104,000 Miles: Ohio

I hit 104,000 miles, while returning from the Mt. Vernon, Ohio area. I had just dropped my older daughter off at Camp Ohio, a Junior and Senior High Christian camp of the

Ohio Advent Christian Conference. The Advent Christian Church was formed in the context of campmeetings like this. Originally they had been camps for the entire family, but in the past generation they evolved into this youth-only type of format.

For whatever reason, I never got to go to these camps as a kid. But in my 20s I never missed a summer, without attending at least two of them, usually in Texas and Oklahoma. Usually I was on the staff, as a counselor, pianist, activities director, or teacher. I was campmaster several times. The AC camps are well-run, low-cost, austere, highly-effective programs that make a great impact on kids' lives. I always wanted to make sure my kids attended some church camps growing up, and am happy to say this has been the case.

Now, if we can get some additional Dexter kids to go as well, next year!

My younger daughter was traveling with us. We just left the campground, and were heading

back north on US-23. There's an exit along the way, that has a gas station with Dairy Queen and KFC (Col. Sanders was an Advent Christian). We usually stop there either coming or going, for a meal or treat. This time we each had a dinner, and then commenced on our way North.

We were near Carey, Ohio, where US-23 joins State Route 15, on the way to Findlay and I-75 Northbound. I chose not to stop, as there were no convenient places to do so. Except for the photo of Camp Ohio, all of the pictures are taken while driving (the farm and rural scenery in

the area is beautiful).


Date: Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Time: 6:00pm

Purpose of the trip: To take my older daughter to Camp Ohio, an Advent Christian Senior Camp in Delaware County. I was on my way back with my younger daughter.

Where: Near Carey, Ohio. US-23 connects with State Route 15 at this point. It is about a hundred twenty miles from Dexter.

On the Ipod/Radio: MacArthur Park, by Richard Harris, from my favorite songs of 1968 Playlist. It had just hit the cool, upbeat section of the song, just as the highway split and we merge onto Route 15.

I have always loved this song. In 1968, the Beatles had just paved the way for pop songs that ran longer than three minutes, with Hey Jude. Other songs followed, like Aquarius by the Fifth Dimension, and Those Were the Days, by Mary Hopkin.

Back in the 70s, the middle upbeat section got used, and overused, as a ditty for commercials, or as a theme song for afternoon movie shows and maybe some sports programs. I remember that local talk-show host Lou Gordon used it for his TV theme song (I show that I loved, even as a kid. I remember his interview with Ron Laflore like it was yesterday).

I think that MacArthur Park should be treated with more regard than it has, through the years. The production of the Richard Harris version is superb. It is squarely in the 60s musical genre, with beautiful melodies and transitions that are rare today. The lyrics are perhaps more serious than people take them (from an artistic perspective). Comedians through the years have made fun of them, especially the part about someone leaving "the cake out in the rain." I think that Elayne Boosler get a lot of traction from this in her early years.

I like listening to MacArthur Park, and feeling melancholy and sentimental. The comedians and overplays have kinda ruined this. Donna Summer's version? I won't even go there!

Other Things About This Day: During this past month, I have been teaching a class for Summer Discovery at the University of Michigan. My class is American Business and Personal Finance. I am designing and developing the entire program, referencing State of Michigan curriculum standards, and enjoying the heck out of it!

The next day after this trip, July 6th, was the beginning of the second week of Summer Discovery. My lesson plans were not anywhere near completed for that week. So as I took some eight hours out of my day, I had some angst thinking about coming home and staying up late to work on it. But I would not miss this opportunity to take my girl to camp and see some old friends. In the end, I did stay up late, but got a lot of work done, and the next week did a favorable job leading the class!

103,000 Miles: Loch Alpine

I almost missed it today. I knew it was getting close, but when I started driving this morning, I glanced at the mileage, 102,950, and thought that there was no way I was going to hit it today. All I had was church, then Meijer (for Father's Day shopping), then to my sister's in Webster Township, then home. This is not a 50-mile round trip.

But we got half way home from my sister's, had entered the Village of Dexter, when I remembered that I had not gathered the potted rose plant that my daughter gave me for Father's Day. I left it at my sister's. So we turned around, and I got distracted by everything, and forgot to think about the mileage.

On the way back, I thought we might drive through Loch Alpine (one of the first residential developments with country club to be built in Washtenaw County). It is about 70-some years old. We had had a lot of flooding in the area Friday night, and I wanted to see how it affected the lakes in Loch Alpine.


