What is it that makes the idea of having a new project car so appealing?

Am I the only one who’s always thinking about the next project instead of focusing on what I’ve got in front of me?

^Current Project: New suspension and tires for the S2000…. Need $$$ :/

I’m probably having way too much fun picking out what I’d like to have for my next project…..

Just wondering if I’m alone in all of this! ^_^;

I’m usually not privy to cool press releases and infographics emails, so when I got this I was rather surprised.

Carbuzz put together this great infographic on the Nürburgring and sent it my way, I knew I’d have to share it. I love anything and everything ‘Ring related and I can’t wait until I can go there myself someday. (And, of course, illegally tape everything. Hehe.)

If you can, also spare a second to check out Save the Ring, because, sadly, it’s future is in question. We have to stand up for this treasure to motorsports and keep it there for everyone to enjoy!!

From: carbuzz.co.uk – Car choosing made easy!

This winter has been pretty blah. Last year by now we had had a few feet, resulting in the impromptu purchase of the Legacy that we had. Ever since we bought the STi right before summer, we couldn’t help but look forward to finally driving her in the snow.

Well, irony had it that it’s barely snowed at all. I guess it’s a bit weird that it has barely snowed here and yet this was also the year we’ve been snowboarding/skiing every week since right before Christmas….. Figures!

Thankfully, it FINALLY decided to snow here! Our usual haunt at Mt. Spokane now has more fresh powder and where we live is now covered in a good few inches. It means that the STi and her snow tires seem like a fantastic idea again!! We were beginning to wonder if they’d be useful at all besides going to Mt. Spokane.

As with all things, I can’t help but have photos around to document it. ^-^;

Funny enough, this seems to be a pretty popular photo of mine.... Hehe. Just my S2000 buried in snow. She's effectively grounded until further notice. (Though, compared to last year, we've been mobile for much longer than I imagined we would be!)

Then, of course, there's the STi buried in snow before she got cleaned up and finally had a really good chance to put that turbo AWD on snow tires to good use! She's really, really fun in the snow..... =D

I can't talk about winter without sharing a photo of my snowboard! Now sporting an awesome What Monsters Do vinyl sticker. I'm definitely hoping to add more stickers to my board soon.

I almost hate to phrase it this way, because it seems almost too prevalent…. “Find your passion!” “Follow your passion!” “If you live your passion, the money will follow!”

Well, clearly the money comes first in racing….. No surprise there. Cars are an expensive hobby to have period. But can’t I do some sort of work with cars, seeing as how it’s my passion?

Why yes, yes I can. And so the search has begun.

Time for Changes

Selling phones is old to me. I worked seven days a week for almost two months straight….. That’s not right. That shouldn’t have happened. I shouldn’t have to put up with a company that willingly does that to their people. And all I got for it was some thanks and a $5 Starbucks gift card.

It’s time to move on.

My dream career at this point in my life is working in the Parts department in a dealership. It’s something I could see myself doing now, and actually moving up to a manager position someday. In retail I could never see being a manager…. No thanks. Not for me. But this? Sure!

So I’ve started to look for a job in Parts. And I’m hoping I find it soon… I’m really ready for this change. I want more than just a job, I want a real career.

The Dream

In October, we went on our second trip to Seattle to just bum around and enjoy the city. Before we left, we stopped at the Ferrari dealership. Definitely an amazing place, the F40 and my dream 550 Maranello aside.

We spent some time talking to the Parts manager of the dealership. And it didn’t hit me until recently that I really want to do his job someday. Maybe not for Ferrari, because I’d definitely love working for Porsche too. Or any other type of dealership. But if I have to pick one, my goal would be to be the Parts manager for a Ferrari dealership.

The best thing that I can do now to make that dream a reality is to get into the field. I need to get into Parts now so that I can build up the knowledge and experience and build an actual career.

Fingers Crossed

Lately I’ve been crossing my fingers a lot. I’ve gone on one interview for what is, essentially, the ideal job for me right now…. And I’m hoping and praying that it’s meant to be and that they like me.

I also talked to a floor manager of a dealership about jobs there. I know for sure that I do not want sales. But it helped me when he told me that I’d be really good in Parts or Service. It gave me hope that I’ll be able to find the job I want to set me on my ideal career path.

So, if it’s not too much to ask, send me some good vibes? And big thanks to those of you who have already…. Much love!

I’m gonna make this happen…… I’m determined!

Photo via….

Well, I guess I’m a bit late, but this is in time to wish you a happy S15 Day!

