Travel and stay warm

The culmination of 9 days spent away from home was a very tired drive home from Atlanta's airport in the S. It was probably the most cathartic hour of the week. I wish I could drive backroads and wander for a living.

For a few days, we basked in ocean air and frolicked on the beach in southern ja-ja. Mock the accent all you want, February doesn't look like this in the Rockies (or in Manhattan, for that matter). It goes without saying that my boy won the race. I told him it was lucky because I'm trying to develop in him a good 'lucky' feeling.*



Without a break of any kind, and the result of packing a suitcase as quickly as it could be emptied, I was off to Phoenix to present the book heretofore mentioned and talk about membership databases. Trading my shorts and sandals for Prada shirts and a sport coat, I schmoozed, pontificated, and generally threw charisma around the room. Actually, I hope I didn't offend anyone. I take that back. There were a few people at the conference that needed to be offended; not every idea is a good one.



I should note that these pics were both snapped with the iPhone; the battery on the PowerShot timed its demise perfectly with this last-day outing. Those with sharp eyes will also recognize Camelback Mountain as seen from my hotel.

*Tip o' the hat to Mr. Handey.

Maturity

The MINI turned over 32K miles this week. Never mind that it's only a year-and-a-half old, my S has ample stories to justify the miles. It has a few scars, too, but I think it has held up rather well.

In an obsessive yet never-ending search for the next greatest vehicle, I haven't come up against anything that is as perfect as the red go-kart sitting in my driveway. I've found the MINI has an incredible amount of soul; not just technology inspiring, the MINI is a cult-like lifestyle with fellow drivers that wave, parking spaces that open up, and twisty roads that straighten just for me. Short bursts of speed in superfast cars aside, I have never had so much fun in a car. Consistency without the boredom.



Kyle's MINI received new wheels and a new moniker. While in Utah, we discussed the tendency for MINI owners to photograph their cars. I was so inspired by the picture of MINIzilla in the snow that I snapped an homage. I didn't have any snow handy, so 65-degree air (mid-Feb, mind you) will have to suffice.

Snow and Warm

This morning I awoke to even more snow falling along the Wasatch front (that's in Utah, for the uninitiated). It wasn't terrible, but enough to make the drive to the airport extend from 55 minutes to well over two hours. And it was cold. I made my flight, mostly due to the plane itself not making it to the airport on time; delays all around.

It goes without saying that arriving home in Atlanta was nice, and particularly warming. It was 65-degrees according to the MINI's computer. But that's not really my point. The really great thing about arriving home is the contrast of driving to the airport vs. driving from the airport. The former takes place in a crummy rental, this week's flavor was a smoked-and-body-odor-smelling PT Cruiser. It proved not only gutless, but also poorly matched for snow driving. The ergonomics were terrible; I honestly have no idea how it passed through Chryler's we-should-scrap-this-bad-idea division. I've rented a large range of cars and, even including the Liberty, the PT ranks near the top of ones I won't do again. I truly felt sorry for all the other PT drivers I saw this past week because at least mine gets returned after 6 days.



I recognize that not everyone has the desire to spend time in a sport-tuned car. And that's okay; I don't resent people, just the car choices they make. Driving that PT made the ride home in the MINI so more satisfying. I kept grinning - and gunning the throttle - as I made my way through downtown ATL. Then I took the above picture. Happy Motoring indeed.