Having my car run like new... Priceless!

Everyone always asks me why I take my car to the dealership to have it serviced when I could take it up the street to Pep Boys or Jiffy Lube and have it done for less. Well, here's why.

Yes, I pay a little bit more for service from the dealership but my car is running again like the day I bought it AND....

They replaced my battery.... for free.

Where would you rather go???


DJ

I Hate Owning A Car...

So... It was funny 'cause my car barely started this morning but I headed out anyway. Got to the light to get on 400 and every time it idled down, the headlights dimmed and it started sputtering like it was going to die. I was almost scared to get on 400... so I called my boss right there and said I was fed up with my car and was taking it straight to the dealership. I got to the dealership about 8:20 and walked in and asked "is it too late for 30K service today?" He said no, and went out to get the VIN number. When he came back in I said, "oh yeah... it probably needs a battery too. Oh and the temperature light comes on every day the first start of the day. And it has really been riding rough, like it always wants to die." He said "Jeesh... the 30K service turned into a big mess, huh? I've got you down for four services now." So that will probably cost me an arm & a leg. ARGH!!!!


DJ

Reflection

I know it's still August and there are 4 more months to go in the year but since my birthday I have been reflecting back on the year so far. There have been many events that I will not forget for a long time, most of them good, but some that were not. The two major events that happened in my life actually happened toward the end of the year in 2005 but I really didn't realize the impact until this year.

One of these events happened on October 3, 2005, to be precise. This one is probably the most important but I am still not ready to share it with the world. Only a select few know and I'd like to keep it that way, at least for a while longer.

The second of these events happened the week before Christmas, 2005. This is when my partner of just shy of 10 years and I split up. Granted we are still good friends and still live together, things have changed a lot because of this. I'm single again after 10 years... that is a big change. Since then I have not really seen anyone, except for one, my J-Bear, whom I have mentioned in previous posts. But then we too drifted apart and right now there is no one special in my life... except of course for my friends.

In April 2006, my friend RanD moved to Atlanta from Topeka, KS. We had met on a previous visit the year before and kept in touch and became close. My friend Savannah and I talked him into moving here and I hope that he still thinks it was a good idea. He struggled at first to find a job but did. Then he found out about the opportunity of a life time and applied for a job in Iraq. He just left on Sunday. I was sad to see him go as we had really gotten closer than ever but he will be back in a year. And he'll have a big chunk in the bank for his services. So I am happy for him, but sad that he is gone.

My friend Zach has always been there for me for moral support. I met Zach a few years ago when I was about to start the Adkins diet. He too had done the diet and told me all about it. In the last year I think that we have grown closer than ever and I thank him for that. He has been there for me during some of the ups and downs that have resulted from the big "October 3" event. I appreciate that more than he knows.

Another friend whom I have really grown close to in the past year is my friend Chase. At first we just saw each other at B's. Then he had to go away for a while. But he managed to stay in touch whenever he was back in town. Then he moved back in town and we have become very close. Again, he is one of the select few that have been there for me, i.e. "October 3."

Savannah and his partner, Robert, are my cooking and IT support, respectively. I probably don't see as much of them as I should but we still try to get together every week and do something. Savannah could feed an army at the drop of a hat and Robert has saved me a ton of money whenever I have computer problems... which seems to be letting up a little, thankfully.

And DJ John... oh Lord! John is my unbiased advice-giver. We work together at B's, and that's it. We don't hang out together when we're not working, which wouldn't be bad if we did but we just don't. But I feel like I can go to John and ask him anything in the strictest of confidence and he will give me his most honest answer or advice. For that I am most thankful. He has really helped me the most in coping with my "October 3" event, and with the breakup with my ex.

My "sista in crime" is Blanche, whom I work with every day, has been moral support for several years. This summer has been the best summer for a long time and I owe it partly to Jeff for dragging me to the pool all the time! I hope that we will continue having such a great friendship and that we can find something to do together after the pool closes!

Jeesh! I guess I better wrap this one up. I didn't intend for it to go on and on but I guess I just got on a roll. Well, here's to the rest of 2006, whatever we can make of it!


DJ

What To Do On A Thursday Night In The ATL

How about an evening at B's with cocktails, boys, and drag!

