I took a look at the mail today and saw that the EZ Pass transponder for Blacura had arrived. We ordered it for Robert since he would be driving between home and Penn State and wanted to make the commute just a bit easier. It was ordered a couple of days prior to his accident, and arrived less than a week after.
So if that is not enough irony for you, consider that the check to re-register Blacura cleared the same day as the accident.
Want more? Blacura was detailed the day prior to the accident.
And I won't forget that we paid over $1,000 in Blacura maintenance expense to have the car prepared for its journey to Penn State.
Timing is everything, or so I'm told...
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
New Toy
I know I should not have started that subscription to a running magazine. It was only $10 for a one year, but I should have known it would end up costing me much more. I just could not resist that watch with a built-in GPS receiver that was advertised on the last page of the first issue I received.
But that watch is really cool! Of course it tells the time, as well as how long I ran. But, in addition, you guessed it, it tells you with great accuracy how far you ran. And then, when you download the runs into their website, it gives you your pace for each mile, your elevation changes, and it shows your exact path via Google maps. And it even shows the pace at each moment of your run! So now Pam is calling me a geek, but I can live with that given how cool this watch is.
The watch is made by Garmin, the car GPS people. I'm sure there are lots of other companies making similar watches, I know I saw an ad for one by Timex. But be assured, I still run in t-shirts and cheap shorts from Marshalls. I promise I won't buy those $15 socks that they say are so special...but good sneakers are another story!
But that watch is really cool! Of course it tells the time, as well as how long I ran. But, in addition, you guessed it, it tells you with great accuracy how far you ran. And then, when you download the runs into their website, it gives you your pace for each mile, your elevation changes, and it shows your exact path via Google maps. And it even shows the pace at each moment of your run! So now Pam is calling me a geek, but I can live with that given how cool this watch is.
The watch is made by Garmin, the car GPS people. I'm sure there are lots of other companies making similar watches, I know I saw an ad for one by Timex. But be assured, I still run in t-shirts and cheap shorts from Marshalls. I promise I won't buy those $15 socks that they say are so special...but good sneakers are another story!
Near Disaster - RIP Blacura
Thursday night Robert and three good friends went to see the Philadelphia Union professional soccer game. On the way home, near the Linc (that would be Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles play, for those outside of Philly), Robert stopped with traffic at a construction site. Unfortunately, the guy behind him, driving a big SUV, didn't stop, at least not until he ran into the back of blacura at about, Robert guesses, 30 to 40 miles per hour.
Blacura was so named because it is a black Acura - get it? Of course, the black 1999 Acura TL has a vanity license plate that reads BLACURA. The plate does get attention; Crista was telling us today about the time she was leaving WaWa (a local 7-11 type store) only to find a young boy taking pictures of the license plate.
Robert and his front seat passenger were not at all hurt. The airbags did deploy, probably helping to keep them safe. The rear passengers, Matt and Callie, were hit with a lot of shattered glass from the rear window and one of the rear side door windows. They were bleeding from the glass, but were remarkably healthy after the crash.
Pam and I raced down to the accident site to do what parents do, and then to give everybody a ride home. It was a relief to see the kids in good spirits after their near disaster.
In looking for a new used car for Robert and Crista, we decided we would not look at another Acura, especially a black Acura. This blacura was actually blacura number 2; the original blacura (a black Acura CL) was totalled by a drunk driver while parked in front of our house. The drunk driver drove away dragging the car's front bumper. When stopped by a local police officer, the driver denied hitting our car...go figure. So, after two blacura's being totalled, we decided not to tempt fate. Enough is enough.
The next car for Robert and Crista, if Pam has her way, will be a tank. A really, really big tank.
Blacura was so named because it is a black Acura - get it? Of course, the black 1999 Acura TL has a vanity license plate that reads BLACURA. The plate does get attention; Crista was telling us today about the time she was leaving WaWa (a local 7-11 type store) only to find a young boy taking pictures of the license plate.
Robert and his front seat passenger were not at all hurt. The airbags did deploy, probably helping to keep them safe. The rear passengers, Matt and Callie, were hit with a lot of shattered glass from the rear window and one of the rear side door windows. They were bleeding from the glass, but were remarkably healthy after the crash.
Pam and I raced down to the accident site to do what parents do, and then to give everybody a ride home. It was a relief to see the kids in good spirits after their near disaster.
In looking for a new used car for Robert and Crista, we decided we would not look at another Acura, especially a black Acura. This blacura was actually blacura number 2; the original blacura (a black Acura CL) was totalled by a drunk driver while parked in front of our house. The drunk driver drove away dragging the car's front bumper. When stopped by a local police officer, the driver denied hitting our car...go figure. So, after two blacura's being totalled, we decided not to tempt fate. Enough is enough.
The next car for Robert and Crista, if Pam has her way, will be a tank. A really, really big tank.
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