Luau Kalamaku

at gaylord's for the luau. having a good time so far...open bar!

Duke's on Monday

"Duke's on Monday".... ok, so the song is actually duke's on sunday but here we are. named after the famous duke that was the olympic swimmer.

Much better pictures

Here we are out on the beach in front of the condo. Kind of a rainy morning so we are hanging out here. It seems our first souvenier will be a flat iron for Mandy. Her's broke this morning. So woo hoo for authentic hawaiian gifts. Guess we'll head to Hilo Hatti's to get it.



This is last night from the court yard view at Scotty's. We had just taken a similar picture for another couple doing the same thing.

more from scotty's

the view from scotty's. almost every restaurant on the island is open air like this.

finally made it to Kauai. actually made it a little early. got the rental car, checked in to the hotel, went to the grocery store and paid $7.99 for a 12 pack of mt.dew and have finally made our way to scotty's bbq. it sounds and smells great so far.

Made it to LAX 5 more hrs to go

guarding the luggage here at LAX. we have about an hour before we get back on the plane so we are taking shifts at sitting with the luggage while the other one hits the restroom. i guess the next step will be finding some take on food for our 5+ hr flight. we have the laptop and several movies and supposidly wifi acces so that will help kill some time. with any luck the flight won't be full or at leastnot be loaded with 3yr old and youngers. with typical luck, we'll be surronded by them.

made it to salt lake

made it to salt lake city. thankfully enough time to hit the restroom and buy a sandwich this time. have a 7hr flight ahead of us. woo hoo. :-(

off to a wonderful start...sigh.

off to a wonderful start...sigh. ticketing was backed up in RDU so that sucked. got just to the gate to board and did the same in detroit.

more big dogs

how's a 4:15 @ 172 set with you?

little 170mph pass

big dogs

having a big day @ piedmont dragway. here to watch the big dogs. already seen a few qualify around 4.22@170mph+

Warranties....and why they suck

I'm really just ranting here. I've just had a hell of a time and I have no one to explode on that doesn't agree with me, which is pretty much half a battle, having someone that doesn't agree with you to argue with. It's no fun to try and argue with people that agree.

We bought the SS Trailblazer a couple months ago. During the test drive, my over sensitive ears and sick feeling in my stomach noted a slight wine in the left rear speaker. No biggie, it can be fixed I thought. I noted it during the "So what did you think" part of the conversation. Speaker whines, I noted. "oh yes, we'll fix that"....and I rolled my eyes and thought this is the beginning of the end.

So fast forward to a week ago. The speaker quit working all together. So I did some trouble shooting. Which means I took the dash apart on our brand new truck to isolate it channel by channel. Well, I found out the channel did indeed work but the wiring looked kinda shotty though, appears safe and the adapter unit which ties in the Onstar, Bose and Pioneer system looks suspicious. So me and my neighbor (ex-circuit city installer and stereo junkie like myself) figured it was wiring or this adapter deal.

We took the SS to the dealer and explained the channel didn't work with no further details of how much I already know; they get funny when you tell them you've taken it apart and your smarter than they are. They replaced the speaker and called to explain how the speaker was bad and that was clearly the issue with no other concerns. So I had somebody drop me off and I went to get it. Before I so much as moved the blazer I faded it to that channel, surprise, no output. Back around to service I go. Next day, another new speaker just to confirm, it's not the speaker. "Maybe you should look at the wiring, you know those adapters go bad all the time." I suggest. "Oh no, we have a tech (probably making $10/hr with a high school equivalency diploma) that says a channel in the radio is bad, causing it to blow the speaker." So, a RCA output from an $1100 head unit, with virtually no power on it, by design, is causing the issue, not the $100 adapter that is manually wired in? "Come back Tuesday and our {accessory specialist} will look at it". Oh, this can't miss.