Niesha Dupree... The Godess of drag!

All I Can Say Is... WOW!

Just watch this. And thanks to Scott-O-Rama for the heads up!!




DJ

Happy Birthday To Me

So, this past weekend was my birthday. I just wanted to give a shout out to all of my friends that joined me to celebrate. I had a great time and hope that everyone else did too. Sunday I had a lot of shots but that just tells me that I have a lot of friends!

Monday I spent the afternoon with my friend RanD at the Georgia Aquarium. What a fantastic place to visit. And I will cherish this time spent with RanD as he will be leaving for Iraq for a year to work. I took several pictures and videos and would love to share with all. I'm in the process of setting up an Internet account to do that but in the mean time, here is my favorite picture out of all of them.


As soon as I get the rest posted somewhere, I'll blog again.

Then Monday evening, my roommate made my favorite dinner, chile rellenos and chicken fajitas. We had seven guests and still had a ton of food left over... dinner for the rest of the week! My best friend Savannah and her partner surprised me with a ticket to the Pet Shop Boys concert at the Tabernacle in October! Woo hoo!

So another year has passed and I am 3 years closer to the "big four-oh!" Yikes!!


DJ

You've Got To Be Kidding!

Dun dun dun! Rent-a-cop! Not really... Courier, believe it or not!

What Are You Looking At?

Blah blah blah... Testing new mobile blog. My friend Blanche!

What Happened to Top 40 Radio?

I did something yesterday that I haven't done in a long time. And now I remember why I don't. I listen to 1Club.fm at work and yesterday I decided to tune in to the Top 40 station. WTF?!?! All I heard for 15 minutes was ma homie this, ma nigga that... PLEASE! LEAVE THE RAP SHIT ON THE RAP STATIONS! It didn't take long for me to travel back to the Dance channel. ARGH!


DJ

Movin' On Up!

"...To the East side."

Well, sort of. It was announced earlier this year that our company would be selling our Home Office building that has been the headquarters since 1978. Right now all Home Office personnel are located in three different buildings. Their reason for selling is to get all HO employees in one location with upgraded facilities.


This is the building that we will be moving in to. It is a few miles from our current location and is 20 stories tall. We will occupy seven of those floors. Some of the amenities include covered parking (for free!), full service cafe, and locker rooms with showers! Hmmm... can't wait to check that out!

It really is a beautiful building on the inside, from the pictures that I've seen. I'm kind of excited about it now. The employees that are in the actual Home Office building will be moving before the end of the year. Unfortunately, because we are in a different location and are currently leasing and are not in a hurry to get out, we will have to wait until next Spring before me move.


DJ

Price to Pay for Pleasure!

I don't know why I continually subject myself to such punishment. I went to B's last night with four copies of my new CD. I was planning to give one to my favorite bartender Curtisha and to DJ John and then extras in case anyone else was there that I knew and cared to give one to. I specifically went without cash so as not to drink and stay out late. Yeah, right.

My friends Jason and Benji showed up; haven't seen them in forever! So I pulled out the plastic and started a tab. Well, before I knew it DJ John was calling last call! "OMG!" I exclaimed. "It is not two-fifteen in the morning!" Well, it was. And when I did finally get home and get into bed, it was three-fifteen the last time I remember looking at the clock.

So needless to say I am draggin ass today, big time! Blanche and I and Nelson went and tried out a new pizza place today for lunch called Napoli. I have been craving pizza for some time now but when I got there I discovered a full Italian menu. The special of the day was lasagne so that's what I got. Delicious! And Cheap! The three of us ate lasagne, a salad, garlic bread, and drinks for under $25 and came away full!

So now I'm tired... and full! The things I do for pleasures in life...


DJ

New Music

Well, last week's test recording with my new sound card was a success! And with that news comes a brand new CD for July, (okay for August... but it was recorded in July!) which is now available. And the sleeve design for this CD is... well, rather HOT! You may contact me via email to reserve your copy. Or I will be at B's again on August 11 if you want to pick one up then (donations accepted!) When I get home tonight I may update this blog and picture the cover along with. Later!

Update: Here's the cover art:



DJ