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[sbgobig]

I am having great fun tonight and just wanted to take time out to share.

I ordered my MINI a little over a year ago in June of 03 and had to wait until Oct for it to arrive. I had wanted a new MINI ever since I read the first article in Road and Track or Automobile, I don't remember which one. From then on I read everything I could and then finally I saw one. It was so cool just like I imagined it would be.

At first I wanted British Racing Green with a white top (BRG/W) and I had that mini screen saver with the bubbles, do you remember? Then I wanted Pure Silver with a Black top (PS/B) and I always knew I would spring for the S. I'm a guy and I need all the horsepower I can get, no offense to you ladies. When it finally came time to order, after I had called many, many dealerships all across the country asking 'how much' (as in I don't want to pay $30,000) and how soon (as in I don't want to wait a whole nother year) I ordered the newly available Pepper White with a black top (PW/B) only to chicken out and I ended up with Dark Silver/Black with stripes cuz that was never in question.

I did however follow through and opt for the newly available Cordoba Beige interior with Anthracite trim, H/K, Sunroof, 16" tires, no DSC, and I can't remember it has been so long since I've listed it all. I also needed to fly to Dallas to pick it up and drive it back to Santa Barbara. That was fun! I made such good time I got home a whole day and a half early. Mostly because I was smart enought to leave my wife at home. Actually I really wanted her to come with me but she was 2 months pregnant and already hated flying.

I will always remember the first real twisties I found near Sedona Az and the morning I woke up in Prescott Az and hit the magical 1200 mile mark. It just happened to be on a never ending straight as an arrow mountain road early on a Saturday morning with no one around. I hit 126 mph that morning and never looked back. I thought I'd get home aroung 7 pm that night but made it home by 2pm. The 10 and 405 in LA and San Bernadino were straight out of 'The Italian Job'. Those are 12 lane highways were people go as fast as they can and they use every lane. I hooked up with a very nice looking young lady in a new Audi TT convertable. She passed me and it was on. I also remember it was then I passed my first Hummer and I flipped him the bird as I passed on the right as the TT passed on the left.

I now have a little over 8000 miles on my sweet little ride and I love it. I have added an b&m short shifter and a Whalen Knob, the custom hand made Glove box organizer (GBO), a TVA hotpocket, got the windows tinted 5% limo back three and 35% front two (one $135 ticket), and I love to wash and wax it with my plethora of Zaino products and Micro fiber towels.

Just wanted to give you all a quick update. Oh and the baby is great too!