Date: Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Time: 4:00pm

Purpose of the trip: We just finished Father's Day at my sister's, where we ate some delicious grilled meat, and side dishes that included a delicious California Roll from Meijer. I had taken the girls to Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant last night. They loved it and are on a Sushi kick.

This side trip through Loch Alpine was en route to Stucchi's for an after-dinner treat! My niece Becky, who normally brings desserts-to-die-for, only brought a noodle salad today!

Where: Loch Alpine, in Scio Township, Michigan. We were on the main North-South stretch of E. Loch Alpine Drive, at about where my piano teacher used to live, (Judy McCormick). I turned down toward the lakes, and just happened to glance down, as the odometer hit 103,000. Whew!

I took the picture of my daughter in front of the spot where the creek drains into the lake. She has the golf course behind her, but today it is filled with a small pond from all the rain. In the distance is "Suicide Hill," where I used to come sledding when my Uncle Eddie lived there. Just across the street was the home of high school buddy Gerry Navarre, where I spent many nights playing cards.

The rainfall Friday night was a major weather event. The winter thaw had left the ground saturated, and it really has not been dry enough to get the ground to normal. We got up to four inches in about a two-hour period Friday night. Our basement began to flood, but my Dad and I kept it at bay until the rain stopped and the water receded (about 1:30am Saturday).

The Huron River was way up, and you never should see standing water as it appears in the picture.

On the Ipod/Radio: Don't You Want Me by the Human League, from my favorite songs of 1982 Playlist. My daughters have come to love the music of 1982. I agree it was a watershed year where pop and country music were both expanding into brand new areas.

But I don't like the way excellent music like this is turning into samples and commercial ditties. AM radio has become notorious, in the pervasive talk format, for cutting music down to these 40-second samples for which they do not have to pay a royalty. And now add things like the mop commercial that uses "Don't You Want Me." I mean, I agree that this is creative, and I do appreciate the talk shows keeping good songs alive.

But you gotta hear this song in its entirety, in full stereo! It still rocks! It reminds me of my first semester at Texas Christian University in the fall of 1982. I hung out with my buddy Rod Venner alot, and I loved the way he would sing it when it played (while driving his Camaro). Our society is "ADHD" enough, and we need to step helping it along!

Other Things About This Day: It was the second week of three services at Dexter United Methodist Church. The place is growing, and Pastor Matt Hook and the entire membership are doing something right. So, I got up early, and participated in two of the services. With all the coming and going, it was pretty much like a work-day. But I did do some recruiting for our U11 Panthers team in the Dexter Soccer Club. I spent some time on the phone and Internet working on this.

I also connected with a second cousin from a branch of the family with whom we had lost contact. She told me that lately she was feeling a little lonely, with so few relatives that were still in touch. She was thrilled that I called, and I will connect her to everybody else through our ancestry.com and myfamily.com sites.

For Father's Day, I got the rose, a water bottle, a musical card, and a painting by one of my daughters.

Goal for 104,000 Miles: The money hasn't been there for floor mats. I am too busy paying off bills like the student loan and some legal and medical bills. It will have to wait! So - I have no special goals, and might drop this section from the blog from now on!

102,000 Miles: A Stop at Busch's While the Price of Gas Increases

Nothing fancy or exciting about this milestone. I keep hoping to get outside the Dexter area for one of my 1,000 mile dates, but today the odometer turned just as I passed LaFontaine Chevrolet (about which, more later; given today's GM bankruptcy). My destination was Busch's, just next to LaFontaine, so that will be the main subject of today's blog!

This trip started out as a trip to the Dexter District Library. Or, shall I say the new Dexter District Library on Alpine Street. While there I had a visit with a dear friend that is going through some extreme difficulties in her life. I saw the hugely talented Mitchell Clark, DHS '09 and superb trombonist. It was my pleasure to be his accompanist at Solo and Ensemble for about three of his years in band (until he got way out of my league!) Mitch is on his way to college, as a music major. He comes from Dexter's Clarks, of Cribley Drilling, from which I always purchase my water-softener salt (ThinkDexterFirst!) Mitch works at the library.



I spent a little time on the library computer, while my daughter checked out two books, Sweethearts by Sara Zarr, and Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer. My computer work involved updating some information on my Geni page, about my grandmother, Fern Turnbow, and Great Grandfather, John Wach. I also logged some comments on my grandmother's myfamily.com page, and sent greetings out to some distant Wach cousins.


