Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I fell sure that you understand more than many the ins and outs of what you really CAN afford in a mortgage ...

    husband and I don't have a lot of compassion for some of the people in mortgage messes right now ... we knew when we bought our house that we really only should tie up about 1/2 of what the bank told us we could qualify for in a loan !!

    we wanted MORE than just a house payment (and kids to put through college, etc)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah, we actually weren't looking at this particular townhouse at all when we started to shop last Sept. It was priced about $200k higher than we could afford so we didn't look at this paricular complex. This unit dropped into our price range so we decided to look at it. Interestingly enough, the day we went to look at it, they dropped it $25k. We liked it a lot and it had a 12x39' 2-car Garage! We put a bid $25k lower and got it! So now we'll be the poorest folks in the complex :( But we won't be fully strapped so hopefully taxes won't get too high.

    -mike
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Wifey wanted siding...

    When we did our addition 3 years ago, I opted to strip the cedar shingles from the existing house and do vinyl. Best money I ever spent. Heck, I just got a new shed and ordered it with vinyl - I'm never picking up a paint brush ever again.

    Appliances - finally made some decisions. We bought a Magic Chef beverage cooler - I guess that means we've committed ourselves to finishing the kitchen. :)

    Actually, we've narrowed it down to a Kenmore Elite gas range, an LG french door fridge and a Bosch diswasher - all from different retailers!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Water front? Can you have a boat there?

    Either way, a 39' wide garage sounds real nice.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    No boat but, there is a private marina <5 min walk north of us and the municipal owned marina is <5min walk south of us, so I won't have a problem for the boat.

    The garage is actually a "tandem" garage it's 12' wide by 39' deep. So I can fit 2 armadas in it one behind the other :)

    -mike
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Just weld those Armadas together and you could have a school bus. :P

    Congrats on the pending home. Those are amazing price drops. Our market up here in Seattle area has been relatively stable compared with most of the country. Prices dropped maybe 10-15% or so and then have leveled off. Still plenty of job creation going on here, so there's been demand for housing.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You could probably pull the Armada all the way in and have the boat inside, behind it! :D
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Not one of Paisan's boats. :-)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe *just* the boat, so he'll have to back it in. :D
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Today is Tuesday :P

    Tuesday means Mazda chat night! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight to meet and greet with your fellow CarSpace members!
    See you there!

    Maybe we'll have a fiewrorks preview tonight!
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    we stopped once today to get something to drink, gas, etc. I reached into the back seat to pick up my purse and "someone" had turned it over when getting something else out of the back seat ... when I picked it up EVERYTHING fell out .. (oh boy ....)

    so ... get it all back IN the purse and on down the road .... we made another short stop for a large sweet tea from McD's ... wanted to pitch some trash at McD's and no outside trash can ....

    another few miles down the road, we stopped again to rid of the trash ... and "someone" knocked the whole huge sweet tea over ... and INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR .... I had at least 2 inches of tea swimming in my floorboard ... there was so much tea in the car it was literally running down somewhere and OUT under the car !!! .... UGH ... we mopped and mopped and mopped ... of course it's still wet and STICKY ....

    someone will owe me a carpet cleaning !!!

    see ya on down the road
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    It could be worse. Back in my student days, we would occasionally go to the coast, about 100 miles from my University in Canberra to pick up oysters from the rocks. This was a fun trip with a cask of wine and loaf of bread from a little bakery halfway down the mountains to share around a group of friends. I used to keep an oyster knife in the car to shuck the beasties from their shell. There is something special about standing waist deep in the ocean, eating oysters you have just hooked off the rocks. I even like it when it's cold and the take home spoils are delicious, fresh or cooked.

    A winter's day of oyster picking left us with a bucket of oysters which were kept under seawater for the trip home. We made it to the last corner home before my passenger lost concentration allowing a bucket full of oysters and seawater to spill over the front passenger footwell. Midnight found me dismantling the car interior and hosing the footwell out in the snow. I ended up rinsing the carpets and floor mats under the shower.

    At the end of it all, I had lost my enthusiasm for oysters.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    At the end of it all, I had lost my enthusiasm for oysters.

