OK, I had posted this once before, but deleted it. Personal life stuff still remains.... complex, but improving.

Here is my new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys edition (Rubicon Suspension, offroad tires, rims, limited slip diff). Pentastar engine with the Etorque mild hybrid option, 8 speed auto, all the options.

I bought this without ever going to the dealership other than to pick it up. I met the sales lady once and the whole process was seamless and great. Total dealership time: 1 hour.

I've not really driven it much yet, but stay tuned. Taking some friends (hopefully) for a campfire this weekend in the mountains.

I really am incredibly happy so far.

Life is....complex these days and I find myself with much less Oppo time than I'd like.

Lots of personal dark spots, but one of the brightest spots for me got a little brighter today. My wife is pregnant (2nd trimester now) and today we recieved confirmation that the genetic test came back clear and we learned that it's going to be a baby boy.

Cheers Oppo.

Got my new couch and finally got my art up, at least in my living room.

Major shoutout to @Longtime-Lurker who's Secret Senna gift of a Slant 6 head gasket in my truck's paint colour got the rockstar spot.

Also put an old Dodge D100 quater panel badge in my lamp (designed to hold art/whatever) and put my model cars (of which I need to buy more) on a nearby shelf.

Today was my first offroad trip in the new Jeep. Everything went pretty smoothly! Nicked my finger with an axe and hit a rock and damaged my crappy plastic skidplate but that happens.

Got some decent photos though. 100% not a mall crawler.

Nature:

Bonus video, I set up a gopro on a relatively steep little hill. Kinda fun to watch the two jeeps go over it.

Got "ducked" at the grocery store tonight. Jeeps are weird.

Shortest drive of my life if you count an A to B commute as a drive. I live across the street, but was buying a lot as I just moved. It took more time to get to my car in the parkade from my apartment than to actually arrive at the grocery store.

Mostly moved into my new place. It's small, but I feel good and Targa is happy. My apartment is slightly larger than my garage used to be.... I still need a couch and to put up my art, but it's nice to have a home base. At 29, I've never actually lived alone before since at 19 I moved out of my parents in with my girlfriend who I then married at 21, so brave new world there.

@houstonrunner While we're talking about celeb cars, can we appreciate that Lady Gaga is a full on Jalop?

Unfortunately, COVID is running a little rampant in Canada right now and I don't think it's political to say our Government has fucked up the vaccine program pretty badly (it's no good when you're stealing from 3rd world countries).

My parents and my sister are awaiting test results (my sister's on her 8th exposure/test) and our government just banned all dining in, churches, Whistler and fitness classes in what they are calling a "circuit breaker" to relieve our exponential growth rate. Vancouver also happens to be the biggest epicenter for the Brazilian variant outside Brazil....so that's fun.

Meanwhile, it's just Targa and I, dining out at the 1 person patio that is my Jeep.

I used to be Mergio

Took the day off to go out with some friends today in the Jeep. Took them back to one of the prettier spots for a very delicious brunch made over a fire. There's a couple decent technical sections on the way, including a water crossing, so it's nice to show off a little too.

Neither of them had ever been out that way or offroading before. To my surprise, they both not only enjoyed it, but also enjoyed learning about the tire deflation/inflation, all the tools, and the radio to monitor FSR traffic.

Round trip, nearly 9 hours. Another great day thanks to this Jeep.

@jminer

@exage03040 yeah, time to retreat into my cave, don my headset and join the other Oppos who play Elite Dangerous in space!

Seems like I'm biking more than driving these days.

@hugz Breaking news: Old man gets older.

(kidding, happy Birthday @Chariotoflove lol)

@sovande Baby driver?

I dunno, is that appropriate for kids? Maybe don't ask me lol

@dr-zoidberg oh.... well, she has good taste in bags?

@dr-zoidberg Hmm, sketch pad, Chrome Industries messenger bag, pack of craft IPA, brown paper bag of organic food (I presume).

@jminer The moto360 for early 2014 was like, ground breaking. The first mass smartwatch and people were blown away by mine. I enjoyed it and found the turn by turn nav when walking/riding really useful.

That and music control are the main reasons I went for a new Wear OS watch. I've been riding way more and can't take my phone out to check the GPS or change songs/volume easily.

I decided this week I needed a new smartwatch. I had a couple of the OG Moto 360's. One I sold to an Oppo, the other I held onto.

I bought my first one when they first came out in September 2014 for $300. I bought my second months later for like $90...so that's a good indicator on how successful these were.

I've kept it for 7 years and sold it for $25 this morning. While it is outdated, the majority of the functions still work and the battery is perfect.

I upgraded to a Skagen Falster 2 which is a year old, but still current gen. Picking it up later today for $100. So the $75 to upgrade a 6 year old device is totally worth it.

Not bad ownership cost all things considered...at least for an old electronic with no demand. $3.75 per month cost.

@i86hotdogs Change of clothes I'd say.

@ibrad He's got the rubi springs (the Willys/Rubicon have the same suspension other than springs) with only a few thousand miles on them.

When I get my tires swapped in the next year or so, I will get the springs on there. Raise up a bit.