What a hideous day, car-wise. Took my 2005 TL into Keys Acrua in Van Nuys to have the air conditioning looked at for the FOURTH time. Can you say Lemon Law? Understand – I live in the San Fernando Valley, where it is 100 degrees and above most days of the summer. No air conditioning is not an option.

When I called to make the appointment, I asked if I could get a loaner (making clear that I NEEDED a car that day), and was told “we won’t have any loaners available until August”. How is this possible? It’s a CAR DEALERSHIP for FUCK SAKE. They have nothing BUT cars. Fine. I diligently take my car in at 9am, prepared to wait until 11am and then continue on with my mountain of tasks for the rest of the day. Josh, the “service” associate, tells me that I shouldn’t wait – it could take all day. I arrange for Pam to pick me up, I drop her back at her office, and take her car for the rest of the day.

Around 4pm, I start calling for a status. Josh tells me he’ll find out and call me back in two minutes, 30 minutes later – no call. I start calling. I can’t get through, I get hung up on, and sit on hold endlessly – in that order. I go to the dealership. I hunt down Josh. He goes to check. I wait. He tells me that are just putting dye into the system to find the leak. I ask how this can be, as the car has been there for EIGHT HOURS. He says “Mr. Bakst, diagnostics take time.” – which has the immediate effect of making me want to push him into traffic. I wait more. Finally I am told that it is a ruptured hose, that they do NOT have in stock. So I am leaving with the same car I brought, after intense inconvenince.

101 West Acura it is from now on. I can’t wait until the QA person calls to ask how my service experience was.

Up to Blacklake Country Club, near Nipomo with Pam and Sydney to meet the parents, sister, and other friends. Flew the 182 into Santa Maria after a great flight. Played 36 holes today (86-79) and likely play 18 tomorrow. Pam’s birthday tonight as well.

Life is good.

Getting serious now – and the results are starting to come. Working out 6 days a week now (one day weight training, then one day of cardio, repeat) and throwing in nightly walks, bike riding, swimming (lessons from Pammy – she’s awesome) and racquetball should round it all out. Also radically altered my diet, thanks to advice from my buddy Jack Smith (SO good to have him back in the picture), who is much farther along to becoming a chiseled stud than I am. Myoplex protein shakes and bars (yum, but expensive), and carefully planned eating every three hours is making me feel much better already.

New business is kicking along as well. Pi Software is the name, and construction management software is the game. More on that as it develops, but everyone who reads this should be linking from their site to that. Need the links, baby.