New Car

Well, we finally bit the bullet and decided to replace the '95 Accord. It has been a great car, and it still runs well. However, we realize that we should sell it before the next big repair bill (timing belt) comes along.
I did quite a bit of online research and came up with three models to choose from:
Honda Accord (of course)
Toyota Camry
Mazda 6

After driving the Honda, Martha and I were underwhelmed. Although it is a nice car, we both felt it was under powered. Martha even thought it looked just like our '95 Accord.

We then headed over to the Toyota dealership. Believe it or not, no salesman actually wanted to talk to us. One sales guy walked us out to the lot and had us look at a few Camrys. He didn't even have keys to let us inside the cars. But just looking through the windows, we saw how plain the inside looked. And we knew that this car wasn't for us.

Next up was the Mazda 6. As soon as we sat in one, we were blown away. Martha said immediately that this is the car she wants.

For the following two weeks, I gathered quotes from local Mazda dealerships. I played the dealers against each other, trying to have on under bid the next. After a while I got them all to pretty much the same price. One dealership offered $500 in free gas, and that's the one we went with.

So here it is, our new Mazda 6:

Smoke on the Water

Alexander had yet another concert with the Soldiers of Rock at the Creative Soul Music school in Watauga, TX.

Rock on buddy!

Smoke on the Water from Christoph Ruepprich on Vimeo.

Undocumented, the Movie

Alexander's drum teacher Cel, is currently working on a documentary on Undocumented workers in the USA. Looks like it will be interesting.


Undocumented: the Trailer from Undocumented the Movie on Vimeo.

For those of you who know German, there is an audio play available, covering a similar issue.

Gas Prices

Ugh! Gas prices are almost at $4.00 per gallon in Texas. This says it all: