Picky Porsche 993

Make: Porsche

Model: 993 C4

Year: 1996

This car was different in that Eric took commission in selling this vehicle for someone that didn't want to take the time showing it and keeping it squeaky clean. When we finally kissed this hot-rod goodbye I was soo thankful I would never have to wax it again. You heard me right, Eric had me wax this car more than a few times. 

Specialty cars are a tough sale, the buyers are very, very, picky and for good reason I guess. 

For example, Eric had a potential buyer send out a guy to run paint tests in our garage on this car to make sure it was the same original paint. His test concluded that a few pieces of this car had different types of paint on it so after a good 2 hours he left completely uninterested and our Saturday had been spent washing, vacuuming, waxing, and waiting for nothing except finding out more about this car... that it was gonna be an even harder sale than we imagined!

It was a cool experience to spend time with this car and it sure was fun to zip around in, but were more than happy to find it a new home!

Eventually, after a few Ebay attempts, this Porsche sold to a younger guy in New York City who wanted a flashy car to fit right in with his new job promotion. Who ever you are Mr. N.Y. we love you!

G is for Glorious

Year: 2000

Model: Mercedes 

Make: G500

Talk about pure perfection people! 

I am starting to think the Germans may be some kind of superior race after all...

This G500 wasn't released to the US until 2002 - so this black stallion was imported and roamed our streets well before its kind. At first glace, yes it is kind of odd and boxy. But the closer and closer you get you realize you can't resist this box's glorious authority from moment you slam its door shut. 

  

 

 

Talk about luxurious trunk space.

Let me tell ya -Dreams do come true. And one of mine came true in April 2011 when Eric gave me this G500 to drive for the summer, an epic summer.

The Wave Runners

Yellow Year: 1996

 Yellow Make: Sea-Doo

 Yellow Model: HX

Purple Year: 1997

Purple Make: Kawasaki

Purple Model:  ZXi900

The Naive Wave Runner

A boy named Eric moved to California and he had a dream to jet ski in the Pacific Ocean. He saw surfers, kayaks and paddle boarders, but very rarely did he ever see someone on a sea-do or wave runner. He thought, "People must not know how to operate machines around here". So he set his heart on buying his own wave runners and showing these Cali water-babies some 'real action'!

Eric bought his wave runners and couldn't wait to get out on the ocean! He went to Oceanside Harbor and started his engine. His heart was racing with anticipation - the day he dreamed of had finally arrive! The first thing he learned was while in the Harbor you must drive with your vehicle in idle.  Oh boy, the pressure was on... Eric struggled to keep his wave runner from tipping over while he attempted to steady it with all his strength. Finally he was to the mouth of the Harbor and what did he do? He punched the throttle as hard as he could and took off! He kept going and going and going - It looked like he was headed straight for Japan! 

After the initial adrenalin rush died down, Eric realized he had underestimated the mighty Pacific Ocean and overestimated his ability to drive machines. He got hit wave after wave until he was finally knocked right off!. He swam back to his wave runner and attempted getting back on, but he couldn't!  He wrestles and wrestles with the wave runner for about 5 minutes until he is utterly exhausted. He looks around trying to figure out a plan when he realizes a pod of dolphins have come to check on him. About 5 minutes later a boat pulls up to him with flashing lights - the Oceanside Police! They ask Eric if he is injured and he admits to them that he cant seem to get back on the wave runner. He used the side of their boat to hoist himself back on the wave runner and thanked the Police for their 'rescue'. Eric headed straight for land and at the end of the day this wave runner was not as naive as before. 

The Rebound Audi A4

A sad day occurred in my life shortly after beginning sweet matrimony: The day I sorrowfully kissed goodbye my beloved black 2007 Jetta. I deeply loved my car and begged and begged Eric to let me keep it.

I can get very attached to certain things - some of them don't make sense but the fact of the matter is, I am just attached. My Jetta was one of these things, and it was hard for me to see it go. It drove me around when I was happy, mad and sad - It was like losing a very reliable friend who had seen, experienced, and been many places with me. Laugh all you want, but this Jetta had done no wrong, and it would have made me happy for many many years to come.

Despite my attachment towards my black Jetta, Eric said I had to let it go, and so I did. My Jetta was replaced a few weeks later by this:  

Year: 2002

Make: Audi

Model: A4

I drove it while we lived in El Paso and it did its job - getting me around every now and then.

Front Seats

Back Seats: (Little, little leg-room compared to my Jetta)

It was nice and all but I never got attached. It was a rebound car people.  Rebound, period. 

Some of you might be able to relate: A rebound is simply a rebound and nothing more. 

That is how I felt about my Audi A4. 

I used it while I had it, but I was waiting for the 'REAL DEAL' to come into my life....

Fort Bliss

I thought you all might like to see a glimpse of what Eric was busy doing for a year of his life in El Paso. 

So I decided to visit him and asked if he would give all of us a tour .... 

Lucky You!! He said Yes!

 "Welcome people! I'm Eric, the Project Engineer on this job, and I'll be showing you around the building today."

 "First up is the Media Room. This entire wall behind me is going to be covered with flat-screens to display top secret info just like you see in the movies." 

"Watch your step, as you follow me to the 2nd Floor."

"This is the viewing deck. Here the top leaders will stand and view the display screens on the wall behind me. It will be from this spot that major decisions will be made affecting our nation's future."

"This is what the viewing deck looked like a few weeks before this tour. 

As you can see, a lot of work takes place here daily!"

  "Keep up people! Its not safe to get left behind in a construction site!"

"Here is a good look at the electrical work that has to be wired under the elevated floor tiles. And this is a long process - its what has to be done in every room of this building."

"And to the right you'll see the snow out on the roof - Its proof of one of the reasons this project had some delays."

 

    "This is a conference room."

"This is some pretty fancy designing - red carpet and a red accent wall that draws you in..."

  "These locks are on all the doors in the building"

"Once inside this door you have to to be specially authorized by the person behind this window to advance into the next room. Why? Because the next room happens to be the Top Secret SCIF ROOM."

"Now we are standing in one of the break-rooms for the workers. Looks like they want microwaves and a mini fridge."

"AND BELOW ME IS THE LOBBY. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON THE 3RD FLOOR. 

  "Look below, you can see all the work going on in the lobby entrance."

"NOW CATCH UP! I AM TAKING YOU TO THE GENERAL'S PRIVATE OFFICE!"

  "And in order to enter the General's office you must salute to show respect - he is THE General of 1/7th of the entire United States Army after-all."

 

 

"Very good."

"If I were the General, I would probably place my desk here."

"Michelle is now standing where the General's desk will go. As you can see, he has a nice big office."

 "And look, the General even has a shower in his personal bathroom."

 

 "He also has a private conference room between his office and the office of the Sergent."

"And that's all folks. I've Got to get back to work."

 
And here it is finally completed: Built for the First Armored Division which is 1/7th of the United States Army.

And remember this? Its the viewing deck completed! 

God Bless the USA.