Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

abacomike

28firefighter said:

I would tend to agree with @suydam, @abacomike.

That said, if you can't live a little, what's the point?

Well, I could give it away as a gift, right? Or, when the end is finally upon me, I guess I could douse myself with a good bourbon and go out with a smile, right?

abacomike

I finally heard back from the cardiologist regarding my cholesterol levels. He said the report indicates that my total cholesterol level is 125, which he considered pretty low. Then, he told me the LDL (bad) cholesterol is only 39 which is severely low. He agrees that I should cut back on atorvastatin (Lipitor, I believe) from 40 mg to 20 mg a day and repeat the blood test in 8 weeks. He also said my LDL should be between 55-75 considering my medical history. He believes my LDL is very low due to the fact that my liver functions are not as good as they should be.

In the meantime, I am still waiting to hear back from the gastroenterologist about the blood tests I took last week for checking the HEP C viral counts and my eligibility for this new drug that just hit the market. Things, at the moment, don't seem to be going very well for me - but there is always hope, right?

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

ab348 said:

Yeah, it's nice stuff, Mike. No idea what it goes for in Florida but it's pushing $50 up here. Probably half that at an ABC there.

Looked it up - between $40 and $60 a bottle.  I guess I'll trek over there this weekend.  Just because it's expensive doesn't make it good.  But if you guys say it's worth it, I'll pick up a bottle over there.  Thanks guys for you input

.

Driver Method of Cost Averaging (or Rationalizing) says go for it, it will help relieve some of the cost of the fancy $35 car wash.

And how does it relieve the cost of the fancy car wash (detail) driver?  I don't foresee any money floating into my pocket!

$35 car wash = money spent.
$50 bottle of scotch = something of value coming in.

It is almost a (excuse the pun again) wash.

It is like whenever I save say $100, something happens that I have to spend $100. It is the circle of life.......

abacomike

driver100 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

Yeah, it's nice stuff, Mike. No idea what it goes for in Florida but it's pushing $50 up here. Probably half that at an ABC there.

Looked it up - between $40 and $60 a bottle.  I guess I'll trek over there this weekend.  Just because it's expensive doesn't make it good.  But if you guys say it's worth it, I'll pick up a bottle over there.  Thanks guys for you input

.

Driver Method of Cost Averaging (or Rationalizing) says go for it, it will help relieve some of the cost of the fancy $35 car wash.

And how does it relieve the cost of the fancy car wash (detail) driver?  I don't foresee any money floating into my pocket!

$35 car wash = money spent. $50 bottle of scotch = something of value coming in. It is almost a (excuse the pun again) wash. It is like whenever I save say $100, something happens that I have to spend $100. It is the circle of life.......

 

abacomike

I'm beginning to understand you driver!  The END must be closer than I thought!!!  

abacomike

I'm beginning to understand you driver!  The END must be closer than I thought!!!  

driver100

abacomike said:

I'm beginning to understand you driver!  The END must be closer than I thought!!!  

Guess you really understand me now....you even wrote it twice!

Sometimes I like to think outside the box. Like we had a great Duck Tour of Pittsburg and the guide announced that we were going by the Children's Museum if we were interested. I told him I didn't have to see a Children's Museum, I already have seen children and I know how they got here!

Sorry to hear about the additional medical complications. It sounds like you have some very good people trying their best for you. Stay strong!

graphicguy

Woodford Reserve is a good bourbon. It's not a "Pappy" or a small batch, but it's still good.

carnaught

abacomike said:

I'm beginning to understand you driver!  The END must be closer than I thought!!!  

Hang in there Mike. Wait to hear what the consensus is with your GI and transplant docs.Maybe you just need the new anti-C med.

abacomike

carnaught said:

I'm beginning to understand you driver!  The END must be closer than I thought!!!  

Hang in there Mike. Wait to hear what the consensus is with your GI and transplant docs.Maybe you just need the new anti-C med.

I'm hanging, carnaught - I'm hanging!  

abacomike

graphicguy said:

Woodford Reserve is a good bourbon. It's not a "Pappy" or a small batch, but it's still good.

Thanks, GG.  I'll make it a point to stop over there and pick up a bottle.

sda

My wife bought me Woodford for an anniversary present. I've never had it before. It
is quite good and the bottle has a nice look to it.

sda

A neat view from the third floor balcony of the office building where I work. It is in Ballantyne in Charlotte, NC.

abacomike

sda said:

My wife bought me Woodford for an anniversary present. I've never had it before. It is quite good and the bottle has a nice look to it.

