I'm on my bike, riding with the usual Thursday morning gang through Coral Springs (that's Florida, folks) when I spot a blue WRX wagon waiting for us to clear the intersection. Remembering that Serge lives here, I yell out SERGE? and the diver yells DON? He does a fast loop around the block and the two of us finally get a chance to meet in person. Amazing that Edmunds can truly be the prelude to "Meet the Members."
Welcome back Patti!!!! You've been missed. Hope you can check in more than a few times a month. :-)
It's a small world, Don. :-) I first met paisan at a Subaru dealer in NJ. He drove up with that big Trooper w/NY plates to buy parts for his XT6 (gee, who could that be?).
I've been biting my tongue...very hesitatant whether to say anything about being off topic here. The war is a serious subject that will affect all of us. I think rsholland's suggestion to move all comments concerning the current world crisis to the Cafe is the best solution.
Brian - excellent piece of writing. You captured some of my concerns well. I copied it and would like to forward it to some friends.
As I stated before, debate is healthy, and the civility level here has been refreshing. The suggestion of moving it off the MEET board to CAFE is an excellent one.
Bob/Mike - Please don't let this get to you. We are all friends here. "Ugly" will not improve anything.
And Patti - Welcome back. Hope you are feeling better and able to go back to work.
Karen - Thank you for permitting our discussions on this board. The Cafe would certainly be a better place to continue them.
Bob/Mike, others - I have spent many hours agonizing over our actions and policies, and still more seeking the right language to express my views. I've tried to avoid diatribe. I think you understand that I intend no offense to anyone, and am motivated by a geniune concern for our collective futures. Believe me, no one would be more pleased to be proven wrong than me.
Steve, Ian, Stephen, others - Thanks. Everything I've posted here is "public domain". I have tried to contribute to intelligent discourse on these issues. It sounds like I've been at least partially successful. These issues are too important to leave to the "spin doctors" of any particular political persuasion.
****
Cars ! Yeah, that's it. I'm going to the Denver Auto Show on the 19th with some buddies. Can't wait to see some of the goodies you guys have been talking about, although the really juicy stuff never makes it to Denver... Should be fun, though - looking forward to it.
juice - I'm sorry to see you post that. This group of people is one of the most thoughtful and civilized that I've had the pleasure of joining.
I apologize to everyone - perhaps I've pushed the limits too far. The last thing I want to see is this group become inflammatory and hostile with each other.
Sorry I missed the chat last night, folks. I was getting ready to leave work in time to make the chat and got hit with some last minute work stuff. :-(
because of the emotional content of the subject, these discussions should NOT occur here, even in the Cafe. BTW, it was Mike's suggestion to move the discussion over the Cafe, not me. I don't even want it there. I want it off Edmunds.
If it starts getting hot and heavy over in the Cafe, I will take a self-imposed sabbatical from Edmunds. There are other Subie sites in which I can participate.
Between what I read/see in the news, and the fact that I'm the only person in my family who thinks Bush is right, I've about had it up to here. I don't want to come to Edmunds and hear more of it. I don't need any more of this grief. This place is a refuge from the outside world for me. If it ceases to be that, I will leave.
Easy Bob! It's certainly an emotionally charged issue for many people and I too question whether we should be debating such a weighty topic here. I also would hate to see a rift form in what has become an extended family for some of us. I for one would be perfectly happy to go back to talking cars, cooking recipes and Lance Armstrong. :-)
He really has a yellow bike! It was certainly a pleasure to meet him, though I'm not surprised, as I've seen this crazy bunch of bike riders before. I was on my way to sub at Michael's school (as usual) and just zipped around like a crazed bike rider and pulled up just as the front of Don's group passed. Hopefully, we will be able to get together like normal people (although I, for one, am not quite normal). Bob, there are actually a bunch just in my family! I missed a Subie get-together a few weeks ago down where they have a cruise night every Friday. I read that there were around 40 Subies cruising around Ft. Lauderdale that night. I am now seeing WRXs just about every day, as well as other Subies every day. Shvitzing in FL, where the temps have been around 90 every day.
Two subjects guaranteed to bring on flames, arrows, and misunderstandings.
The Owners Clubs are intended for those with like-minded interests in a certain make/model. And because most owners get along well and their primary focus is supporting/advising other owners, off topic banter/discussion is not forbidden. However, I am sensing that comments concerning the present state of our world and the consequences/outcome of a pending war is uncomfortable for many members of the Crew. (I don't blame you...I don't like talking about it myself.)
