Day 1, Blog 1. I'm new to this but I think I'll get the hang of it soon. I suppose finding a point of focus or general topic to blog about would be goal #1?
I recently purchased a smart car. Not a car that's smart in brains and wit but an actual smart brand car; the little tiny things we Americans liken to go-karts or those red and yellow Fisher Price cars we drove as children. Across the pond they're probably the cool thing to have and can be totally customized and decked out to suit your individual wants and needs - think specialized golf carts but street friendly and safer, though by the narrowest of margins if it weren't for that "Tridon Safety Cell" (in your choice of two colors no less)! It's still such a new concept here that I'm constantly getting looks, smiles, points and hollers when driving. Parents, without fail, eagerly drag their children towards it noting a perfect size-to-height-to-weight ratio. "Look at that car, buddy, it's perfect for you! You could totally drive this car." In all actuality, they probably could given the advances in children's toys. I'm referring to Power Wheels. Where the hell were Power Wheels when I was young enough and light enough to enjoy them?! We had to power the wheels ourselves, forget an electric engine. If you got tired of "Fred Flinstone-ing" it, you just had to stop and wait until the feeling in your feet and legs returned or your tiny passenger volunteered to take over for awhile. Ironically, I think I'd have to resort to Fred's method again should the smart ever break down. In theory, it seems like it might work and be a faster solution to my problem than waiting for AAA to arrive.
Perhaps owning a smart car is my attempt to regain some of my youth and the chance to own my own Power Wheels. It's definitely not as cool as a Hummer or Corvette but it does come with heated seats and a powerful, yet eco-friendly engine. Hearing and feeling the roar of the engine when you first turn it on never gets old. It settles in to a quiet purr and shoots to 60 mph in under 1 minute! I don't even bother street racing because I know I'd leave my competitors in the dust. I'll occasionally humor an old person looking for some excitement and to liven up their daily routine but I always feel a bit remorseful after having smoked them off the line. I chalk it up to pure horsepower and the fine craftsmanship of the smart, not delayed reflexes and age.
Sadly, the smart is not turnpike/tollway or interstate friendly, especially when there's a chance of wind as there often is in Oklahoma...and the world. Tack on the fact that the designers and engineers decided power steering and cruise control were unnecessary and a luxury to be envied by all and enjoyed by none and you've got one hell of a road trip on your hands. They must have known wind would be a issue and factored its affect on the vehicle into the final size of the smart. If it weren't for the teeny tiny-ness of the smart my recent road trip to Tulsa would've been a lot more interesting, and not in a good way. I was all over my lane! A gust of wind here, a semi's back-draft there. It was like a mini-obstacle course just for me with dotted white lines that were a mere suggestion for where each lane should be. My hands remained at the 10 and 2 o'clock position for fear of suddenly taking flight upon a strong gust. Short breaks were few and far between but, if planned correctly, could offer a significant advantage in my pursuit of glory in outmaneuvering this obstacle course. A break gave me time to plan my next move and find the next semi-truck and wedge myself between it and the retaining wall thus defeating my opponent, the wind, yet again. I highly recommend incorporating a smart-based, high-speed driving test for those obtaining their driver's license for the first time. This was much more challenging than any parallel park test or written examination. Add a grumpy, old DMV employee and you've got a test that very few stand the chance of passing. I know I'd feel better if about half the drivers on the road today simply weren't there anymore. It would cut down on commute times and traffic.
Alas, my first blog has come to a close. I could probably ramble on for a few more minutes but I think I then run the risk of no longer being considered a blogger and be more of a novelist and author. I'm not quite ready for that but, make a note, I'm fully prepared to write a book and make a movie at a later date. Let's give it some time, though.
Cheers.
