Jaren Jokela

California Love

Sophia and I made the trip down to Southern California to go to my favorite place on Earth which happens to be the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland.  When I was in college I had a year round pass to Disneyland and this is odd because I went to school at Central Washington University.  I would make at least 2 trips down to California a year so I could go to Disneyland.  In college we would make the journey south via car but this time we decided to save a full days worth of time by flying.

Since graduating from college I have been absent from Disneyland for 2 1/2 years.  For some that may seem like not that long but for me that is a very long time to be absent from Mickey.  Sophia on the other hand has not been to Disneyland since she was 10 so in a way it was like going for the first time.  We made the trip down south not only for Disneyland although it was a huge bonus we went down for my brother-in-laws graduation from UC-Irvine (Go Ant Eaters!).  Here is a little video of him getting hooded!

It was so nice to go down to California because we definitely were missing the sun.  This May and Junes weather has been awful so seeing the big yellow thing in the sky was nice.  We flew in Thursday night so we had all day Friday to go to Disneyland.  Before we got into the park I bought an app for my phone that shows you the wait time for rides, it actually worked very well.  The only downfall about the app was I was always on my phone and I would see that Space Mountain would shut down every other hour.

We had some rough luck with rides breaking down.  We were on the platform for Thunder Mountain railroad when it closed down.  Some of the changes to Disneyland is the comeback of the 3-D adventure of Captain EO.  Seeing Michael Jackson as the space captain promoting peace and love was life changing!  The Jungle Cruise offered some new jokes, Indiana Jones line is still extremely long.  I am still disappointed in Pirates of the Caribbean when you enter the village there is that new smoke screen of one of those computer generated captains from Pirates of the Caribbean 2 or 3 I do not know which movie it was because I did not even see #3.  When riding the Matterhorn you are putting your life in Walt Disney hands as it is one of the most sketchy rides ever.

The ride of the day without a doubt was at California Adventure and it was Toy Store Mania.  It is a 3-D game where you play carnival games with your goal of scoring the most amount of points.  I was happy with my score of 75,000 points as it was the best out of our group.  The guy next to me on the ride scored the days all time high of 425,000 points.  How he did that I have no idea but after seeing what he looked like and how he ran up the stairs to get back in line it makes complete sense on how he scored 425,000 points.

Saturday we drove down the 101 as far as Laguna Beach.  After our stroll through beach towns we made the trip back to Irvine to see Robert’s graduation.  Next think you knew it was Sunday and we were heading on back home to rainy Enumclaw.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OUR PICTURES OF THE TRIP

M…I…C…K…E…Y… MOUSE

Sophia and I are going to Disneyland on Friday this week and we can not wait!  We are ready to get away from this rainy weather and finally get into some sun and of course go to the Happiest Place on Earth!

So the question is what ride do we go on first!?

It’s Wedding Season

“What do you like better, Christmas or wedding season?”

“Yes, um, the answer would be wedding season.”

- Wedding Crashers -

Well it is that time of year… It is nice as this year Sophia and I get to enjoy weddings instead of planning for one.  The first one of the year was my cousin Erin’s where the reception was at my parents house.  It was a lot of fun to have family in town.  The night before the wedding a couple of us guys went indoor go kart racing at Sky Kart in Tukwila.  I have not been to this indoor track since I was in High School, it was a blast.  I definitely woke up the next day sore, I never thought driving a go kart crashing into the wall would make me sore, I guess it is a sign that I am getting old.  It was a lot fun as we definitely rocked the jump suites that I am sure no one wears but we had fun with it.

The wedding was beautiful.  The weather did not co-operate with us as it was cold and rainy for the reception.  We made the best of the poor weather and enjoyed getting together to celebrate Erin’s wedding.  It was fun for Sophia and I see the action behind the scenes preparing my parents house for a wedding.  We are excited for all the weddings to come in 2010, just glad we are not stressing out planning one.

Rule #35: Never commit to a relative unless you’re sure they have a pulse.

