From the Road

July 7, 2008 | Filed Under Simplify, Scion xB, Family | Leave a Comment 

Here are some photos from our move from Utah to Nebraska. The boys did okay for the most part, but we had to plan on stopping every 2-3 hours or so, to let them run around a bit. Also, even though my Scion xB gets awesome gas mileage, we still had to stop more frequently, because my Dad was driving the gas gussling UHAUL. But we each had cell phones and could call back and forth when we needed to take an exit. We had a nice lunch in Green River, Wyoming at a park with a gazebo that was perfect for the boys. But most of the Wyoming drive was bland. So bland, in fact, that I started comparing it to Nevada, which I commonly refer to, as the Land of Desolation.

Let me just say that the Wyoming drive, at least along I-80, is not something I enjoyed. Unless you like strange clay-like rock formations and spotted, sun-burnt terrain.  Excluding the tall windmills, and a hint of the Rocky Mountains, coming up from the South, Wyoming had me saying, “Why Oh Me?” most of the time!  Seriously, along I-80 it had me thinking that maybe Wyoming was Native American for “Repulsive.”  I’m kidding, (a little) and I know that the Jackson area is nice, (because it’s near Idaho) and other parts of the State I have not seen MUST be nicer, but the I-80 route…not for me.

The Nebraska drive was straight out of Smallville. I kept telling Brighton to keep his eyes open for spaceships. Or any moment Mel Gibson would jump out of a corn field, followed by an alien. But it was much more easy on the eyes. Animals, trees and rolling hills. Everything shades of green. For a good part of the trip, we followed the Platte river, and its very similar to the route the early Saints took when coming out west. We even stopped at a state park, Mormon Island. It has a big lake for fishing, camping, etc. Cool stuff. We also hit a roadside attraction, Fort Cody, with a tall plastic Paul Bunyan-like Indian. I love the hoky roadside architecture, it’s too funny. Restaurants that look like covered wagons, and the like. Fort Cody was fun. Took a few photos and the kids could stretch the legs a bit.

We made it to my parents’ place that evening and it was great. So about 2 long days, over 900 miles, and I won’t mention how much gas between the two vehicles. At $4 / gallon, “ouch,” is the best way to say it. The next day or so we unloaded the truck in Lincoln, (with the help of our new ward) and moved into our apartment. So far so good.  See more photos from our move from Utah to Nebraska HERE.

xB Photos

July 11, 2007 | Filed Under Scion xB | 4 Comments 

It’s just a car, we know. But it’s a lot of fun and we smile every time we climb inside and zip around town in it. I love how the windows in the back are a bit tinted too, so the boys stay cooler. Here are some pics of our blue box:

We Got Some Wheels

July 2, 2007 | Filed Under Scion xB, Sheldon, Family | 2 Comments 

We are very glad to report our transportation situation has improved (photos coming soon). We are now the proud owners of a 2005 Scion XB, yay! (Queue the progressive trance…)

Now I’ve never been a ‘car guy.’ Never really cared about grills and wheels and pistons. I guess that is because nothing out there really impressed me. Until I saw the box. Guess how I heard about the Scion brand? Online. An advertisement on an electronica website, integrated in a remix article or something I was reading, showed an XB completely customized with turn-tables in the back. This was months and months ago. With a passion for good design, I took notice to the sharp edges of this thing. And when I saw it on the street, I literally thought it was the coolest ride out there. You either love it or hate it. I, for one, think it is fantastic. Purely in terms of design and uniqueness, there was nothing like it…(”architecture is every thing,” coming to mind)…At one point, months ago, I took the XB for a test drive. It was too fun and it handles great. One more thing…the box is deceptively roomy. On the outside it looks small. Get inside and its insane how much headroom, visibility, and legroom we have.

Let me just mention Scion for a sec. Apparently I fall into the target demographic. This was interesting, honestly, learning about their approach. It has been successful…When the Honda Element came out I laughed. That thing is ugly, sorry Element owners. It’s the equivalent of a Zune when you really should get an iPod. The Scion XB is a geometric dream.

Anyway, to make a long story short, God has blessed us with a car we can afford and we totally dig.

P.S. I wonder how large a tire the XB wheel well allows?…Uh oh, I think I may have entered new territory…

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Update:
Just a side note about something going on in the Scion world: If you look at the new 2008 Scion XB, you’ll find something that, in my view, missed the mark big time. It should’ve been called something totally different. Because all the things about the original XB were lost with the new version. It looks like a potato, for one. Bottom-line: I am not a fan of the new 2008 XB. Scion made a big mistake there. But the first generation model is a beauty.