britribe v1.1

BMW... My Abbreviated History

2011-07-02T10:57:00.024-06:00

1981 BMW 528i (E12)

It has been quite sometime since I've had a BMW. I have had one back in the 90's for quite awhile. Prior to that I drove one that wasn't mine off and on over a year or so. That one was a 1981 BMW 528i (E12). It took a bit for that body style to grow on me but I enjoyed driving it. I can't remember if it was an automatic or standard transmission. I think it was an automatic. It also was not equiped with a mirror on the passenger side. Because I enjoyed it so much I thought I had to have one of my own. Below is a photo of a BMW that looks very close to the '81 528i. This was my introduction to the BMW.

1985 BMW 528e (E28)

The search was on. I had no idea what was available and I wasn't all that well educated on BMW's. I was a guy that came from Wyoming and enjoyed fly fishing and the great outdoors. I drove four wheel drives. BMW's had a bit of a yuppie reputation at the time. At least amongst some of my friends. I still knew I wanted one for my next car. In that time there wasn't a way to shop on the internet for a car. No craigslist or cars.com. It was by newspaper classifieds and car ads. The only other way was to drive to the dealerships. I knew of a BMW dealership in Boulder and drove down there to take a look. I didn't shop for very long. I found my next car. I was now driving a 1985 BMW 528e (E28). I believe I bought it in 1989. The car cost either $13K or $15K (I just can't remember). It had around 60,000 miles. I drove this car like there was no tomorrow. It had a 5 speed manual transmission and always got great gas mileage. I think it was around 24 mpg in the city and over 30 mpg on the highway. I finally moved on at around 220,000 miles. It was a great car for me. Below are photos taken from right around the time I bought the car.

2003 BMW 540iA (E39)

Many years passed since I owned the 528e. I went back to SUV's. In 2010 my SUV had been slowly becoming a victim of age and mileage. Reliability was becoming a factor. I had boys to haul around to hockey games as well as their other sports. So I started looking for another vehicle. I wasn't in a hurry and time was on my side. I looked at a lot of cars and SUV's on craigslist and cars.com. I didn't set out looking at BMW's but I looked for those as well. At some point I decided on a car over an SUV. It didn't take long to realize I wanted another BMW. What did I want? I liked the Z4's a lot. Not good though with two kids that are busy in sports. The 3 series is great but still a little small when transporting hockey bags and sticks. I like the 5 and 7 series but what did I want to spend and what didn't I want to spend. Since I wasn't in a hurry I just kept looking. I had hoped to get something with lower miles and in good condition. The same thing everyone else looks for. In March or April of 2011 I saw that a local dealership had a 2003 BMW 540iA (E39). This car had 51,000 miles and was in near perfect condition inside and out. The car came into the dealership in February and they were asking $17,900. I think when I saw it the car was priced at $16,900. After some back and forth discussions I got the car for $15,500. That seemed reasonable to me. The 2003 540i's have received strong reviews across the board. This one is a 5 speed automatic transmission. It has a v8 and is fast with great acceleration. It's July 2 now and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I look forward to driving it everyday. Been awhile since I enjoyed a vehicle this much. The photos below are from the last month or so.

From Edmonds... The fourth-generation BMW 5 Series was produced from 1997-2003. Many purists consider this the finest era for the BMW 5 Series, as exceptional on-road dynamics, premium furnishings and unparalleled refinement came together in one classically styled package. Resale value has always been high for this generation, so expect to spend more than you would for competitors of similar age. Reliability has been strong as well.

So now it just comes down to taking great care of the car and enjoying ride after ride! Wonder if there will be one after this one?

Pond Hockey & Mobile Blogging v2.0

2010-02-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

One of the things I have enjoyed this winter has been the Saturday morning pond hockey. I've been able to enjoy the time with both my boys and some good friends. I've taken many photos and videos while at the pond. Some have turned out quite good.

