2004-06-17 - 2:25 p.m.
1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette, bought in 2000 when we were still gung-ho about the SCA. It's a comfortable ride, carries a lot of cargo or family members, but is prone to annoying breakdowns. Here’s the laundry list of repairs it’s had since we bought it:
New brake discs, within 6 months of purchase
New fuel pump inside of a year.
Near-complete rebuild of front end after my wife crashed into two parked cars.
New brake calipers.
New alternator.
Various little electrical problems.
New water pump.
Aaannnd now… brand spanking new as of June 2004:
Blown head gasket and cylinder heads.
Did I mention we still owe about $6000 on the note, not to mention the repair bills?
On the other hand, I’m in the running for a managerial position in another department, and J’s got a line on a job that would pay her more money and let her work from home.
So it all balances…
In other news, after not exercising since December I’ve gotten back on the wagon. I’ve joined a mailing list for Matt Furey’s Combat Conditioning enthusiasts, and discovered that I’ve been working out all wrong. I’d been just doing each exercise until I couldn’t do any more. I’d made some advances in endurance and strength, but hadn’t really seen much of a change in appearance. So I’ve started doing sets, with a fixed number of reps for each exercise, with 20 jumping jacks after each exercise. It’s a killer. It takes me 20 minutes, and I’m completely dead afterwards, puffing and blowing like a walrus. Afterwards I get that sweet ache you feel after having pushed yourself. I’m also tweaking the diet; little to no sugar, more whole grains and fresh vegetables, that sort of thing. I’ve also (gasp!) given up coffee in exchange for green tea.
My goal: 200 pounds of streaming steel by fall. (I can dream, can’t I?)
