Tag Archives: New

New Years Resolution

Sarah and the Sunset - (P365-43)This past year was not a great year. I kept thinking through the year that “man I wish this year was done” and “ 2013 was incredibly shitty”. That being said, when I look back on it, and especially in comparison to some other folks I know, it was not as bad as I originally thought.

So instead of focusing on all the crap that went wrong in the year, I decided to focus on the positive and highlight some cool things that happened this year. With the help of my Project 365, I can actually look into the way-back glass and see where I was at what time and what happened. NONE of this could have happened without the wonderful people in my life.  Friends, Family, and this amazing woman I know who somehow, despite all my misfortune, still manages to want to be around me! (most of the time).

So yeah….when you look back on it without the doom and despair eyes, 2013 wasn’t all that bad!  Yes, Bad things happen all through the year, it happened to us, and it happened to lots of friends we know.  But we need to not look at just the bad!  I would encourage all of my friends and family to look back on the year and not focus on the the bad that happened, but look for the good.

JCCC3 Day 1 Random PicturesOh, and my New Years Resolution?  Well, I thought about this one quite a bit.  I used to always see other people, be it celebrities, or artists, or even just folks that people I know know, and think “Man, it would be awesome to be friends with that person, I bet we would have a lot in common.”  Well, the problem with that is that I am not currently friends with them, and really there is no incentive for that person to be friends with me.

So I resolve to not try and be friends with people I don’t know, but to be a person that the people I don’t know want to be friends with.  I think I would much rather focus on someone that other people look at and think “Man, it would be awesome to be friends with that person, I bet we would have a lot in common.”

Happy new year everyone!  Lets be friends in 2014

New Years 2012

Woah, I think someone has been tampering with my time machine.  I don’t remember how the heck we got here but it’s 2012 already!  Sarah and I rang in the new year with our friends Caleb and Diz at the Kennedy Center.  They do a special evening event for New Years and any engagement at the center gets you access.  We did it up right too.  I bought a Tux and Sarah got all dolled up.  The whole night was a blur, but I guess that means we did t right.  Enjoy the Pics and lets get 2012 started!

Select pictures below, the rest can be found at: https://www.wizzersworld.com/zen/Special%20Events/New%20Years%202012/

My new Ride

We have been toying with the idea of buying a new car, but not a car of necessity, a fun car to take on quick trips.

Well after much research and hemming and hawing, here is the new toy:

It’s super nice and fully loaded.  We got a great price on it and I am very happy.

Here are the stats on the internals:

Exterior

  • Fully automatic electro-hydraulic black convertible softtop-inc: stepless sliding-roof function, remote open/close feature, easy-load function
  • Front apron w/enlarged cooling air inlet
  • Body-color air inlet integrated into engine compartment lid
  • Body-color sport bumpers
  • Chrome-plated side air inlets
  • Black exterior trim-inc: side sills, bumper edges, wheel housing
  • Integrated mudguards
  • Chrome bezels-inc: rear lights, headlights
  • Chrome-plated window trim
  • Body-color grille
  • Integrated low/high beam auto-leveling headlights w/follow-me-home function
  • Rear center fog light
  • Body-color pwr mirrors
  • Heat insulated green glass
  • Speed-sensitive intermittent windshield wipers
  • Tailgate w/low loading sill
  • Chrome-plated door handles
  • Anti-corrosion protection system-inc: partial galvanization, phosphate treatment & cathodic dip bath, cavity sealing underfloor protection
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Interior

