I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

Okay, in addition to everything else that has been said, one of those "factors not published here" that I mentioned is the fact that my father is a disabled veteran (paraplegic) and my mother is his primary caretaker. And her rheumatoid arthritis has been getting so bad that she is having trouble taking care of herself, let alone my father (thank you Obamacare for denying her the steroidal medication that has been helping her for years). Celadon has a terminal (three of them actually) near where they live, one RIGHT THERE. And opportunities for local and regional work that would put me in a position to jump in and help out if her current assistance ends, which it could. My mother is a fiercely independent woman and out of respect for that I have let her do her thing, but neither of us wants my father remanded to a VA hospital bed.

Gordon was unable to offer me more than 4 out of 5 weekends home, and then only for a 34. Not a bad deal but much less than I would need.

I'm praying it doesn't have to go that way but if it does I'm going to be ready and established.

There are two other factors of a more personal nature that brought me back to Celadon, which I've only discussed with The Hot Chick.

 

Sorry to hear about your friend. We can justify avoiding a little discomfort with the "its my life and it doesn't affect anybody else so it's nobody's business" line, but when we take ourselves out of the game early we leave behind people who need and care about us.

I think about The Hot Chick and our daughter when I'm about to order those pancakes for breakfast.

Far as I'm concerned the same thing applies to smoking and other vices. I have a friend whom I thought had given up smoking but is back to puffing regularly. And his health is suffering. The h3ll of it is his teenage son was caught smoking in the bathroom at school and he came down hard on him. Not for breaking school policy but for smoking.

Wonder where the boy got the idea to do that?

(I get on a soap box about smoking as that's what caused my father's stroke when I was 16--more to the point his stubborn refusal to even attempt to quit).

 

Just returned the rental car. It was a Mitsubishi Lancer base model. They've come a long way since I was one of their sales trainers. I've been predicting their demise in the USA for a while now but they are still going.

The Lancer is a compact four door sedan about the size of a Ford Focus, with a LOT more head room. It has a CVT automatic and got in the mid 20's for gas mileage, in spite of the fact that I drove it like a rally car the whole time (it was so quick and agile it was hard to resist). A sane driver would likely get mid to high 30's with a spouse and three teenaged offspring in the car and two week's worth of luggage for all in the cavernous trunk.

Instrumentation is basic with a large analog tach and speedo framing a small OLED screen that houses a digital fuel readout and multifunction screen that will toggle between a couple modes of mpg display, two trip odometers, and coolant temp. Volts, amps, oil pressure, oil temp--sorry, you'll have to step up to a sportier version. This is the base model, so you just get the basics.

Those basics include keyless entry and remote trunk release, split fold down seats, cruise, power windows and locks, tilt wheel, manual height adjustment on the driver's seat, steering wheel controls for the stereo (with single CD and auxiliary audio and USB inputs), and Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel controls.

The three spoke wheel is perfectly shaped for a vintage 9 and 3 o'clock hand position, and the base seats are fairly supportive in spirited driving (aided by the best dead pedal I've seen in years).

Steering is fairly quick, to the point of actually being a little twitchy on center. That's not really a problem for me but some might have to get acclimated before being really comfortable. It is rather numb and uncommunicative, but pretty accurate and the car is easy to place. The car is fairly neutral when pushed into corners with a preference towards benign understeer when approaching the limit. It's limits are well beyond those of the average driver. If forced, the tail can be convinced to grudgingly come around, but reluctantly, as if to say, "Look, I'll oversteer if you want it so bad, but this isn't my mission. I'm a grocery getter, a commuter, the family work horse. Go buy an Evo."

The car's interior roominess, it's surprisingly athletic driving dynamic and pleasant ride, and it's sporty appearance make it, in my humble opinion, among the better values for someone in need of something for a one car household. This car is a true Jack of all trades. Although it really is a master of none, it's level of competence will keep all but the most demanding enthusiasts satisfied for years. A great lower cost alternative to the Toyota and Honda.

Two thumbs up!

(Cheesy music plays and screen fades to black, cue Shamwow commercial)