Update for my WCKCC friends\family

[Gunny's GXP]

Hey all,

Glad to see you all are still holding firm with the monthly outings. That's great. We miss seeing you all and joining in. A quick welcome back to Sonia. Glad you made it home safely without slipping in Greece. Get it? Greece, slippery, . I'm loosing it.

Ok then, back to earth. Crystal, Michael, and I had a great 17 days visit with the folks and with my oldest boy in Oregon and then started the 7 day drag across the country. We decided that heading from there up through MT. and across to MN. to see more family was just not a smart move based on the news. We were very lucky with the weather timing and even a couple snow showers that fell, blew right off the road as we crossed. We were able to stay right between two systems. The good o'l suburban did an outstanding job for an old 1500 lugging the 8200 pounds of trailer, stuff, and the blue demon over the mountains. Had a bit of a shocker in Nebraska when we went to bed with clear dry ground and woke up to white everything and a minus 19 wind chill but drove out of it rather rapidly.

We arrived to Mason, MI right on schedule on the 8th of March and moved stright into the house. It's a bit smaller than the three bedroom in Dublin but it's a 4 bedroom 2 bath cape cod with (and this is the best part) a two "and a half" car garage. so there's a spare bedroom and plenty of room available for any of you that make it out this way. The movers dropped our stuff off on the 12th and since I don't start working til next week the house is unpacked and put away with just a couple minor tweeks to go.

The neighborhood is really quiet and everything we need (minus one of our current banks) is really a walk away. For those of you who have been there it is a close resemblance to down town Pleasanton but with a population of a spread out farm land 7000 people. The snow was almost all gone by a few days after our getting here and then we got another 4 inches dropped in our yard last Friday night. But hey, I got to try out the snow blower. I wasn't going to shovel an 80 plus ft driveway. But hey it's looking up. THe sun was out today and we hit a whopping 37 degrees. I mean jeans and T-shirt weather right? What more could you ask for?

Seriously though, after going through that minus 19, we're adjusting rather quickly. Took the car out today to the dealership "toyman" (Solstice Forum member who also lives in Mason) recommended for them to look at a gawd aweful noise going over the bumps and pot holes they are trying to patch last Thursday (they other sunny day we had). They were great and found a bulletin on the problem since they had not encountered this one yet for replacing the sway bar bushings due to an adverse reaction to cold weather (go figure). Placed it on order and lubed mine up in the mean time till they come in. Man you should have seen thier faces when the blue demon drove in. They were all into checking her out and the first question out of everyones mouth was "Did you drive this here from Cali?". Was funny but a good team.

As far as the Owners here go, I have received a warm welcome by means of forum chatter but still no face to face yet. most are still in storage mode but shoud be hitting the roads here soon and looks like the first main event on the schedule is the T2TR III run on May 3rd. I stopped by my new office today for a sneak peak and a quick chat and it looks like getting the time to go down and join in the the run should be no problem but I'll jump on the yeah or nay and room reservations stuff later next week after I really get checked in.

Other than that we are doing well and looking forward to really getting out and seeing the area as spring progresses, oh and still trying to get used to the three hour time difference with a daylight savings thrown in the mix but we're getting there.

Again, glad to see all are doing well and we miss the gang. I look forward to seeing some picks of the last run.

Thomas, Crystal and Michael

[bigdog]

Gunny,

You were missed on our last runs! I'm glad to hear that you all made it safely and it sure sounds like your are getting settled in. A small, tight community sounds idillic.

We'll keep you on the rolls as an honorary member of the WCKCC.

Take care all . . .

[1Chance]

Thomas,

I am glad to hear you managed to get thru all the weather events on your trip to MI. I was a little worried about ice/snow and that big ol trailer, but I also know you wouldn't have attempted it without believing it was safe and doing your homework.

I would have loved to have seen the shop guys faces at the dealer when you took your car in for the first time! I doubt they get a chance to see a "slightly modified" Sol like your's back there much. Heck, MY dealer would have been all over your car!