That's exactly what the picture on the invitation from the casino looks like.  I'm looking forward to getting that bourbon. 

sda

Now that a good portion of my commute is in stop and go traffic where I am at a standstill and can just creep forward the mpg has taken a hit. It has been rare that I've seen less than 30mpg, now I do. Still not bad.

stickguy

Pretty area SDA. I like it down there.

jpp75

sda said:

A neat view from the third floor balcony of the office building where I work. It is in Ballantyne in Charlotte, NC.

Nice view! I love Another Broken Egg. One of my largest clients is right up the street from there.

driver100

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

Mr_Shiftright

abacomike said:

Just got an invitation to pick up a free bottle (750ml) of Woodford Reserve Bourbon at the casino as a gift.  Is it worth going over there for that brand of bourbon?  Anyone familiar with it?  Thanks! 

Yeah, it's pretty good, says my friend the Bourbon guru. Might be better if you mix it than drink it neat but I'd drive over for a bottle of it, sure. It's the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby I just found out, online.

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

That's normal traffic in Saigon.

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

That's normal traffic in Saigon.

Nah, it looks like I-75 near Tampa Florida!

explorerx4

@SDA,
I hope your anniversary wasn't yesterday.

abacomike

Mr_Shiftright said:

Just got an invitation to pick up a free bottle (750ml) of Woodford Reserve Bourbon at the casino as a gift.  Is it worth going over there for that brand of bourbon?  Anyone familiar with it?  Thanks! 

Yeah, it's pretty good, says my friend the Bourbon guru. Might be better if you mix it than drink it neat but I'd drive over for a bottle of it, sure. It's the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby I just found out, online.

Kentucky Derby, huh!  Official Kentucky Bourbon, huh!  Now I'm getting anxious!  Almost can't wait! 

abacomike

While driving in my car this afternoon on my way home from the dentist, I inadvertently pointed two fingers at the center monitor and all of a sudden, the radio went mute!  So I pointed the same two fingers at the monitor and the audio came back on.  I have to be extra careful with my hands and fingers when driving this 740i - tomorrow I've decided to give the "bird" to the monitor just to see what happens.  If I live through that "gesture", I'll report to you guys my experiences.  Should be interesting considering this is a German car and I don't think they take kindly to certain finger gestures. 

stickguy

at this points, I think the line of too much has been obliterated in some cars.

roadburner

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

I almost entered a Figure-8 race about 20 years ago. Then I watched a race and decided almost all the divers were insane.

driver100

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

I almost entered a Figure-8 race about 20 years ago. Then I watched a race and decided almost all the divers were insane.

There is a guy about half way through who just turns left instead of going through the 8....and cheats! I have never heard of a figure 8 race but would like to go to one.

imidazol97

My buddy through school got involved in figure 8 racing after he graduated from Purdue. It was a track in Anderson, IN, IIRC. His uncle had been involved in stock car racing while we were in school. Racing was in his blood. His Uncle had some interesting vehicles that he let us use to cruise the local small town drive thru's, like a 56 Tbird and Pontiac convertible.

One of his uncle's stock cars that he raced was on display at a church-sponsored car show in the township where I grew up.

ab348

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s, ABC's Wide World of Sports used to show figure-8 racing from (I think) Islip, NY fairly often. I thought it was great fun.

houdini1

abacomike said:

Just got an invitation to pick up a free bottle (750ml) of Woodford Reserve Bourbon at the casino as a gift.  Is it worth going over there for that brand of bourbon?  Anyone familiar with it?  Thanks! 

Just have them drop it off !

graphicguy

abacomike said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

abacomike said:

Just got an invitation to pick up a free bottle (750ml) of Woodford Reserve Bourbon at the casino as a gift.  Is it worth going over there for that brand of bourbon?  Anyone familiar with it?  Thanks! 

Yeah, it's pretty good, says my friend the Bourbon guru. Might be better if you mix it than drink it neat but I'd drive over for a bottle of it, sure. It's the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby I just found out, online.

Kentucky Derby, huh!  Official Kentucky Bourbon, huh!  Now I'm getting anxious!  Almost can't wait! 

Mike, I'm more of an "on the rocks" kind of person, but those who enjoy Manhattans tell me using Woodford Reserve in a Manhattan is sublime. I'll take their word for it.

graphicguy

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

I almost entered a Figure-8 race about 20 years ago. Then I watched a race and decided almost all the divers were insane.

