Zoom Zoom

Last week, I woke up at 3:45 AM to drive my 1996 Mercury Sable to the Gaithersburg, Maryland. I had been waiting for a long time to see my new car.; I was giddy like a kid on Christmas. After, checking out the car, learning about the features, signing the papers and shoveling out a few grand I received my keys to my new galaxy gray Mazda 3 hatchback. Yes, you heard correctly, hatchback. I've received plenty of grief about this, but don't expect me to help you move your crap around with my car. Actually, the hatchback is rather nice because it can store some wet items, and store a mountain or road bike easily. However, eventually, I think I'll purchase a proper roof rack to carry my bikes.

Oh, my, I nearly forgot to tell everyone that it's a manual. So after I jumped into my new car, I shifted into first and then into second followed by a good stall at the first stop sign I came too when I retried to get into first gear. For another 10 miles, I drove around a hotel parking lot, grocery store parking lot, and some random office building. Then I mustered up my courage to drive into Washington DC to hang out with the Michigan Alumni club. I can say that highway driving is fine. It's the city that will get you!

Well, I really do love my car. Tonight, I spent 30 minutes practicing going up a hill from a dead stop. I found this quiet neighborhood in Parkersburg to practice on for a while. I'm sure the neighbors thought, "What the hell is wrong with that guy. All he does is stall and then sometimes goes up the hill, then stops and rolls back down again." However, I realized one thing. I've been releasing the clutch too fast. Maybe, I'll do a kimchee run to Athens, OH and practice driving there.