New car decided!

I have decided on the new car...the Subaru Spec-B wins out. :)

For the price, I simply couldn't find a better car for the price and utility. Did I mention it's fast as hell? 0-60 in 5.3 seconds?

I'm pretty excited. :)

Linking a pic:

Jim A Day Later

JimADayLater
Originally uploaded by JimHinCO.

Ah...I love it! No scabbing, etc. (which is good). When you get a tattoo...you keep the bag balm (or other good gunk) on the wound so that your body doesn't scab it over...tricks it into seeing it as a sunburn. It'll peel (as all human shed their skin)...and then I'll see the final color! WOOT!

FirstTatoo...wow!

FirstTatoo...wow!
Originally uploaded by JimHinCO.

This is reversed because I took this in the mirror...but I really, really love the art work!

JimInPain

JimInPain
Originally uploaded by JimHinCO.

I decided to get a tattoo. Don't freak out...this isn't a sign that the apocolypse is near! I love art...always have...but tattoos have both facinated me and freaked me out at the same time. How could you sit there knowing that you'll be in pain for an hour or more?!

From the look on my face here...you can tell I'm in some pretty serious pain...but the end results are amazing!

Rockstar Supernova

Wow...these singers are just incredible this season...I believe there are 3 major contenders: 1) Magni...the Iceland native is awesome. Try to catch week 6, "Dolphins Cry" by Live that he does. Simply stunning. 2) Dilana Smith...she's incredible. A raspy voice similar to a Melissa Etheridge but with more power and volume. And that girl has some amazing range! I highly recommend week 7, "Cat's in the Cradle" from Harry Carpenter. Great pipes! 3) Ryan...the guy is intense but he simply brings a new dynamic to his voice and personality every single week.

Others are great -- Lukas, Toby, Patrice, Storm...but I can't see them lasting and leapfrogging the three I mentioned.

tattoo

So I've been toying with the idea of getting a tattoo...but the pain factor is a bit concerning for me...and if they mess up. So...what to do.

I really like fish...aquatic life is amazing to me. I've got six aquariums, all fresh water. The fish I was thinking of getting is a salt water one.

I ponder things too deep at times...

So much is flying through my brain lately that I'm a bit taken back by it all...maybe it's the vitamins?

Have you seen the news articles on the sudden decline of new house construction? Will this truely shatter the economy? Do folks realize that budget cuts in the military will further impact the economy? All those construction firms that build houses and other firms that build buildings for the military will suddenly have a surplus of workers...or more precisely...a large layoff of workers. This of course will spurn unemployment benefits, etc. until more jobs open up...putting a bit of a burden on tax payers...and less tax payers at that. Perhaps we are headed toward a recession?

In an unrelated but similarly bizzarre train of thought...perhaps folks just aren't having enough babies to keep the housing market going? Maybe Focus on the Family was partially correct in preaching that gays are the downfall of our society...even if it is only the economic one. Just think...they could have completely avoided this entire gay marriage debate if they simply stated that each couple can only be married if having at least 2 children within a few years of their "marriage". They (FOTF) could still have quite the dagger at the heart of the gay community while not punishing innocent children who happen to be in a gay household. At the same time, they'd be able to punish straight folks who don't pro-create...you know, the one thing that allows those folks special rights according to the courts.

Seriously...these trains of thought don't seem to have any caboose...

Car shopping...

I'd really like a new car...I've learned to use the word "like" or "want" instead of "need" since my old car (a '99 Acura TL) is still running fine. However, it's been 7 & 1/2 years since I've had a new car and I definately want one. :)

I'd really like an all-wheel-drive. That narrows my search a bit...but it's not an absolute necessity...so I'm not ruling out all other cars. In other words...I'm only fooling myself when I say I've narrowed my search. I'd really like something I can throw my bike in during the summer...but who knows if I'll have that same desire to bike next year?

With that being said, I'd love to have something the dogs can ride in...but at the same time, I really like leather. I love coupes and hatchbacks, but I really want rear windows. I'd like to have a sporty car but I love having a car that can cruise on the highway and is fairly quiet. Finally, I'd really like to have decent gas mileage...if it dips into the teens, I lose interest quickly.

A few small SUV's I'm considering are:
1) The new Acura RDX...it won't even be in the dealers showrooms until Aug 10th.
2) The new Mazda CX-7...they have it in a pretty blue. ;)
...hmm...the list is smaller than I thought.

Other cars I'm considering:
3) The Audi A3 (turbo)...it's 2 wheel drive, but I really like it. The AWDs are overpriced in my opinion.
4) The Subaru Legacy Spec B...it's just a beautiful car...but I lose the ability to put my bike in it. (Gain a ton...lose a little. :) )

Am I willing to pay MSRP? Possibly.
Am I willing to finance above 3%? Absolutely not.

Ok, I'm done. :)