Red BMW update

Zeke thought it was a good idea to link to some pics of the 1975 BMW 2002: http://picasaweb.google.com/114520610828599484553/EdS1975BMW2002#

Update on 1975 BMW 2002…
Zeke wants to ride in the old car…but he sheds too much. Don’t need the dog hair in any cars! She is not running yet anyway. Several folks who keep up with these kinds of things have asked how the project is coming along. Taking things slow to make sure we don’t have to undo anything before all is done properly. The weather is colder so that slows down ideal temp for some steps (rust work and paint) but the mechanics can move on! Got the gas tank back in, working on trunk stuff. Moving battery to trunk, installed rear strut brace, repaired spare tire well (rusted out). Parts are coming in and will be installed in due time: cool new aluminum radiator, all new hoses and clamps, fuel lines and clamps, starter, fuel pump, water pump, alternator, fuel tank gaskets, engine gaskets of all sorts, thermostat, plugs, wires, belts, filters, new air dam, trim clips, driver door mirror, license tag lights, coil, and other various and asunder thing-a-ma-bobs. Just dropped her down from jack stands with sport springs, sport shocks, larger front disc brakes, converting rear drums to disc, and new tires. Wanted to see how she looked in her lower profile. Looks awesome! Pictures don’t do justice, but gotta post one anyway. Still to order: bushing for suspension, carpet, rear bumper and other yet to be seen needs and goodies. Bimmer magazine just had a brief article about the rising popularity of 02s. That’s cool.

Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta

Zeke did not get to go to Road Atlanta, but he is not really into sports car racing. I had a blast seeing the changes in the track and infield areas. I think the “new” turn 10 complex is the best place to watch the racing. It had been 19 years since I had been there, so everything was “new” to me! If you know very little about road racing you really should check it out: http://www.roadatlanta.com/ There is nothing like the sights and sounds of sports car racing. I posted a couple of videos on youtube - here’s one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncisv7iIa94 Unlike NASCAR, the sport’s car guys can go in the rain!

Zeke and the BMWs

Zeke has been busy the last couple of months. He wants me to catch everyone up on what's been happening. One thing: Zeke has never been very happy that I never let him ride in my '87 BMW and now he is looking over this even older bimmer (1975) that just moved into the garage for restoration. So far the project has been going smoothly. Only snapped off a couple of bolts so far! Here is a pic of the project. Zeke will be reporting the progress whenever he has time between bones.

Zeke's Star Trek name is "Krell" - a klingon

Zeke wanted to go see Star Trek (the movie) last weekend, but I had to explain to him that dogs were not allowed in the theater. That did not sit will with him. Or maybe that I went on to see the movie without him was more the problem. Well, he will just have to get over it. Star Trek was very good. Maybe it was just my need for an escape for a couple of hours but I thought the action in the movie was great, the plot of an alternate reality was cool, and the possibilities for new adventures in that alternate reality are fun to imagine. I look forward to more Star Trek missions. I am even tempted to go see it again on the big screen before its DVD release. Sci-fi reminds me of the imaginative possibilities for life. Granted, we cannot zip from zero to light speed like they do in the movie (a super cool new twist), but one of the things I have come to believe as a Christian is that God opens all kinds of alternatives to the world’s way of doing things and of being. I think that is why I also like Star Trek, Star Wars, and other sci-fi “realms” – because all kinds of possibilities exist. Zeke’s biggest alternate realities are riding in the car or walking around the block, but that is good enough for him! We certainly need alternatives to the realities we see these days. Movies can give us a brief break, but only God can give us life in abundance – and that is the ultimate alternative reality. I might give Zeke a rawhide bone later so he can have an alternative to his routine. Once he starts gnawing on that bone he will forget all about Star Trek and theaters and alternate realities. If he growls about missing Star Trek I’ll just have to give him a Vulcan neck pinch to calm him down.

Zeke the Presbyterian Dog...

Zeke is a Presbyterian dog. He likes reformed theology but he is wondering what all the fuss is about in the church these days (specifically the PCUSA). We can’t seem to agree on much and the more attempts we make at unity the further apart we seem to become. I told him it is heartbreaking to see relationships strained over scripture interpretation or abortion views or all the other issues that divide us. (He had no idea what I was talking about.) I told Zeke that I preached a sermon last Sunday that touched on some of the issues and some folks became upset over it while others appreciated my taking a stance. Two perspectives are breaking the denomination apart and now those perspectives are cutting at our local church. Why won’t God just clarify these things for us? Both camps think they are clear in their respective views, but they are clear on opposite sides. I’ll keep praying about it, Zeke will bark out praise, and we will see what comes.

Zeke says "no thanks" on the sushi...

Zeke was excited for me today because I received a gift certificate for the Japanese restaurant which means a trip to the sushi bar. Sushi and sashimi are favorites of mine. If it were not so expensive I would eat it more often. Zeke, on the other hand, knows nothing about such delights. His diet is mostly dry chunks and cans of Alpo. He only eats once a day and still seems to gain weight. In that regard he is just about like me. I am one of those traditional yo-yo weight control people, eating right and exercising well for three months, then two months off, then back to it and so on. It is tough to keep the discipline, motivation, and the more costly “health” foods in the diet. Then there are the church meals when everyone wants me to try their cake or pie or cookies. How am I supposed to say no to that? Zeke and I will just have to take some long walks together to keep us both slim and trim!