  • Leatherette front sport bucket seats-inc: manual seat adjustment, fore/aft adjustment, driver seat height adjustment, backrest rake, seatback easy-entry, manually adjustable headrests
  • 50/50 split-folding rear seat w/fixed headrests integrated into roll-over bar
  • Center console-inc: (2) front & (1) rear cupholders, central locking switch, switches for pwr windows
  • Driver-side storage compartment underneath steering column
  • Brushed stainless-steel door sills
  • Sports leather-wrapped steering wheel w/column height adjustment
  • Aluminum alloy driver footrest & pedals
  • Instrumentation-inc: tachometer, outside temp gauge, speedometer, LCD odometer/tripmeter, fuel/engine temp gauge, warning lights
  • Service interval indicator
  • Check control vehicle monitor with pictogram display
  • Bezels around instrumentation
  • Flat tire monitor
  • Pwr front windows-inc: open/close feature, automatic window lowering when door is opened
  • Remote keyless entry-inc: central locking open/close, tailgate unlock feature, open softtop
  • Central locking system-inc: open/close feature, softtop open, convenient open, tailgate/fuel filler cap release
  • Pre-wiring for alarm system
  • Engine immobilizer
  • Air conditioning-inc: pollen micro-filter, air recirculation button
  • Rear window defogger
  • AM/FM stereo w/CD player
  • Pre-wiring for CD changer
  • Digital clock
  • Lockable climate controlled glove box
  • Smokers pkg
  • Storage compartments in front door trim panels
  • Alloy patina interior surface
  • Mechanical anti-dazzle rearview mirror
  • Front sun visors w/illuminated vanity mirrors
  • Side sun visor
  • Lighting-inc: map/reading, front footwell, theater dimming, luggage compartmen
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob
  • 12V auxiliary pwr outlet in luggage compartment
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Mechanical

  • 1.6L supercharged SOHC 16-valve 4-cyl engine
  • 6-speed manual Getrag transmission
  • Drive-by-wire electronic throttle control
  • Traction control w/automatic stability control (ASC)
  • Front wheel drive
  • 55 amp/hr battery in luggage compartment w/safety terminal clamp
  • 105-amp alternator
  • MacPherson front sport suspension w/single-joint spring-strut front axle
  • Multi-link rear sport suspension w/multiple-control-arm rear axle
  • Front/rear anti-roll bars
  • P195/55VR16 all-season run-flat tires
  • 16” x 6.5” 7-fin spoke alloy wheels
  • Electro-hydraulic pwr steering
  • Ventilated front/solid rear disc brakes
  • Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) control
  • Rear park distance control
  • Corner brake control (CBC)
  • 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
  • 13.2 gallon fuel tank
  • Body-color fuel filler cap
  • Twin-pipe exhaust system-inc: intermediate silencer, (2) rear silencers, chrome covers
  • Steel car jack
  • The features and options listed are for the 2005 MINI Cooper Convertible 2dr Convertible S and may not apply to this specific vehicle.

Safety

  • 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
  • Corner brake control (CBC)
  • Driver/front passenger airbags w/sensor to prevent unnecessary deployment of passenger airbag
  • Driver/front passenger side-curtain airbags
  • Driver/front passenger side-impact airbags
  • Front/rear automatic seatbelts w/front pyrotechnic belt buckle tensioners
  • Traction control w/automatic stability control (ASC)
  • Side-impact door beams
  • ISOFIX child seat attachments w/(2) rear anchorages
  • Crash sensor (fuel cutoff, activate hazard lights, interior lights-on, doors unlock)
  • Front/rear crumple zones
  • Roll-over protection system
  • Twin horns

Featured Equipment

  • Power convertible roof
  • 6 Speakers
  • AM/FM radio
  • AM/FM Stereo w/CD Player
  • CD player
  • MP3 decoder
  • Radio data system
  • Air conditioning
  • Automatic Air Conditioning
  • Rear window defroster
  • Power steering
  • Power windows
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Four wheel independent suspension
  • Speed-sensing steering
  • Traction control
  • 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
  • ABS brakes
  • Dual front impact airbags
  • Dual front side impact airbags
  • Front anti-roll bar
  • Integrated roll-over protection
  • Low tire pressure warning
  • Occupant sensing airbag
  • Rear anti-roll bar
  • Reverse sensing system
  • Auto Headlights
  • Delay-off headlights
  • Driving Lamps
  • Front Fog Lamps
  • Cruise Control
  • Black Bonnet Stripes
  • Bumpers: body-color
  • Power door mirrors
  • Driver door bin
  • Driver vanity mirror
  • Front Cupholders
  • Front reading lights
  • Illuminated entry
  • Leather Shift Knob
  • Multifunction Steering Wheel Controls
  • On-Board Computer
  • Outside temperature display
  • Passenger vanity mirror
  • Sport steering wheel
  • Tachometer
  • Tilt steering wheel
  • Center Arm Rest
  • Front Bucket Seats
  • Leather Seat Upholstery
  • Split folding rear seat
  • Sport Seats
  • Passenger door bin
  • Alloy wheels
  • Glass rear window
  • Speed-Sensitive Wipers
  • Variably intermittent wipers

Looks like I have a new toy waiting for me at home!

Looks like I have a new toy waiting for me at home!