Deep in the woods of Maine
So to start things off last week I got back from a snowboarding trip that lasted a couple of days. I went to a resort way up in Maine, over a 5 hour ride from my house to get there, driving through quite the weekend storm. Upon arrival I walk in to see a few of my friends and some of the other people that rented the house watching TV and just kind of relaxing.
So I say my hello’s and get through introductions and then proceed to get the rest of the stuff out of my car. Unpacked and ready to join in on the vacation partying I proceed to grab a beer for my girl, a friend, and myself. To my surprise we are only a drink or two behind almost everyone else. Let the fun begin. We start playing a few drinking games, not enough cups to get any beerpong or Beirut going so we play one of the best drinking game out there, Baseball. If you’re familiar with it involves two great games and lots of drinking. It combines flip cup and beerpong. Being way up in Maine and having people gathered from all over New England me and one of the other kids had to explain the rules to everyone and come to an agreed middle grounds on a few due to slight differences. We play a few drinking games and get down a few drinks in about an hour. Then one of the girls that rented the house we are all staying at brings up dinner.
This makes everyone realize we are all starving and no one had really eaten much of anything since lunch time. Now we start weighing our options. Pizza a staple for snowboarding trips but it had been lunch and dinner for the two days previous to our arrival. We could go to the mountain and see what they had for food but no one was really feeling the après ski bar or the crappy food served at them. Finally one of the other girls chimes in about the restaurant across the street from the street our condo was on. She said she and her friend had eaten there the other night and the food was really good. Then she goes on to tell us that they do $5 entrée’s on Friday night which it was. She then proceeds to tell us that at 9 O’clock on Friday nights they have strippers. Jackpot.
Now with all of these facts laid out in front of us we weigh our options and with the girl to guy ratio being 2 heavier on the guy side and because a couple of the girls said they were down to go to this “woods of Maine” strip club, the decision is almost unanimous. Maine Strip club it is. It’s 7:30 so we have time to get ready to go out, eat some $5 dinner’s, then enjoy the ummm entertainment. The reason for the ummmm, you might ask, we are in far northern Maine. So the food was great especially for $5. And then came the woods of Maine strippers.
We were all thinking the same thing as almost everyone else would. We weren’t expecting anything great and more or less just going for the addition of naked girls, hopefully attractive, to the cheap dinners and some beer. Promptly at 9pm a parade of topless girls, wearing very little to cover there lower region, come waltzing around the bar and pick off more then half our crew and bring them up for the opening act. How wrong we were for expecting the C or D squad from a city bar. All the girls were very attractive. Only area they were lacking was in the boob area, none of them had big boobs , this is something my girl had to point out to me while she kept me cornered and away from the strippers looking to get people out on the floor for lap dances and more. To start off their show they each grab someone and bring them to chairs set around the main stage and do a rotating lap dance so everyone got a dance from each girl and only had to tip. From there the night only continued to get better then expected. These girls were very aggressive, forceful, and flexible. Much better then I expected a night out in the northern woods of Maine would end up being. After a very eventful first night as long as I made it to the mountain the next day, I was going to have a great trip.
Well woke up at 8am, wicked hangover, did a little cleaning and tried to get some of my friends and the others to get up and head to the mountain for some riding. No luck so me and my girl, oh yea she was still there, head to the mountain through the weekend long snow storm, and the conditions were great. Had a few good runs, stopped for lunch, and headed back out to the slopes. One of the first runs after lunch the chairlift broke down right before we got on, kind of sucked but at least we weren’t stuck on it. Continued to ride until the lifts closed and then headed back to the house.
Get there to find everyone is still in the exact same spot they were when my girl and I left. I guess they smoked a little, drank a little, ate some breakfast sandwiches, and watched movies the whole day. My girl and I grabbed a few beers sat down and started talking to everyone and going over everyone’s drunk recap of the night before. A lot of good stories were shared and we had a lot of good laughs. Now everyone is starting to get riled up and ready to go out and see if we can have a night that topples the night before. Everyone showered up and got ready again and we head out to the Bar at the base lodge.
