Home from Baltimore

Hi hi

I love how travel came with this job, I didn’t know that was going to happen; sweet surprise.

Early 6am flight home, traffic to downtown is awful in the morning eh, got some life admin done, then fell asleep at my desk in a weird position for a bit.

Today’s Autonet news is about how Hertz has added a fleet of supercars to their rental offerings (Ferrari, Aston Martin), here: ‘Hertz gets Fancy’. This week’s column made the cover today (about rims, “they’re like butter”), and just finished the outline for next week, (about car nerds). Also just got down the rough copy of my Fiat review; short answer is good, and review will print next week.

I’ll update here properly soon promise, I’m behind on email sorry, going for a little walk now, thanks for always checking back xo

UPDATE

Photos from Baltimore, Maryland.

I was there with Fiat to test their 2014 all-new 500L. It’s a five-door five passenger version of the Fiat you know, the 500 (I had one in the winter).

Will dedicate a post to the vehicle, short review is: if this is your look, you’re going to love it; base model comes well equipped; it’s a turbo engine; good value for money; great cargo space; get it in manual.

Had to buy a carry-on suitcase, I’ve been using that green duffel bag seen in my sidebar.

You never check your luggage on a press trip, no one does, so then you’re that guy who makes everyone wait.

Learned that the hard way, at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Baltimore is a port town.

And all its industrial areas have been renovated, it’s a good looking, vibrant city. Baltimore really surprised me.

And get this – it’s one of the fittest cities in America.

There are no fast food restaurants in the city centre; you need to drive 10 miles outside of downtown to find one.

 

Big-time foodie movement if you like that stuff.

Dinner outfits.

Only dinner photo I took.

I’ve noticed at these events, that this crowd has really great phone etiquette. Cels get stored out of sight, no one is ever sitting all zoned out on their screen, it’s really refreshing.

Not my camera.

Wouldn’t know how to operate one of those.  If I could get away with it, I’d photo everything with my phone.

The camera belongs to my driving partner, Jeremy Sinek – veteran auto journalist, and chief road-tester over at MSN Autos.

We laughed a lot. Ape arms urgh.

 

 

Things from the Week

The last 48 hours I rested. I had a drink in my hand by 6pm Wednesday, and didn’t again open my laptop all night, can’t remember thte last time I did that. Tipsy sushi and Caesars.

Next week’s column is about rims. Still behind blogging 2 past columns, but now have a column index page finally, click here.

Pretty crazy I’m dressed like this mid-JUNE. I try to remember my point about Canadian weather , but still, this summer sucks eh.

Making a prediction….

Fanny packs are going to be a trend this fall

Hands free is the best.

While everyone’s busy making fun of me, I’m getting twice as much done.

Finally a couple days have been warm enough to bring out the platforms.

See the left one; did some shoe repair using nail-polish.

Toe update – since I broke it, it’s still swollen, puffy and not healed.

After week 2 I’d had enough, and started stomping around again. I was probably too hard on it, but serves it right really, for letting me down.

Let’s see… off-roading in a Raptor video is almost done, next car I have is a Ford CMax, off to Baltimore next week with Fiat, more I can’t remember now.

TTYL xo

 

Underwater I Was

I went snorkelling while in Mexico a few weeks back.

Not a fan of underwater sports or activities, because I can’t breathe down there.

The fish are too clever to be touched, but they kept coming just close enough to keep me trying.

The diving companies got together and dropped 400 statues into the water, so us touristas had something to look at besides the dead coral.

The boat ride out was maybe the best part, look:

It’s full-throttle headed straight into shore, then a fast 90 degree turn at the last second, rooster tail of water washes over everyone.

 Ahaha, Mexico.

 

 

I Finally Switched to TELUS

2 Saturday’s ago, I switched cel service providers. I spent the early afternoon backing up, then went to the store to the make it official.

I ported my number over, and the changeover was faster than I thought it’d be… insert new SIM,  jokes with the guys and sign a form, maybe an hour. And the phone was live and receiving text messages before I left the store.

The guys!

The TELUS Guys

L – R – Ian, me, and Tyler

Go see them too, they’re fun and knowledgeable; downtown Toronto at 500 Yonge Street.

Upgraded to an iPhone 5.

This was my old phone name.

Friendly reminder – don’t name your phone your actual name, here’s why .

Lastly, ever notice this?

That in all the years I’ve shared my life online, I’ve never talked about my cel service provider? And like, internet and my phone are a huge part of my life, after rent it’s my largest monthly expense, and I can’t work without it. But I never said a word, because I abhor them.

Each month I hemorrhaged money, and no matter how many phone calls and bill reviews I did, more haemorrhaging. And really, if I opened my mouth to talk about it, doubtful I could stop the stream of garbage that would come out, and although they earned it, that’s not classy, and I don’t want to be in Google for that. You know who I’m talking about. Ask me IRL though, there’s a couple good stories there.

But that’s all done!

I now have an amazing and affordable 6 GBs / month on my phone, and that’s how…

… a 5-year-old daydream became real:

I can tether my laptop, and work from the driver’s seat.

Really, anywhere; that’s a life changer. For the last 2 weeks I’ve spent way less time at my desk.  Can’t tell you how great that is.