How boring was 2020?

The restaurants were closed to dine-in, so we learned to have it delivered.  We never had food delivered before 2020.

It was so boring that even when the comedy clubs were open, nobody showed up.   Well a few folks did show after this photo was taken, but even with just a few tables the place did not fill up.

It was so boring that my first sighting of a C8 Corvette made me stop and take a photo.   I had just read about this exact car earlier in the day.

It was so boring that when I saw an open hangar door at the airport next to the restaurant we were eating at (during one of the short periods when restaurants allowed dine-in),  I took a photo.

It was so boring that Ruby took to watching for activity - anything! - on our boring street.

Even a two acre brush fire became big news.

The men in the neighborhood gathered to watch.

And finally, the folks who put on the large Christmas displays took this year off, so we didn't go out and look at lights.  But when I opened the gate one night, the scene looked at least a little Southern California Christmas-y.  The neighbors green holiday lights bounced off the palm tree and framed the Christmas tree across the street.  At this point even that qualifies as something exciting!

Here's to a more interesting 2021...

Mateo's Birthday Dinner

We have a tradition in our house - we go out to eat as a family each Friday night and rotate who gets to pick the place (or they can choose to have delivery done).  Even the kids get a turn.

And when its your turn closest to your birthday, price is no object!  

Each year, Mateo chooses either Shogun or Katsu, where they cook the food right at the table.   This year he chose Katsu.   That's a happy birthday smile if I ever saw one!

Our chef is getting ready to make the rice into a beating heart.

 Troy enjoys it also, though he usually picks another place on his birthday dinner night - which is coming up soon!

At The Beach

Our son and grandsons at the beach last week.

Troy.

Mateo.
 

David Surfing

 

Our son Dave surfing here along the San Diego coast.

Having A Bad Day

 Came across these videos this week.  They are pretty hysterical.

No kids or animals were hurt in the making of these videos.  As for the last one with the grown woman, I'm not so sure...

Switching To Ceramic Car Coating

 

It has been over six years since my "Polishing Your Car" post, explaining the best way to wash and polish a car.  While I still wash my car the same way, I have switched from Zaino Z2 car polish to the new ceramic coatings.

I called around to find out how much a professionally done ceramic coating would cost, and it ran $1200-1800 and required $190 in yearly "maintenance" to keep the warranty valid.  Gulp!

So I decided to do it myself with Turtle Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating. The packaging says just spray on and wipe off - no buffing, no drying time, instant protection and shine!  I've now done it to two of my 2019 cars with it and here is what I think so far.

I applied the coating with a blue microfiber pad and wiped the surface dry with a soft baby diaper. 

The packaging says not to allow the product to dry on the surface, to wipe it off immediately.  It also says to apply the coating sparingly, one to two squirts per panel.   On the first car I did, I found I tended to apply too much product and it was difficult to get all of it off.  This lead to the product drying on the car leaving a very streaky appearance.

I found it much better to squirt a small amount on the applicator instead of directly on the car body as was easier to control how much product transferred to the car.   After some practice, I learned to squirt the pad once, rub the pad on one half a body panel, then immediately wipe the panel dry.  I repeated the process for the other half of the panel.   The car looked great!

The spray coating instructions state to coat the car once for six months of protection and twice for a full year.   So I decided to go for broke and apply a second coat.

This is where things get tricky.  Since the car is already coated, it is extremely difficult to not over-apply the product.  My car looked extremely streaky after the second coat!    After letting it dry a few days, I washed the car again and rubbed the panels very well with a very soft white bath towel.  After a little bit of effort, I was able to get most of the streaks removed.

With my second car, I had a similar issue:  first coat when on fine by applying the product to the applicator, but it was extremely difficult to get the second coat on with no streaks.  The car looked horrible.

I remembered I had detailing spray in the cabinet, so I used Meguair's Quik Detailer and and Zaino Grand Finale with  a diaper to remove the streaks.

The car looks the best it has ever looked!

Based on past experience,  I expect more streaks to show up as the car gets out in the sun for awhile.  When and if that happens, I'll either wash and cotton bath towel it dry again, or apply a bit of detailer to remove the new streaks.