I'm not going to clamp down and say absolutely no talk about anything non-Subie related (where else would I get such great recipes, learn about home improvement, and read graham's wonderfully descriptive posts from Australia!), but there are a lot of other places on the web where world events are discussed.
Let's keep our focus on the friendships that have been formed here and enjoy each other's company.
I'm sure many of us see this forum as a refuge of one form or another - I know that I do. For me it's a refuge from the shrieking incivility and raging emotionality rampant in the "outside world". I can't even turn on the TV anymore while my son is up.
It may come as a surprise to you right now, but I'm betting that if you and I and some of the others sat down over some beers and compared notes, we'd have a lot more in common than just Subaru's.
<< It may come as a surprise to you right now, but I'm betting that if you and I and some of the others sat down over some beers and compared notes, we'd have a lot more in common than just Subaru's. >>
It wouldn't surprise me one bit. You buying the brewskies?
...but you'll have to make it as far as Denver, sorry. I don't have plans to head east, unfortunately. I'd love to meet the Crew in person - East Coast, West Coast, whatever.
Ken: I'm staying at the San Fran Hilton, arriving 4/5 leaving 4/12. Let's hook up. I'll be fun.
that it's just about time for me to buy my semi-annual 6-pack of Beck's Dark...maybe I'll go for Heineken or Grolsch this year! Anybody want to join me?
Brian: Okay, let me pencil that in for now. Let me know if any particular day works better. I work in the South Bay so it might be a little tough on the weekdays. Let's touch base at the end of the month. Have you been here before? Anything you want to see/do in particular? Let me know how much time you want to spare.
Any other Bay Area crew members free around that time?
Henry Weinhard's Dark and Tabernash Hefeweizen (dunkles or helles on the latter, I like both)
In Nuremburg, I favored their "Roggenbier" - made from rye instead of barley. It's similar to a Hefeweizen, but a bit stronger in taste, not reminiscent of rye bread at all.
Roggenbier was banned for 400 years because they couldn't store the rye safely, and it was therefore rare. Took them a while to get around to cleaning up their books !
I'm arriving Saturday afternoon and keeping Sunday open for the express purpose of seeing a bit of the place, so hopefully some part of that'll work for you.
I have a brother and sister-in-law in LA who are very mobile (he flies for United Express) and might join us, but otherwise I have no plans per se.
It's been about 30 years since I was in SF, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
I second Bob's suggestion to move the whole War And Peace topic off Edmunds. I'm myself torn over the issue, as I'm from Europe which has seen it's share of World Wars, but at the same time cannot stand dictatorships.
Lately, I found myself staying off this board as I could not take any more political debates, so let's talk cars, please.
I'm refusing to talk anymore about it online in the car forums I frequent. Too many commies who get me heated over their "oh let's wait til they attack us" mentality...
She and her husband ended up buying a 2000 Outback, instead of the the car I posted about a few days ago.
The 2000 model, besides being on the more modern current platform, was a car that just came off a lease, and only had about 30K on it, and is in excellent shape. Naturally it was a bit more than the '98, but they got it from a Subie dealer and seems very happy with it. It is Winestone, and an automatic with the AWP.
Thanks to all who posted responses. I forwarded that link to her, which I know she checked.
Comments
-mike
Bob
Bob
:-)
It's a small world, Don. :-) I first met paisan at a Subaru dealer in NJ. He drove up with that big Trooper w/NY plates to buy parts for his XT6 (gee, who could that be?).
-Dennis
Most likely it was the screaching tires that gave me away...
-mike
Thanks!
PS> Welcome back, Patti! :-)
As I stated before, debate is healthy, and the civility level here has been refreshing. The suggestion of moving it off the MEET board to CAFE is an excellent one.
Bob/Mike - Please don't let this get to you. We are all friends here. "Ugly" will not improve anything.
And Patti - Welcome back. Hope you are feeling better and able to go back to work.
Steve
Karen - Thank you for permitting our discussions on this board. The Cafe would certainly be a better place to continue them.
Bob/Mike, others - I have spent many hours agonizing over our actions and policies, and still more seeking the right language to express my views. I've tried to avoid diatribe. I think you understand that I intend no offense to anyone, and am motivated by a geniune concern for our collective futures. Believe me, no one would be more pleased to be proven wrong than me.
Steve, Ian, Stephen, others - Thanks. Everything I've posted here is "public domain". I have tried to contribute to intelligent discourse on these issues. It sounds like I've been at least partially successful. These issues are too important to leave to the "spin doctors" of any particular political persuasion.