Driving through near whiteout conditions we decide we need to grab some more beers for after the bar and decide it would be a great idea to try to keep two people sober so we can make it the 5 miles hope to the condo. Unluckily I am selected as one of the more responsible people there and better at driving in the snow. So I accept my fate for the night out and order nothing but black coffee and soda’s the whole night I’m not spending any money at the bar to get a red bull. The bartenders were cool and didn’t charge me for anything including the two rounds I got for my friends who were all getting shmatterfaced (an extreme level of drunk above shitfaced and hammered). This is when I notice a friend of a friend hitting on the most god awful girls in the whole bar and passing out at the same time. I think to try to stop this but don’t care enough about the kid to act and do anything to help him. Bad decision on my part. I guess this kid had pissed everyone off the whole time before I got there continued to do so while I was there. Tonight was no exception. He gets to that level were most friends would step in and help out and get their buddy out of there but no one does this or cares to at this point. He creeps out 4 out of the 5 worst looking girls in the bar, after telling everyone I’m with that he’s "gonna pull a threesome", proceeds onto the dance floor with lucky #5 and falls over. Now the other sober driver flips to pissed off and ready to go to sleep mode. She tells everyone to close their tabs and that we’re leaving.
After 15 minutes of getting the entire drunker crowd gathered and ready to go we drag “the problem” towards the door. We make it half way to the parking lot and he pulls a Houdini and makes it all the way back to the door of the bar where the bouncer will not let him in. Everyone that’s not sober decides he’s a lost cause and heads to the cars. I get dragged back to the bar and have to drag “the problem” out to the cars. Half way there he convinces me to let him stumble the rest of the way. After a few steps he try’s to turn and make a run back to the bar. He made it about 3.5 before almost smashing his head open falling into a brick column. He tells me "if you try to drag me any further I'm gonna hit you". Before I can finish telling him that would be a mistake, the sober girl that goes to med school with him (that’s right this kid might be a doctor some day) dives on him wailing wildly at his face, and following it with her purse full of 20+ pounds of stuff, for about 3-5 minutes. She gets off him, he whimpers that he’s cold and has a broken nose, ½ true. I drag him to his feet and pull him to her car and throw him in and say he’s not my problem anymore. I then drive a jeep through the worst conditions I have driven through at no more then 10 mph, its 5 miles back to the condo, so yea it took about 30 minutes. Get there do some cleaning and head to bed. Thank god I didn’t have to hear “the problem” the rest of the night.
Wake up at seven, load up the car, get everyone up and ready to head out. Other then telling “the problem” he had to get up and pack no one talked to him. Head to the mountain through light flurries, and get there for 15 to 20 inches of powder and the most fantastic conditions I have seen on the east coast in multiple years. There was so much powder I was even trying flips by the end of the day, and almost landed one.
So all in all I had a blast and for the first snowboarding trip of the season. Having all this excitement I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds and the fun stories that will be sure to follow. It was definitely worth the 10+ hours of driving and I can’t wait to head north again.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Your car or your transportation
When it comes to car tuning, more often then not there are two sides, and the line between them is very defined. On one side you have auto tuners, these people will always be able to look at a car and see ways to make it more personal and add to it so it will not be a stock car. On the other side you have your non-tuners. these people might buy a car with many options but once they buy it, it will stay in pretty much the same shape, size, and look stock until it finds a new owner.
Auto tuners are different from others in many ways. The way we can look at almost any car and see potential to make it our own, whether we buy it new and fully loaded or used with anywhere from a few minor problems to needing to be completely rebuilt. Some tuners don't even understand other tuners. If your into having a new car with all the newest and best options you may not understand why someone would buy an old car that needs major bodywork and a complete overhaul, and vice versa. But if you put these two people in the same room they will be able to talk cars and much more in a matter of minutes. Not only this but they will also understand each others want to not just own a car but truly make a car their own.
