Up at work, down for a lunch time excursion. Back up for the afternoon in the sun and back down for the ride home. Going on a 5 day mini vacation to Chattanooga right after work tomorrow, so I won't be posting here for a couple days. Don't worry I'm going to take a little notebook along to keep track the transitions. So check back Wednesday, I'm going to fill a whole post with just up, down, up, downs. Now that is something to look forward to. :-D

Started down, went up, went down, back up, back back down and it is still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 161

Same story as yesterday - up at work - down on the way home while dodging sprinkles. The extra cycle was this evening as I went back to work to print the Master's Miata Club newsletter on the color laser near the Director of Operations' office.

Started down, went up, went down, back up, back down and it is still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 157

Top up during work. When we left work, the skies were really ugly so I suggested leaving it up. My wife then called me a wimp, so I was left with little chioce but to put it down. For a second it looked like I was right, but the sprinkles only lasted about 50 yards. She was right and we both enjoyed the drive home more for it.

Made a stop at Mail Boxes, Etc. to make copies of the Aiken Bicycle Club newsletter for mailing out. There is a slightly older woman who works there with a green/tan 2001 Miata. I've given her a Master's Miata Club newsletter a couple of times but she seems reluctant to come out. But today for the first time she noticed the Alley Gator teeth on the front of my car. She thought they were cool and asked me where I got them. I gave her the web address for Auto Expressions, the place I got them and told her if she needed help installing them just call me, I'd be glad to help. We'll see what happens.

Started down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 153

The top went up while at work and stayed up on the way home because it was raining. We made a trip to Lowes to pick up some stuff in the evening and we put the top down for a slight drive for that trip. Sitting comfortably in front of the computer when a friend called, he needed help putting some furniture back in the house after today's carpet install. As I backed out of the garage I realized it was raining, so I put the top up while we moved an armoire, a sleeper/sofa and 2 recliners. By that time it had quit raining so I dropped the top once more for the 1 mile drive home.

Started down, went up, went down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 151

It's Sunday, so the Miata sat unloved in the garage all day. About 8 PM my wife said, "Let's take a drive." To which I replied, "But please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in that briar patch." Off we went for a 45 mile loop along some two lane roads. About 2 miles in it started to sprinkle which then turned to light rain. But we drove on, as long as we didn't have to stop, we wouldn't get wet. About 5 miles later it quit. Nice way to wrap up the weekend.

Started up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 147

There were 5 cars at the Welcome Center for the Miata Club's trip to Hampton, SC for the Watermelon Festival. Of that number, only 2 made the trip. The weather forecast didn't look good, rain was predicted and it was already raining in Charleston and heading north. Tony decided to push on and go anyway as we had made a commitment to meet the folks from the Low Country Miata Club for the parade and festivities. Because of the weather in Charleston I figured nobody from there would come, boy was I wrong, they had 6 cars make the trip. Good thing Tony did go. They got wet waiting on the parade, but had a good time anyway. Donna and I did a little shopping and spent a quiet day at home.

Started down, went up, went down, back up again, still up.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 146

Took the day off from work today. My wife and I decided to go see "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones." Actually going to the theater to see a movie is a big deal for us. The last time we saw a movie on a bigger than 32" TV screen (excluding the drive-in events anually with the Miata Club) was "Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace." The time before that was probably when they re-released the original 3 Star Wars flicks several years before that.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 143

Tricked again or maybe just lazy, you be the judge. The top stayed down all through the work day, but at 3:30 I had to go to have some tests done and when I arrived at the Med Center it was gray cloudy and breezy, I would swear it was gonna rain. I put the top up. It seemed the safest way to go, not only that it was so windy that putting the cockpit cover on single handedly would have been difficult. When I came out afterwards, it of course, hadn't rained. Just left it up to go pick up my wife from work.

After a nice dinner out at Chili's we put the top down and took the long way home. As darkness fell, it still looked like it might rain any second....

Started down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 143

Totally spazzed on blogging last night. Got to updating the Barndoor Fan Club web site and forgot.

Yesterday the Weather Channel convinced us with their forecast to just go ahead and put the top up while at work. It didn't rain.

Today they were predicting afternoon thunder showers. We decided to leave the top down and use the cockpit cover. It didn't rain either.

Tomorrow they say isolated thunder showers in the afternoon. I bet it doesn't rain.

Started down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 141

Went to work, came home...Oh yeah, changed the CD in the MP3 player from a complilation of music that I owned and burned to one of music I stole from starving musicians using the Internet. Don't tell, OK?

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 139

Almost didn't drive the Miata at all today, but I wanted to take a couple pictures of the car in front of a big flag mural in downtown Aiken I noticed yesterday. Picture of the Hood The rest are here at Ofoto. You have to be a member & sign in to view them, so if you don't want that hassle, don't.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 139

Put the top down this morning to run some errands. First was breafast downtown at the New Moon Cafe. We arrived about 15 minutes before they opened so we went for a little cruise around a older subdivision in town. Cool driving. Narrow, windy, hilly and smooth. When we finished breakfast our next destination was the Post Office. We were about 10 m9inutes early for their opening as well. Off on another little drive. Did I mention it was a beautiful morning for a drive? After the PO we stopped at the auto parts store in town to buy some oil, after that it was back home. I spent the next hour communing with the Miata, while listening to Car Talk. Changed the oil and filter and rotated the tires. Afterwards it was time to wash the Miata, because this afternoon was a MMM...Time with the Master's Miata Club.

