A day of wires

I attempted to install an auto-dimming rearview mirror in my new car that also has homelink buttons (able to use the homelink buttons to open the garage). The installation is rated at 1 1/2 hours for a Mazda tech...so I gave myself 3 hours. The mirror came with instructions. They are pretty good. Some steps are oversimplified when they shouldn't be. I took my time and got thru 1/2 of it in about an hour...then I got stumped. I couldn't get the trim off the "A" pillar (the piece between the base of the windshield and the roof. Pull, twist, cuss, pull..nada. I soldiered on. I had the old mirror off and new one on. I then worked the cable into the headlines and behind the trim on the "A" pillar, not the right way...but it was hidden. I then went to find power. The instructions stated to use the included tools to tap two wires. I found one...but the other is quite large and doesn't fit in the included tool. The wires are amoung more than 40 in bundle. They are each color coded. The instructions called for a blue wire with a red stripe and a green wire with a black stripe. Well I found the blue/red fine. The green/black is huge! With just the blue/red connected the homelink buttons light up when I press them but don't seem to work. The compass and autodimming mirror are not working. I searched online and through forums and came up dry. I posted in two forums hoping someone else has run into this same issue.

Tonight I wired up the radio. I am planning everything out inside before I take it to the car, which should be Friday. I soldered the Pioneer harness cables to the Mazda compatible harness cables. I then wired up the device that will allow my steering wheels radio controls to keep working. As is all I have to do Friday is tap the speedometer cable and reverse cable and then it's all plug and play. Tomorrow I don't go into work until 8PM so I will start placing other components (XM radio and Bluetooth modules) into place. I am pretty sure they will both go under the front seats. I will likely use heavy duty velcro to secure them.

My dash kit is supposed to arrive Friday. I get back Friday morning at 9:30AM....would be nice if it came then. Normally though the UPS man comes around 6PM. Boo.

Day of travel.

This morning started at 5AM in Houston. We woke up and drove to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. We were on standby...but looking good. We both got on. I got first, but gave it to Kelli and grabbed her seat in coach. All was good....for a few minutes. I then get called up to the front. I was being pulled off due to seniority as another Eagle pilot was going up in the jumpseat...but it was broken...so he got my seat. No biggie, Kelli has keys to my car so she can go home and wait for me.  I went back to the terminal and was on the top of the list for the next flight. Meanwhile I went over to Continental to see if I could get on an earlier flight. Not likely as it was full and being a smaller jet....likely weight restricted. Pilots can travel free on any airline...good perk. Back to AA. I check in for my later flight to Jacksonville, Florida. It was oversold and had a lot of stand bys...fun day indeed. The next flight to Dallas from Houston is looking even more full...but no other pilots are on it. Sure enough I get the jump seat. The pros to the jumpseat are it's free (I pay a small fee for coach) and has the best view. That's it. The jumpseats in most planes are thinly padded pieces of metal. This was no exception. We landed early and Kelli picked me up. We get home and I quickly repack my suitcase and change into my uniform. If I travel in uniform I can bypass security in Dallas. Saves time. We leave for the airport but before the terminal we make a stop back by the employee lot. My headphones fell out of my car when we left Dallas Saturday morning. Lucky for me they were still in the lot where I parked my car. She drops me off at the terminal with 30 minutes before the flight leaves. I bypass security and check the gate. I am #4 on standby and they haven't started boarding. I dash down to Mc Donalds. They are normally quick. Not today. Ten minutes later I am back at the gate. Just my name is on standby. I was feeling stressed. The gate agent ask if I am Byrd. Yup. Type, type, type, I have a seat! Straight to the back of the plane. We get here on time. I rented a car from Enterprise. Being the savy shopper I booked the cheapest car at $15 a day. I get to the lot and they tell me it's a Chevy Aveo. No biggie...only here two days. As we walk out they tell me they have no Aveos and that I have a Chevy Cobalt. Fine. Walking to the car I spot a Prius. "How much is that ?" I ask. "$5 more per day." the agent replied. SOLD! I will easily recoup the $5 a day in gas.

Being back in Jacksonville is odd. Haven't been here in 8 months. It was almost a year ago that I left Euless to come out here. I did get to shop at my favorite store....Publix. Love this place. Good times. Speaking of time. I need sleep. It's 7PM here.....long day.

Loving sliding doors

I am really digging having sliding doors. I am amazed I have gone on driving for 15 years never having a car with sliding doors. They are sooooo convenient. I like being able to slide the door open, throw in whatever and slide it closed. When I get home I do the reverse. While driving I don't care to have a lot of stuff on the seat next to me. Being able to place it behind me rocks. Before I would have to step back, open the door, close the door and then step forward. Being able to simply stand in one spot is awesome.

