Eco and Cool

It's about time that the major car manufacturers are starting to design cool looking cars that get good gas milage. Chevy just came out with a concept vehicle called the volt, and I'm on board. I'm tired of the idea that an electric car has to look like an egg with wheels. It also helps the idea of selling this country on getting more out of our energy consumption.

Everyone that knows me knows that I'm no tree hugger, but I'm also not stupid. If a beautiful car can get twice the gas milage of an ugly one, why wouldn't I buy it? Part of the problem with moving to an eco-friendly economy is that it isn't cool. When all cars are electric, or close, the only choice will be based on what people want in their automobiles, pretty much like it is now.

However, if car companies want to gain that edge on the competition now then they need to start giving consumers something they'll want to drive now, not because they're helping the environment but because the car is cool. Let's start making saving energy stylish. Maybe the Liberals would get more people on their side.

Missed it by that much...

I was helping a buddy of mine check on renting a car over Christmas leave. I went online the other day(Mon) and checked. Found some good deals with a military discount. The time was getting short and we had to get back to work so he could not complete the transaction.

He went back online yesterday to finish the process of renting a car only to see the prices jumped about three times as much as the day before. I'm familiar with the idea of supply and demand but phew! I know we make a lot of money in the military, ;-) but that's just too much!

BBBrrrr!

Wow, that was a short winter! This is my first winter in North Carolina, the last having been spent in Afghanistan and certainly not as nice as it is here. Last week we saw temps in the 50's for highs, bbrrr cold. Now it seems we're back to the low 80's. Thank goodness, that was close. Don't want to see that again.

Attack of the Parade!

Saturday morning I decided to do my duty for the environment and properly get rid of the my old computer that has simply refused to work for me any more. I went online and found the nearest disposal place that would take it. The landfill was near downtown Fayettville, which tells you how big Fayettville is. I took a direct route to the landfill but thought I would go through downtown to see if any new places had opened up on Hay Street.

Downtown Fayettville was closed off due to a parade of some sort. I now have to take detours past the parade route, along Hay street in an area that I have not been through before. I take a trip past a round-about and toward a parking lot area near the Amtrak station. There were cars everywhere and I found myself pulling up behind two cars that appeared to be waiting for parking spots.

I decided to move around them and get out of this dead end search for a way out. Just as I slid to the left and began to pull around, I noticed a horde of people carrying a banner moving my way. The parade was coming straight at me! Aaaahhhh! I put the car into reverse and backed my way out of the parking lot. I eventually followed detours back out of downtown just barely surviving my encounter with a real live parade.

How many people can say that?

Trapped by an Open Door

It’s amazing how things catch us without chaining us down. I’m currently the assistant armorer in my company. We have but one set of keys for the arms room. If one person leaves with the keys the other has to stay with the room. An open door but no way out. It gets frustrating having to stay in a room knowing you could leave at any time. You are not held at gunpoint but aware that if you leave, the responsibility of loosing anything is on you.

Sometimes responsibility stinks.

Photo by Gordon L Wolford

Zonk!

This morning as we stood out behind the company building in 35 degree weather, we asked ourselves why in the world did we join an organization that would have us outside in shorts and a long sleeve shirt on a day like this. I thought about it and the only reason is that we're stupid.

The good news is that the First Sergeant yelled out the rarely used term, Zonk. By announcing this, we're able to get the heck outta there for a free day of not having to do PT in the morning. What a good feeling that is! Gotta do it tomorrow but at least I'm off today.

Happy Thursday.

'Call me sometime when you have no class'

Like the Rodney Dangerfield reference, I'm about to turn in my paper for my final. It'll be nice to have my first class out of the way. I'm already signed up for the next one in January. Go college!

Let's run

Oh yea. Since I failed the four mile run time by about 15 seconds I had to do some Saturday morning. I also now have to do remedial PT every afternoon, which stinks. On the other hand my leg doesn't hurt too much after the run and maybe if I do more light running the muscles will strengthen up.