Busy car day, so maybe that will make up for tomorrow where as usual on Sunday's the Miata might not even leave the Garage.

Started up, went down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 139

Put the top down for the ride to work even though it was going to have to go right back up at work. The predicted noon time start for the rain was not correct. When we left work it stayed up as it was very ugly looking off to the west. As it was it only started to rain a mile or so from the house, so we could have made it home, but that's OK as the AC felt good.

Started up, went down, went up, still up.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 136

Today we put the top up after work. It was 97 degrees and we had to run some errands. Later while eating dinner we were watching the local news, when the weather man came on he had some interesting tidbits for us. Today was the 10th day of the month that the tempurature was 90 or above (it is the 13th!) It was the 25th day this year we have been 90+. Today's 97 was the 3rd highest tempurature this year. And the first day of summer is still 8 days away. After a weak cold front passes through it is supposed to be cooler this weekend, all the way down into the upper 80s. :-)

Started down, went up, still up.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 134

Read yesterday's entry, repeat.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 133

Beautiful ride into work, one of those days where you want to go straight instead of turning into the company parking lot, but being grown-ups we turned in. Almost put the top up on the way home as it was so miserable, middles 90's. Just grimaced and drove home. It is a 15 minute drive and it seems such a waste to take 5 minutes to put the top up and then another 5-10 to actually cool the inside down.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 133

Cool enough for a light jacket on the way to today, hot enough on the way home to be naked (not that we were mind you.) After supper tonight we went for a short drive down some local back roads, with a stop at Brusters for an ice cream. In the lower areas it was already cooling back off.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 133

Poor neglected car. Didn't get to go out and play today. Felt guilty about it this afternoon, so I went outside in the garage and pumped up all the tires to 31 PSI.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 133

Missed a couple nights blogging, see the Rant for why, so there were 5 transitions since the last post. Usual routine, down on the way to work, up for the trip home in the heat of the day, and then down for any evening excursions.

Today for some reason, summer took a holiday, so Donna and I took a drive. Haven't had a chance to do that in a while, either too busy or too hot. When we left the house at 9:00 AM it was cool enough to need a jacket and by the time we got home a 1:00 PM short shirt sleeves were the dress code. 150 mile loop up around Clark's Hill Lake that is formed by a dam on the Savannah River. Smooth 2 lane roads with little traffic, surrounded by greenery with occasional glimpses of water. Wish the road followed closer to the lake, but still a beautiful ride.

Started up, went down, went up, went down, went up, went down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 133

Top down for the ride to work. Another hot day in the afternoon, so it went up for the ride home, stayed down to the bike Club meeting and even home from that. Good news was that the garage door opener is fixed and it only cost the $55 for the service call. Bad news is that all it took to fix it was that the repair guy had me shut the breaker off for 5 minutes and then turn it back on. He said that there is a prection chip on the cicuit board that can be reset sometimes when the unit takes a power surge. One of the remote controlled ceiling fans on the screened porch was discovered not working this afternoon, and for whatever reason, that same trick worked on it as well. Go figure. Also good news is the insurance agent called to say that any TV under 25" is just a replacement thing, no need to even try and get a repair estimate. Makes sense, a new 19" TV was $100 at Target, the TV repair shop wanted $20 just to look at it.

Started up, went down, went up, still up.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 128

Felt crappy this afternoon, so we put the top up and rode home with the top up and A/C on. Had to get out of the car in the driveway to manually open the the garage door, we on a waiting list for the repair person to visit and see what it will cost to fix/replace the opener. After supper the of us piled into the MSV and made a run to Target. Bought a new phone/answering machine 'cause the insurance man said nobody fixes them so just keep the receipt. While we were there we bought a cheap 19" TV because we couldn't stand it without any TV to watch. What the heck, if the TV repair guy can fix the other one for cheap, we'll just sell it and at least recoup the repair cost.

Started down, went up, still up.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 126

Pleasant drive to work, miserable drive home, upper 90's with a heat index of lower 100s. Drove straight home with the top down and the A/C on. The cool air was only really noticeable at the 3 stoplights and 2 stop signs on the route, but that is when you wanted it the most. Finally got the garage remote behind the console and because of a lightning storm this evening the opener doesn't work any more. See tonight's rant for the whole list fried objects. I'm sure I can get the same model, etc as the unit itself is only 5 months old.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 125

Drove the Miata to go grocery shopping this morning, early. Freakin' HOT. It was upper 80s at 9:30 this morning according the the bank sign we passed on the way home from the store. It is around 7:30 PM as I write this and Weather.com sez it is still 96 and feeling like 100. I have no idea if that is correct, because I ain't poking my head outside to see, it's 74 in the house.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 125

This morning was trash pick-up with the bike club. We have a whopping 4 block section of town to police. We always get a big turn out for the event too, because the Club buys everyone who comes out a breakfast at Best Bagels. Besides the usual cans, both intact and shredded by lawn mower, bottles and fast food wrappers, today's haul included 2 IBM Selectric typewriters, a rusty hand saw, a couple sets of car keys and a lobster tail with the meat intact.

After that it was another drive to Augusta to deliver the Bike Club Newsletter to the big 3 bikes stores. By then it was lunch and the temps were in the 90s so the afternoon was spent indoors in the AC and channel surfing.

Started down, still down.
Top Transitions sine 02/02/02: 125