Mini vs. Hummer

I found this story while googling chains for our Mini Cooper.

Quick story: On my way home last winter, uphill, a Hummer H2 had spun into the ditch and the woman driving couldn't get it unstuck. I stopped, and gave her the winter driving tip that allowed the 4wd system to pull itself out (when stuck, turn the front wheels slightly this way and that, and apply the throttle slowly). We worked the vehicle out, got her safe, and talked about a few winter driving tips. It was a very productive, positive conversation, until she noticed my Really Little car, just uphill from her. ON the roda, not in the ditch.

Her: "You got up the hill in that??!"
Me: "Yes."
Her: "Does it have 4 wheel drive?"
Me: "No, just front drive, but with good snow tires" (and a little finesse, my Little Inside Voice said).
Her: (gritting teeth) "...and My Husband Makes Me Drive This Monster In Winter???!?"

I was glad I wasn't him. She smiled as I slipped the clutch, waved, and drove off...

Fwd: [nebc] Thanks NEBC road tips for music video

check out this music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTfB6EcJMp8

It was made by a member of my bike club, NEBC.
I like the song, but my favorite thing was seeing all the familiar Boston landmarks:

• the little road next to the lake (at 10 seconds) is on a "shortcut" Jay and I take while biking (Mill St & Lincoln St in Lexington)
• Charles River
• Salt & Pepper bridge - when I worked in Boston I bike commuted over that bridge every day
• Fanueil Hall
• On my weekend rides out past Hanscom, we often return by taking the Mill St / Lincoln St longcut to avoid traffic and go past that lake.

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 6:15 PM, David Smith <DavidSheila@comcast.net> wrote:

I just want to say a BIG BIG thanks to all the NEBC club members that recommended a nice quiet road
for the bicycle music video that I did

KATRIN the singer really appreciated the road (She plays a mean acoustic guitar by the way)

I checked out all the leads from the club and ended up on Lincoln Street, near the water - it looks so great in the video
 (It's in Lexington right - hell, I didn't even know where I was).

Sad to be so close to home and lost.  I can't tell you how helpful all those road leads were

It was perfect, and we only saw about 10 cars in 3 hours on a Sunday morning!   Able to get all the close ups and "action" shots with no problems

Thanks to all those that wrote me an e-mail and I appreciated the time spent

Bares, Tetrault, Preneta, McMaster, Evans, Turer, Rowell, Chiu, Martin, Laupheimer, Shan Smith, Greenberg

You'll see some of the bike stuff about 30 seconds into the video and it continues until the end on and off
(I know, I know,  she doesn't have a helmet and she is wearing cowboy boots, but this is entertainment so try and pretend your in LA
where there are no rules)

In this clip you can see Lincoln Street and the water.  Heck, it looks like Kentucky!

I shoot all my music videos alone and without a crew, so I do it all, a tough thing to do.  I had a driver for some of the bike shots and that's it

By the way, the 3 speed in this music video, I found it in the trash, it was in almost perfect condition


Remember to press on Watch High Quality when on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTfB6EcJMp8




Thanks again!

David Smith


www.skyjamvideos.com


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Happy Holidays, 2008

Julie and I decorated a couple of plain evergreen wreaths to hang on our front stairs. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

Alexa's friend Corrine joined us for Thanksgiving. Her parents grew up in China. She was born in Paris and lived most of her life in Montreal. So this was her first classic American Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and mashed potatoes.
Alexa and Corrine. They met backpacking in Maine during Harvard's Freshman Outdoor Program the week before starting college.
Quite a spread.
I blame the photographer.
Cheers!

Michael and Nick with their instructor Dave at The Real School of Music.We heard Greg Hawkes, the keyboardist for the Cars, play at The Real School of Music with four of the instructors, including Michael and Nicholas' instructor Dave.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we all went to Charlie Wu's vacation house in Maine. This photo is of all the kids.
...and now the adults.
Alexa and Corrine decorating the Christmas tree Thanksgiving weekend.
Michael had some friends over before The Soccer Ball, one of the biggest social events at the high school. Michael went with Dana (the taller girl in the photo). Dana's father and mother are another Harvard-Wellesley couple.

Nicholas is practicing stacking things.
Nick is also experimenting with keystone arches.
It snowed today, Dec 7. ChiChi and I went for a mountain bike ride / dog walk over at Horn Pond.
Merry Christmas!