Rule #16: Give me an up-to-date family tree. That was your mistake. You made me look like an idiot.

Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion!

Rule No.5: “You’re an idiot”

EHS Football Car Wash

This past Saturday was the 3rd annual Enumclaw High School Football Car Wash.  The Car Wash was at Art Gamblin Motors Truck Center.  You could not ask for better weather for a car wash mid 70′s and not a cloud in the sky.  The Car Wash is designed for the players.  Each player pre-sells tickets for $10.  The money they earn goes directly to that athletes fund for Football Camp which they will be attending at University of Puget Sound.  If a player sells17 tickets he raised $170 to pay for his way to football camp.  We had players sell over 35 tickets which paid for their camp and more.

Last year we had only 2 lanes going through Art Gamblin Motors Truck Center.  This year we opened a 3rd lane which allowed the football players to wash more cars.  By days end we washed over 300+ cars!  It was packed all day as there was a steady stream of vehicles being washed.  The day was split into 4 shifts the seniors washed cars from 8:00AM to 10:00 AM and then the Sophomores came in and took over from 10:00AM to 12:00PM.  As the Sophomores finished up the Juniors came in to work their two hour shift from 12:00PM to 2:00PM.  The class of 2014, the incoming freshman finished out the day from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.  Thanks for all those who came in for the car wash and helped.

EHS Football Seniors 2010

This is a great start for our 2010 EHS Football season.  Spring ball starts the first week of June and then we are off to Camp in July.  Then the season starts in August… Go Hornets.

I AM BACK

Well, well, well, it has been a while since I have been able to blog.  Well this is not going to be much of a blog post as it will answer where the heck I have been.  I had a job change at work and it has consumed my life much to the dismay to my beautiful wife Sophia!  I have been spending long hours at the dealership (Art Gamblin Motors).  It has involved me changing or trying to change my sleeping habits as I try to get to work before 7:00 AM.  Some people like Sophia have to be at work at 4:00AM, but me being at work before 7:00AM is tough for me!

So, what am I doing now, well I am buying used cars.  It has been a lot of fun thus far but very stressful.  I am searching auction run lists and trying to buy cars with low day supply so they sell quickly.  Football is starting up again and Spring ball is just around the corner.  I am excited to be coaching again this year.  Sophia is still working at the hospital in Enumclaw and things seem to be going great, the Hospital is trying to become certified to have its own nursing school for employees who are trying to get their RN.  This is a huge blessing as Sophia has been applying for Nursing schools.

Well I guess that is the update, I am going to be back with more especially with the new Buick Regal hitting dealership lots and also the rumors surrounding a GM and Google project!

Buick Regal GS Coming!

Buick Regal Grand Sport

The 2010 Detroit Auto Show showcased the 2011 Buick Regal GS.  When I first saw the Buick Regal and the Opel Insignia I was blown away and it was a car I could not wait to make production here in the states.  Recently there have been spy shots of the Regal GS testing in North America but still there has been no official word from GM to be entered into production.  Car bloggers have been saying it is only a matter of time before they announce the GS being part of the Buick Lineup.

Power for the Regal GS comes from a high-output 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged engine with direct-injection technology. It is based on the engine that will be offered on Regal CXL models later this summer, but the engine and turbocharger are tuned to deliver greater boost pressure in the GS. The output is estimated at 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that directs torque to an adaptive all-wheel-drive system calibrated for performance driving. An electronic, limited-slip rear differential helps ensure the engine’s power is distributed effectively during cornering.

The high-performance drivetrain is expected to enable the Regal GS to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. That performance is complemented by a four-wheel-independent suspension, with a unique High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) design in front. The HiPerStrut system helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering. This improves ultimate grip levels in dry and wet conditions, as well as improves the direct feel of the road, while isolating undesirable feedback. Behind the wheel the driver experiences reduced torque steer, improved grip and increased cornering power, along with crisper handling, steering precision and feedback.

The Regal GS features a high-performance Brembo brake system with 14 x 1.2-inch (355 x 32 mm) cross-drilled rotors; four-piston, high-strength aluminum calipers, and high-performance pads.