Every January 3rd, 4th and 5th are celebrated by Silvia owners and enthusiasts as S13, S14 and S15 Days. In Japan, there are meetings on each of the days for the respective generations. Yeah, I really wish I could be there for it at least one year. (Come on, USAF…. )

This year’s S13 Day was bittersweet for me, as it should be my last with my own “S13.” (RPS13 for those who want to get technical about it.) As sad as it is, though, I’m trying to be in good spirits about it all. So I figured a little blurb celebrating the days was in order.

My way of celebrating? Showing you some very nice Silvias, of course! Enjoy!

S13

Easily one of my favorite looks for the S13, and this is one of my favorite photos.

Of course, everyone who watches any part of Formula D should know about Dai Yoshihara's S13.

S14

Seems that Kouki S14's are the more popular ones...

But when it comes to the S14, I've always preferred Zenkis myself.

S15

The S15 seems to be popular, though I'm sure some of it in the US stems from the fact that there aren't very many here at all.

Mmmmmm.... D1 GP S15.

No, it’s not quite the end of 2011 yet… But I’m certainly ready for 2012 to get here. 2011 wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t my favorite year either.

I figured it’d be worth looking back at some of the high points, though.

Highlights

For one, we brought home our STi. She’s been a dream to have since we picked her up at the end of April. She got even better when we added the little exhaust system and made her sound as she should!

The Miata and I managed to snag a little 3rd Place trophy autocrossing. Definitely a great moment. It was fun with the GoPro, too.

I got to enjoy driving around in my 240SX with her pretty Bride seat, even got her out to her first car meet!

At that same car meet, there happened to be these two together… Something I never thought I would see in the States!

I got to go to Canada with the Porsche Club, where I got to ride in a 996 911 Turbo. I have always, always, always had this thing for the 911 Turbo…. After riding in this one, there is NO doubt that I will have one some day. I LOVE them.

Of course, shortly after returning from Canada there was this red 997 Turbo that made me think it’s just fate and that I need to get one eventually…

I got to hang out at SOVREN and see two RUFs in one year! (After never seeing any!)

I got to see this beautiful 911 GT2 RS in the showroom along with the Carrera GT.

There was the video here of hearing the Carrera GT before she was shipped to California for the winter…

Oh, and the stop at the Ferrari dealership in Seattle. And seeing an F40 in person!

More Thoughts

Not everything was a high point, I’m afraid.

There was the fact that my husband was deployed, and between that and the runway being redone here he was gone for roughly six months this year. Yuck.

The other sad part was deciding to sell both my 240SX and Miata. Having four cars to myself and nobody to dictate which I drove when or where showed me that I just don’t drive them enough… My preference is really with the S2000. I’m hoping to sell them and put the money towards a third car that I don’t mind keeping hidden in the garage for the most part — a 911 SC.

I also kinda feel bad that there weren’t any great special moments with the S2000…. That will definitely be changing in 2012.

How will 2012 be different? Well…. That’s my next post.

Edit: Well, I tried to get these photos into the post with the captions I had added… Clearly, I’m still trying to figure out how to get posts to go up and look normal with the iPad. Sorry, I’ll keep trying to get it right! For now, there are captions up, even if the pictures aren’t big like they should be. :/

Since winter here is really blah for car stuff, I don’t usually do much…. But I still manage to accumulate random photos of things every now and then.

Most of these are totally random and they don’t really have anything to do with each other. So I figured I’d take all these random photos and compile them into some sort of just random post…. So here’s some odds and ends, and Iimagine I’ll do more of these until something else comes along. (Or just in between other things I find, go to, or come up with!)

The Odds & Ends….

I have this new interest… And it’s kinda weird. I think, since it’s winter and nothing much is going to be happening here, that I’m going to figure out if it’s a passing thing or not.

My weird new interest is…..

Not sure what it is..... But vintage cameras have captured my interest!

Vintage cameras. Kinda random really.

While I really love photography, I’m a happy digital photographer. My only brushes with film that I can recall were disposable cameras given to me on vacations to play with. I sort of remember having a regular sort of point and shoot film camera, but nothing crazy.

My Nikon D3000 was my first SLR, and I still love her. Even if I don’t use her nearly as much as I should. :/

My interest in vintage film cameras mostly comes in the collectible and resale market. For me, it seems like a possible way to take something I enjoy (photography, cameras) with a way to make a little money off of it.

