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Mini-Vacation – Santa Barbara

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

Melissa and I are taking the slow route up to the Bay Area for the holidays. Tonight we’re staying in Santa Barbara, and we’ll visit the Hearst Castle tomorrow. For dinner we ate at a decent Mexican restaurant on State Street. Afterwards we walked down State Street looking at all the shops and restaurants. It’s clear that the economy has started to hit Main, err… State Street America. Despite the Christmas decorations, and the huge tree in a left-turn lane, there are quite a few empty stores and others going out of business. I guess now is the time to start a new business cheaply in Santa Barbara – as long as you can weather the current economic storm.

More tomorrow!

Tags: economy, Santa Barbara, vacation
Posted in Commentary, Photos | 2 Comments »

Tour of California Disappointment

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Below is the map showing the just-released 2009 Tour of California stage 8 route. And I’m disappointed. I thought the stage would end on the top of Palomar Mountain, but it is simply going to pass over the top, circle back around and finish in relatively boring Escondito.

Just like when the race goes through the Bay Area, I am familiar with much of this route. The race starts in Rancho Bernardo, and heads east on Highland Valley Road. That road has several nicely steep sections that kick my non-professional racer butt. I’m sure that the pros won’t charge up those hills so early in the race, but their pace would drop me, no doubt.

They go up the hard side of Palomar which is a world-class climb. It is every bit as hard as the Tour de France cols I’ve climbed. In February the top of Palomar can be quite cold (sometimes it even snows) so the temperature changes along the route could have an effect on the race.

I wish the race organizers would have given us the grand spectacle of a mountain-top finish. I am grateful, however, that they’ve finally dipped below the Los Angeles divide.

Oh, and I can’t forget to note: parts of the race go through Indian reservations, so the racers can get their gamblin’ on, if they feel like it.

Tags: bollocks, Escondito, Tour of California
Posted in Commentary, Cycling | Comments Off

Sell My Volvo?

Friday, November 21st, 2008

I am considering selling my Volvo. I drive it perhaps two or three times a week because I ride my bike to school. Melissa has a fine automobile that she would let me use. My car is a 1997 model (it was actually sold in 1996) 850 T5 Vovlo wagon with every premium package except for the ‘winter’ and multidisc CD changer packages. Kelly Blue Book says I can sell it for between $4000 and $5000. I encourage you to tell me what do to in the comments. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

Do I sell my car?
Yes, sell it:	No, keep it:
I hardly drive my car, but I have to pay car insurance all the time. Also, I need to register it by January ($100) and get it smogged ($30?). It’s twelve years old and things are breaking: the key fob; the odometer; the backlight on the radio display; the driver-side seat is ripped. Who knows what’s next? It’s likely going to be something I can’t just live without. Melissa’s car is nearly a decade newer, more fuel efficient and almost as spacious. $4000+ in my pocket is nice. Until I graduate, I don’t picture myself needing a car except on the weekends. And when I graduate, my new job will pay more, so if I need to commute, I will be able to afford a car more easily. If I sell my car, I’ll split the car insurance costs with Melissa on her car which will save both of us money.	If I am going to own any car, this is just about the perfect car for me. I really like it. It’s spacious enough, but not too big. It’s got a killer roof rack system that would be hard to do on another car. It’s safer than Melissa’s car, primarily because it’s heavier (gotta love Volvos!). I already own the car fully, so the only recurrent costs are insurance and fuel. I could call up my insurance agent and get much lower coverage, especially collision coverage.