The Mazda 5 also handles very well. It corners flat and is reassuring around the curves. This is my first true black car. I had a black 1996 Saturn SC2 "classic" for 3 weeks...but I returned it under the Saturn 30 day money back guarantee. Keeping this car clean will be a challenge. I have a California car duster that will help. I love the interior. Very well built and dark. I got my all weather mats in today. I love them. They were recommended to me by our friend Jason years ago. They are easier to clean and make the car look nicer.

Sooooo I may be in luck for the car radio installation kit. Another site (www.autotoys.com) claims to have them in stock. Still hasn't shipped yet. Stay tuned.

Wi-Fi hot spots. So most hot spots are simple. You connect, open up a browser, and agree to the terms of service. The Wi-Fi at Harris Methodist Hospital is not so easy. They give you a print out on how to connect. At the bottom it states "if you can't connect please contact your laptop manufacturer"...nice. Well I would connect, but would never get the terms of service page. I would open a browser and could go nowhere. I remembered seeing http://helpdesk on the back of a computer during check in. I tried that site...ta da the terms of service agreement showed up. I agreed and was on-line. I bet 90% of users give up. It shouldn't be this difficult.

For those that don't read byrdintheoven.com well...I won't be a father anytime soon. We lost another one...which is why I was in Harris Methodist Hospital.

And the beat marches on.

Why offer it if its not out yet!

So I have boxes galore on the way to our house for my new ride. I did a TON of research....as I always do. The centerpiece is the Pioneer Avid D3 navigation system. To install this I need a install kit. The kit has plastic and metal pieces to install the unit so it looks "factory" and professional. There is one kit sold in Japan for $200. Ouch. Luckily there is a kit from Metra (a major supplier of such kits) for $25. YEAH! I found only ONE site that offers it. The product page says nothing about it not being in stock. The page looks like any other product page. I placed my order last Friday. I heard nothing by today so I shot them an email. They don't have it yet because Metra hasn't released it yet! HOLY CRAP BALLS! So this means I can do nothing with the new navigation system. I have 30 days to return the Navigation system and get a refund. This sucks. Really sucks. Why offer something for sale if you don't have it ? If you KNOW you don't have it why not simply state "not yet in stock, no ETA". Then I would not have ordered it or the Nav system yet. Bleh!

New car is home....I'm happy

New car is home. I put literally nothing down and got $391 a month for 36 months. It's another lease. It's $65 a month cheaper than a 60 month purchase. In 3 years I can once again walk away or buy it for $12K. I think it will be worth a little less. We will see. The money factor I got was .00189 which converts to a 4.5% interest rate. Not bad at all. I got the windows tinted darkest legal upfront and super dark in the back. Looks slick. I think I was attracted to the 5 because it reminds me of my Matrix. I liked the versatility of the Toyota Matrix. The new Matrix literally cost as much as a Mazda5...but the Matrix is much smaller. Now to order the navigation system and all weather floor mats!

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New Ride

New ride purchase/lease is almost done. Picking it up Monday. Decided on a Black Mazda5 Grand Touring WITHOUT Navigation. Spending the $2K on Nav wasn't justifiable for an inferior navigation unit to what I have now. I can install my own with more features (like a backup camera) for under $900. I am going to use birthday money from the best mother in law in the world along with a little savings to pay for it. The dealership is awesome. Shockingly straight forward. Through my employment with American Eagle I get S plan pricing. The Sticker price is $23K 'S' Plan price is $21558. I then get $1250 off for lease cash bringing it down to $20308. They are taking $500 additional off because it has 811 miles on it. It's brand new...just been moved around a lot. The price is then $19808. For my Acura I owe $17400 ($17K + $380 early lease termination). The dealer is giving me $17750. Bringing the price down to $19558. The residual value of the car is expected to be $11K in 3 years. The lease payments should fall between $345 -$380. I am adding window tint, homelink rearview mirror and rear bumper guard. I'm happy.

I was going to go through a leasing company but the agent I was dealing with gave me a bad feeling as I could not get a solid or ballpark interest rate or money factor (interest rate for leases) from him. By going through Mazda I get $1250 lease cash I would not have been able to get going through a separate company.

Mazda5

Car is in Texas somewhere. Talking over the $2000 price tag for the navigation system....pretty hefty. I still have time to decided if I REALLY want it or not. I enjoy it. One thing that will be annoying is that it can't be used while driving while my current one can. If I decide against it I can get the color combo I want (black/black) right away. If I go without I could always install a better more functional unit myself. One unit in particular will allow a backup camera and NAV for under $1000. Things to ponder.....Oh yeah the unit is the Pioneer AVIC-D3X