Is it possible to have too many books?

The ongoing account of my quest for more bookshelf space

Archive for category transport

It’s Scooter Season! So by default, it’s Spring!

Apr 10

Posted by Sarah in scooter, transport | 3 Comments

There are daffodils blooming in front of work and I rode my scooter in today. For those who either 1) didn’t know I had a scooter, 2) know and have never seen it , or 3) just like pictures in a blog post, here it is.

2006 Aprilia Scarabeo 2502006 Aprilia Scarabeo 250

It’s a 2006 Aprilia Scarabeo 250cc. That’s an Italian brand owned by Piaggio (the other big Italian brand besides Vespa). Aprilia’s been around since just after WW II, so we’ve got some staying power here. And as opposed to scooter round 1, this one actually starts up every time you turn the ignition key. Yay spring! Yay scooter!

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Feeling Green

Apr 6

Posted by Sarah in car, green, transport | 2 Comments

I’ve just decided to ditch my 14 year AAA account and have switched to the Better World Club. They are comparably priced, have essentially the same car coverage PLUS bicycle coverage, and donate 1% to environmental advocacy and cleanup. If I had a hybrid I’d get a discount and even better (philosophically) if I had a Hummer or something similar I’d get at 20% surcharge. I was about to renew my AAA membership and thought – Wait, I should look at the other auto club I keep thinking about. Quick bit of research and I’ve switched to car & bicycle coverage with BWC. I am feeling satisfied. I like to try and put my money where my mouth is.

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New scooter

Oct 15

Posted by Sarah in scooter, transport | 8 Comments

I admit I feel like I just said that but I can’t keep it running and it’s just not fast enough. :) Behold the beauty of the Italian scooter-ness!

2007_10_09_scarabeo_012007_10_09_scarabeo_02

It’s an 2006 Aprila Scarabeo 250. For them’s who need specs, see here. The company’s been around since WWII, so we’ve got some history here. I got it a year old with 1000 miles on it. It’s in beautiful condition and even more fun than the Vento ’cause I can actually drive with the traffic. The gas mileage does not make me unhappy either I have to say. And I confess that I love the styling a lot more than the Vento’s.

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My little duckling…

May 23

Posted by Sarah in funny, scooter, transport | 8 Comments

I convinced Tom to ride with me to work last week (which of course turned out to be the day we had the Tornado Watch in the afternoon). He also has a yellow bike. However, he has a yellow 1800cc Honda Goldwing. I did feel like a duckling following mama duck going down Rt 85. I think you could put my scooter in the trunk of the Goldwing with room to spare. :)

Vento Triton R4 49cc

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Maybe I should upgrade my scooter?

May 17

Posted by Sarah in funny, scooter, transport | 5 Comments

I’m not sure it would make it up Pine Hill Road though. For more info on the World’s Fastest Sofa, see this post at Engadget.

YouTube Preview Image

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Frustration, thy name is Kryptonite

May 7

Posted by Sarah in funny, scooter, transport | 4 Comments

So recently I decided to “upgrade” my Yamaha Virago 535cc motorcycle to a 49.5cc scooter. I looked for a long time and finally found a great deal last month. The scooter, a Vento Triton R4 (and no, you shouldn’t recognize the brand), was aquired with help from Tom and his trailer. I then went on vacation. I came back. I switched the insurance over on the phone. I had to then go in person to Liberty Mutual to get the RMV-1 form, but the form was acquired. I then take myself, cash (because registrations must be cash or check only), said RMV-1 form, and Certificate of Origin to the RMV. Only to find out that the dealer didn’t sign the Certificate over to me properly. Back to Warwick, RI to get it filled out properly. Back to the RMV (do NOT go the Framingham RMV on a Monday afternoon) but success this time! I now have a plate and registration and 7 days to get the scooter inspected. Did I mention that I have to get a new plate because I have put the old one someplace so safe I can’t find it?

So what do I do? I promptly attach the plate, make sure all the paperwork is in a ziplock bag in the seat compartment, get out my helmet, put on denim and the Harley boots, find the old license plate (of course), and am all ready to test this puppy out. But I can’t get the Kryptonite cable lock off the scooter’s rear wheel. It’s possible that the lock did its job and it’s now jammed because someone tried to muck with it. Two Subarus have been stripped here in the complex this month. If so, great. But this does not change the fact that I was all ready to go and I can’t get the damn lock off the scooter’s rear wheel. All dressed up and nowhere to go.

Tomorrow, Tom and his bolt cutters are coming to visit. I really can’t help but laugh even as I swear at the lock.

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Car antenna found

Apr 12

Posted by Sarah in funny, transport | 9 Comments

So recently I lost my radio antenna off my Golf.

15497

I thought it happened during a recent storm as I said here. Well, it was found by Tom as he was walking up the Mountain. He kindly left it in my mug of writing implements. Too funny.

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Storm Casualty

Mar 19

Posted by Sarah in transport | 3 Comments

So after the big storm on Friday, I went out Saturday morning to dig my car out. We had about 8-10″ of snow with a 1/4″ layer of ice on top, which meant you had to break through that before you could shovel anything. So it took about 45 minutes to get the car out of the parking spot (with some much appreciated pushing from one of my neighbors) and then I went to clear off the rest of the roof and the rear of the car. And guess what I didn’t find? Oh, 5/6ths of my antenna. The sucker snapped off in the storm. Maybe I’ll find it at the edge of the parking lot when all the snow melts.

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Happiness is a bad battery

Jan 31

Posted by Sarah in car, transport | 4 Comments

So my 3 year old battery was bad and Sears replaced it for me. I was 2 weeks outside the 36 month 100% replacement warranty but it was still ok ’cause the new battery only cost me $12.99 and another $10 for them putting it in purchase and installation of a new rear window wiper for a grand total of $23. How often is it that one can pay for a car repair in cash?

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The joys of car ownership

Jan 31

Posted by Sarah in car, transport | 1 Comment

Off to Sears tonight to have my 3 year old Die Hard battery replaced. Since Tom has had to come by and jump start my car for three mornings running, it seems worthwhile to tootle over to Sears and have them look at the battery. With luck, that’s all the problem is. I don’t want to think about things like starter motors and alternators.

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