Date: Monday, June 1st, 2009

Time: 9:00pm

Purpose of the trip: Having spent some time at the library, I and my daughter went through town, to pick up a treat at Busch's. The girls have been working hard at their band, piano, play practices, music rehearsals at church, confirmation (which was yesterday), soccer, volleyball, and general end-of-school-year stuff. And I reached a new money milestone today. I was feeling good about doing something nice and special.

Where: Dexter, Michigan. Eastbound, Dexter-Ann Arbor Road, at Dan Hoey intersection, Washtenaw County, Michigan. I could have made LaFontaine the featured site, but as explained above, I went with Busch's.

We bought some M&M ice cream cookie sandwiches for everybody, and also some treats for their girls' lunches: Keebler Cheese Crackers, Kraft Dunk 'ems, and Mini Golden Oreos. In the impulse-buy category I bought a box of Malt-o-Meal Cinnamon Toasters, which were on sale for $1.29. They are comparable to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which I love. But I hate the generic brand versions of the same. I also like Malt-o-Meal, so I will give them a chance to win me over on this one!

The Dexter Busch's is outstanding. Some people say they shop elsewhere because Busch's prices are higher. I say "Bunk!" Busch's annually donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to Dexter's schools, athletics, clubs, and many, many charitable events. The store is always clean, and the staff always professional. And if you look around, you can always find sale items. The entry-way is clean, and the can-return area is kept odor-free (Store Manager Dennis Blanchard told me they are required to clean it completely, twice a day!).

Speaking of Dennis, he's the best. Here's a store manager that remembers your name, and always smiles and says "hello." He also makes himself known throughout town. Busch's is a Southeastern-based retail chain that maintains a hometown feel. Each store adapts to local character and culture, and reflects it in its design and emphasis.

I shop at Busch's for all of these reasons, and I know that my money spent there comes back to help our community, and our kids.

On the Ipod/Radio: Listen to What the Man Said, from Paul McCartney's All the Best. This great song reminds me of riding in Dean Lindemann's pickup, to track practice at the U of M track during Spring Break in the late 70s. (Dexter did not have a track in those days. We had to use other tracks). This song was played a lot during the Spring of 1977. I always wish the sax solo at the end had led into a long extended, four minute solo.

Other Things About This Day: I'm getting upset about the escalating price of gas. Two years ago everybody blamed President Bush about the $4 a gallon. We are approaching $3 now. And Bush-Cheney have nothing to do with this! Today GM announced a bankrutpcy, and the Obama Administration thinks its team of politicians can run a corporation! (You Obama backers - and I am an independent - need to think about whether or not you would like Republicans having the power to eliminate your jobs; the same power you have conferred upon President Obama! We are all in this together, we need to watch each other's backs, and no President should have this kind of leverage over our livelihoods!)

I say this because I want President Obama to succeed. But he is taking control over so much of the economy, that if it does not work, and gas prices rise, and people lose their jobs, and we get inflation, he will be the only one to blame. He has made himself the one, the sole, the only, the final root and branch of our economy's rise and/or fall. If this stuff does not work he will be the one, and only, person worthy to take the blame. Even President Bush could not claim half the culpability! We need to be careful!

So - gas prices are going up, and I look to the White House to do common sense things to bring them back down! (The President has all but said we needed to pay more for energy!)

Finally, my discussion with my friend in the library only reinforced my total disdain for our system of divorce and family law in the U.S. No-fault divorce is wrong, morally and ethically. Anything so harmful to children and families needs to have blame foisted upon somebody! My friend is forced to accept conditions that are wrong for her kids (by what they must witness in the home of their father). And the courts do little about it. They only want the docket cleared.

Goal for 103,000 Miles: Well, I still would like to get some new floor mats. But I think I had better stow some money for my car, in a gas fund! So - hopefully I will finally have those mats at the next posting!

101,000 Miles: Sunday Driving and a Bearclaw

I had hoped to make this milestone nearer some of my more regular haunts. But it was not to be. I also have not purchased some new floor mats, nor have I shampooed the interior yet. The miles are ticking off, and I had better get going on this! Meanwhile, the clanky, rattling noise in the rear passenger side, continues. Dean Schwalbach, and my friend Mike Burke (bass player in the Dexter United Methodist Church Praise Band and MD extraordinaire) both assure me that it is nothing to worry about just yet. The bushings where the shock absorber is connected to the frame, have worn down and there is no padding there. This is the source of the rattle. More a nuisance than anything. My brother-in-law, Don Heller, tells me to turn up the music! Now, some details.

