So here is the story of my Birthday M:

The year was 2002 and I had just got back from a lifetime best trip to Australia with my girl and some great friends. I wasn't financially prepared for the trip to Australia, since I decided to join them last minute like, and when we got home I was quite a bit in debt. I also had an awesome turbo'd Subaru Impreza RS that I was making payments on.

A few weeks after getting home, and not having a job, I was making some plans for the future and I made a deal with myself. I was going to work my ass off, pay off all my travelling debts, and finish my education at Portland State University.

Going to PSU was going to be good for me, but I really wanted to get out of school with as little debt as possible. So there was a deeper level to my deal with myself... The deep level of the deal was that I would sell my Impreza, and go without a car while in school. I would use public transportation to get to and from school and work. And if I was smart with my vehicle purchases after school, on my 30th birthday I would get the car of my child hood dreams. A BMW M3!

For 3 years I commuted to school by bus and train, 1.5 hours each way. I rode my bike to work, which was ~4 miles from my house. Now think about this one... It was Portland, so it rains a lot. I got my use out of my rain gear. After school I went another year without a car. I used Flexcar/Zipcar to do my job. And when I did buy a car, I bought a reasonable car that would work out best for both Karen and I.

About 6 months ago, knowing my 30th was coming, I started to look for M3's. I was looking for my ideal M3. A dark grey, 2006 competition package, 6 speed manual, with black alcantara leather interior, navigation and moonroof. And in those 6 months, I never seemed to find everything I wanted. Thus as my birthday passed, I made another deal with myself.

I would find an M3 that was reasonably priced and close to what I wanted. Then I would use the money that I saved to build the M3 of my dreams. Thus here is where I am starting:


And I have a little ways to go...

I will need the competition rims and brakes, upgraded suspension, navigation system, engine enhancements, and various other small things. But I am very happy with what I am starting with!

Nater

Slick Nater Is Now a Couponer!

So I have always been a fairly cheap guy. I like to look out for deals, and I usually find good ones. I have never been much into couponing, since I new it takes quite a bit of time and effort. But the other day I figured that since we were going to be taking on more monthly expenses with my new car, that I would try to cut our food budget even more.

I started a couple weeks ago and saw some good trips where I would save 50%-60%. But tonight I think I finally hit the big time! Here is my haul from 2 different Albertson's and a Target on my way to pick up Karen at school:

(10) Sobe Life Water Drinks

(1) Dove Shampoo

(3) Minute Instant Rice

(20) Weight Watchers Smart One Lunch Entrees

(10) Michelina's Lean Gourmet Lunch Entrees

(2) Trident Gums

Retail Price = $100.62

Price Out-of-Pocket = $20.75 + $5 Target Gift Card

Total Percent Saved = 84.4%

NATER

St Pattys Day DisappointM3nt...

So I looked at an awesome M3 Competition last Saturday. It only had 14,500 miles, was in AMAZING condition, had obviously never been driven in the rain, and it only needed new rear tires.

Took it for a spin and was like WOW! Gotta have this! But there was a catch...

The guy who owned it was unable to make a payment on the vehicle for the last 3 months and the bank was going to repo it soon unless it was sold! Payoff was a little bit high ($34,200), and I made him an offer for $32,000. He had a meeting Wednesday morning with the bank with the intention to make a deal and see if the bank would settle. Much better than the bank selling the car at a wholesale auction...

Well the bank didn't budge, and I wasn't going to go any higher on my offer since the car was missing the Navi and had no moonroof. So therefore no M3 this weekend for me...

:(

Nater

I Morph Into Raoul Bova!

I went to MyHeritage.com and did the celebrity match, and Raoul Bova came up as a 70% match! Looks fairly close...



Just happy to see that it was someone who is sexy! He is an Italian Actor who is fairly popular with the ladies...

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0100556/

NATER

My Next Educational Hurdle

Well I found a program that I want to take, and it's at the school that I really wanted to go to! YAY UW!

The University of Washington Certificate in Engineering Leadership

Its 4 Graduate Level courses that are taken online. They consist of:

Navigating the Business Environment (IND E 599)
Technical Leadership (IND E 599)
Decision Analysis in Engineering (IND E 599)
Project Performance (IND E 599)

You can learn more about the program HERE.

NATER

New Callaway TOURi Series Website

So we have finally announced the debut of our new "FANTASTIC" golf balls this winter. Click on the balls below to be taken to our new website to find out more info:

By the way... I have been playing these balls for the last 2 months, and they are unfucking believable!

NATER

Callaway TOURi(s) Debut

This last weekend the PGA Tour was in Shanghai, China for the HSBC World Golf Championships. It was the first week that the new Callaway TOUR balls were put into play. And they started off with a bang!

Ernie Els ended up shooting a course record-tying 63 with the new TOURi(s) to put pressure on Phil Mickelson. But a clutch par after a whiff on the 16th, and a stellar birdie at 17th, left Phil with only a needed par on the par 5 18th. Phil did what he normally does and keeps things exciting by driving into the rough off the tee. But with a lag putt that stopped a foot from the hole, he secured his par, 2nd World Golf Championship this year, and 4th victory of 2009.

Ryan Moore stayed calm, cool, and collected to place 3rd using the TOURi(s). Not bad for only getting the balls delivered on Wednesday...

You can read the official Callaway Golf press release here:

Mickelson wins WGC-HSBC Champions

Ernie was so excited after the round he called our Pro Tour rep in the middle of the night! The "expletives removed" quote was in the above press release, but here is the actual statement:

“Did you here what I said? That ball is fucking unbelievable! This is the ball that I have been waiting for. Did you see the tournament? Did you see how my short game was and how my iron shots were? I told you when I saw this ball at Akron that we would do something and I wish I could have pulled off a win for you. Tell those marketing guys that I made a hole in one on the second day I ever played with it and they should run a story. I can’t wait to get going next year. That ball is unbelievable.“

That is the best quote I have ever read!

NATER