"ALMOST" all were insane? Are you insinuating you were the only one who was sane, therefore you didn't qualify to participate? ;0

roadburner

The race I watched featured drivers who never touched the brakes at all. Vehicular carnage ensued.

qbrozen

roadburner said:

driver100 said:

You won't believe this. I would like to see roadrunner enter his car in this race.
It runs 4 minutes and the action starts at the 48 second mark. It gets really crazy at the 2 minute mark.
People love this.....race track in Saigon.

https://youtu.be/wZKqhvch3mU

I almost entered a Figure-8 race about 20 years ago. Then I watched a race and decided almost all the divers were insane.

no crashes in the crossover is simply amazing.

PF_Flyer

Reminds me of the days of Wide World of Sports and the figure 8 racing from Islip. Then there was a TV show in the 60's called Jalopy Races from Hollywood (I think) that had a feature called Crackup of the Week. Featured stuff that looked like this:

abacomike

Well, gave my car the "bird" as I promised and it brought up my communications screen (Bluetooth) asking me to select a phone number from my contacts.  Interesting response - at least the Luftwaffe didn't start a bombing run on my 740i or call for the Panzers or a V2 raid.  I guess I'm just lucky!

thebean

ab348 said:

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960s, ABC's Wide World of Sports used to show figure-8 racing from (I think) Islip, NY fairly often. I thought it was great fun.

+1. I remember those races - lots of fun for us youngun's to watch.  It was indeed Islip, NY.

PF_Flyer

Oh yea, I had an uncle that lived "out on the Island" and we went to Islip for the races a couple of times. We didn't go for the wrecks, but for the "crackups". Another of my early exposure to cars and racing was at the Teaneck Armory for indoor midget racing

stickguy

Ok, those don't look vaguely safe.

PF_Flyer

stickguy said:

Ok, those don't look vaguely safe.

Remember, that was before we thought we could make the world 100% safe

I like the hand brake so you didn't have to take your foot off the gas!

explorerx4

@abacomike, Watch out for U boats in the canals.

driver100

I used to race around in one of these:

abacomike

explorerx4 said:

@abacomike, Watch out for U boats in the canals.

I think our nemeses in canals down here are more likely to be alligators than u-boats - but I'll keep an eye out for periscopes just in case.  Thanks explorer for the heads-up - or is "up periscopes"? 

abacomike

driver100 said:

I used to race around in one of these:

Used to ride those in Coney Island next to Nathan's (hot dogs) when I was a whipper-snapper!  

stickguy

weren't they horse drawn back in those days?

Sorry. couldn't resist.

qbrozen

Ok, my "dangerous" toys weren't nearly as old, but my folks had absolutely no concern for the safety of things.

I think I was about 7 or so when they got me one of these and would let me ride, unattended, miles from the house in the woods and gravel pits behind our house. Pretty sure I didn't have a helmet.




A bit later, maybe when I was 12 or so, we got 2 of these. My brother and I would, again, ride unsupervised a good 5 miles from the house to a impromptu motorcycle track. These, of course, were far far safer just in their construction, but we habitually would roll them and just beat them and ourselves mercilessly.

abacomike

qbrozen said:

Ok, my "dangerous" toys weren't nearly as old, but my folks had absolutely no concern for the safety of things. I think I was about 7 or so when they got me one of these and would let me ride, unattended, miles from the house in the woods and gravel pits behind our house. Pretty sure I didn't have a helmet. A bit later, maybe when I was 12 or so, we got 2 of these. My brother and I would, again, ride unsupervised a good 5 miles from the house to a impromptu motorcycle track. These, of course, were far far safer just in their construction, but we habitually would roll them and just beat them and ourselves mercilessly.

Your parents had no concern for the safety of things?  What about the safety of their kids - you and your brother?  They just trusted you more than my parents trusted me and my twin brother.

I sure wish I had parents like yours - I couldn't even get a bike out of my parents because they thought bikes were too dangerous.  Between you and me, I don't think they could afford to buy us bikes - when I was younger, we really didn't have much.  It wasn't until I started college that my Dad started making great money.

ab348

abacomike said:

Well, gave my car the "bird" as I promised and it brought up my communications screen (Bluetooth) asking me to select a phone number from my contacts.  Interesting response - at least the Luftwaffe didn't start a bombing run on my 740i or call for the Panzers or a V2 raid.  I guess I'm just lucky!

You may have already seen this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGkAv8iqM9I

qbrozen

There is no way in hell I would let my 7-yr-old or even 11-yr-old do the things I did as a kid. I don't mind motorized equipment, but to wander miles from home unsupervised? Not a chance.

stickguy

I'm the same way. no chance they would do what I did, and have no idea where they were all day.