Date: Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Time: 12:15 pm

Purpose of the trip: I had just picked up my daughter from her Mom's, and was on my way to meet my parents for after-church dinner at the Golden Dragon restaurant in Hamburg, Michigan. My daughters love this place. According to their mom, the chicken is cooked fresh here, and does not have the over-cooked or warmed-over texture of most Chinese restaurants.

Where: Lakeland, Michigan. Eastbound, M-36, in Livingston County, Michigan. I assume that I was in Hamburg Township. The odometer turned to 101,000 right in front of the Zukey Lake Bearclaw . I spoke with the attendant, a nice young lady named Carly. The owner of this Bearclaw is Debbie McElroy, who can be reached on dmcelroy@bearclawcoffee.com and 734-474-1621.

There is a good story behind Bearclaw coffee shops. Originally, it was a single store at the corner of North Territorial and Dexter-Pinckney Roads in Dexter Township. The first owner had the idea to sell coffee and Dexter Bakery doughnuts at the intersection, during morning rush hour. He built a little shack, and opened up for business. The thriving business was soon turned into a series of franchise stores throughout Southeast Michigan.

I have been a sometime regular at the downtown Dexter Bearclaw since it first opened, some ten years ago. The owner there, Tim Horvath, is a full time police officer, all-around good guy and a friend of mine.

The odometer stayed at 101,000 until we reached the Huron River.

On the Ipod/Radio: We're All Alone, by Rita Coolidge, from my Favorite Songs of 1978 Playlist. Senior prom. Marsha. ahem!

Other Things About This Day: Church was outstanding today. DiscipleshipPastor Steve Bringardner preached on "The Power of Blessings". He used the story of Jacob and Esau, of the Old Testament, as the text. The big point I got out of it, was how families that fail to bless one another effectively, can end up with problems that last for generations.

It made me think of my Darr and Martin relations, that today are close after three and four generations. My ancestors Gottlieb Durr, and John New Martin, must have done something right! Today their great-great-great grandchildren are still in touch!

Goal for the 102,000 Mark: New floor mats. Clean upholstery.

Below, a picture of the Golden Dragon Restaurant of Hamburg. Yes, I recommend it.

100,000, or, How to Save $929

I hit the hundred thousand miles today. My Hyundai Accent made it!! The first hundred thousand were eventful - many trips to Ohio and back, an accident in 2005 that required body work (which happened in the middle of divorce proceedings, selling my house, and full-time grad school!), and the forced conversion of my Itunes music to the I-trip wireless device (when the cassette player stopped working!). Here are the specifics:

Date: Saturday, May 4th, 2009

Time: 12:15 pm

Purpose of the trip: To pick up my daughters from their mom's. On the way, I dropped off some old clothes to a clothes charity bin at the Mugg and Bopps Sunoco station in Dexter, then to Dr. Gary Gochanour (Dentist), to pay a bill. I then picked up the girls. When I left their Mom's, there were 99,995 miles on the car. I was on my way to drop the older girl to a friend's house at Westridge, then back home where the other could get ready for a soccer game (played today at Hudson Mills. They lost, 3 - 0 - but are showing marked improvement!)

Where: Heading south, at the boundary of Webster and Dexter Townships. The odometer stayed on 100,000 all the way to Jenny's Market.

On the Ipod/Radio: "Evil Woman," by the Electric Light Orchestra, from my Favorite Songs of 1976 Playlist.

Other Things About This Day: I had a cool morning, hauling a truckload of recyclables with my Dad, including an old TV, a rotten old recliner, a bunch of drain gutters and accessories from my ex's, and her old water softener. I am in the middle of two weeks proctoring tests at South Arbor Academy. And my hearing is limited, due to a plug somewhere up in my sinuses.

Goal for the 101,000 Mark: I would like to have the interior looking better. Buy new floor mats, and shampoo the upholstery, which does not look good after being the car of a single dad that has been on the run a lot. I also would like it to occur while visiting one of the other neighboring townships.

Service Required Once I Have the Funds: Fix a rattle above the rear passenger wheel. Dean (see below) says it is something to do with the shock absorber. It is not a problem, only a little irritating - and when I want to bring it in he can tighten it up. Also - I have a little rust showing up around the wheel wells. Either Dean or my brother-in-law can do this work, hopefully before I get to 110,000. (I need to build up the funds).