I'm not looking forward to the warm weather that's coming. I guess that keeps me coming back every Saturday. Each Saturday these few early hours are likely my favorite moments each week. Looking forward to this Saturday.

B
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Mobile Blogging v1.0

2010-02-05T01:02:00.000-07:00

I am testing out the email to blog feature on blogspot. Not sure if any of this will work. If it does there may be more times for me to post to my blog page. I will also attach a photo and see if it posts. Of course, typing from my blackberry storm is not quite as easy as my laptop. It's not bad though.

I'll scroll through my photos on my phone and attach one. Well here goes nothing...

B
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

pond hockey

2010-01-01T18:29:00.029-07:00

In Northern Colorado we can have the cold winters and we can have the snow. We have just a little too much sunshine for extended amounts of pond hockey. The length of play and the season is determined by that sunshine. It can slush things up pretty quick. The ice stays in good shape and lasts a little longer as you gain altitude. A handful of pond hockey tournaments take place in the state every winter. On the front range we savior every bit of outdoor ice time we can get.

In states like Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin as well as the upper east coast and throughout Canada, pond hockey is plentiful. In fact, a movie has been made documenting the game, the way of life and the history of pond hockey. It is a "much see" for those that love the game as well as the overall nature of the sport. It will make you want to lace up the skates and head to the pond.

Watch the movie below and enjoy!

So tomorrow morning the schedule is as follows:
(January 2, 2010)

1. Take Blake to mite hockey practice at the indoor rink (practice runs from 9 am to 11 am).

2. Leave the rink with Dalton and head to the pond for pond hockey (begins at 8:30 am).

3. Play on the pond until we have to go and pick Blake up.

4. Let the boys watch me have a few beers after pond hockey. haha.

And afterwards:

We enjoyed a half day of pond hockey at Carter's Pond. Also got this great photo at the end of the day. As you can see by our squinting, the sun became very bright. A perfect day on the pond. I left early to pick Blake up from mite hockey practice. He left his gear on and we drove back to the pond. He and Dalton were able to play around from another few hours on the pond. The overcast skies early extended the amount of time for hockey. Then we enjoyed the bright sunshine that often accompanies our winter's here in Colorado. I had a beer or two to finish off a perfect day at the pond.

moon and stars slide

2009-11-24T21:12:00.007-07:00

It was quite a few years ago when I saw a resonator guitar with a moon and stars cover plate. I remember the guitar store and everything else that happened that week. I did buy a resonator guitar, but in hindsight not the one I should have bought. I was very much pre-occupied with other things. There were certainly more important things than a guitar at the time. I am very happy with that guitar. I still have it and everyday it reminds me of those days. I guess that is how everything goes with memories, reminders and keepsakes. That guitar was a blonde maple round neck Dobro with a spider bridge, built in 1986. It sounds great and always will. Sure there is a buzz here and there but that covers up my shortcomings.

I have seen moon and star resonator guitars over the years, but not too many. Then I would see some on the internet here and there. Not too long ago I came across one from a company out of Texas called Republic Guitar. Best of all, these guitars were/are parlor sized guitars which means they are a small body style. The tone is out of this world. It is a single cone resonator and sounds similiar to a National Resophonic (the top end). I couldn't have asked for a better model. So I jumped in and bought one. Of course, the wait was unbearable, haha. It came to my office and I took photos of it with my Blackberry Storm while it was laying on the floor. One of those photos is included here. This guitar is nothing less than a thing of beauty to me. Maybe it dates back to a time, that for awhile everything was perfect. When everything made complete sense.

Maybe it was a time when if I could have, I would have given the moon and stars. Maybe this guitar takes me back or maybe just brings it all forward. Maybe I still would if I could. Maybe I should stop writing and start playing a little moon and stars slide guitar. That would probably be best at this point.

B

just for one day... one of grand achievement?