Non-tuners will buy a car with lots of options or very little its up to them. But these people will buy a car and do nothing more than just drive it, wash it, maintain it, and then resell it or get rid of it. Non-tuners will not get rims or buy aftermarket parts unless they are a cheaper alternative and replacement part that will not require them to make more changes to make it work. Non-tuners will buy a car that they can afford and maintain it as best they can but not look to personalize it or create something unique to them. If you put a non-tuner in the same room with a tuner the two will find it very hard to relate to each other about what they do and don't do to a car. For a non-tuner a lot of times the outlook of its a waste of money, and if it's not broke why change it or fix it are the way they look at automobiles.
This is not to say that the line is solid and can not be crossed or that an owner can't change their outlook on cars and go one way or the other. But for a lot of car owners you either buy a car to commute from point a to b and back or you buy a car and make it your car.
Auto tuners are different from others in many ways. The way we can look at almost any car and see potential to make it our own, whether we buy it new and fully loaded or used with anywhere from a few minor problems to needing to be completely rebuilt. Some tuners don't even understand other tuners. If your into having a new car with all the newest and best options you may not understand why someone would buy an old car that needs major bodywork and a complete overhaul, and vice versa. But if you put these two people in the same room they will be able to talk cars and much more in a matter of minutes. Not only this but they will also understand each others want to not just own a car but truly make a car their own.
Non-tuners will buy a car with lots of options or very little its up to them. But these people will buy a car and do nothing more than just drive it, wash it, maintain it, and then resell it or get rid of it. Non-tuners will not get rims or buy aftermarket parts unless they are a cheaper alternative and replacement part that will not require them to make more changes to make it work. Non-tuners will buy a car that they can afford and maintain it as best they can but not look to personalize it or create something unique to them. If you put a non-tuner in the same room with a tuner the two will find it very hard to relate to each other about what they do and don't do to a car. For a non-tuner a lot of times the outlook of its a waste of money, and if it's not broke why change it or fix it are the way they look at automobiles.
This is not to say that the line is solid and can not be crossed or that an owner can't change their outlook on cars and go one way or the other. But for a lot of car owners you either buy a car to commute from point a to b and back or you buy a car and make it your car.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Winter Body Work
Okay, over the winter I have a lot of plans I'm trying to bring into and add onto my car. First of all a personal thank you must be extended to AGI aka widebody_Q, a friend of mine from a few car forums who has had lots of input and helped me out on many things I have been stuck on or needed help with. He has come up with most of the idea's for my body mods that I am trying to tackle over this winter. He has also been someone who I can rely on great info on how to bring my car to that nice low level ride height I hope to get to sometime in the near future.
My plans for the body are to Buy a few different bumpers and have a shop do some custom plastic welding and body work to blend them together and make them flow with my cars factory design. Ideally I want to add these custom bumpers, and have them be eye catching but at the same time look like they belong there and could have come from the dealership with them as an upgraded option. My Plans are to purchase JDM front and rear bumpers for the F50 Cima, the Japanese version of the US Q45. I will be having a shop cut these slightly under the chrome trim lines and Plastic welding to other bumpers to them. The front bumper will have the lower part of a Mercedes Benz S550 front bumper added to it retaining the S550 lower bumper grille and keeping the S550 fog lights. As for the rear bumper I will be adding the lower portion of a BMW 745 rear bumper. I will be having some vents cut into the rear to make it look a little more aggressive and adding some red LED lights into it.
