Weekly Roundup

Over the last few weeks I have played jazz out a couple of times, checked out a couple of Toastmasters groups, helped a friend find a car and gone on a couple of short hikes.

An old musician friend called me to substitute for the regular piano player on a Wednesday night at the Balcony Club. This was great fun and the first public gig I've had in a few years. A minor downside was the tendency for the group to "trade fours" on pretty much every tune. I think that trading fours is effective if used sparingly. Doing it on almost every tune defeats the surprise element and becomes rigid and non-creative. A week or so later I came back to sit in for a couple of tunes. This was enjoyable and I played in a trio setting, so I could avoid trading fours, which I did.

I have an interest in improving my ability to speak spontaneously. Participating in a Toastmasters organization is one way to do that. They offer a "curriculum" of 10 speeches that range from ice breaker to entertainment to use of props. Everyone who speaks gets an evaluator who gives constructive criticism. Also, there are table topics which require you to stand and give a spontaneous 1-2 minute talk on some random topic or question. I have not decided if I will commit to this yet, but I have visited two different organizations in the Dallas area so far to investigate.

My friend bought an Acura TSX this past weekend. She loves it!

We started to go for another hike on the Katy Trail today but decided instead to go to church at Unity Church of Dallas. We had not been to church there in several weeks and Karen Epps was finishing up the series on the book, Writings in the Sand by Thomas Moore. The presentation was superb as usual.

Car Shopping

This weekend I went with a friend to test drive a few cars. She wants to get a new car and was first attracted to the Prius. Since driving it the first time, though, she has also become interested in Acura. She came along with me when I was car shopping a few months ago, so I wanted to go with her this time.

First, she drove my TSX to the Acura dealership to get a feel for the way it handles. At the Acura dealership, we drove a TL. The TL was a bit larger and had a smoother ride. The downside of the TL is that it has a V6 and gets significantly poorer gas mileage than the 4 cylinder TSX and especially the Prius. For the money, it's not a bad deal though since you can get a TL for only a few K more than a TSX.

Next was the Lexus hybrid sedan, the H2 I believe. It rode pretty smoothly. Gas mileage was stated at around 35 mpg. The price tag is significantly higher than an Acura or Prius.

Last, we went back to Toyota and drove the Prius again (for her). It was my first time. The ride was ok, but the interior was very bland after driving the Acura and the Lexus. Gas mileage is impressive as the average is quoted as 51 mpg with some reports of up to 60 mpg depending on specific driving habits and environment. The downside to the Prius is the appearance. While it is intended to be very aerodynamic, it looks less professional than the Acura or the Lexus.

I believe the Acura TSX is the leading contender at this point. It gets 31 mpg on average, drives great and looks great. Maybe a new car for her next weekend :-)