2009-11-19T17:41:00.012-07:00

Where do the days go... the answer to that may come at a later date. I know they go by fast and I wonder if I made a difference at the end of the day. Unfortunately, the answer most days seems to be no. Maybe that is my perspective. Maybe others see it differently. Maybe it's just the measuring stick I'm using. In that case, I am not sure being completely satisified at the end of the day is the answer. Maybe always wanting to do more is a better place to be.

What do we do with ourselves? We don't remember the average, ordinary day as time passes. The days are simply gone. We remember the days of grand achievements but what about all the others. The days forgotten. What kind of day will today be? One of grand achievement? One forgotten? We have a say in that. Can you imagine asking yourself that question each morning? Can you imagine that question floating around in your head all day? Could we stay focused enough to bring it down to our daily decision making? Are we up for that? Are we prepared to hold ourselves accountable to that? That could be one tall order.

So what do we have to lose? One more fogotten day? So why not? Maybe it takes some practice, some training. Just like anything it just may take trying it regularly until we get better at it. You cannot run a 5K or a 10K as well the first time as you can the twentieth time. Pick any athletic endeavor, any academic endeavor or just about anything. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Why not apply this to our day? How do we, on a daily basis go from a forgotten, ordinary day, to an extraordinary day or to even a day of grand achievement?

I think it starts first thing in the morning. Start asking yourself, "what kind of day will this be?" I am not talking about external events. I am talking about what we have control over. What kind of effort is put into every single action. Maybe asking ourselves constantly, "was that my best?" Talk about being in control of your day. That is a lot of power. Make your actions, words and works from each day important to you. Make them your statement for the day. Wake up the next morning with the same thing in mind. It will take some time to make this happen, some daily practice, some focus and determination. It will happen only if you want it to bad enough. Think of all the lost days, they're not coming back for a do-over. They are gone. Today is perfectly good to change all that. At least we can try it... just for one day.

So here I am writing and posting this thought in a public venue. What would I be if I didn't follow through with this myself. What good is putting this out there if I didn't believe in it. I didn't say it was going to be easy. However, I believe it will become easier with each day. The water is never that cold once you've jumped in. I will find out if I can transform a grand social experiment into one of grand achievement.

B

adult hockey... in the wee hours

2009-11-17T00:31:00.009-07:00

Let's see if I can pull this one together. For me, Monday nights consist of adult hockey. Sure there are other things. Things around the house, things with the boys and things I completely neglect that I shouldn't. One thing I do not neglect is the hockey game that sits smack dab in the middle of my Monday night schedule. This Monday night is no exception and neither will any other Monday nights during hockey season (and yes there is a summer league).

I'm playing in a league at a level higher than I should be. That doesn't matter (by the way, where is the flippin' spell check?). That was locker room beer talking, my apologies. This is my night to hang out in the locker room again. Spend time with guys on a sports team. If you have ever experienced it growing up, you probably know what I'm talking about. It's that two or three hours where life becomes simple again, where things are cut and dried. It's a place where the world doesn't go away but where your world becomes a better place. Now it's not pretty and it shouldn't be. No one usually comes to watch, except for our team captain's wife. That is considered a good thing by our team as well it should be. It's a sport you can play into your declining years and most people don't know that. It is hockey afterall, which is like a secret club. Once you understand it, you wonder why others don't. Yet, you are secretly happy that it falls a bit outside of the mainstream. It's hockey.

As I sat at my desk working today the thought hit me, "I have a game tonight!" The other thought that hit me was that my gear had been in the back of my SUV since last game. Not a problem other than it was four degrees this morning. This next bit is not for the easily queasy or the faint of heart. My gear was frozen solid. The sweat that had not dried out was frozen and my gear was ice cold. The minute I got home, my hockey bag came inside with me. Then I scattered my gear across the floor in the entry way. I left it to thaw and warm up with even some things going through the wash cycle in the laundry room such as an under armour shirt, socks and a jersey. All the while the stench of that gear invaded the main level of the house like nothing else on earth. I had plenty of time to warm up the gear. Adult hockey games tend to start late. Tonight's game had a start time of 9:20 pm.

