Random Musings

Occasionally I write a blog when there's not really anything specific to ramble on about, simply snippets.  This is one of those occasions.  So strap in and here we go.

The picture up top is the new sled.  The Murano is dead, long live the Nitro.  15 days ago I was involved in a minor fender bender and I learned quite a few things.  Mostly, though, I learned about vehicles with airbags.  The Murano had part of the front bumper and front fender carved off.  No big deal...couple thousand bucks of body work and good as new.  But no!!!  During the crash a few wires of the wiring harness were sheared off and apparently when that happens to a vehicle with air bags it's an automatic total.  See, once the wiring is replaced there's really no way to test the air bags.  Well, no way short of running the vehicle into a wall which is sort of counter to the point. 

Anyway, after getting the check for the total I went car shopping last Saturday and ended up with the Nitro you see before you.  It's different than the Murano..(duh)...much more primitive.  Where the Murano was plush and luxurious the Nitro is spartan and functional.  No electric seats, no heated seats, not a spec of leather anywhere....radio controls are (gasp) on the radio instead of  the steering wheel and horror of horrors, there's no compass to tell me which direction I'm going and no outside temperature indicator.  But all is not lost.  I'm fairly certain I won't rip the skid plate off of the Nitro like I did the Murano and I'll have to work pretty hard to get this thing high centered like I nearly did in the Murano last year in the Badlands.  And to be honest, the Murano needed some work...new front struts, new tires, and the CVT (continuously variable transmission) was getting sketchy again.  It was replaced at 87,000 miles which was about 85,000 miles ago.  So maybe it's not all bad.  I'll know more in a few months.

I wonder:  Why is it that the "best ever rock bottom" price of a vehicle can be reduced by nearly 10% by just saying "Let me think about it until Monday."  You tell me this is your absolute best price then reduce it when I stand up to leave...what the bleep?  I hate car shopping.

And to the moron that was running the engine of a Charger inside the showroom at the Dodge dealer, I was absolutely truthful when I told you the carbon monoxide blowing in my face was giving me a headache.  Your wife may fake headaches but I don't.  Get a clue dude.

Unexpected dental work, car wreck, wedding expenses adding up, airline ticket prices doubled...all these things conspired to cause me to cancel my March trip to Phoenix for spring training and my proposed trip to photograph the Palouse region of Washington state in May.  But the good news is Erin is having her wedding in Sedona in September and I've wrapped some extra vacation time around the date so I can spend some time there and then dawdle my way home photographing some neat stuff on the way. 

Rocky Mountain Nature Photographers get together in Moab in May, Sedona in September...2 road trips for the new vehicle.  ROAD TRIP!!!!! Whoooooooooo Hooooooooo!

Speaking of Moab, if any of you are passing through there this summer take some time to check out a couple of photo shows.  In July my friend Bret Edge is having a show of his images along with the work of Guy Tal at the Visitor Center of Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab.  2 of my favorite photographers displaying their work in one place at the same time!  Bonus!  Also, Bret will be having a solo show beginning September 10 at Back of Beyond book store in Moab.  One of the best book stores on the planet and some wonderful images...another bonus!

Speaking of airline prices, what's up with Southwest!  I love Southwest and won't fly any other airline unless SW doesn't fly where I want to go.  But come on, guys...the fares from Denver to Phoenix during the month of March are double what they are in February or April.  I guess they figure what with spring break and the Rockies training in Scottsdale for the first time, they can sell tickets for as much as they want and people will buy them.  Then in April the price gets back to normal.  Freakin shameless profiteers.

Okay, that's all for now.  I've had my monthly quota of ranting and whining.  Next blog will be less rambling and more substance.