I was thinking, from a global standpoint, how much fuel we could all save if we really DROVE the car. Not just stomp on the gas pedal. If we really looked at our surroundings, and noticed how green the trees were, and how pretty the view was instead of talking on the cell phone, or worse, texting as we drive and never really see our beautiful landscapes as they fly by us at 60+ miles per hour. How much more calm we would be, the blood pressure would be lower, the road rage would seem to disappear into thin air around us, and we would breathe, even smell the earth, the mossy scent of the forest and the fragrance of the flowers as we pass by.
Many of our issues could be resolved if we really learned to drive the vehicles we depend on. Fewer emissions, less fossil fuel consumption, stress relief, ...really...think about it.
What I realized is that Ive been living my life the way Ive been driving the suburban, uphill in 5th gear. Give it more gas it'll get there somehow. Instead of enjoying the ride, and paying attention to the road. You can make better decisions if you pay attention and enjoy the ride.
My family has a saying, that we are always "running at 90-miles per hour", and its true -too true really. Everything is frantic, last minute deadline, high stress, gotta get it done now...
I'm not sure if we know how to live any other way. Maybe that's the problem. We need a restart here, hit the pause button and slow down. It does seem that everything ends up that way, in a heated rush. And please understand that we are not "lazy" people. Quite the contrary, however, we never seem to finish in a blaze of glory without the pressure. Well, I'm sick of it.
We spent Saturday nights at the races in Loudon, New Hampshire at Bryar Motorsport Park, now the New Hampshire Speedway, watching and being the pit crew for my dad and his short track racing endeavors. He rarely if ever came in second place, but that's the pressure I'm talking about. There's someone right behind you pushing you forward...right on your heels, breathing down your neck...can't let them pass you...got ttoo goooo ffaaasssttterrr...gottt ttto gget the the ffinishhh lllline fffiiiirrrsstttt......YES! I win, I win! Did I?
Honestly sounds like an orgasm doesn't it? Well, maybe that's it, hoping that each build up will climax with, well, a climax. It never works that way when someone else pushes you, you have to push yourself, and more pleasure comes from that to be sure. I seem to forget that part.
I love the sex analogy, that just kind of happened, but really... we equate everything to sex and pleasure. Sometimes its the only pleasure, and sometimes not. But we are forever in the pursuit of that feeling. That all the build up has a pleasurable climax to make it worth the effort.
My current stat of affairs has afforded me, lets say...perspective. There are things that I want, there are things that I have, and there are things that I need. I have many talents, I have many passions, and I have perspective now. So, maybe that's the recipe for success. A real success, not based on my bank balance, or my accumulated things...but a success based on my happiness. Happy with what I have, contented in where I am and enjoying my life because I make my living doing what I love. Which gives me time to smell the land and appreciate the feel of mountain water on my feet, or the dirt in my teeth after an awesome trail ride, or being able to still feel the vibration of the bike in your hands and the motor's heat between your thighs. This is life and it is great to live it. How I want to, not because I have to have this or pay that, that's living on someone else's terms, its time to live on my terms, have my virtual orgasm-and enjoy the ride.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Learning to drive at 41....or uphill in 5th Gear
I have been renovating my house in Hot Springs NC for the past few years, and now the crunch is on to get it finished so I can move in permanently. So I have been making the 2 hour round trip commute 2-3 days a week for the past few months. And paying the price...literally. At 100 bucks a pop to fill up my beautiful 1994 Suburban, which I couldn't live without by the way, its hitting me hard. The money I should be spending at Home Depot is going into the gas tank every 2 days or so. OUCH!
The interesting thing is that the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, that I love to drive, has taken a huge chunk outa my wallet. Or so I thought.
My parents came up to Asheville to help me with me relocation and renovation in Hot Springs this week and I am beyond greatful, but I'll get to that part in a minute. We loaded up the first day- the truck, the trailer, a Home Depot run and household stuff to take up to the new house, so I'm driving with a full load...needless to say. Now I've been averaging 8 miles to the gallon with my bruiser 454 chevy big block (love it), but like I said, killing the wallet. so with that full load up and back was usually a half a tank of gas, now at 100+ bucks a fillup you can do the math...
Anyway, after we get rolling out of Asheville and start heading north my Dad starts giving me pointers about driving loaded in the mountains.
Now, I'm 41 years young, been driving since I was 16 (legally) and been riding motorcycles since I was 8. Ive been around cars and motorcycles the majority of my adult life, I know my way around a shop, a tool box and an engine compartment, but for whatever reason the true understanding of an automatic transmission had escaped me. And I'm sure Im not the only one, so its not a dumb girl thing...so do be thinking that!
