember that the Probe has served me very well. It was not only a great starter car and a smart move for a kid that was putting herself through college, but it served as a driving force (literally) for my will to succeed in school, in work, and in life generally. It enabled me to get this far. I will be gravely disappointed yet grateful when I have to either hand over the keys to a mechanically inclined buyer or watch the car drive away on a tow truck to a deserving charity foundation… I am still undecided.
Thank you Probe =’(
Introducing the Acura CL type-S
Our new addition to the family is a 2003 Acura that sits happily in our covered parking space. It’s a royal blue coupe that delivers 260 horsepower from a 3.2 liter V6. I’m still learning how to use all of the imaginable options- I’ve used the heated seats nearly every time I’ve driven it and it’s quite nice to have a CD changer instead of swapping out CDs all the time. It has a sunroof, which we will soon enjoy once the spring and summer months arrive. And four cup holders! Most of all, the leather seats translate to less cat fur that we have to worry about! I really hate it when I leave for the day in nice black pants and arrive at school and work with lumps of cat fur all over me (the joys of our beloved, furry children- I really don’t know how so much cat fur ends up in our cars. Quite strange). I think Eric enjoys driving it as much as I do. Even though it’s a coupe, the backseat room is more than adequate- much what one would expect from a compact sedan. And the trunk space is enormous- never again will we have to worry about buying too much at Costco. All I have to do is press a button on my fancy remote and the trunk pops right open! The only details that we have left to take care of are the cracked mirror that the dealer agreed to repair, new headlamp and interior clock bulbs, and a speaker that is out of commission. Overall, we’re very happy with the new car and we think that it will suit us nicely for some time.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Oh the Disappointment…
After hearing the rave reviews of the CA Academy of Science Museum in the city, I decided that Eric and I should plan a trip to see for ourselves. We really enjoy these types of activities- I remember Eric taking me to the Exploratorium in the city for one of our very first dates. Since we both had the day off on Friday, we thought it would be a great day to go. I read all of the information on their website in order to plan our trip, like the hours, the bus routes to take, and how to obtain a student discount. Although it was raining, we had fun as we found our way to the museum.
As soon as we walked into Golden Gate Park at 10am, we were astonished to find a line of people already waiting. We expected crowds, since the museum had been recently remodeled, but this sight was something else. We walked along lines and lines of people to find our way to the museum entrance. When we found an employee, we asked where we needed to go to purchase tickets. She pointed to a covered tent in the distance to buy them and then said that we needed to start waiting in line- a line that was about a mile long. Seriously. Figuring that we had already planned our day around this event, we did just as she suggested. We stood in the rain for nearly an hour after purchasing our tickets, as my hopes for a fun day at the museum started to fade.
When we were finally admitted into the building, we quickly made our way to another line of anxious museum-goers in order to reserve our planetarium tickets. Although an attending employee told us that we had hope for obtaining tickets to the final show of the day at 4pm, we were given no guarantee. I had Eric wait in the planetarium line while I rushed off to yet another line of people waiting for the rainforest exhibit. While waiting, I chatted with a group behind me who held membership tickets to the museum. Apparently this day was the single most crowded day they had ever witnessed (of course- the exact day that we decide to go). A few minutes later, I received a call from Eric who was still waiting in the other line at this point. No more planetarium tickets.
Well, that was it for us. I told Eric to meet me at the front desk so we could ask for our money back. Although it was great to see so many people excited to go to this museum, I was not about to stay and miss out on all of the fun exhibits that were now sold out- at $20 a ticket. Luckily the lady at the front desk was understanding and refunded our money. Disappointed by our visit, we peeked into the albino aligator exhibit and made a quick stop at the gift shop before we headed back to the bus stop.
Luckily we had planned to dine at the Olive Garden near SFSU for dinner after the museum, so we just dropped in for lunch instead. Lunch was good- breadsticks were lovely, as usual. But unfortunately, my favorite chicken con broccoli dish was nowhere to be found on the menu. The nerve! I settled for another chicken dish and we happily rested our tired feet at the table after such an unfortunate day.
As soon as we walked into Golden Gate Park at 10am, we were astonished to find a line of people already waiting. We expected crowds, since the museum had been recently remodeled, but this sight was something else. We walked along lines and lines of people to find our way to the museum entrance. When we found an employee, we asked where we needed to go to purchase tickets. She pointed to a covered tent in the distance to buy them and then said that we needed to start waiting in line- a line that was about a mile long. Seriously. Figuring that we had already planned our day around this event, we did just as she suggested. We stood in the rain for nearly an hour after purchasing our tickets, as my hopes for a fun day at the museum started to fade.
