JohnF

It's getting so none of us want to buy any manufacturer's car. I've always been a dyed in the wool GM guy, although I've had VWs, Hondas, and one lone Bimmer (which busted it's crank after only 140,000 kliks). Recently I took my wife's CTS (little bitty Cadillac) in for service and mentioned that there was a bit of vibration in the wheels. They thought it was probably balance but I told them I thought it was other than that, and explained why. They called me later that day to say the tires were all "scalloping" and there was a memo out that there were some defective tires in that series. I said "Fine. Replace 'em." They called me back to say GM would only pay 2 for 1 because I'd already gotten three years out of them (33k kliks). My thinking was that if GM put defective tires on the car, why not replace them outright unless they're using tires that only should last 33,000 kliks? But that wasn't GM's thinking. So I paid over $500 to replace the four tires under warrantee(they're an oddball size apparently cuz I paid extra for them in the first place, the irony of which wasn't lost on me this time around.) Now, I compare this to my two Hondas which have had faulty leather in both cars (the driver's seat cracked after three years in both cars, well within warranty) and Honda replaced the seatcovers, no questions asked and no silliness about how long I'd driven them. The same with the fancy wheels on her Accord coupe. They showed some white rust after almost 4 years, so they were replaced, no questions asked. Obviously I'm leaning towards Honda for my future vehicles now that GM has shown how petty they'll be with the few problems I can expect to encounter. I'm about ready to replace both vehicles. It'll be interesting to see what I do. JF

EEEWWW!!!! I thought those were little fins. JF

I didn't either. I was about 12 or 13 at the time. It seemed like a fun thing. Who knew about the procreative process, and how messy it got. I'm thinking seriously about going for another shower right now. We also used to catch little snakes and hide them under our shirts so the warmth would keep them calm. We needed them for snake bombs to get even with the boaters who messed with us. I suppose next someone's gonna tell me the little beggars were fornicating in my shirt. JF

So would a group of about 30 or 40 carp milling about on the surface in 4-5' of water be spawning. Please say no because when we were kids we thought that was very cool to wade in amongst them and let them splash and writhe all around our chests and chins. We'd ease up close to the school in a boat and then slip overboard and join the party. Kinda sours the memory if in fact we were wallowing in fishy fornication. JF

I didn't have a hitch on any of my minivans. JF

You win. I think the Pilot and the Accord before it are the only Canadian built vehicle I've had, perhaps ever in my 50 years of owning vehicles. Not sure about the GM minivans I had. JF

My wife and I have two vehicles. One is built in Canada, one in Detroit. Can anyone guess what the Canadian built vehicle is? JF

What kind of bumper sticker do the guys who manufacture for export have on their cars? JF

My wife can smell the river on me, just like she used to be able to smell Klotz when I snuck off to play on my bikes or sleds. JF

And you'll have a lot more money left at the end of the day. JF

Hmm. Most guys just try to keep 'em barefoot and pregnant. You wanna keep 'em boatless? JF

Thanks JB. But yer right. My absence might be noticed if I went that far away. Some other time. JF

No comment. JF

Thank you, Duly noted. JF

I sometimes giggle. JF

Sounds like fun, huh? JF

Ford dealership at the first intersection and GM just up at the Bleams Rd JF

That's how the game is played. Consider the alternatives though. JF

Thanks. If I run into Elvis I'll say hello fer ya. I'm not far away so I'm sure we'll get a chance to meet up one of these days. JF

Are the access points easy to locate? I'm happy fishing alone too. I just talk to myself more. JF

Ummm - that's why we waited till next week. Didn't wanna be tripping over Elvis clones all the time. I didn't particularly like Elvis when he was alive. I can sure do without him now. JF

All the best to you guys. JF

The wheels within wheels aspect of big business is too convoluted for even their management and directorial folk to understand sometimes. Why should we get it? There are so many levels of margin and markup involved in the average retail product that you'd be appalled to know what the original cost really was. The layering of taxes is a whole nuther story. The upside is that it's this convolution that pays many of our pay cheques as we handle the already thrice handled merchandise, and add on some margin for ourselves. Funny how it's only okay when the profit's going to "me". JF

I'm off to visit relatives who've rented something in Collingwood next week. I'll have my gear with me, including waders, just in case anyone's looking for the company of a doddering old fool for a day or part day of fishing. I've got some tentative plans with one member here, but those may go up in smoke depending on a certain about to be born babe. Even if the baby decides to be considerate and wait a while, which will make the dear little thing totally different than my own kids, I'll still have some other time to play as long as it's close to Collingwood. I hear there's some river fishing just west of the town but don't have any details. As I've said often enuf here, I'm open to new experiences of the fishing kind. My wife and our cousins are happy to lay beside the pool all day every day but I get restless. We do that pool thang for four weeks every winter in Mexico. They won't even miss me here at home in Ontario. JF

I'm making a point of checking Stratford early each week. The good stuff goes fast. I'll let you know if there's anything good, Rick. JF