Now - about the saving of $929. I wrote in my first post, that my faithful dealership, that had been very good to me for most of the first 100,000 miles (Oh, I get it now - they had to be, since I was under warranty!), had quoted a thousand dollars worth of work, required on my car. The service manager had asked me "How much longer do you want this car?" Uh, yeah - he does want to sell cars at some point! He described an oil leak, problem with the rear passenger tire rotation, and some other things that if not fixed will cause me real troubles.

So I took it in to Dean Schwalbach in Dexter, who is going to be my chief car mechanic now that I have no more warranty, (and am free to suspect anything uttered by a guy whose main business is to sell cars!). In a few hours, Dean was able to find nothing wrong. He even showed me the oil system, and spark plugs - no leak at all, although the spark plugs needed replacing.

The Hyundai guy had told me that they would deduct the $215 they charged me for looking at my engine, once I brought it back in for the work. Meanwhile, they "temporarily" got the check engine light to turn off.

It has me thinking that they actually did $215 worth of work, like maybe a tune-up/oil change/grease job, but would not tell me that because they wanted me to think there was something terribly wrong with my car!

OK, I like these guys at Hyundai, and I hope that, by the time I get to the 200,000 miles mark (are there others out there that want a car to last that long?), they step up and help me prove that there still are durable cars out there!

So, thanks to Dean and his crew. He replaced the spark plugs for $71 dollars, and it runs like a charm today.

Disappointed

Hmmph!

In the late 1970s, Country Music legend Merle Haggard sang "I wish a Ford and a Chevy would still last ten years, like they should."

I've never owned a car that I drove for ten years. I came close in the 1990s, when my 1988 Chevrolet Beretta made it to within a couple years, but I got careless and blew a rod. I think it would have made it. I put some 140,000 miles on it, thanks to many trips between Texas, Georgia, and Michigan during its life.

The Beretta was pre-kids, which means the interior stayed fairly clean and new-looking.

In early 2003, my then-wife negotiated the purchase of a new Hyundai Accent. Black, with dark gray interior, manual windows, cassette player (no CD or accessory jack), no cruise control, no sun roof, no power windows. It did have AC. It ran well. But it had a five-year note with a monthly payment of about $350. This became the most brutal aspect of my Hyundai: the burdensome monthly payment, which I was paying well past the date when warranty items began to expire.

This car endured one accident that required some body work. It has always seemed to have a little problem with going through oil. But I loved the generous warranty from Hyundai (my above comments notwithstanding), and for the most part am glad that, for a year and a half now, I have owned it free and clear, with minimal repair expenses.

Yesterday, during my drive in to work, the 99,950 mile mark ticked off on the odometer. I was excited about getting home last night, taking my daughter out for a ride as it crossed the 100,000 mile point. And, I was going to begin writing this blog, journaling the second hundred-thousand miles in my Hyundai, demonstrating that some cars can and do last ten years! (I have had the Accent only six years; but, 100,000 is an equivalent milestone. I still want ten years with this car!)

But, when I started it up, at lunchtime yesterday, the check engine light was on. I had known that I would need to take it in for some work, as soon as I stored away some extra funds for this purpose. The light moved up the service date!

I also was going to write some very nice things about the dealer from which I bought the Hyundai. They have been good to me, for the most part. The owner of the dealership owns several other stores, and I call him a professional friend of mine.

But, one day and $200 later, I am a little chagrined that the Hyundai would have a problem this expensive just prior to such a milestone. One trusted family member even said "Well, Hyundais must not be well made." Oh yes - the $200 was what they charged me to tell me it needed work - about $1,000 worth of it!

So, it was off to my local independent auto repair shop for these repairs. This guy, an honest businessman, is not interested in selling me a car. He wants to keep mine working - the better a job he does, the longer my car will last. And the longer it lasts, the more work it will need! Smart business.

Once I pass the 100,000 mark, my powertrain warranty will expire - the last umbilical back to the dealership. Rest assured I will not use those guys anymore - unless they provide better terms and stop jacking up repair rates.

So - with disappointment and discouragement I will celebrate the 100,000th mile in a day or two, when I drive it from the repair shop. And then will begain my occasional postings on whether or not they still make a Hyundai that will still last ten years, like it should!