So I take it in today to Chevy service, they say, "go see (name left blank, we'll call her Betty), at Cadillac, where the expert is and they'll take care of you". I was standing beside the service manager when he called her on his cell phone. Literally a 30 second drive to see Betty. I'm here to have my radio checked out, I'm from Chevy, just left there. "you're who, with what?" Oh, this is going good. So after hanging out for about 30 mins after they take it back they explain its going to be a while. That's fine, Chevy service manager has explained he'll give me a rental for free. So, again, I must explain this to her. I get a rental, the dodge below this post.

After 6 hrs they call and ask for my sales guys name. Why the hell would they want that I thought. They call right back and explain they can't warranty it because it's after market, that's from the sales guy. Uh no, it's GM certified front to back, the fact it is aftermarket and was installed by retarded monkey's is not my problem. If you wanted to do otherwise, you should have installed the factory unit that you gave to me in the damn box. Yes, they gave me the factory unit as well. Oh yes, they also said its the adapter, oh, like I said 3 weeks ago, not the fully sealed and tested head unit. Well no shit, who knew? Anyway, I asked how much are we talking and why don't they think they can do it. Oh, it's $400. That's a $100 adapter unit and your telling me $300 to install it which would take me 10 minutes and I used to do in the parking lot in high school? "oh, but we had to diagnose it too" no you didn't, I told you what the hell was wrong with it.

So I sternly, though politely explained to call {we'll call him Dave}. "oh I did", Betty says, "he didn't know anything about it". You called Dave, the service manager? "no, I called Dave in sales". And why the damn hell wouldn't you call Dave in sales?! Who I've never met nor knows me or anything about my damn channel on my radio not working you worthless, useless waste of oxygen your breathing right now your ignorant POS! Call Dave, the service manager please. So she says "I need a PO to continue". So, I should call and get you a PO or would you prefer to do this and cut out the middle man. Am I in some sort of alternate universe where everybody is unable to walk and chew gum and think just a little itty bitty bit. What the hell people. Shit don't work, shit needs fixed...fix it! You've given me a rental for the damn day which I didn't ask for and who knows what it costs but you can't come up with $100 for the part and eat the labor, which I might add, I said was the problem to start with? Seriously?! Horse shit people, remove your head from your ass would you!

So I continued to explain, call Dave, the service manager at Chevy, he'll explain it all. I already know what the answer is, I just need you to come to the same conclusion, when you do, and my blazer is done, call me and I'll be over in 15 minutes with this weak ass no tire spinning dodge you've rented me.

Surprise, Scott was right, everything is well and the rear channel works. Why is this so hard? Seriously, next time I'm asking for no warranty, $3000 off and I'll fix it my damn self, odds are, more than likely, I probably caused it anyway....except for this damn left rear channel. So help me if it goes out again I'm returning a 400+HP fire breathing beast under the lemon law for a $100 radio adapter.......DAMN IT!

SS replacement? doubt it.

got a rental today when i dropped the SS off because the left rear channel wasn't working on the radio. they asked did i want a rental, no, i just want a lift home. instead they give me a dodge. while quite comfortable and rather quiet is way weak on power. the up side, sat radio. so now i'm off to an exciting day of putting up laundry until they are done with the SS. then we'll find out i was right all along and it will be the $100 adapter, not the $1100 headunit.

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storm rolling in this evening.

action shot!

another big weekend at bristol

It ain't custom until the grinder comes out!

Even since the S-10 has been back on the road it has squeaked and chirped with every single bump, people and slight run it went through. It may have squeaked before I rebuilt it, probably did but I honestly don't remember. So I finally got around to fixing it.

A common issue when you lower an S-10 is the brake dust shield rubs the lower control arm and makes a horrible noise. So finally out came the grinder and safely glasses and 30 seconds later and some burnt arm hair the problem was solved....I thought.

I ran the suspension through its motion with the jack and so help me it still squeaked. Next line of defense was 600ft-lbs reverse torque from my trust IR Thunder Gun and the upper control arm bushing mounts were loose. I put the suspension at its travel height and hit the bushing with some lithium grease and tightened it all back down. Finally, no more squeak.