With all of the bumper work AGI and I have come up with there will be some slight additions to the front fenders. Both fenders will be getting a slight pull before next summer in order to house my new wheels and let them fit the car even though they are a little more aggressive then the Q45 was originally designed for. The pull will fit them very nicely especially once I get some coil overs or add air suspension to my current set up. Also being added to the car over the winter to go with all the other body work will be some Wald fender inserts. I think these look very nice and will flow with the overall style of my car. I plan to add some LED's behind them so that at night there will be a little more attention brought to them and they will act as subtle side markers. I will try to add some pics to help my descriptions of all of the work I plan to do and give people a better idea of all the pieces that will be combined and added to my car and hopefully by spring, I will have a finished project to post with pictures for all to enjoy.
With AGI's help and imagination I hope to incorporate all of these into my Q45 flawlessly over the winter. I will do my best to keep this and all of the forums I'm on updated and add some pics of the numerous parts and progress made over the winter months. Hope everyone can appreciate the work I am trying to do to my car and hopefully the final outcome will be something that everyone will like, and if not like at least appreciate.
Thanks and stay tuned for more!
My plans for the body are to Buy a few different bumpers and have a shop do some custom plastic welding and body work to blend them together and make them flow with my cars factory design. Ideally I want to add these custom bumpers, and have them be eye catching but at the same time look like they belong there and could have come from the dealership with them as an upgraded option. My Plans are to purchase JDM front and rear bumpers for the F50 Cima, the Japanese version of the US Q45. I will be having a shop cut these slightly under the chrome trim lines and Plastic welding to other bumpers to them. The front bumper will have the lower part of a Mercedes Benz S550 front bumper added to it retaining the S550 lower bumper grille and keeping the S550 fog lights. As for the rear bumper I will be adding the lower portion of a BMW 745 rear bumper. I will be having some vents cut into the rear to make it look a little more aggressive and adding some red LED lights into it.
With all of the bumper work AGI and I have come up with there will be some slight additions to the front fenders. Both fenders will be getting a slight pull before next summer in order to house my new wheels and let them fit the car even though they are a little more aggressive then the Q45 was originally designed for. The pull will fit them very nicely especially once I get some coil overs or add air suspension to my current set up. Also being added to the car over the winter to go with all the other body work will be some Wald fender inserts. I think these look very nice and will flow with the overall style of my car. I plan to add some LED's behind them so that at night there will be a little more attention brought to them and they will act as subtle side markers. I will try to add some pics to help my descriptions of all of the work I plan to do and give people a better idea of all the pieces that will be combined and added to my car and hopefully by spring, I will have a finished project to post with pictures for all to enjoy.
With AGI's help and imagination I hope to incorporate all of these into my Q45 flawlessly over the winter. I will do my best to keep this and all of the forums I'm on updated and add some pics of the numerous parts and progress made over the winter months. Hope everyone can appreciate the work I am trying to do to my car and hopefully the final outcome will be something that everyone will like, and if not like at least appreciate.
Thanks and stay tuned for more!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Changing of the season
With the changing of the season many people notice the change in weather or change in temperature. Maybe because that is the most easily noticed. To some the change in seasons brings a new sports season, or the end of one. To some of us the changing of seasons brings all of this and more.
For those of us that like to modify or customize cars with each change in season comes a change in our rides. Whether it is just a change of rims or something else. Many car enthusiast myself included use the seasons to some extent. Here's how the changing of seasons affect me and my car.
I'll start with summer because I think this is the same for most people. Summer time is the time to show what you got and see what others think. It could be new rims, a new audio system, maybe you changed up the body, or the interior. Either way summer to me is a time where modding slows down and I try to just keep the car clean and fresh everyday so I can drive my car and be proud of what I've done. Then as the Summer comes to an end, its time to remove the rims and save them from the harsh winters in the northeast.
As Fall hits I make sure the rims are off and stored so they are good to go for next year. I take the fall to try to save up some cash and start buying things that I can try to add to my car over the next few months. Fall usually brings my mind to wheels checking to see if anyone is selling a set that I think might fit my car really nicely or possibly change up the whole appearance of my car and bring me to some other level, build-up, or style. I also use the fall as a time for planning. I sit back and think about where my car is and where I would l like it to be and how to go about progressing from point A to point B. With fall coming to an end it is time to prioritize and start buying parts. This fall I already bought some more aggressive rims for next summer, a very nice set of customized S550 fog lights. And have been discussing some other parts and ideas with a few trusted friends and other auto tuners. Hopefully this winter brings lots of good changes.
