Brazillian Jiu Jitsu

It’s always nice when a guy gets referred to us by someone else at his work place and he already knows what to expect when he comes here. Meaning, we treat him right, fairly, honestly and with some respect- not to mention humor. It makes the whole process of turning his 996TT from stock to 530hp a nice experience for all. He’s happy, I’m happy, James is happy- if GIAC/EVO notice, then they’re happy. He can’t decide on wheels yet but I’ve had like 4 different sets show up here today and the poor guy seems to be caught in a rear naked choke (he’s a brown belt in BJJ). He goes back and forth and even appologizes. Maybe it’s because he’s from Brazil and not California? I like customers like that. It’s fun to work hard for them and try to make them happy.

 OK so the $8000 bed experience was one I want to forget. What a crock of duck poo that SleepNumber bed is. I give up. It’s going back but of course they are whinging and won’t take back the base so we found another mattress last night (more expensive than a plasma though) and hopefully it’ll work for Joan. I’d had such a build up of pressure and stress from work over the past few weeks that sadly we had a tiff in the car. Funny thing is that it was because we care for each other and hence the frustration. Hard to explain but I guess it’s good to have a fight once in a while. Haven’t had one in so long that I’d forgotten what it was like. The way it ended was pretty funny though. We were certainly shouting at each other (which sucked) but having asked me why I was being such an asshole, I replied “When you’re angry and upset you act like a complete asshole, right now I’m angry and stupid and I’m acting like a complete ass-hole.” She laughed and we got on with it.

 The stress at work though is really starting to pile on. I’m not looking for any medals here but I’m certainly doing the job of at least 7-8 people at say EVO or any other similair company. We’re successful- very. I’m not complaining but in order to stay that way or even grow the amount of stuff on my plate is very overwhelming. I feel like I’m suffocating at times I really don’t think anyone understands how or why I feel this way. Nobody actually sees what I go through on a day to day basis so I’m not suprised.

 I’m still eating fresh but not all the time anymore. I just can’t. The food is so bland so I’ve been eating steaks, pork, turkey or fish cooked on the BBQ at night. Rather, James has been cooking it and I’ve been microwaving the veggies. Still I’m at 180 pounds when I wake up in the mornings. I’m probably going to aim for 172 and call it a day. The thing is what happens then? I guess I’ll just keep on eating carefully. 

Progress

Today was about as much fun as getting your teeth pulled at the dentist. Maybe it’s the English stiff upper-lip thing at work but I did manage to finish my column off for CPU Magazine this month. The topic was god-awful boring and it seems like a million miles from what I used to write and get excited about many moons ago (well only a few years ago). It didn’t help that the phone was either ringing or that customers kept walking in when I was trying to write. Who do they think they are anyway? I mean can’t they see I’m trying as hard as I can to write 750 words on the world’s second most boring 3D video card ever the Radeon X1650 XT (only the Savage S3 card was more boring).

Business has been booming at the shop and we actually did so well that I scheduled a few days for our own cars. We got the brembo F50 brake kit transfered onto the white 996 C2 Frankenstien shop car, which we displayed at the Danville car show on Sunday. Those brakes were kindly donated by a customer of ours (no suprise that he’s Canadian eh?) who sadly wrecked his car at the track. He also gave us his Motons and other cool bits. Should make the white C2 a great track car (I’m attaching a picture and yes I know the wing is big).  

Progress is still however slow on the White 996TT although James (my business partner and good friend) figured out how to get rid of the hydraulic assist madness that comes with ever 996TT. He’s really smart like that.

 Breakfast (my sidekick dog) came into the shop today and seems to be doing ok. He barked at the poor Chinese Boxster owner but other than that he did well. Most importantly, Joan’s visit to the doctor in LA went well. She’s apparently healing ok (with some minor complications). I also wrote my mum an Email to which she responded positevely. Seems I’ve been a total arse and forgot her birthday and so she’s rightly been pissed at me ever since. Anyway’s it’s a start…

 Everbody still teases me for eating Sub Way but I’m now 183 pounds and down about 15 from a few weeks ago. Feeling much healthier but Subway sandwiches are begining to taste like chewing pencils.