When we were finally admitted into the building, we quickly made our way to another line of anxious museum-goers in order to reserve our planetarium tickets. Although an attending employee told us that we had hope for obtaining tickets to the final show of the day at 4pm, we were given no guarantee. I had Eric wait in the planetarium line while I rushed off to yet another line of people waiting for the rainforest exhibit. While waiting, I chatted with a group behind me who held membership tickets to the museum. Apparently this day was the single most crowded day they had ever witnessed (of course- the exact day that we decide to go). A few minutes later, I received a call from Eric who was still waiting in the other line at this point. No more planetarium tickets.
Well, that was it for us. I told Eric to meet me at the front desk so we could ask for our money back. Although it was great to see so many people excited to go to this museum, I was not about to stay and miss out on all of the fun exhibits that were now sold out- at $20 a ticket. Luckily the lady at the front desk was understanding and refunded our money. Disappointed by our visit, we peeked into the albino aligator exhibit and made a quick stop at the gift shop before we headed back to the bus stop.
Luckily we had planned to dine at the Olive Garden near SFSU for dinner after the museum, so we just dropped in for lunch instead. Lunch was good- breadsticks were lovely, as usual. But unfortunately, my favorite chicken con broccoli dish was nowhere to be found on the menu. The nerve! I settled for another chicken dish and we happily rested our tired feet at the table after such an unfortunate day.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year’s Eve Festivities
Saying "2009" just sounds strange to me. It’s going to take a while to grow on me…
So, Eric and I drove out to Mountain House to spend New Year’s Eve with our good friends Stephen and Jenny, who just bought an awesome new house. We took Eric’s Nissan since my car has been giving us some trouble lately. It likes to overheat on the freeway and then the oil pressure drops. I did some research online and learned this is a typical problem with Ford motors. I also learned that it could progress into a blown piston if not careful and quickly repaired- definitely not a good thing considering Probe parts are hard to come by. Therefore, my car has been indefinitely retired until we can figure out how to fix it. I am thankful for the timing of this unfortunate issue however, since I am not currently in school and we can make do with one working vehicle in the meantime. Interestingly enough, the Probe always seems to select convenient times to give me trouble...
After the long drive out to Mountain House, we spent most of the evening playing Guitar Hero and snacking- I brought some spinach-artichoke dip and some cookies-and-cream fudge. And Stephen’s famous bean dip was delicious, as always. Somehow, I got stuck with the mic during our gaming session. At least no one could hear my voice over the guitars and drums! Along with a few other couples, we also played a few rounds of a card game called the battle of the sexes. It was quite hilarious to hear the boy team arguing over what color saffron was and I’m sure the boys were intrigued by our discussion of what court lines allow for a 3-pointer in basketball. We took a quick break to watch the ball drop and toast the new year. All in all, it was a good time! We didn’t leave until about 1:30 in the morning and we were not exactly looking forward to the hour-long drive back home and all the stupid drivers we might encounter along the way. It was horribly foggy through the Altamont, but luckily the roads were empty.
So, Eric and I drove out to Mountain House to spend New Year’s Eve with our good friends Stephen and Jenny, who just bought an awesome new house. We took Eric’s Nissan since my car has been giving us some trouble lately. It likes to overheat on the freeway and then the oil pressure drops. I did some research online and learned this is a typical problem with Ford motors. I also learned that it could progress into a blown piston if not careful and quickly repaired- definitely not a good thing considering Probe parts are hard to come by. Therefore, my car has been indefinitely retired until we can figure out how to fix it. I am thankful for the timing of this unfortunate issue however, since I am not currently in school and we can make do with one working vehicle in the meantime. Interestingly enough, the Probe always seems to select convenient times to give me trouble...
After the long drive out to Mountain House, we spent most of the evening playing Guitar Hero and snacking- I brought some spinach-artichoke dip and some cookies-and-cream fudge. And Stephen’s famous bean dip was delicious, as always. Somehow, I got stuck with the mic during our gaming session. At least no one could hear my voice over the guitars and drums! Along with a few other couples, we also played a few rounds of a card game called the battle of the sexes. It was quite hilarious to hear the boy team arguing over what color saffron was and I’m sure the boys were intrigued by our discussion of what court lines allow for a 3-pointer in basketball. We took a quick break to watch the ball drop and toast the new year. All in all, it was a good time! We didn’t leave until about 1:30 in the morning and we were not exactly looking forward to the hour-long drive back home and all the stupid drivers we might encounter along the way. It was horribly foggy through the Altamont, but luckily the roads were empty.
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