Traveling the Small Towns of Virginia and Commentaries about Life and the Human Condition......: A Little About Me

A Little About Me

Well, let's see?

I guess you could say I've been a car enthusiast forever. My dad took me to my first race when I was 5/6. At the time, there was a small track locally in Norfolk, Virginia. Thinking back, it was most likely not-more-than a half-mile paved oval. I think they raced midgets of some kind.

Attended my first SCCA race about 1957 in Mansfield, Louisiana, while stationed at Barksdale AFB, Bossier City. And, I guess you could say I've been hooked on racing since.

I have a BA in sociology that took me 14 years from start to finish, and a few graduate hours in social work.

I stopped working at 71 after working almost 2o years as a crisis counselor/mental health evaluator. If interested, here's a blog about my job. http://vamentalhealth.blogspot.com/

After a few years in Curtis LeMay's air force I worked in sales jobs until I started my job in mental health. (Yes, there's a long story.)

Many years ago, lived on a modest-size sailboat for about four years.

Photography is a hobby; however, still chasing that elusive one decent snap.

Enjoy writing but find it extremely frustrating most of the time. I rarely finish anything. I have no telling how many partially finished projects. My only book is a bunch of fifty-five word stories. http://georgecallender.blogspot.com/

I also rant and rave about so-called complimentary and alternative medicine, psychics, astrology, chiropractors, and so on. I have over 300 videos on YouTube. I'll spare you the link.

Presently, my eighty-pound Bouvier puppy (she's eight but acts like a puppy) and I live in Virginia Beach.

If you have any comments about this blog, please send me a note.
george238c@juno.com

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Please vote in the poll....

Hi, yes, I am well aware that I have few visitors. Down a ways there's a box that tells exactly how many. Anyway, I imagine there are at least a few of you have have subscribed and stop by to check out new posts. I would appreciate you taking the poll.

Keep in mind that if all of you say my blog sucks, I doubt if I'll kill myself. And, no matter what, I'm going to keep posting stuff. Hey, I can't help myself.....

There are several topics or subjects listed and you may click on as many as you'd like.

Thanks...

George

What am I trying to accomplish?

Good question. I've had many failures in life and especially when it comes to my adventures, if you will.

Most recently, well, three years ago, I bought a Casita small travel trailer. I drove to Texas, picked it up, went on to Florida and stayed in a delightful camp ground on an island across from Pensacola. I was out and about for 28 days and had a great time. But, since then the trailer has not budged.

Ahh, the last one. Yep, bought a Honda CBR250R motorcycle. Had great plans and yes, started a website (listed in the links), and...that was that.

So, my plans this time? At the moment I figure I'll see if I can keep my enthusiasm going and travel around our state of Virginia. There are some great places to visit, fun roads to drive, and things to see, especially out in the mountains...

As I enjoy writing and photography and zipping through the mountains in a nice-handling car, I hope that I can keep this project going. We shall see....

edit: April 12, 2014 Well, I either can't or won't control myself. Yes, I've slipped in a few posts that have nothing to do with traveling around Virginia. And, so it goes....

edit: April 17, 2014 Yes, I couldn't resist. I've changed the title a little and added, Commentaries about Life and the Human Condition.

Why a Subaru?

Good question. With few exceptions I've owned what I call small nice-handling cars. Some that I remember fondly are: 1994 Nissan SER, 1987 VW GTI, 1965 Alfa TI sedan, 20XX Acura GSR, 2008 Miata, and my favorite of all time, a 2004 WRX wagon.

These are cars that I would say are safe to drive fast. And, no I'm not an advocate of speeding on our highways. The Subaru made me feel like a great driver. I could do almost no wrong in that car. In a corner a little too fast, no problem, it would take care of me. Great acceleration, handling, and brakes. Then there's the phenomenal ability to not be fazed by snow, it just plows (no pun intended) ahead. Add to that, a decent-amount of storage and comfortable seats. The only downside was/is premium fuel and not-so-hot gas mileage.

Why Did I Buy a Subaru Crosstrek? And, First Impressions.

When I bought my WRX a little over a year ago I had actually planned on buying a Crosstrek but at the last minute, bought the WRX. My thinking at the time, yes, most likely flawed, was I'm not going to be around but so much longer and I'd really enjoyed my 2004 WRX.

Main reasons for buying the Crosstrek? Well, at 75, I'm just tired of shifting gears. And, frankly, having something that rides a little more comfortably is good also. Compared to my WRX this car rides like a limo.