Now people just look at me for its shear "that actually runs" look as opposed to "have you trapped a mouse in there" looks.

Video and pics from the charity ride

So I finally got around to posting some pictures from the charity ride, about 3 weeks late. You know, about normal for me, maybe even better than normal. The pictures are after we've already passed (Mandy got excited and forgot she had the camera hanging around her neck). We even slowed down for the picture and tried to smile, clearly it didn't matter.

Here's me


Here's me and Sal

Hope it works, this is me riding by at 3:39. I have a white shirt on and am furtherst from the camera. Not real exciting but this is what it looked like.

Leaving Fayetteville


Entering the parking garage at Duke

Pictures from Shutteryfly

So I was in my shutterfly accound working on some stuff and saw where I could share directly to the blogger. Not real organized nor does it have my most awesome comments but here they are.

Click here to view these pictures larger

charity ride

275 bikes at this point for the Christmas in July, Duke children's hospital charity ride.

Random shots around the boat

Mandy after we came back from the Cozumel trip. We are leaving port here. Awesome hat!


One full day at sea. Our whiter than white legs. You can see Mandy's burnt knees.

Our waiters, Mariono (left) and Efrain (right). Also our table guest from Trinidad, Russ and Keisha.

The last night 70's party in the Centrum. It was pretty fun and even had the captain and his officers out.

Mandy trying her best to hold her hair back in a steady breeze. Plus were moving at like 22 knots here. Notice burnt legs.

The belly flop contest. No, thats not me but this a lot of people in the center of the ship.

After a tough day in Belize.

Mandy using the new video camera in Ft. Lauderdale.

Our ship

Just another Gringo in Belize

Belize. So tropical, so mysterious, so frighteningly poor. Wow. I can't even explain it. The closest we could come up with is Wyoming and McDowell county WV the day after the recent floods. Except it looks like this constantly. I don't know what the deal is since cruise ships just pump endless amounts of money in there but it wasn't at all what Jerry Jeff Walker sings about, look it up. Belize has the worlds 2nd largest natural barrier reef and with shallow waters the boats have to anchor off shore and use tender ships to get you back and forth to shore.

For Belize we were going to go on a tube ride down the river but it was full. So we chose the "Raiders of the Lost Mayan Caves". Sounded fun, cost enough and figured it would be fun. We were picked up again in the rain and we didn't take a change of clothes with us. Completely unknown to us this involved an hour and a half bus ride, 30 mins of which was a rough dirt road. The guide talked the entire time. That pretty much sucked. Mandy felt crummy and right up until we started we were thinking about backing out. Thankfully she started feeling better after eating a bite (provided by the tour) so we pressed on.

This is us all suited up for our tour that involved spelunking, zip lines and rappelling. This can't miss. I felt a little like Mike Myers on SNL when he was the boy with the helmet. Click here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/18878/saturday-night-live-phillip

Here we are under ground getting out picture taken. Notice I'm just starting to sweat a bit.


Yes the trees are wet because it has rained. No, I'm not wet from rain because we were underground. I'm sweating like a mad man. I swear I lost weight on this trip.



Just as we were coming out of the forest the sky's opened up. We made it to our meeting point and got rid of all of our gear, went to the bathroom and then another hour and a half ride back. Run through the port terminal, buy a t-shirt then to the last tender boat of the day. Last group back on ship. We are pretty sure the cave is called Dragon's Mouth cave but we've yet to locate the location on Google Maps.

Cozumel

Cozumel was actually very pretty. It wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Actually, after we talked about it later we found Cozumel safer feeling and cleaner than Hollywood, CA. Seriously. For this day we went on an ATV ride through the sand to an old Mayan ruin. Which was pretty cool. Nothing to special just more less a light house but still pretty cool.

