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Sat, Aug 23, 2025

5:42pm EDT

Members: 832

Guests: 3,005

Total Online: 3,837

From My Mind to....

by JACE

Rated: GC · Book · Personal · #1503918

A blog of no uncertain musings. What goes on in my mind is often a source of wonder to me.

My mind and my life are wonderous things ... as are yours, I'm sure. I have more slips of paper and pages of notebooks with musings and thoughts than I really know what to do with. Someone, actually several someones, have suggested I start a blog ... or a journal as a means of focusing some of this mental energy.

To be honest, I don't even know what the difference between a 'journal' and 'blog' is--or if there even is a difference. Read on, my friends, and you can judge for yourself whether it even matters.

And so....

Me on top of Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, off the coast of Maine

I'm JACE. Yep ... that's me! And somewhere in all my writings my last name may be posted. But I'll just leave it at Jace for right now. I'm 70 years old and heading full tilt to 71. It's strange that while I'm going through some rather serious medical issues, I still consider myself to be in the prime of my life--pretty good shape physically AND mentally, though I don't run for competition anymore

. I love to ... dang, if I put this stuff here, I won't have anything for my blog.

Guess you just have to be patient until such stuff leaks out.

Perhaps 2025, having embraced my retirement, will see more participation in my journaling efforts.

Well, one can hope....

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

StephBee

about 4 hours ago
In response to "Upgrade or Maintain?"

My 2nd car was a 1985 Toyota Corolla. I drove all around Europe in it. Did the basic maint. at the local German dealership. I put over 400K on that car! That's the car that made me fall in love with Toyotas.

JACE

about 5 hours ago
In response to "Upgrade or Maintain?"

{susStephBee

- I've always been partial to Toyota back to the early 80's when I bought a converted Toyota cargo van converted to personal use. And if I hadn't been such a procrastinator, I would have bought my Corolla five or six years earlier and put much less wear, tear and mileage on my Toyota Tacoma. I drove 75 miles per day to and from work in that truck putting almost 30K miles a year (total 305,000) on it before selling it when I retired. I don't dare do the math regarding the cost of gas I might have saved from 40 mpg in the Corolla to 18 mpg in the Tacoma.

bobaturn

- Again, welcome and thanks for stopping by. My wife is comfortable enough in my Corolla when on longer trips. But she bought a Mazda Miata convertible for her use. It's just too short for my longer legs to fit easily.

1 Like

bobaturn

about 6 hours ago
In response to "Upgrade or Maintain?"

Hey Jace, thanks for the welcome to a newbie. Dropped by to see what's up. I'm a 2014 Rav (basic model) owner, bought new. My wife wanted a comfy wide seat. I wanted something that wouldn't bottom out coming into our driveway. Funny what matters most to new car owners, right?

StephBee

about 19 hours ago
In response to "Upgrade or Maintain?"

I'm a maintainer. Especially with Toyotas. I love my Toyotas. My favorite was my 2005 4Runner. It had over 240K miles but was pooping out. The check engine light came on so I took it to my guy who said the oxygen sensors were going bad. I had 8 and it would take 6K to replace - so we turned it in and bought a pre-owned. A Rav4 with a Turbo boost on it's 4 cylinder engine. I liked that car but we gave it to boy #1 Andy. Now I drive a 2019 Rav4. It's okay, it's just a 4 cylinder, no turbo boost. Sigh... Hubby got a preowned 2022 Tacoma with only 5K miles. It was a v6. Good call. Tacomas after that year are now 4 cylinders. How do you expect them to tow anything? I love Toyotas in that they are a good quality car, but I'm missing the V8/V6 engines - even the turbo boosts. I never get services at the dealer. They charge too much and take too long.

Soldier_Mike

a day ago
In response to "When You're Awake, Get Up"

On schooldays, my alarm goes off at 0615 and I'll typically hit the snooze button twice. That's all I can comfortably afford, if I don't want to be racing around myself while trying to corral my grandson and help get him ready for school. I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that first graders have a nearly limitless store of morning energy, even if - like my grandson - it takes a few minutes for it to kick in.

Soldier_Mike

a day ago
In response to "Upgrade or Maintain?"

Number, email, address... Yep - disposing of all those come-ons can be pretty time-consuming.

SandraLynn

Aug 21, 2025 at 12:20pm
In response to "When You're Awake, Get Up"

I hear ya. The brain can be irritating. Once I'm awake, that's it. No use in fighting it.

Sum1

Aug 21, 2025 at 10:12am
In response to "When You're Awake, Get Up"

How long huh... Once again, we're alike. Once I wake, sleep is over, time to get up. I was awake this morning about 5:30 or so. I tried to sleep in a little longer, 15 minutes max. Then I got up and started my day. So I typically lie in bed maybe 15 minutes at the most. On the other hand, my wife can lie there for at least 2 hours if she so desires. I couldn't do that, nor do I want to.

BIG BAD WOLF is Surprised

Aug 21, 2025 at 9:42am
In response to "When You're Awake, Get Up"

Know the feeling.

This comment is attached to a private entry, so it is not available.

August 22, 2025 at 10:04am

#1095747

Upgrade or Maintain?

Car dealerships can certainly be pushy.

I bought my 2022 Toyota Corolla brand new on 9/11/2021 (just a coincidence on that date).And every year since as we approach that date I get text message, phone calls and letters from the dealership wanting me to upgrade to the latest year's model. Oh, the promises are there--an offer of $1579 special bonus off the MSRP of a new 2025 model plus a trade-in value of up to $18250 (depending, of course, upon verification by the dealer. Kelley Blue Book says it's worth up to $19,500.

Essentially, I'd be paying about $10,000 to upgrade to a 2025 model with the same features. My average annual maintenance costs after the initial warranty period have been less than $250. And the 2025 model touts 6-8 mpg less in the city than my car currently gets. With a car that should easily reach 150-200,000 miles and I'm averaging only 1000 miles per month, I figure I'm good for the next ten years at least.

I figure dealerships are like telemarketers--once they have your number ....

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