Video

I noticed on the blog edit page that you can also import video clips.
So I figured I check it out. Here is a video I took while I was driving through
Pennsylvania. Actually, it is quite boring even with only 13 seconds long.
If you play the video 3600 times in a row you will know what kind of day I had
driving from Salem to Novi. :)

I am online

I finally got my cable service hooked up and got my internet all
connected. So, thank you 'SWSnet' for providing me with some
net connectivity in the last couple of days. It took me a while
to get my wireless setup working, but it finally all clicked and
all PCs/Macs/WIIs are talking to each other.
I also found a flash card reader in one of the boxes I unpacked,
which means I can share a couple pictures of the move. The living
room is combined with the dining area and the kitchen into one
open space. This is the only room so far that is really 'show-worthy".
This is what is looked like when the movers dropped all the off:

And after:

The layout is similar to myother places, but this one
has a lot more room, so it doesn'tfeel as cramped as in Salem.

I still need to add some pictures and other things,
but at least a got allthe boxes out and made it comfortable.
















Now, I can focus on the other rooms, that still look like a "Rumpelkammer".

Helping the 'sluggish' economy

According to the latest news, the president signed the Economy Stimulus
Package into law, which means I can expect a check from the government
in May or so.
Great, because I already spent the money. I got my car back from the
shop and it set me back a couple hundred bucks. I am always happy to
help an 'ailing' economy. They found a sensor
and wiring problem which made the engine controller believe it is very
cold and it tries to use more fuel on startup, flooding the engine. That certainly
explains the rough engine behavior and the unusual amount of smoke.
I hope this will fix it.
I am actually not surprised by this. My Schnitzelwagen really took a beating
in Boston. The roads are bad and it rattles the car all day long,
shaking things loose. The constant stop-n-go traffic wasn't helping either.
I saw a big drop in gas mileage during my commute to Lynn and at times
I was concerned that the engine performance would deteriorate, but
during my trip over here, it went right back to 30 MPG, even packed with
junk.
Ah well, at least I got the apartment in almost living condition and the
cable guy is hopefully showing up tomorrow, so I don't have to 'borrow'
anymore internet from a friendly neighbor.

The first days

It's Tuesday and I am sitting amongst boxes and furniture. The movers just
left and I slowly started to unpack. The first couple of days have been rather
uneventful. Besides the fact that the Schnitzelwagen still behaves like
on old mule. I am having the same problem again and I finally called the
VW dealer today to have them take a look at it. Since it was wicked cold
on Sunday, I didn't mind staying inside. I got the car running yesterday
and went around the block to get some groceries and lunch.
I was waiting all day for the movers, but they had truck problems and
couldn't make it until today. That gave me some time to watch some DVD's:
Match Point: I am not a Woody Allen fan, so this movie fit right into the
'Don't really care for it' category (2.5/3)

Deadwood: Western series from HBO. Wasn't too thrilled, but these HBO
series usually need to grow on me, so I'll watch some more.

Long Way Down: TV series where Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
take a bike trip from Scotland to South Africa. Very similar to the
Long Way Round, but it lost a bit of its uniqueness . Still good TV.

Well, I better get back, unpacking. I should have some pictures of the
move ready, as soon as I find my flash card reader.
I am not starting work until Monday, so that should give me plenty of
time to get everything going and into running order.

Schnitzelwagen Power

Well, I made it.
I am sitting in a Caribou cafe in Novi, after driving here yesterday
from Salem. The trip went alright, but not without a little bit of
Schnitzelwagen drama.
On Friday night I had all my things packed up and decide to run one
last errand. I got into my car, start it up, and the engine just sits there at
1100rpm, sounds real rough and doesn't respond to the gas pedal.
'This can't be happening!", I thought. This is the last thing I needed.
I tried to start up the car a couple more times, but to no prevail, same behavior.
I went back into my apartment, to think about plan B. Plan B?
There was no plan B. I got into my car one more time, and voila,
the engine runs just fine. Mmmmmm.
Needless to say, I had a rather restless night. I got up early, packed the car,
ready to go, and ...................... the same problem on startup. WTF!!!!
I try again and this time the car runs fine.
This doesn't real calm my nerves.

I start my journey to Michigan. The first miles I am rather paranoid
about the car. Listening to every little sound, watching the gauges,
preparing to pull over in case the engine dies on me.
100 miles, 200 miles the car runs fine. 300 miles, the first stop for gas and
I turn the engine off. After filling up, I turn the key in anticipation,
but the engine starts up like a champ and we on our way again.
We make it through Pennsylvania, into Ohio and on to Michigan with
no problems whatshowever.
Originally, I had planned to drive the biggest part of the journey on Saturday,
stay overnight somewhere and finish the drive on Sunday. But, everything
went real well and I decided to keep on driving. The weather was good,
I didn't feel tired, and the car was running fine.
Novi was in sight, at around 9PM and when I fell down on the hotel bed,
I couldn't believe I just spend more than 13 hours in the car.
But hey, I made it and without spending time at a Volkswagen dealership :)

I'll pick up the apartment keys this afternoon and the movers should arrive
with my belongings either tomorrow or Tuesday. I am excited to get everything
back together and actually start my new job.

MIdventure

Oops, what is this. I am writing a new blog entry. I checked and the last entry was over 5 month ago, so it's about time to update.
The title kinda gives it away, so the big news up front. My time here in Massachusetts is coming to an end. I am moving to Michigan, to Novi to be exact, which is just west of Detroit. The reason for the move is job related. I decided to make a more drastic move and leave Belcan after 10 years. With all the different positions I had, it certainly doesn't feel that long of a time, and I enjoyed most of it. But now it is time to look ahead to new MIdventures.
The move is already on the way, the mover are here today to pick up my stuff and I will be driving out there Saturday.
I know what you're thinking, my AAA membership is up to date and I have all VW dealers on the way on speed dial. Just in case.
So it's coming down to saying goodbye to the North Shore. I will miss the friends I made. Especially the volleyball group in Marblehead, the German meetup group in Cambridge, and my former coworkers. Overall a great bunch of people. I will miss being close to the ocean and living in an area that has a distinctive european flavor.
I won't miss the traffic or the Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

3:10 to Yuma

Usually, I am not a big fan of western movies, but '3:10 to Yuma' is an exception. The main story centers around the legendary outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) who is captured after him and his gang rob a coach and a poor rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) who agrees to help get Wade to the prison train to Yuma. Crowe and Bale doing an excellent job playing these different characters and the interaction between the two is one of the highlights of the movie. There are also some nice side plots with Evans and his sons and his struggle to make it as a farmer.
Overall, a very good movie and will actually give it a rating of 4.