The Regal GS is also equipped with Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) chassis technology (also offered on Regal CXL models with the 2.0L turbo engine). It delivers enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety, while also adapting the driving characteristics of the car to the driver’s preferences. The driver selects among three operating modes – normal, sport and GS – that change the suspension settings, throttle response and steering sensitivity through the variable-effort steering system.

• Key Competitors: Acura TL, Saab 9-3, Audi A4, Lexus IS.
• Power: 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged 4-cylinder – 260-hp / 260 lb-ft.
• Transmission: 6-speed manual.
• Performance: 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

Buick Regal Grand Sport

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Chicago

It has always been one of my goals to visit all 50 states.  I cheat sometimes where I count the states where I had lay over.  So for example when I have had lay-overs in Minneapoli,s Minnesota you better believe I count Minnesota as a state I have visited.

This past month I had the opportunity to go to Chicago with my father for a business trip.  This was part of the dealer 20 group that we belong too.  I wish I could say that I got to go out and see the city, but to be honest I did not even get into Chicago.  Our plane left on Monday as we were pushing away from the gate ready to take flight but a light would not turn on in the cock pit.  Of course we sat on the runway for almost 2 hours before they pulled us back to the terminal and boarded a different plane.  

So we flew into O’Hare International airport at 10:00 PM.  Our hotel was about 5 minutes away from the airport.  Our meetings started at 7:00 AM in the morning which was a little rough for me which was like waking up at 5:00 AM.  We were in meetings all day Tuesday.  We did get a chance to go out to dinner at Harry Caray’s Steak House, which was fabulous.  As you can see from the pictures it was a really cool place to eat with a giant holy cow in front.

We had early morning meetings on Wednesday and we went to go home right after… Another mechanical issue had us in the airport for an extra 3 hours.  We learned a lot at our meetings but most importantly I get to check off Illinois off my list of states I have visited.  I am anxious to actually really visit Chicago.

Zolie – Update

Every time visiting my parents it is always an adventure with Zolie the wonder dog around.  That dog brings in so much energy in the house.  It is funny to see my mom who is a neat freak have cups, chew toys and stuff animals with heads taken off all over the floor.

Here is a little video that I have taken of Zolie while visiting my parents.

This blog post comes just after Sophia and I just watched the Disney Movie “Up” which was hilarious when the dog would yell, “Squirrel” or “Point.”  Zolie will occasionally just stop dead in his tracks and point.  It is so funny to watch a puppy run around because it is ADD in action as nothing can keep its attention more then 10 seconds.  He is all over the place.

Move Aside Cobalt, Meet the Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze has finally hit North America.   The Cruze has been on sale overseas and now is making the jump over the pond to North America.  With over 4-million miles in testing this Cruze has been very successful in Europe.

The Cruze will replace the Chevrolet Cobalt which has not been known for its styling but the Cruze replaces the Cobalt with a little more style and still holds its own against the competition in fuel economy and safety.

The new Cruze is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with a choice of six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. The turbocharged engine puts out 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque and should be capable of up to 40 mpg on the highway, GM says. The 1.8-liter puts out 136 horsepower and 123 lb-ft. of torque.

The Cruze will be offered in three trim levels, LS, LT and LTZ, the latter two of which will come standard with the turbo motor.

Safety will be a priority in the new Cruze, GM says. Ten airbags will come as standard, including the rear seat side airbags and knee airbags. Stability control and ABS will be standard across the lineup.

The 2011 Cruze will also offer a more spacious interior and greater cargo room than its two main competitors, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Standard interior options will include a stereo system with MP3 playback capability, 6-speakers and an AUX jack for personal MP3 players. A premium Pioneer sound system is available as an option with a USB port for iPod connectivity. Other available options include Bluetooth and a navigation system. On the outside, 16-inch wheels are standard on LS and LT models and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on the LTZ model. 18-inch alloy wheels are available as an option on 2LT and LTZ models.

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