Have a bit of a nagging cold. It gets a little violent at times - but i complain too much.
This buddy of mine had a Bose headphone - the kind that actively cancels all noise and makes it really quiet even in an aircraft. Decided to do my usual cut rate deal hunt and bought a Creative headphone that costs 10% of the original and performed at the same value/price ratio. So guess how delighted i was to receive an invite to test drive a Maserati - and they would send me free Bose headphones!! Nothing more to do. This is the problem with demographics i guess - i live in a fancy neighborhood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Alto,_California#Famous_residents) and drive a hmm.. lets say a car i dont deserve to be (Lexus GS300). Presumably someone put two and two together and decided to send me offers for high end investment advise and the like.
The test drive was scheduled and i waited eagerly for about 10 days. Thought up all the excuses to thwart the snake oil sales guy types. You know, just got my options, had my car for 6 years need a new one etc. Dressed as well as i could without overstating it and got to the showroom. As i tried to park my car next to a brand new Ferrari, the sales guy waited and watched me park and finally said "Thats a million dollar car dude!".
Thought the guys kept me waiting for a while deliberately while the parked their cars before they closed the showroom. While i was waiting saw an indicator light that had popped out of its holder [so much for quality :-)].
Got into the car and started chatting up with the sales guy. The car itself was everything you would expect. Ferrari V-8 in the hood (read a review that said the car was a Ferrari inside a Buick Lucerne), tonnes of wood and leather. Drove in the side streets with heavy traffic and had to give feather like nudges to the throttle.
The sales guy was quite restrained and busy texting. Was a race driver before he decided he couldnt muster enough sponsorship for the Indy or Champ car (apparently it takes 5-6mn $ a year). So he did some coaching and sold Maseratis and Ferraris.
The guy was least bothered if i wanted to buy or not. Apparently he had figured out i wasnt a serious buyer when i called for the test drive. The Maseratis have a 9-12 month wait list and Paris (the sales guy) was surprised Maserati was spending money getting traffic in to the showrooms. Ferraris on the other hand are impossible to come by (anyone remember Rainman - Tom C is a hustling Ferrari dealer). Made small talk and mentioned a travel agent at Patni that drove a Maserati. Had to restrain myself not to bring up the Joe Walsh song (Lifes been good to me that starts off so - My Maserati does 185/They took my license so now i dont drive).
Got back with more of a sense of relief and education than enjoyment. Now i await my headphones - more about that when i get my hands on them.
Had a nice picnic at Shoreline park - our monthly IIMC get together with some close friends.
Am trying to browse less at the office. No news sites or deal hunting between 9 and 5 - working well so far.
The weekend threatens to be consumed by shoe rack that im trying to put up. It was a give away on craigslist. To date ive spend 25$buying 4 shelves, brackets, two cans of paint, 4 trips to Home depot/ACE, a junior hacksaw to chop off the 3/16" the shelf was longer by and driving about 20 miles and spending at least 5 hours on it so far. If there wasnt the joy of satisfaction from building mediocre stuff we would have to discover narcotic drugs that simulate the feeling.
So long then!
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