****
Cars ! Yeah, that's it. I'm going to the Denver Auto Show on the 19th with some buddies. Can't wait to see some of the goodies you guys have been talking about, although the really juicy stuff never makes it to Denver... Should be fun, though - looking forward to it.
-brianV
Stephen
Let's save that for the trolls that visit us! :-)
-juice
I apologize to everyone - perhaps I've pushed the limits too far. The last thing I want to see is this group become inflammatory and hostile with each other.
'nuff said
-brianV
Sounds like attendance was certainly up, however!
Patti -- welcome back!! The Crew is whole again.
Ken
If it starts getting hot and heavy over in the Cafe, I will take a self-imposed sabbatical from Edmunds. There are other Subie sites in which I can participate.
Between what I read/see in the news, and the fact that I'm the only person in my family who thinks Bush is right, I've about had it up to here. I don't want to come to Edmunds and hear more of it. I don't need any more of this grief. This place is a refuge from the outside world for me. If it ceases to be that, I will leave.
Bob
-Frank P.
Bob, there are actually a bunch just in my family! I missed a Subie get-together a few weeks ago down where they have a cruise night every Friday. I read that there were around 40 Subies cruising around Ft. Lauderdale that night. I am now seeing WRXs just about every day, as well as other Subies every day.
Shvitzing in FL, where the temps have been around 90 every day.
The Owners Clubs are intended for those with like-minded interests in a certain make/model. And because most owners get along well and their primary focus is supporting/advising other owners, off topic banter/discussion is not forbidden. However, I am sensing that comments concerning the present state of our world and the consequences/outcome of a pending war is uncomfortable for many members of the Crew. (I don't blame you...I don't like talking about it myself.)
I'm not going to clamp down and say absolutely no talk about anything non-Subie related (where else would I get such great recipes, learn about home improvement, and read graham's wonderfully descriptive posts from Australia!), but there are a lot of other places on the web where world events are discussed.
Let's keep our focus on the friendships that have been formed here and enjoy each other's company.
Peace.
Greg
It may come as a surprise to you right now, but I'm betting that if you and I and some of the others sat down over some beers and compared notes, we'd have a lot more in common than just Subaru's.
I'll take this to the Cafe now.
-brianV
-juice
It wouldn't surprise me one bit. You buying the brewskies?
Bob
-juice
I'm in Denver, or outside of Denver, and I'm traveling to San Fran the second week of April for some training.
Name the date and place, and I'm there.
-brianV
-juice
Brian -- let me know if you have free time in the SF Bay Area. Maybe we can have a small West Coast meet!
Ken
Bob
Ken: I'm staying at the San Fran Hilton, arriving 4/5 leaving 4/12. Let's hook up. I'll be fun.
-brianV
Any other Bay Area crew members free around that time?
Ken
In Nuremburg, I favored their "Roggenbier" - made from rye instead of barley. It's similar to a Hefeweizen, but a bit stronger in taste, not reminiscent of rye bread at all.
Roggenbier was banned for 400 years because they couldn't store the rye safely, and it was therefore rare. Took them a while to get around to cleaning up their books !
Good stuff.
-brianV
-juice
I have a brother and sister-in-law in LA who are very mobile (he flies for United Express) and might join us, but otherwise I have no plans per se.
It's been about 30 years since I was in SF, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'll drop you an email.
-brianV
Lately, I found myself staying off this board as I could not take any more political debates, so let's talk cars, please.
-mike
Greg
Not much to see for Subie fans - an LLBean and a Forester XS. Not primarily an auto event, though. Thanks to SoA for the passes.
Ed
It's still there.
-Dave
Jim
Brian, I'll look for Henry Weinhard's Dark and Tabernash Hefeweizen, thanks for the tips.
My new favorite is Fordham's Copperhead Ale, an Annapolis brew. Here are a few comments on Beer Advocate.
With my pint raised,
Cheers!
..Mike
..Mike
-Dave
The 2000 model, besides being on the more modern current platform, was a car that just came off a lease, and only had about 30K on it, and is in excellent shape. Naturally it was a bit more than the '98, but they got it from a Subie dealer and seems very happy with it. It is Winestone, and an automatic with the AWP.
Thanks to all who posted responses. I forwarded that link to her, which I know she checked.
Bob
Bob
I still see it.
-Dave
Bob
-Brian
Bob
try via this link
/direct/view/.eea1a91
hopefully, you won't show up as me ;-)
-Dave
-Brian