I've been hauling trailers, filled to the brim with vehicles, work stuff, house stuff...lots o'stuff, and usually had a standard transmission car, which is my preference, all over creation. But the 'burban is an automatic, with overdrive, drive and first and second gears. I know to shiftdown when going up hill but the inclination is to stomp on the gas when you slow down or start ascending a hill, and to pump your brakes decending the hill, not realizing the fuel consumption, and the damage you're doing to your brakes, disc or drums. well...Duh, use the gears as they were intended! my dad said one thing out of the many, that really stuck with me..."imagine there's an egg under your gas pedal, and you can't break it until you arrive". Hmmm...
Imaging coasting to your destination...think about it...use gas to get to speed then use your gears to maintain speed, and used your gears to decellerate, and brakes to come to a complete stop or in emergency. I have seen at least a 50% reduction in fuel consumption in as many days. So what used to take over a half a tank to and from, is now less that 1/4 tank to and from...with a trailer and the car full? How did I miss this?
My mind is somewhere else...from the Facebook updates, to the text messages, to selling my house, to moving, to where is the next paycheck coming from, to where did my dog loose her collar, to which credit card isn't maxed out, to how am I going to buy groceries, orchestrate people to help me move, clean up the new house, fumigate, clean, construct, increase business, not lose old business, ...God, I'm tired...where was I? Oh yeah, the mind is somewhere else, not concentrating on driving, thats for sure!
I've noticed that as much as I enjoyed the drive before I'm enjoying it more, actually driving the road. Noticing the curves and sways, the way the car handles at different speeds, noticing the frequncy of the tailights, and the burning smell from the brakes of the car in front of you. And being confident thats not your vehicle making that awful sqeak, and burning smell because you havent touched your brakes yet.
The interesting thing is that the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, that I love to drive, has taken a huge chunk outa my wallet. Or so I thought.
My parents came up to Asheville to help me with me relocation and renovation in Hot Springs this week and I am beyond greatful, but I'll get to that part in a minute. We loaded up the first day- the truck, the trailer, a Home Depot run and household stuff to take up to the new house, so I'm driving with a full load...needless to say. Now I've been averaging 8 miles to the gallon with my bruiser 454 chevy big block (love it), but like I said, killing the wallet. so with that full load up and back was usually a half a tank of gas, now at 100+ bucks a fillup you can do the math...
Anyway, after we get rolling out of Asheville and start heading north my Dad starts giving me pointers about driving loaded in the mountains.
Now, I'm 41 years young, been driving since I was 16 (legally) and been riding motorcycles since I was 8. Ive been around cars and motorcycles the majority of my adult life, I know my way around a shop, a tool box and an engine compartment, but for whatever reason the true understanding of an automatic transmission had escaped me. And I'm sure Im not the only one, so its not a dumb girl thing...so do be thinking that!
I've been hauling trailers, filled to the brim with vehicles, work stuff, house stuff...lots o'stuff, and usually had a standard transmission car, which is my preference, all over creation. But the 'burban is an automatic, with overdrive, drive and first and second gears. I know to shiftdown when going up hill but the inclination is to stomp on the gas when you slow down or start ascending a hill, and to pump your brakes decending the hill, not realizing the fuel consumption, and the damage you're doing to your brakes, disc or drums. well...Duh, use the gears as they were intended! my dad said one thing out of the many, that really stuck with me..."imagine there's an egg under your gas pedal, and you can't break it until you arrive". Hmmm...
Imaging coasting to your destination...think about it...use gas to get to speed then use your gears to maintain speed, and used your gears to decellerate, and brakes to come to a complete stop or in emergency. I have seen at least a 50% reduction in fuel consumption in as many days. So what used to take over a half a tank to and from, is now less that 1/4 tank to and from...with a trailer and the car full? How did I miss this?
My mind is somewhere else...from the Facebook updates, to the text messages, to selling my house, to moving, to where is the next paycheck coming from, to where did my dog loose her collar, to which credit card isn't maxed out, to how am I going to buy groceries, orchestrate people to help me move, clean up the new house, fumigate, clean, construct, increase business, not lose old business, ...God, I'm tired...where was I? Oh yeah, the mind is somewhere else, not concentrating on driving, thats for sure!
I've noticed that as much as I enjoyed the drive before I'm enjoying it more, actually driving the road. Noticing the curves and sways, the way the car handles at different speeds, noticing the frequncy of the tailights, and the burning smell from the brakes of the car in front of you. And being confident thats not your vehicle making that awful sqeak, and burning smell because you havent touched your brakes yet.
