My mother says that most people get their cars washed once a week.

I don't think I ever washed the crappy Ford Tempo that I had for 4 years. (It was grey, but not nice grey, that sort of dark steel grey -- it was more grey like...white mixed with about 5% black paint. People always thought it was a white car that hadn't been washed, when in actuality it was a grey car that hadn't been washed.)

The place around the corner vacuums the car and clean off the dash and the insides of the windows, and then they take it through a drive-thru wash but then when it comes out they check it by hand and do some more specific scrubbing where the car wash didn't get it. That's all about $14, and I tip the guy about $5 (hey, the economy sucks, I imagine he doesn't get paid much of a wage, he's doing a chore I clearly have proven I don't want to do, and so if I have the money, I'm happy to tip him well above 30%).

Anyway, I get the Spud washed in the winter if the car has gotten horribly salty and mucky AND the temps are above freezing. Other than that, I get it washed maybe once or twice more a year, if the car has gotten muddy or particularly gnarly or something.

And ALWAYS the day after we get back from the beach, I take it in to get all the sand vacuumed out and the saltwater and sand washed off before it destroys my paint job and underbody.

Basically, NOT once a week.

the salt and sand from the roads builds up on the windows so much that I can barely see through them if I let it go any longer than that

Well, that kind of stuff I just clean off myself, everyday (or when it needs it).

(If your username contains "smeagol" you really shouldn't be surprised to learn Aragorn was in his 80s during LotR)

Apparently 83 city (N-S into the city) is a parking lot they are trying to clear. Crazy. Rush hour storms are evil, I guess.

If your username contains "smeagol" you really shouldn't be surprised to learn Aragorn was in his 80s during LotR

Dang, dude looks pretty good for being an oldster.

Dang, dude looks pretty good for being an oldster.

He's Dunedain, originally descended from elf-hybrid.

He's Dunedain, originally descended from elf-hybrid.

You can tell he's a hybrid, he's environmentally friendly and gets great mileage.

8 hours for maria now -- give her a few words on FB if you can

My boss referenced Galaga in the all team meeting today. I felt very...I never played Galaga. His metaphor failed me. But at least I know he's about my age. I would have used Centipede to describe the onslaught of operational support problems that you have to overcome, myself.

Or, hell, Space Invaders. Who doesn't love Space Invaders? But Centipede was more fun with the spinny ball thing.

I can vaguely imagine washing one's car once a week if you are a)somewhat OCD about your car or b) live in a very salty environment.

Me? I haven't washed my car in a couple years...not since the last big snow storm. i noticed moss growing on my car yesterday, so perhaps i should spring for a drive through tomorrow.

You can tell he's a hybrid, he's environmentally friendly and gets great mileage.

Oh dang, billytea, you just made me snort!

I agree that washing the car once a week is crazy talk, but I definitely need to start washing my car A LOT more often.