This probably has to do with: one, my recent sales of a few things on eBay — I mean actually selling things for once! Haha. And probably also to do with the fact that since I decided to sell some things on eBay I began reading blogs written by people who sell things on eBay.

Yup, work gives me way too much time to read…. I have read blogs that make me want to sell on eBay, refinish furniture and can pickles. Help.

Either way, in the end I’m just looking for ways to help save up for the next car I want to buy…. A Porsche 911 SC.

I've actually printed out this photo to keep as a visual reminder of what I'm working towards right now!

Seriously, how appropriate would it be paying for a vintage Porsche with profits from vintage cameras?! (Yes, I daydream way too much. I already know.)

I hear it all the time, and I’m sure you do too — the saying that it “never hurts to ask.” I always remember one other about asking too — “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”

Usually I try to remember this with car people. Since I really enjoy taking photos of cars, occasionally I’ll ask if it’s okay if it’s not at a meet or something. Usually people are fine about it, but usually I just end up being a parking lot creeper. (Which is fine by me, ha. I’ll play the part of a creeper!)

Anyhow, this little tale doesn’t have much to do with cars, save for the fact that it has to relate to my new gadget toy, my iPad, which I’m going to be using to help me write more, and the fact that saving money on other things frees up more money to be spent on the cars.

The Sunday before Black Friday, I broke down and finally decided to order my iPad. As great as I am about spending money on the cars, I suck when it comes to bigger amounts on anything else that’s as much of a want as the iPad was. Either way, I got it ordered up and was glad to have it done and over with.

Enter in Black Friday. Now, I probably should have thought about it, but I accept that Apple products pretty much never go on sale. I’m fine with it, and really, I like just knowing how much it’ll be and being done with it. But, of course, even Apple has Black Friday deals. And my beloved iPad, which conveniently arrived on the day, was $41 cheaper. Ouch.

Normally I would just chalk this up to my luck. I have an odd history of this sort of thing happening with me and Apple things, so I figured it was more irony of my life. This time, however, I decided to do something I usually never do…..

I decided to call customer service and ask for a price match. I figured it was less than a week and maybe they’d cut me some slack. And hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask and the worse they could say is no and I’d be no worse for wear.

Of course, the answer was no. I wasn’t upset over it, and was proud of myself for asking. But instead of being able to price match, I was offered a case for free! Huzzah!!!

The case is sold in their store for $28, so while I’m still out $13 it’s still less than the $41 I was before I had even bothered to ask.

^The cover they’re sending me.

I’m hoping this is enough to get me to learn the lesson finally and stop being afraid to ask people for things. It was a great victory for me, not only in terms of getting over my fear of asking but in actually getting a positive result.

Who knows, maybe next year I won’t be afraid to approach people about their cars….?!

So obviously I haven’t been writing posts because there’s nothing new.

What’s funny is:

• I STILL have autocross videos from July to mess with, I just have zero motivation to mess with them. (I really hate video editing, it takes FOREVER.)
• I have some photos from hanging out with the Porsche club in July. They’re up on Flickr and wouldn’t take much to throw them up here…. But for some reason I don’t wanna do it.
• I also took photos at Formula D in Seattle. Not many, but some decent shots. And I haven’t uploaded them ANYWHERE yet.

So it’s not my lack of things that I’ve been doing or a lack of content, considering I have barely mentioned the STi lately anyhow. But I’m feeling all blah about cars again.

I think most of it is because I haven’t been doing anything TO them. There’s no new 240 parts on order, even though my want/need list is a mile long. It’s not that I don’t want to do anything, it’s that other things are simply a priority.

And sure, I’m getting into that deployment lull where I lose interest in just about everything that I liked before. I get lonely, but it’s not the lonely I can fix by hanging out with people more — It’s loneliness for ONE person. And it’s impossible to fix until that ONE person comes back.

So until then, I can’t really say what’ll happen. Maybe one of these days I’ll snap out of it and realize it’s not THAT much work to throw up some photos or (yeah, right) edit the videos. (Considering the next autocross is THIS Sunday, now I’m backed up…)

I can’t make any promises. What I can say is that while the blog may be dormant for a while, I’m still going to be using Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter a fair bit.

This has been my only blog to make it for two years now, that’s a big deal. But since it’s not an income generator or anything like that, it’s easy for me to step back. I get too full of car stuff and I have a limit. When I reach that limit, it’s nice to take a break so I can still appreciate cars and not become jaded about everything.

So, for whoever does read the blog, I hope you understand. And I hope I’ll see you around Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr in the meantime.