My New Whip

After months of thinking about getting a new car, I finally got around to doing it. On Saturday I started to make the rounds to the different dealers in Santa Monica. I ended up finding the exact car I wanted for the price I wanted at the second dealership I visited. They guy was really nice and the car was perfect but I got nervous because I had never spent that much money on anything in my life so I ended up not getting the car on Saturday. I spent all day Sunday thinking about it and finally decided to get the car Monday morning. I called the dealer and told him I would like to come pick the car up during my lunch break. He had the paper work ready for me when I got there and twenty minutes later I was on my way back to work.

If it would have been any more difficult I probably wouldn't have had the energy to actually get a new car even though it really was time. The Saab was good to me but was on its last legs. The A/C was not blowing cold air anymore, there was something wrong with the alignment, and the strange problem from two years ago where my car would mysteriously turn off when it began to idle was back.

So now I am a proud owner of a 2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet and I am quite a fan so far. Yesterday I was still pretty stressed out about spending so much money on something but when I got in my car to drive home from work, dropped the top, and looked at the sweet ass red lights of the display I felt much better. Dan was right, the red lights make the car a hundred times more cool. It is like being a jet pilot. This morning when I got back in my car, dropped the top again, and was engulfed by the sweet melodies of The National I felt even better about my decision.

I live in LA where it is sunny and 75 degrees 9 days out of 10. How can I not drive a convertible? It is fantastic and I now look forward to driving to and from work everyday. I can't wait to go for a nice relaxing cruise up the PCH.

Another Accident on the PCH

Today's post is by far the most somber post I have ever made. Bob Clark, writer and director of arguably the greatest Christmas film of all time - A Christmas Story, and his son Ariel (yes you read that right, his son Ariel) were killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver early this morning on the PCH. The details can be found here.

Thank you Bob for the many hours of laughter you have provided me over the years. Not a Christmas goes by where I don't watch A Christmas Story at least once.

Feel free to discuss your favorite quotes, scenes, or memories involving this wonderful film in the comments.

Reason # 1029 Why I Love Cali Like I Love Women

So this last weekend was arguably the greatest weekend of my life. (I am a sucker for hyperbole) It started with a delightful Friday evening at Mastro's aka The Greatest Restaurant on Earth. I can't think of a better way to kick off the best weekend ever.

Early Saturday morning I met up with a few friends at the Chevron Station where Sunset meets the PCH.



We headed up the PCH until we arrived at the lovely little Danish town of Solvang.



It was pretty cool rolling into town on 5 European motorcycles - 1 Aprilia, 1 Ducati, 2 BMWs and a Triumph. The Eurotrash All Stars were definitely in effect.



While in Solvang we dined at the world famous Red Viking.



The food wasn't that hot but the Aeskilivershievens (I have no idea what they were called but they were little pancake ball things) were pretty good.



After lunch we headed over to the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum which was amazing. My favorite bike was the 1960 Czech Jawa.



After enjoying the museum, we capped off our stay in lovely Solvang with a slice of the best cheesecake ever at the Chumash Reservation Casino. The Casino orders its cheesecake from the Carnegie Deli in the NYC and has it delivered throughout the week. If you have never tried this slice of heaven than you are totally missing out. Just ask Mike Warner.



One would think that the weekend could not get any better after cruising up and down the PCH and through some sweet canyon roads on a beautiful Saturday in February ( I think it was in the mid 80's for most of the day), checking out vintage racing motorcycles, and eating Carnegie Deli cheesecake. But I got a newsflash for you Walter Cronkite. You aren't.

I kicked Sunday morning off with some of the best pancakes I have ever had and then followed that up by pedaling around on my beach cruiser. Prior to pedaling around on my beach cruiser I had to jog to the nearest service station because my tire was flat. Luckily I am such a physical specimen and was able to set the pace for all my friends on their cruisers as they laughed and made jokes about how foolish I looked jogging while they all cruised.

Yep, this was definitely the best weekend ever. At least until next weekend.