Then the cold winter hits and parts arrive and others are ordered and searched for. In the cold months of winter it is not the most ideal time or temperature to be out working on, under, or in your car, so I try to take advantage of friends with garages and do as much as I can indoors. This winter I have a lot to work on. One set of headlights is already ripped open in hopes I can change them up a little bit and make them stand out a little bit from other Q45's I am trying to find some parts to incorporate the fogs I have just bought into my car and make them not only fit but look like they belong there. I will also have to pull my fenders a little so I can get my new wheels to fit just they way I want them to. Also would love to get my suspension set so I ride at the height my car should have been designed to be at. So the winter is a busy time for me and my car and often carries over into the spring before I manage to get everything I planned on doing over the winter done.
Then spring starts. I have to finish up what I can and decide if some of my projects and ideas will have to be put on hold until next fall or if I can try to get them done in this last season so I can enjoy them for the summer. So with most of the winter mods done and a few wrapping up its time to give the car a good detailing or two and start getting ready to enjoy the summer. As the spring ends I know its time to polish everything up, finish off the last of my winter projects, and get my car as ready as I can for the coming summer months. And then it starts all over again.
For those of us that like to modify or customize cars with each change in season comes a change in our rides. Whether it is just a change of rims or something else. Many car enthusiast myself included use the seasons to some extent. Here's how the changing of seasons affect me and my car.
I'll start with summer because I think this is the same for most people. Summer time is the time to show what you got and see what others think. It could be new rims, a new audio system, maybe you changed up the body, or the interior. Either way summer to me is a time where modding slows down and I try to just keep the car clean and fresh everyday so I can drive my car and be proud of what I've done. Then as the Summer comes to an end, its time to remove the rims and save them from the harsh winters in the northeast.
As Fall hits I make sure the rims are off and stored so they are good to go for next year. I take the fall to try to save up some cash and start buying things that I can try to add to my car over the next few months. Fall usually brings my mind to wheels checking to see if anyone is selling a set that I think might fit my car really nicely or possibly change up the whole appearance of my car and bring me to some other level, build-up, or style. I also use the fall as a time for planning. I sit back and think about where my car is and where I would l like it to be and how to go about progressing from point A to point B. With fall coming to an end it is time to prioritize and start buying parts. This fall I already bought some more aggressive rims for next summer, a very nice set of customized S550 fog lights. And have been discussing some other parts and ideas with a few trusted friends and other auto tuners. Hopefully this winter brings lots of good changes.
Then the cold winter hits and parts arrive and others are ordered and searched for. In the cold months of winter it is not the most ideal time or temperature to be out working on, under, or in your car, so I try to take advantage of friends with garages and do as much as I can indoors. This winter I have a lot to work on. One set of headlights is already ripped open in hopes I can change them up a little bit and make them stand out a little bit from other Q45's I am trying to find some parts to incorporate the fogs I have just bought into my car and make them not only fit but look like they belong there. I will also have to pull my fenders a little so I can get my new wheels to fit just they way I want them to. Also would love to get my suspension set so I ride at the height my car should have been designed to be at. So the winter is a busy time for me and my car and often carries over into the spring before I manage to get everything I planned on doing over the winter done.
Then spring starts. I have to finish up what I can and decide if some of my projects and ideas will have to be put on hold until next fall or if I can try to get them done in this last season so I can enjoy them for the summer. So with most of the winter mods done and a few wrapping up its time to give the car a good detailing or two and start getting ready to enjoy the summer. As the spring ends I know its time to polish everything up, finish off the last of my winter projects, and get my car as ready as I can for the coming summer months. And then it starts all over again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
