Search Results for: face behind the blog

The Mazda Adventure Rally – Day 2

Jun 11 2014

10 hours of driving today.

All along the kinds of roads that look like the ones in my imagination. Recently paved, no gravel, twist switchback hairpin hairpin, through a bright green forest that smelled so good, and no other cars.

After hours of shifting along this, I was in a meditative state, so calm, so serene.

I had to navigate like in olden times – paper maps and a highlighter.

Oh boy, how many posts around here say “woah guys, so lost”? I know. I was all “phft, I’ll just use my phone”… but most of the day there was no cel signal because we were in the deep backwoods of Georgia.

Turns out it’s not too hard actually, when you stop daydreaming so much, and apply a little logic.

Photo by Ronnie Fung (ty!)

Last round is tomorrow. This morning my team was tied for 3rd. Will find out at breakfast tomorrow morning where today’s challenges landed us.

Follow along on Twitter – #MazdaRally

Today took the top spot on my, “Best Test Drive Day to Date” list.

Former #1, now #2 – Napa Vally with VW’s Jetta, last summer.

My second-day report for the newspaper will be live tomorrow at 11am.

And above will be the lead photo.

While I was taking it, a UPS driver pulled up behind me, “hey, you wanna take one of my truck there next?” HA.

Then… then… THIS.

Section 2C was listed int he guide book as “A Surprise”. I pulled up to … the Atlanta Motorsport track.

My first track time!

Obviously it’ll get its own post.

My best lap was 1:16, David bested me by a second at 1:15, and best overall was Ronnie with 1:10.

Three blind hills like this, screeching tires, and I made the car smell so good.

I want more.

kk it’s 1am, and I have to check in at 7:30. Send good luck for the last leg tomorrow, night TTYT

In TO at the TSO with CAA

Jul 8 2013

Never been a music fan; I listen to silence 85% of the time.

When I do though, it’s top 40, house or classical.

The only song on my iPhone is strings; I’ve blogged this place before; and I set all 80 episodes of ‘The Canadian Explorer’ to classical music. Here’s an episode that relies solely on the soundtrack:

Exploring a Fair # 5/80 aired September 2007

I think hearing classical played live is good for you, in a ‘vibrations & frequencies‘ way.

This was intermission, see? No black tie.

Not sure why the symphony has that reputation. From what I saw, no jeans or jogging pants, and otherwise you’re fine.

TSO, I have an idea: designate a section ‘screen friendly’. All sound is prohibited obviously, but the etiquette could be, “it’s okay to use your laptop/phone to work quietly in this area”.

Because maybe there’s more people like me, who would love to sit and write/blog/work, while listening to the orchestra.

And to be sitting quietly and daydreaming

with 2,600 other people, I love it.

I went by myself. I bought the cheapest ticket ($29) at the last minute, which meant no one was behind me, or 3 seats on either side, NICE.

Pro-tip #1 – use your CAA card to receive 20% off

The math is: $29 -20% = $23

Doesn’t matter to be in the nosebleeds, the acoustics are great, and you’re not missing much without a closeup view. Here’s the TSO concert schedule, and here’s CAA’s LifeSide Assistance discount details. Click here for a full list of CAA partners; their reach might surprise you, it did me.

(Follow CAA on Twitter, friend them on Facebook, and if you’re driving without roadside assistance, that’s foolish, join now)

Don’t feel bad about leaving at intermission, I didn’t.

Pro-tip #2 – take the subway

The parking around the concert hall is finite and expensive, the price of the ticket, at least.

Out-of-towners, it’s easy:

Take the VIA or GO train > Union Station > off train, walk underneath the street, onto subway > 1 stop > off at St. Andrews > follow the signs on the wall to Roy Thompson Hall

(this post has been brought to you by CAA)

PS – Points for an aesthetically pleasing title.

Where Did This Week Go

Jun 6 2013

If it’s like this now, omg to when I’m 80 <blink> there goes a year.

Made a video in Cherry Beach.

I’ve probably filmed 25 videos there, and I still get distracted by the planes.

I finally, genuinely like FinalCut X.

Latest OCD song.

It was interesting to watch this song… it was leaked :| via the above, well-filmed video, and pretty good audio for a concert eh, the cheering timing… a concert where cameras are banned, by someone who was able to scrub images off the internet, and this video belongs to the simplest YouTube channel too…

Who cares though, this song is like, the Ferrari of beats and hooks; the one at 2:56, oh girl.

lilac picking

Lilac season!

Top 3 favourite smells of all time.

Had to get a new lamp.

I turned it on and it fried the lightbulb black, right before my eyes. I was going to put another bulb in and film it to make an animated gif, but then was like, watch that be the time fire comes out, and why don’t I own a fire extinguisher?

Go-karting with Kart Start last weekend, have another post for that.

I dominated the weekly auto section of the paper last week look, of the 5 articles 4 were written by me ha.

I’m behind on lots of posts, and blogging my ‘Keri on Driving’ columns, and a F150 off-roading video, and…wait, I’m going to make a list of “posts coming soon”, this is more for me than you….

*****

COMING SOON BLOG POSTS

– F150 Raptor off-roading video

– ‘Keri on Driving’ column x 2

– I <3 drones

– Car Reviews: Infiniti M37xS / Hyundai Accent / Acura MDX in Oregon / Chevy Spark / Santa Fe XL / Pathfinder / Dodge Dart / Acura RL

– dinosaurs

– switched to TELUS finally

– snorkelling

– BB Q10

– how to back up

– Kart Start

– editing style

– Swarovski

– cycling team 6 years president

– Autonet update

– it’s a good idea to monitor your connections

– Yada cam becomes spy cam

– CAA at the TSO

– plus single pic posts

aaaaand……

– about the QNX OS (_yes_ I cracked it)

*****

This is me last week, basking in my genius of when I cracked it – a stock market mystery had been puzzling me for years.

It’ll get it’s own post, but I’m going to keep that post more professional, so here sits the gloating photo.

Next week’s column is about daydreaming behind the wheel, I managed to get myself sick because I am a dumdum, nah I’ll just blame this garbage summer we’re having, have to return the Infiniti tomorrow boo, and I forget what else for now.

Hope it was a good Thursday, best night of the week,

xo Keri

I Want Blackberry to Win This One – the Z10

Apr 30 2013

One of Canada’s favourite companies just completed their launch of their new phone and OS – introducing the Blackberry Z10. I followed the launch along from start to now, thanks to TELUS who invited me.

The launch party in Toronto.

Whomever was in charge of the party crushed the guest list; that was a quality crowd.

Got to see many old social media faces and friends, from the good ‘ole days 2009-11-ish.

See how the keyboard is predicting what I’m typing? Once you get the hang of it, ahhh the efficiency.

(see my cell phone history here)

It plays Flash! & HTML5

Parental controls, nice.

Security note – the default of NFC is “on”. Turn it off immediately #security

NFC – Near Field Communication. Pass files between phones without touching. (this blog post touches on it, here and start at the Charlie Miller part)

Then, it was off to TELUS HQ for a Z10 learning session.

I was pretty pumped for this event because, because at that time I was into researching how to move ‘contacts & calendar’ files among iPhone / BB / Android… BUT, move it withOUT using the cloud.

A – Nope. Have to use the cloud.

However, TELUS has half the problem solved… it’s a cabled solution, available in each of their retail stores; port contacts from phone to phone, but not calendar.

(here’s the video)