    :D

    I felt pity until I read that, then I just lost it. Sorry.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The only problem is that the garage door is only 8' wide, most boat trailers are 8'6" wide :(

    -mike
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    so you already saw the 'happenings' from earlier in the week ... and now .. I've had all the joys of road rash with none of the fun which should have preceded it ...

    last night we were headed to a restaurant for a drink and late dinner ... I parked the car and headed into the restaurant ... tripped on a parking stop and landed face first on the sidewalk ...

    I seem to have led with my upper lip, followed by my nose, and then my glasses were trapped between my face and the pavement ... they protected my left eye (I look like I had a mask on that side), but they are toast from scraping the pavement .. the nose piece chewed a hunk out of my nose ... and then my forehead scraped last ...

    today my lips are so swollen it is ridiculous ... I look like I've been in a bar fight or something ... lol ... purple ... the eyes are started to turn colors ... and my upper lip is scraped raw and oozing .. doesn't that paint a pretty picture?

    I have also found a scrape on my outside left elbow, my left knee is banged up, scraped and bruised, my left middle finger is swollen and bruised, my right hand has a gouge on the back and I'm sore all over ....

    Won't I look great for interviews next week ?

    (I'm too old for this, and very glad I didn't break a hip or something!)
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Bren, please bring some of whatever it is you were drinking to the chat tonight for refreshment time :P
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I look like I've been in a bar fight or something

    Yeah, but you should have seen the other girl. :D

    Get well soon.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So we got our Chesapeake Bay tags, and just as I was hoping the color matches well with or Newport Blue Pearl paint. Wifey loves it. :shades:

    Still owe you guys some pics, hopefully I can do that this weekend.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Brenda,

    All I can say is "ouch!". When I first started to read of your fall I got scared for a minute. My brother did the same thing back in January, only he wasn't as lucky as you. He fell and shattered the bones in his left leg from the knee down, resulting in 6 surgeries, 1 skin graft, 3 months of rehab; followed by an infection in the leg which resulted in another surgery, and more rehab. He's finally home and healing well, but anytime I hear of someone falling on those parking stops now I cringe.

    As for your interview appearance, you can always say this is a result of fighting to get into the interview :) .

    Mark
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Just wanted to wish everyone and their families a Happy 4th of July! May it be safe, and sparkly!

    (And to all our non-US friends, have a great weekend :D !)

    Mark
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Brenda- If it's any consolidation, a couple of weeks ago I tripped over a curb with similar results. Initially I though I'd gotten off pretty lightly with just a couple of small patches bleeding on my cheek and forehead but when I looked in the mirror the next morning the whole side of my face was black, blue and a number of other interesting shades :surprise:

    -Frank
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    it's been pretty nasty ...

    I turned some interesting shades of purple, yellow, green, etc. I have had my entire upper lip scabbed over for about a week and the scabs are finally just about all gone ...I still have a 'colorful' knee, and some bright pink patches on my face where the 'new' skin is ...

    my husband has had to put up with some 'looks' ... I think some had ideas that he did this to me!

    (poor thing .. he is such a sweetie)
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Yup, I've got a couple of those pink patches also :)
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    I finally saw the new Subaru commercial that my friends and family have been talking about. The one with the 2 Impreza's and the meter maid. Now that's something I might be tempted to do, although here in NY the quarter would be good for 10 minutes only :) .

    I think Subaru has been on the right track with the last few commercials, selling the concept of the car, as well as the owners love of the brand.

    Mark
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Well since the race car is gone, had to start modding the LGT Wagon, taking it to Pocono this weekend.

    Yesterday we put in Koni Sport struts/shocks. In the process I found a broken left front upper mount, had to run around to find a replacement. NYC potholes for yah.

    Set on the softest setting, the Konis are slightly better than stock. I'm sure that once I crank em up this weekend they will perform nicely.