It's near 12:30 am now. We won our first game tonight 1-0 after losing the first four games. There was much laughter in the locker room afterwards and the reminder that we play next Monday night at 10:40 pm. That's adult hockey... in the wee hours.

B

and then I found this...

2009-11-15T00:50:00.002-07:00

Just like everything, moderation is good in most cases. Take this blog for instance. I have had some websites and blogs that at some point become forgotten. Posts eventually fail to happen. Then a wave of motivation comes triggered by whatever and I mean whatever. And whatever it is I am happy to be motivated. Such is the case today. I found myself looking at blog template after blog template to give my blog a makeover. Now I have three blogs out there. Two run in somewhat of a parallel universe with different hosts and different posts. One got a makeover, one is brand new and one is new and to be played with at a later date.

So now I am bent on dumbing down the blog by posting on insignificant thoughts that come and go. Now because of the blog, they come and stay. Fortunately there is a delete mechanism and they can easily go away. I guess the point I am trying to make is now I am posting like my days are numbered on this blog. Maybe it is to make up for the time when three months pass without a post. Oh and by the way, where is the spell check?

I thought I was done for the night and then I found this... a song and clip. Gotan Project - Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre). I thought it was great.

Enjoy,
B

Red Night Snowfall... Not Really

2009-11-15T00:20:00.002-07:00

With the convenience of technology these days it is so easy to get as many photos taken as you possibly can. The quality of digital cameras in cell phones have really created some big changes for many people. You can get a photo or video of just about anything at anytime. Good or bad, that is just the way it is. If you take enough photos you are going to get some very good one and some unique shots. The odds are very good that you will have some that will last a lifetime.

This evening the snow started falling. It was the kind of snowfall that drop large flakes down. They don't fall to the ground, they float to the ground. I thought I would try and get a few photos. Considering it was around 10 pm and dark my expectations were fairly low. It really doesn't matter when it comes to a digital camera. It's not like I am running to the store and paying for the film. Normally, my Blackberry Storm takes really good pictures but like most cameras, it can suffer from low light conditions. I was able to get a few that came out ok and one that came out with a red sky effect. So that photo mixed with a new blog and nothing else to keep me busy at the moment, has found its way here. Timing is everything.

B

Calexico/Gotan Project - Quattro

2009-11-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight I came across a video and version of a song I have not seen or heard before. I thought I would try and post it here. I enjoy the music of a band from Arizona called Calexico. The song Quattro may be my favorite that they have done. Tonight while attempting to start this blog as well as multi-tasking on four other computer projects, I came across this video on youtube. With that being said, it seems like a good idea to try and get it to post here so all of my followers (none) can enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I really have no idea how this thing will post or format. I think it will, but it may not do it the way I like the first time. Since I'm really not out to do anything grand with any of the blog sites/pages I have, well, I've got a built in luxury to not get things just quite right. So I will just finish this up and give it a go. Then throw a line out to some friends who may be inclined to stop by.

The song is quite a bit different from the one that appears on one of Calexico's albums. The video is black and white and historical in nature it seems. One of those things you find on youtube that you would have never seen else where. So on with the show.

Enjoy,
B

another venue for words

2009-11-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

Having always stumbled with personal webpages and blogs. Mostly because I set them up and gradually lose my way back to the page. I am trying to find a format to best serve my intentions of maintining a blog page. Some of that goes with maybe some focus and planning.

What do I actually want it to be? I have always kept these things kind of free flowing and less formatted. Covering mostly things that pop up in my life. Usually family things. The boys, their sports and things along those lines.

My intention is to steer clear of something a real literary quality, since that will certainly extinguish any kind of motivation inside of me. So for now this will be a place to just see what happens.

For now I am just testing the blog, it's options and settings. This may not look anything like it does today as it may tomorrow.