Monday, June 1, 2009
I've been preaching to some of my clients about having a blog for years-and I has come down to a "do as I say not as do" situation. So its time to suck it up and put my money where my mouth is.
I've been building and rebuilding my website http://www.monstermotorgirl.com/ and researching SEO and driving traffic to my site, and realized that it was time to talk about my passion and not hide behind research anymore. I love cars, trucks, motorcycles boats, motors, the smell exhaust and motor oil. I get a feeling in my belly, and a smile on my face, the word "saaweeeet" will escape my lips when I see a classic mustang, corvette, or chevelle...or some exotic european slick sexy thing screaming down the highway.
I love Spike TV on Sundays with the resto shows and Overhaulin', and Wrecks to Riches. I long to find the proverbial "Barn Find" and bring it back to life. I am longing for the concrete pad to build my shop with tall rollup doors and the wall of red toolboxes, and the spraybooth in the corner.
I have the desire but not the space for cars to be worked on so its motorcycles that i can wheel in and out of my basement.
I have been working on a 97 Honda cbr600F3 that was wrecked, and thats been great fun. Still have some painting and assembly to do, thats on going and I'll write more about that later.
The last restoration was a 99 GS500e which was originally my bike which I sold to a friend who was a truck driver, and never rode it. He drove it to a friend's house where it sat for years, then it ended up in my driveway, waiting for him to come get it, and bought it back with a tank full of water, and frozen carbs.
That bike was a heartbreak when it sat in my driveway for so long, I covered it and tried to forget. But I couldn't to watch it virtually rot before my eyes was too much to bear. I had to save her!
The black Targa fairing and the bright yellow was classic, it looked great sitting in the driveway, the parking lot at the local bikeshop, or cruising around Asheville or riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. She always got looks wherever she went.
Another great thing about that little bike was the narrowness of the seat which makes it great for short legged people or women who usually have more thigh meat than men. It was a peppy little twin, that I had fun with. Got my only NC speeding ticket on that little girl.
Well, last week I traded her for a bright yellow 4 wheeler, and I have to say I was very sad to see her go. But, the GS wouldn't haul a trailer in the woods and help me cut trails on my land in Hot Springs. So, she's off to a new life with another young lady who is getting her as a gift, which makes the parting less painful. I feel she'll have a good home and be well loved.
On to the next project and I'll tell you more as it comes...
I've been building and rebuilding my website http://www.monstermotorgirl.com/ and researching SEO and driving traffic to my site, and realized that it was time to talk about my passion and not hide behind research anymore. I love cars, trucks, motorcycles boats, motors, the smell exhaust and motor oil. I get a feeling in my belly, and a smile on my face, the word "saaweeeet" will escape my lips when I see a classic mustang, corvette, or chevelle...or some exotic european slick sexy thing screaming down the highway.
I love Spike TV on Sundays with the resto shows and Overhaulin', and Wrecks to Riches. I long to find the proverbial "Barn Find" and bring it back to life. I am longing for the concrete pad to build my shop with tall rollup doors and the wall of red toolboxes, and the spraybooth in the corner.
I have the desire but not the space for cars to be worked on so its motorcycles that i can wheel in and out of my basement.
I have been working on a 97 Honda cbr600F3 that was wrecked, and thats been great fun. Still have some painting and assembly to do, thats on going and I'll write more about that later.
The last restoration was a 99 GS500e which was originally my bike which I sold to a friend who was a truck driver, and never rode it. He drove it to a friend's house where it sat for years, then it ended up in my driveway, waiting for him to come get it, and bought it back with a tank full of water, and frozen carbs.
That bike was a heartbreak when it sat in my driveway for so long, I covered it and tried to forget. But I couldn't to watch it virtually rot before my eyes was too much to bear. I had to save her!
The black Targa fairing and the bright yellow was classic, it looked great sitting in the driveway, the parking lot at the local bikeshop, or cruising around Asheville or riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. She always got looks wherever she went.
Another great thing about that little bike was the narrowness of the seat which makes it great for short legged people or women who usually have more thigh meat than men. It was a peppy little twin, that I had fun with. Got my only NC speeding ticket on that little girl.
Well, last week I traded her for a bright yellow 4 wheeler, and I have to say I was very sad to see her go. But, the GS wouldn't haul a trailer in the woods and help me cut trails on my land in Hot Springs. So, she's off to a new life with another young lady who is getting her as a gift, which makes the parting less painful. I feel she'll have a good home and be well loved.
On to the next project and I'll tell you more as it comes...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