If you make it out here for any reason, you know you have a place to stay, and people who will want to see you.

Take care and glad to see Crystal is giving up her MySpace time to let you visit us! Give her my best and say Hi to Michael.

Mike

[Gunny's GXP]

Originally Posted by bigdog

Gunny,

You were missed on our last runs! I'm glad to hear that you all made it safely and it sure sounds like your are getting settled in. A small, tight community sounds idillic.

We'll keep you on the rolls as an honorary member of the WCKCC.

Take care all . . .

Thanks guys,
For a second there my eyes were playing a trick on me and I thought you said a tight community sounds idiotic. I think we'll see more activity around here soon and them we'll see for sure. By the end of next winter I think we'll know for sure if we will stay here when I retire but right now the job market and overall Michigan economy needs some major adjustments from what I am seeing for it to be worth it so I am holding off on buying just yet.

I appreciate the honorary membership but I think that should go through an official WCKCC meeting vote before we officialy claim it since I am not renewing my dues for the simple fact of not being there any more.

Thanks again,

[Gunny's GXP]

Originally Posted by 1Chance

Thomas,

I am glad to hear you managed to get thru all the weather events on your trip to MI. I was a little worried about ice/snow and that big ol trailer, but I also know you wouldn't have attempted it without believing it was safe and doing your homework.

I would have loved to have seen the shop guys faces at the dealer when you took your car in for the first time! I doubt they get a chance to see a "slightly modified" Sol like your's back there much. Heck, MY dealer would have been all over your car!

If you make it out here for any reason, you know you have a place to stay, and people who will want to see you.

Take care and glad to see Crystal is giving up her MySpace time to let you visit us! Give her my best and say Hi to Michael.

Mike

That's why I gave myself plenty of time to make the trip. I would have held up in a second if I felt the demon would be in jeapordy. I was more woried about the o'l Burban breaking down.

Sorry to hear about the rear seal and I am glad it didn't cause the lock up that triggered the recall on them going into effect. have you gotten the recal letter on it? They replaced mine during my last service right before we left in just a couple of hours. Whatever you do REFUSE THE COBALT......

[fkeillor]

Gunny thanks for the update. Glad to hear that you had a safe and enjoyable trip. Moving and getting settled in at a new place is always a pain. The weather there should be getting nicer soon so you can The Demon back on the road and have some fun. We missed you and Crystal on the last runs.

[1Chance]

Originally Posted by Gunny's GXP

That's why I gave myself plenty of time to make the trip. I would have held up in a second if I felt the demon would be in jeapordy. I was more woried about the o'l Burban breaking down.

Sorry to hear about the rear seal and I am glad it didn't cause the lock up that triggered the recall on them going into effect. have you gotten the recal letter on it? They replaced mine during my last service right before we left in just a couple of hours. Whatever you do REFUSE THE COBALT......

Got my recall notice about a week ago.....but the good news is: I took the car in this morning at 0800 and it was done by 1515. Not bad. AND I got a GRAND PRIX....hecka better than that damnedable Cobalt I had.

Side note reference to the Cobalt: The last time I had warranty work done my loaner was a rental Cobalt and it showed some heavy wear. The rotors were badly warped and every time I tried to stop, the car would give me a full body massage....NOT a good thing....and it reeked of smoke and air freshener. May not represent the average Cobalt, but it left me with a bad impression.

Glad to hear you had the work done already Thomas. Hopefully you will avoid what I went through.

Mike

[GoThunda]

Hey Gunny glad to hear your getting settled. I have a loaner car right now too, Enterprise knows me by first name these days, they know better than giving me a Cobalt. So last time they upgraded me to a Kia (ashtray on wheels) and this time they upgraded my Kia to an Impala (still an ashtray on wheels) Enterprise has got to be kidding when they hand you the keys and remind you that it is a non-smoking car!!! Well that is okay I get my car back tomorrow with a brand new top on it!! Yahoo Gunny I hope our paths cross again in the future. Barb