Though I barely drove much last year (less than 4,000 miles) being able to use regular gas and getting a little better gas mileage will also be nice. And, I've always wanted a sunroof and this car has one.

I have no plans to go off-roading, but the increased ground clearance is a plus.

I'll add to this as needed....

First Impressions of my new car (the WRX)

Well, I've had my car for a couple of days. The ride home from the dealer was about 200 miles. And, I found an excuse or two to run some errands yesterday. Yep, zipped around town a little with some miles on an Interstate.

The car is somewhat jouncy (first time I've ever used this word and I did look it up) I guess I would say. Also, noticed some noise, that I think is wind noise. There is no way that I know of to have a nice handling car and have it ride like you're sitting on your sofa. I'll take the jounce.

The seats are great. Quite comfortable and supportive and the ride home was about four hours.

Ahh, the handling. It seemed just like I had stepped back in my 2004 Subaru WRX wagon. No complaints here, that's for sure.

The 2004 had plenty of power and this one is like a jet airplane. Terrific acceleration and as far as I'm concerned (and frankly, that's all I'm worried about, is what I think) the engine seems responsive at any RPM.

The car came with a boost gauge and short shifter. The shifter seems fine, though if I had a choice I wouldn't have ordered a car with it. For my kind of driving the boost gauge is worthless. Truly don't care what the boost is doing or not doing. Yeah, it's another gauge, if you like that sort of thing.

I have some "hearing problems" for lack of a better term. The radio is fine. Actually, I may not listen to it that often.
Edit: Listened to the radio today with the engine turned off. Sounded great to me.

Let's see, what else? Fit and finish is nice.

People complain about the interior and dashboard. Why, I don't know. Seems fine to me.

I always find it interesting that people buy products, cars included of course, and complain about things that they knew about when they bought them.

Though I haven't given it a lot of thought, our expectations should be realistic about products we buy...and, in fact, our lives in general. Unrealistic expectations will always nag at us.

My expectations for this car were simple. I was buying a car that was first and foremost, designed to have a bunch of power and handle nicely. I applaud Subaru for their efforts. They have succeeded.

Would I make some changes if I was king? Surely, maybe have first gear a little taller, maybe have a six-speed close ratio with, again first gear being a little taller. I don't know of many car folks who would be adverse to more power; however, this car is fine just like it is. Also, more power requires more cubic inches or a higher state of tune, both of which would change the characteristics of the car to some extent.

Will I be modding or making any changes? Absolutely not.

Forget where I read it, but someone remarked that the kid with the baseball cap on backwards thinks he knows more than the hundreds of engineers who have spent no-telling- how many hours designing and refining this car.

Of course, I readily admit that the car would need some modifications if I were planning on racing it in any fashion....road racing or rally. But, I'm not going to. And, that's the crux of it all. The car, for me, is close to perfection as it sits.

Yes, I know there are companies out there who can increase the power and handling somewhat without drastically effecting the characteristics of the car. But, I'm not interested in making any changes.

Frankly, if you want to go faster (which you shouldn't be on the public highways) instead of spending your money on all of the so-called go-fast goodies, start going to some track days. You'll most likely end up being a better driver and learn about how your car handles. And, you'll be doing it in a safe environment.

2/20/2014 Edit: First fill-up, gas mileage 23.7 which includes about 200 miles divided highway at 55mph and 120 miles in the city. I use Kroger which has regular, 89, and 93. I think Subaru recommends 91 for the WRX and 93 for the STI. Anyway, filled it with 93. Dang, almost 50 bucks. I will be satisfied with 20 in town and 25 on the road. Well, not happy...but, hey, I knew what the mileage was when I bought it.

Car Update: February 22, 2014
Took a short trip today. Yes, the car is still jouncy with wind noise, but the gas mileage may be looking up. The car's MPG showed as high as 28.2 while on the Interstate at 60MPH. The mileage my not be as bad as I'd thought.
Didn't mention before, but it was "hard" getting in reverse. That seems to be improving with a few miles.
Nope, no buyer's remorse. I knew exactly what I was buying.

Edit: August 27, 2014. Last fill-up 16.5! Yes, all city, but wow pretty darn low. Yes, the tire pressures are correct. Oh, well. The car's computer showed 17.1.

Traveling the Small Towns of Virginia and Commentaries about Life and the Human Condition......

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A Little About Me

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