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Early Apartment life: Slatebrook and Tansy To start our marriage, Crisha and I had the joy of apartmen living. We started in a two bedroom townhouse apartment at Slatebrook Lane just off of Karl Road. It was a nice apartment besides the occasional gunshots outside.We then moved to 515 Tansy Lane,a "safer" neighborhood, off of Flint Road. It took a while to get used to the trains, but through the move, we had upgraded to a one-car garage for Crisha. Of course this meant the Celica sat outside and was soon victimized by stereo thieves. We decided it was time to build a house and get out, but unfortunately we didn't leave soon enough. Since the car stereo wasn't enough, the criminals broke in and stole the TV, VCR, stereo, microwave, my camera and anything else they thought was of value. So much for a safe neighborhood! |
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| After getting the shaft from M/I and Dominion, Crisha and I contracted with Deluxe Homes to build our first home in April of 1995. After my gentle persuasion convinced Crisha that the trendy tan and blue would be out the next year and she agreed to my color scheme, the work began. To afford the house, we signed up to do the work equity. From painting two coats to laying the sod, my friends and family did a phenomenal job of helping me to get the work equity done. They also did a great job helping me move in alone since Crisha "conveniently" was in Mexico on a missions trip on closing week! |
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From Sports car to Utility vehicle
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Like every boy, I grew up with a fascination for sporty cars. Not only had my dad been a race car driver, he knew everything you ever needed to know about cars, knowledge that he and I would soon grow to regret once I purchased a Buick Regal. So before married life, I was allowed to enjoy sporty little cars. My first car was a Plymouth Sapporo. Not exactly a muscle car, but I enjoyed it all the same. |
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| This is the famed Buick Regal that nearly drove my dad and me over the edge. After driving the car for a mere 100 miles, the engine went junk. Being a complete idiot, I replaced the 231 engine instead of dropping in the more reliable (but gas-hungry) 350. Dad thought the 350 would be too much engine |
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for my youthful ways, and he was probably right, but our decision resulted in a lost lifter and a very scary road trip home from Ocean City. Needless to say, the second time the engine tuckered out, we were too wise to its ways and decided to go foreign. |
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| This was like a dream come true. Five speed. Cruise. Rear-wheel drive. Two door. A reliable, fuel-efficient, yet sporty little hatchback, my 1983 Celica GT served me well for many years. I purchased this car for $3000, drove it over 80,000 miles in 8 years before retiring it after a broken timing chain. This was definitely the best investment I ever made. Crisha never liked the Celica's rear wheel drive on snow when I was in a playful mood! |
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| After losing the Celica, I thought I would never love again. Actually, I thought I could never love again at least in my price range. Besides, I was old and married now and the wife wanted me to get something "useful." Thank goodness she didn't mean a mini-van! |
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I could handle driving a truck. It seems like a man's kind of thing. I wouldn't have minded a Dodge Ram, but found this little beaut at the auction for a price I couldn't refuse. (It took a little while for the Tahoe Blue to grow on me, but I really like it now.) |
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Of course, I had to take care of Crisha's needs too! After Lancaster County, Pennsylvania local unwittingly destroyed Crisha's beloved Honda Accord, I thought the world was going to end. Fortunately, the salesperson at Honda East told Crisha she had to try both the Camry and the Accord to really appreciate the difference. She did. I couldn't believe the difference myself or how easy it was to sell her on a Toyota. Oh what a feeling! |
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