Was it as simple as spray on, wipe off and done?  No.  But it is still way easier and quicker than Zaino Z2 that needed to be removed after it dried (took several hours to dry) and required a bit of muscle to remove the dried product.   Zaino was easily taking me 2 days of clock time to apply due to large amounts of dry wait time, and then some time over the next few days to remove more residue as it dried over the next few days.   

With this Turtle ceramic coating, application/initial once-over with a detailer is about an hour, perhaps a little more,  and I'm sure there will still be some residue removal over the next few days.  If it lasts a year as advertised, I'll probably stay with it!

Picking A Portable Spa, also known as a Hot Tub

 If you are considering a portable spa and have never owned one before, the choices can be quite overwhelming.  There are a myriad of sizes, colors, features, and options that can make finding the right spa a complex decision.

This blog post discusses what we considered when choosing our spa - you may have a different set of criteria, but at least this will give you a starting point.

 One of the first things to consider is the size of the spa.  Sizes vary from intimate two-person spas to spas big enough for swimming.  To pick the right size, consider how many people will use the spa at the same time and how much room there is for the spa to comfortably in the space.

Also consider cost when selecting a size.  New two-person spas can be purchased for $3,000-4,000, seven-person spas for $9,000-15,000, and swimming spas can cost much more than that.

There is no wrong answer - pick what best suits the situation.

 Also consider what features are important.   It is especially important to consider the seats.   Most people like the waterline to be at shoulder level when they sit in a spa.  Since people vary in height, it is important to have seats at different depths to accommodate the different heights.  Make sure the regular spa users sit in the spa before purchase.  While it is possible to buy seating pads for shorter users, they can be inconvenient to use and store.  It is best to buy a spa that fits your family and is easy to enter and exit.          

Another aspect to seating:  some spas include "lounge seats" for reclining in the spa.  We chose not to get a lounge seat because (a) it actually takes up the space of two normal seats,  (b) we didn't feel the lounge position would be comfortable for all of the spa's regular users, and (c) we heard that they can be fun initially but then end up being wasted space later on.

 Decide whether the spa should have many jets to provide a whirlpool of motion while the water massages the body, or whether calm water is more desirable to provide a peaceful, serene atmosphere.  Even if the spa has many jets, they can be turned off for the occasional peaceful moment.  On the other hand, the more jets there are, the higher the potential for waters leaks and increased repair costs.

   Finally, jets are usually grouped together by different control settings - not all jets run at the same time in most situations.  Ensure the groupings work for you.  On our spa, this knob controls whether water is sent to the first set of jets, the second set of jets, or half-power to both sets of jets.

 Imagine sitting in the spa relaxing.  As time passes, the jets or lighting needs to be adjusted.  How easy is that to do?  Is it necessary to go to the control panel, or can the control panel come to you?  How easy are the controls to see at night?  What does the control panel allow you to adjust?  These are all important considerations that could greatly affect your enjoyment of the spa.

 All spas require maintenance.

Saltwater spas are nice because they require fewer chemicals and many people appreciate not having the chlorine smell frequently associated with freshwater spas.   However, saltwater is corrosive to metal and can negatively impact concrete and plants near the spa.

The spa will need to be drained on a regular basis.  Some spas have a drain at the bottom so all water can be easily drained with a hose.  We factored that in as an important feature to us - however, we've found it less useful than anticipated.  First, the drain on our model has a plastic fitting and therefore I am reluctant to use it for fear of stripping the threads.  Second, spa water cannot be drained to the gutter due to the chemicals in spa water and therefore needs to go through the home's sewer system.  This will probably require a pump to get it to your home's sewer system.  If a pump is needed anyway, might as well use it to pump the water from the spa also!

We took into consideration the reputation of the various brands.  We chose a stable, top tier company with a great reputation for reliability and quality.  It was also a major plus that the spa was made about 10 miles from our house so professional support should be easy to get.

In addition, our local dealer is stable and has served our area for a long time.  We value the reassurance that provides.

 Research how water filtering works on the spas being considered.  Are the filters reusable?  How often do they need to be replaced?  How much does it cost to maintain the filters?

And the big one to us:  is the water filtered while the jets are running.  In many cases the answer is NO which means the water is not being cleaned while the spa is in use.