    Tomorrow my Rota Flat Black 17x8 rims w/ Falken Azenis RT615s in 255-40-17 go on and a nice aggressive alingment :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just spent 3 weeks down in Brazil, visiting about 6 beaches or so. Two of them I'd never seen before: Pipa and Iguape. :shades:

    Saw only 2 Subarus the whole time. One Impreza in Recife, my home town, which has no dealers (there are 7 Subaru dealers in Brazil, mostly in Sao Paulo and Rio).

    Saw a green gen I Forester in Fortaleza, even had to do a double-take to make sure it wasn't my old one Sandy.

    The funniest by far, though, was in Iguape. My dad took us to visit an old friend of his, so we pull up to this beautiful ocean front house, and he's got a Legacy! Early 90s wagon, automatic, AWD. He drives it on the sand dunes, even.

    That place is so cool. Dune Buggys driving by on the sand, plus a couple of ATVs and some kite surfers.

    And one Subaru!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Welcome back.

    On a side note, do not try to put 255-40-17s on a LGT. They ever so slightly rub, especially with a 48mm offset.

    I swapped the 255-40-17s for a set of 04 STi takeoff wheels and tires. So now I have the classier forged wheels.

    Issues with the Koni install has slowed me down a bit in testing my setup. I also am going to get some springs for it, just haven't decided which yet.

    -mike
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Welcome back. Perhaps you need to get back in the swing and wind down from your trip at the chat. :P

    Hey Pat... it's Thursday!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My kids usually don't let me! I have to get my son into Subarus. :shades:
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Juice- Welcome back. I figured you were on vacation since the boards have been eerily quiet ;)

    -Frank
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My boss, er, I mean wife, said no posting while we were on vacation.

    Here's a funny pic - we caught this octopus at Pipa. We let it go unharmed.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Great shot of Charlie and you juice. :)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The kids were absolutely fascinated by the marine life. It was awesome. Pipa is a preserve, and so clean, unspoiled.

    At high tide, it's a regular ocean. Low tide, the coral reefs pop up out of the water, and natural pools form as the ocean receeds. So you'll find hundreds of natural pools with water so clear you can see the bottom clear as day. Perfect for finding fish, crabs, sea erchants, Portuguese man-o-wars, octupus, snails, hermit crabs, you name it.

    Bob - as an artist I think you would appreciate the town of Pipa a bunch. It's a town full or artisans - sculptors, painters, musicians, all selling hand-made local goods. Leather, wood, musical instruments. Picture cobble stone streets (actually street, singular, there's only one) and side walk cafes, with the best sea food you've tasted in your life (Bobo de Camarao - a shrimp dish).

    This one store was soooo cool. Everything in the store was a musical instrument, but they were all made from recycled natural materials. Hollowed out coconuts, dried vegetables, wood, leather, even seeds for the maracas. The guy grabbed a couple of "instruments" and started playing some samba beats. It was very nostalgic for me as I recalled my childhood.

    You can get surfing lessons at a neighboring beach, so maybe you should go down and bring your daughter, I'm sure she'd love it, too.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Beaches sounds great, but what about Brazil's infamous sharks?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    2 of the beaches we went to do have sharks. Recife and Jaboatao. They even have signs posted, even in English!

    Mostly they attack surfers that are way out there, though. My kids only go knee deep so we were safe.

    Shark attacks get headlines, but did you know more people are killed trampled by elephants? :surprise:
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    What the heck is a "sea erchant"? :shades:
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    ...Craig Hunter has a new gearhead-oriented "performance meter" app for the iPhone and iPod Touch called the gMeter.

    http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2008/08/gmeter-performance-meter-works-on-- - both-iphone-and-ipod.html

    It looks pretty nifty. :)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Something you don't ever want to step on! Click for pic:

    http://i.pbase.com/u34/themilkman/large/31272073.IMG_1341.jpg

    Bob: that looks cool, so anyone can conduct a test drive review now.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    So I spent Saturday washing all 3 cars, and Sunday waxing the Forester. Yes, that includes the rims. ;)

    OCD is alive and well.

    Any how, I snapped some pics and will try to get them up soon, it's just that I forgot my camera at home!

    Wifey still has not named her.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Link doesn't work.