Here is a shot of the Piloto boat between us and the Carnival ship we followed for a week. Again, the water is a beautiful blue.



So 'Nathan' picked us up at the port and loaded us all onto the back of this bus. It had already rained so we bought these goofy looking hats you see hanging around our necks. Well shortly after we got on it started pouring. So we pulled over and rolled the sides down. Thankfully it stopped by the time we got to the ranch to pick up the ATV's.


Here we are in our Yamaha Rhino. Great, all the way to Cozumel, Mexico to do the same thing I can do for free in Dodridge County, WV. Awesome! They had Polaris Razor's but we didn't stake our claim fast enough.


A quick shot in front of the big ruin. The last hurricane caved the roof in they told us. Apparently there are 14 on the island. These were all pretty small and the bigger stuff was all on the main land.


A quick picture from where we had lunch. If you look on Google Maps this is exactly east on the island and right at the intersection of the only road running across the island.

For all that do own a Yamaha Rhino this is what it looks like running at the rev limiter going down the road. This was absolutely as fast as it would go. Mandy drove on the way back.

Here is the ranch we parked the ATV's at. I know you all just said, "oh yea, Rancho El Palomo, of course, I've heard of that." It must be the loose tin and hand painted sign that gave it away.

Formal Dining

Let it be known I hate dressing up. However, Mandy never gets a chance to wear a nice dress so every now and then is OK by me. I went the rebel route and didn't wear a tie. Truth be known I couldn't figure out how to tie the darn thing, even with the instructions we printed out, oh yes, that is all true.



Some random passer by took our picture with our smaller camera. We learned it pays take a camera random people can use.


A cool moonlit night. I thought, "oh, this would be cool with a tripod". Then it occured to me as I'm rocking up and down, no it wouldn't. So this is about the best I could muster.

Key West, FL

The 2nd day was pretty cool. We got to stop in Key West, FL which I've been listening too with Jimmy Buffett and reading a little about. It was pretty much just like I thought it would be. Pretty laid back, bunch of tourist everwhere invading in huge groups at a time. Very friendly locals. Some were even posted at the first few street corners to help direct you to where you were heading. No tips, no hassle, just nice folks trying to help. We made out rounds and bought something like 4 T-shirts. The woman who rang us out at Captain Tony's was actually from Raleigh and could pronounce Fuquay Varina, pretty cool.

Here we are at the obligatory picture spot. The "southern most point in the continental USA". Hawaii is actually more southern if your curious. We couldn't find anybody who could work our camera so we had to take a picture of each other. So goes the problems with taking the big dog out.

Think of this as the pilgramage spot for parot heads. The orginal Margaritaville. Need I say more?

The Ernest Hemingway cats with 6 toes. I believe this one to be Hairy Truman. You can read about them here: http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/our_cats.htm I won't go into the details.

The water surronding Key West is a beautiful aqua-marine. I wish I could explain it. It's so nice. Everyone should visit and it would be nice to spend more than 6 hours here.

Cozumel Mexico

this is the piloto ship down below directing in to the port at cozumel, mexico. this was pretty cool since the ship could dock at the pier. no such luck in belize. it took a tender boat and a 30 min ride to get to shore.

Casino Royal

here are me and mandy doing what we do best, wasting money. they had a small casino on the ship. not quite las vegas but it was fun.

end of US1

out of port

heading out of ft lauderdale port on our way to key west.

made it to ft laurderdale,

made it to ft laurderdale, fl. looks like we got a 10 min ride to the port. then we finally get to get on the boat. more to follow.

so begins our cruise vacation.

so begins our cruise vacation. up around 4:30, ok 5. showered, packed, all lights off, doors shut, water off, etc. away we go.

technical support issues

and they said it was wrong to take stuff apart. my poor laptop hinge is on its last leg and getting ready to go on a cruise we need to take it with us to offload pictures. so what better time than 3 days before to tear it into 1000 pieces.