 Spa electrical requirements are not the same across all manufacturers and models.   For starters, some spas need 110 power while others require 220.  Therefore, it is important to select a spa before completing the electrical work.  Smaller spas sometimes only require 110 but this can offer less power for the jets and for heating the water. 

Different manufacturers require different 220 setups on their 220 spas, which is another reason it is important to select a spa before completing the electrical.

Pick the spa location before purchasing a spa.  Ensure the location has proper drainage away from the spa since water will sometimes splash out during use or maintenance.  Pick a location where tree leaves, tree roots, sprinkler overspray, and excessive sunlight will not be an issue.  The location we picked does get morning sun but is shaded in the afternoon.   As additional protection against sunlight, we bought a custom cover from a third party that covers the top and all sides of our spa.  We put it over the manufacturer's spa top cover and take it off when the spa is in use.

 Consider the access to the spa location.  Spas are typically rolled into position on their side - will the spa clear gates, eaves, gutters and trees?  If the answer is no, a crane may be required to place the spa and that greatly increases delivery cost.

Spas can be placed on a concrete pad or a looser foundation, but since they can weight 5,000 pounds or more when full of water we recommend a concrete base.

 Cities, counties and states often have regulations that must be met with a spa - even portable spas.  For example, our city had the following safety requirements when we installed ours:

• Must be four feet from building openings
• Safety glazing on all glass within 5 feet of spa
• Receptacles must be GFCI protected
• Emergency shutoff must be visible and between 6 and 20 feet from spa
• Spa must have a locking top
• Spa must be surrounded by a barrier at least 60 inches high
• Gates must open outward, away from the spa, and be self-closing

 This is a typical spa shutoff box.

 Finally, when all the above decisions are ironed out, take some time to consider the options.

Most spas come with a cover and some manufacturers offer better covers as an upgrade.  Since large covers can be hard to move, they often offer cover lifts as an option.  Cover lifts that include struts can make moving the cover much easier.  Be sure to factor in the extra space required for a cover both in the open and closed positions.

And finally, decide whether you'd like a basic plastic step or one of upgraded material such as wood.

 Here are a few of the brands in our area that we considered.

Beachcomber
Made in Canada, many Beachcomber models have the pumps and other equipment located in the exterior step for easy repair access.  Their lineup included many model we liked, so they ended up on our Top Three list.

 Caldera
Caldera spas are very popular and offer a great variety of sizes and colors.

 HotSpring
Build in Southern California, these spas are high quality.

We selected this brand for several reasons.  The controls were on a removable pad that could be placed anywhere around the spa making it very convenient to change the settings.  The controls are easy to navigate, easy to read, and offer a large variety of settings.

HotSpring is one of the few brands where the filters run at the same time as the jets - comforting to know while sitting there with family and friends.

And finally, the spa is built locally and the dealer network in our area is well established and reputable.

 Jacuzzi
This is a very popular and well-known brand.  They are often at the expensive end of the price range.

 Maax
We ran across this brand at the Del Mar Fair.  We liked the size and style of the spa, but Maax isn't as well known as other brands.

Sundance
This is another popular brand that made our Top Three list.  In the end, we found the seating configuration was not exactly what we wanted so we ruled it out.






So there you have it!   In our opinion, those are the basic considerations when selecting a spa.

We encourage you to develop your own criteria.   Whatever you decide, we feel it is VERY important that you see, feel, and sit in the spa (with or without water) before purchase.  It is important to know if you feel comfortable in the spa before it arrives at your house.

We hope this has been helpful and enjoy your new spa!

Bought A New Maserati Ghibli

 We watched Maserati as it went through the design and initial production of the new-for-2014 Ghibli.   This car seemed to be exactly what I was looking for in terms of style, performance, luxury, and uniqueness.  So just a few months after they arrived in San Diego, we went to the La Jolla dealer and bought a Grigio Maratea-colored 2014 base Ghibli.  It had few options (paddle shifters, nav, and Urano wheels) but we loved it.

About the same time, there were major electronic feature being added to cars and my wife's next few cars had them - such as parking sensors and blind spot detection.  Slowly we started missing those in our 2014 Ghibli and, on top of that, we found it didn't have memory seats.  It had the buttons, but since we bought the base model they were not functional.  This is an issue when there are 10 inches in height difference between husband and wife.