    As to Craig's gMeter, I've sent an e-mail to most of the Edmunds editors, so we'll see.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hmm, still works for me?

    Anyone else?

    Just picture a black ball covered in porcupine spikes. :surprise:
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Nope. I get a "Forbidden" warning.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe your ISP blocks it? Hmm.
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    no go on pic for me too
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    all summer I have interviewed for any open elementary classroom position ... about 16-17 in all since late March ... at one point I was told I was the only internal transfer bid for a first position, but could not have the job as there were "too many openings in special ed" (my current position) ... I began the process to file a grievance as I have 8 years of seniority in this school corporation (and 23 years teaching experience - including 5 years in gen ed, 10 years in gifted ed, and the 8 years in special ed), but there is a small clause in our teacher contract that only applies to the spec ed teachers that takes away all rights that I may have to fight this very situation ....

    all summer I was told the same thing ... good credentials, good references - but .. "too many openings in special ed" ...

    after the last interview I was told I should transfer to a special ed position in the building where I want to work so they can "see me teach" ...

    so no postings in the last 3 weeks, and school starts next week ...

    the only change is that they did post a position to add a 1/2 day teacher where I have been working and that 1/2 day assignment works the other 1/2 day at a neighboring campus ... it's the same assignment I had for 2 years before taking the full time position at the school (4 years ago) ... I asked for that transfer and it was granted ... so there is a 'slight' change, but not what I had in mind ...

    on another track .. we did finally buy a gas range for the kitchen .. we settled on a Kenmore with the oval middle burner in the middle on the top, a warming drawer, and a convection oven ... we also purchased a new over the range microwave and a new dishwasher ... and a 14.4 cu ft refrigerator to replace the compact fridge in the basement ...

    the only appliance we had them install was the gas range .. they brought the appliances and set up the range (I wasn't home - but the DH was) ... the next day I was wiping the stove top and found scratches on it including a couple that went all the way through the finish .. so I call .. and they set up a time to bring a replacement ... 2 days later, they set up the replacement, and after they leave I realize that the range is not sitting flush with the counter but is sitting about 1" or more above the countertop and there is this huge space UNDER the stove .. so call again and 2 days later, they're out again to try to fix this issue ... they redo all this (and there really is a strange situation with our floor which I just won't try to describe here, but it's not the 'usual' slide out the range, adjust the legs, and slide it back in) ... I even checked the level to be sure they had it all "right" before they left ... well .. AFTER they left I realized that the left front leg was not in the "hole" in the floor where it has to sit (part of the 'weird' floor) ... and it's just sort of 'perched' on top of the hole ... DH and I just fixed it ourselves ... I was tired of dealing with it!

    yesterday he installed the new microwave ... makes me want to be able to redo the entire kitchen now!!! (we have plans to completely redo it, but it will have to be AFTER some other home remodeling projects are done first - so a few years yet)

    The only other thing is my family stuff .. lol .. aren't you glad I haven't posted in forever? My mother is back in and out of the hospital, but nothing critical at this point ... she is expected to go back to the nursing home soon and really has been doing "better" ... my wounds from my fall are 'mostly' healed ... my 2 fingers on the left hand still have very swollen joints and I still can't do a lot of gripping with that hand and can't put any weight on those 2 fingers ... still can't put weight to kneel on the left knee although it doesn't hurt in everyday walking, etc. ... and I still have a few pink patches on my face that I do my best to cover with makeup!

    and I'm outta here again ...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Fingers crossed for them to find something for you. It doesn't seem fair to be trapped - how are they ever going to recruit new teachers if that's the case?
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Brenda, I'm with juice here. It just doesn't seem fair. Hopefully it will pan out to your satisfaction. Hang in there...

    Bob
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    well ... in the case where I was the only internal transfer bid, I understand that they hired someone who has no experience ... go figure ...

    I would put it down to the difference in salaries since I'm at the top of the pay scale, but my pay and the new teacher's pay comes out of the same fund no matter if I'm special ed or gen ed ...
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    And it barely shows the new Forester.... :D
  • slazengerslazenger Member Posts: 99
    Funny... Really cool pic...
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