Didn’t Feel Like it This Weekend

So I didn’t.

Shut my phone off, and drank beer in the country all weekend.

Isn’t that #NoFilter

Can you tell I don’t feel like being on camera?

Drove through some crazy weather Friday to get there, including a rainbow.

Esoterically, a rainbow is considered to represent enlightenment. Imagine if I was.

It was nice to disconnect, and it’s nice to be back online.  It’s also nice to re-affirm you never really miss much when you disconnect, but the benefits are so worth it.

What I’m driving – on Friday I picked up a car I’d been dreaming to have for 14 months.

2013 Honda Accord HFP. It will be documented in its own post.

I’m quite comfortable with it.

It’s on my “Top 5 Favourite Cars” list.

The rest of the list is detailed on my half-finished, “About Cars” page.

I have to finish that about page this week, along with ones for “Blogging about Food”; “Smarten Up, Internet”; “Things I Found Going about Life”; “Now this is more for me than you”; “This is my Hack”; think that’s it.

Then I have to re-direct my URL collection, to which I added to Thursday night:

AnAppropriateAmountOfAggression.com comeON that’s a movie title.

Drove east many kilometres in the afternoon sun, having forgotten to apply sunscreen to my neck because lately I am a super-spaz, and now I am literally a red neck.

Came home late today, laundry and #SundayCleaning, then a walk deep into downtown to reacquaint to the city’s pace; 2 hours and probably 8km.

These flowers are in season.

Same flowers from my intro.

Haven’t re-embedded this in a while, from summer 2007, ‘The Canadian Explorer’ intro:

Filmed almost to-the-week from now.

That’s part of where it comes from, when I don’t document or publish for a few days… I’m like meh, 6 years of archives.

Where this post came from.

Stella while I blog. Remember that time I hosted that Stella party? Seems like a lifetime, but 2 years next month.

Drained; heavy week. Unfortunately didn’t make it to the Le Mons race at Mosport today.

This week’s column is about hacking your car; some meetings this week, a decision to make about that job offer; I have a hankering to go to a casino; and do some no-destination-just-driving in my HFP (which is on my “Top 3 favourite things to do” since I’m 16).  If you hear some superfluous revving this week, wave hi.

TTYT

xo Keri

 

First Comes Smooth, then Comes Speed

That’s the rule of learning to drive well, fast – first comes smooth, then comes speed.

I’m good at  neither.  I’ll get it done, but it won’t be elegant.  But I have great enthusiasm, and the appropriate amount of aggression.  Just need more seat time.

Here’s what it should look like:

Note how smooth; I’m filming this freehand.

Driving is president of FEL Automotive, Chris Bye.

It’s a 2013 Honda Civic HFP

(Honda Factory Performance: tuned out of the box, limited edition) – Honda.ca

It was Honda’s second annual ‘Manual School‘.

I brought Niki along. She’d never shifted gears before, but left feeling confident enough to buy her first car in manual YES mission accomplished.

With her is Daniel, whom you’ve met before hi hi.

(here’s the first annual ‘Manual School’ – there’s 3 videos)

 

How to Speak Car Lingo

Carguys speak their own language. Brush up with this guide.

Read it online here.

Favourite lines:

It’s never a “whip” (a ’90s hip hop music term that has long passed its expiration date).

And:

Take the term I use when describing my ‘99 Jetta, “hi, I drive a lunch box.”

See my lunch box here.

The tuner crowd’s language is even more refined.

To wit:

I drive a Honda
MB4 D16Y8 SOHC GT28RS Enkei RPF1 15×7.5 with a +35 offset

That’s in order: chassis code >engine > single overhead cam >turbo specs > brand of wheel > that’s 15-inch diameter by 7.5 inches wide > and the hub sits at 35.

That is this car.

(Thanks to my brother for help with the tuner language. That’s his line, and car)

And this week was my best ever cover mention.

Because look: they included my name, making this the most it’s ever been printed, nice.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

I'm Healing like Wolverine

Barely any dramatics, actually am; not-even-human fast.

My theory is to be hard on an injury; babying it only prolongs things, plus it’ll heal all pansy-like and crooked.

I’m still not totally normal though, why have I become so clumsy? This was a first:

It was full too, and glass everywhere.

Fast Keri Fact – I’ve worn the same perfume since grade 11.

Wednesday was a big car swap day – drove 4 different vehicles 180 km, might be my new record.

Found this on my windshield at GM.

Ha that’s from my boss; we speak in code.

My Accord review prints next week.

Not only is it one of my favourite cars out there, but this is definitely my best-written review to date. Oh WAIT till you read this one line I invented, it’s so good I texted it around to everyone all braggy-like.

What you should not listen to me about is fuel economy. Ugh.

Since starting writing technical reviews for the paper, my phone is full of photos like this:

I have to record and monitor my fuel economy now, something I never paid attention to, and still barely do. Boring.

Caught the Jay’s home opener from the Honda box.

I’ve never loved baseball, but somehow each summer I end up at least 3 games. What I do love is the excited energy of 50,000 people.

What a week, I’m glad it’s done. Don’t think I’ve ever blogged such a statement.

I abhor drama, but despite my efforts it still somehow finds it way in. Nothing I can’t handle, but drama is draining regardless, isn’t it (and thank you to you, for not destroying me like you could have).

Kay I have to finish my ‘Accord Fact File’, and then see ya later computer I am outta here!  I have an Acura RL this week that needs to go for a good drive.

Have a great Saturday night TTYT.