In 2018 there were several situations which were likely to need an enormous amount of cash on the horizon, so we sold the Ghibli with the thought that, if things turned out right, we'd buy a newer one with more options down the road.

Well, we are down the road now.  I stopped in recently to see the latest upgrades and colors, and found out they had a few leftover 2019s at tremendous discounts.  This lit a fire under me and we began serious consideration of another purchase.  We narrowed it down to three:  a Grigio Maratea SQ4 GranLusso at an LA dealership,  a Blu Nobile S GranLusso at the San Diego dealer, and a Rosso Magma S GranSport at the San Diego dealer.   The last two were on the showroom floor, and we went back and forth quite a bit before deciding the Blue Nobile was better for us between the San Diego cars.  Then it was down to the Grigio Maratea and the Blu Nobile.   In the end, we got a better deal on the Blu Nobile and purchased it.  This first picture is as the car sat on the showroom floor, before purchase.

 While still on the showroom floor, here is a photo of the interior.  The photo doesn't do justice to the seats - they are a deeper richer brown in person.

 When the dealer pulled it outside, the richness of the Blu Nobile paint became apparent.  It is a truly spectacular color.

 The GranLusso comes with the full LED headlights which look just awesome.   An array of sensors cover the front of the car - even the Maserati symbol is a sensor.

 While these Tesoro wheels weren't my first choice (I still wanted the Uranos),  I have come to the conclusion that they really are better wheels!  I do have a fear that the 10 spoke on 10 spoke design will be hard to clean, but the light grey color will also hide brake dust better.  I think they look fabulous with the paint color!

 We pulled it up in our driveway.  The Blu Nobile color and Cuoio seats are a very elegant, rich combination.   It makes just the statement I want to make...the red with black interior GranSport was too racy and may have attracted the wrong attention.  I don't think combination will.

 Here is our grandson Troy getting his first look at the new car.

 Followed shortly thereafter by his brother Mateo.

While our base Ghibli had a 345 HP V6,  the S series (like this one) come with a 424 HP V6.  Both engines are built at the Ferrari factory.

And since we plan on keeping this one a long, long time, we prepaid for 4 years maintenance and a 10-year mechanical and electrical warranty.  That should allow us to sleep easy for a long time to come.

Welcome to the family, Ghibli the second!

New Phones: Samsung S20 and S20+

At the five year mark, we decided it was time to replace our old Samsung cell phones that we bought in July 2015,  as discussed in this old post.   The old phones had held up remarkably well and were still functional, but some of the newer capabilities were missing - such as auto-scanning of  QR codes.  As restaurants are converting to QR code menus due to the pandemic, this was getting to be a bigger issue.  On top of that,  we were starting to get warning messages about software incompatibility for other capabilies.

So we kept our eye on the S20 series, and when a two-for-one offer was extended, we pounced.   My wife opted for the Samsung S20 and I got the S20+ for the extra screen size and better camera.

 In this photo, the S20 is on the left and the S20+ is on the right.  The S20+ is just slightly larger.  Since my wife likes to carry her phone in her pocket, we thought the smaller size might be better for her.

 Here is my old Samsung Note Edge next to my new Samsung S20+.   Funny, my Note Edge didn't feel dated until I started using the S20+!   Everything transferred over pretty well (contacts, photos, etc) from the old phone to the new phone, though I am having to re-learn a few things that work differently now like the camera and web browser.

One thing that I absolutely LOVE with the new phone is the wireless charging capability.  That is the greatest new cell phone feature in a long time!  That alone was worth the upgrade.

 Here is my wife's old Samsung S6 next to her new S20.   She's of a similar opinion - didn't notice her phone was dated until she received the new one.  So far so good, she's happy with the upgrade!

Finally, the one thing that concerned me about the S20 series is that the camera lens sticks out farther than the rest of the case.  I would imagine this would lead to premature scratching of the camera lens.   usually I'm not a fan of phone cases but I opted to purchase a leather case for my new S20+ just to protect that lens - the case now sticks out farther than the lens.

An unexpected side benefit of the case is that it gives my hand something to hang on to - the S20+ case is very slippery and I began to fear I would drop in regularly.  The case is much more supple and feels secure in my hand.  Nice!