A final update on the Matrix / Life Update

"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb)
05/29/2020 at 09:30 • Filed to: None

During the past few years, I’ve been dailying a 03 Matrix XRS, which is a normal Matrix with a Yamaha-designed motor and clunky 6-speed gearbox. Last I left off, I was still in Ohio.

Suffice to say, my education at Antioch College had gone pear-shaped. I had just came out as trans (yes I am a trans girl), and started transitioning on hormones. I now fully living as a woman, and have been relieved of most of my gender dysphoria.

I was going through a lot of mental health stuff at that time, and Antioch wasn’t making it any better. My class size had severely dwindled (from 45 when I came in, 12 when I left there), while it became increasingly clear that this school has fucked from the top down.

Antioch College doing what it does best: milking the living shit out of Coretta Scott King’s legacy to look woke. (fun fact:she didn’t graduate at Antioch!)

My involvement with the school newspaper didn’t help, as the issues became increasingly (and painfully) obvious. Most of my friends had left, and I left after a little less than 2 years there.

I moved back to Cali via road trip, which I had been wanting to do.

I think this was in Nebraska?

I’m not religious, but visiting the Temple in SLC on my checklist for a while.

Montana.

Going back to the Matrix, I recently broke the transmission after one too many corner carving sessions. There’s a pretty loud and scary sound/tapping coming the shift knob and clutch pedal. This car has been through a lot, and the funds are being diverted toward purchasing a used Mazda6 instead of replacing the transmission.

The door frames are slightly bent from a tow truck driver’s attempt to rescue my locked keys, doors and (partially) floor deadened, and paint thrashed from a very hard 50k miles. The sound deadening has really not helped in this case.

I’ve driven this to New York, an impromptu pool party in PA, the inaugeration in DC, and back to California from Ohio. Fun times. It’s had snow tires on it; and currently has coilovers on it. I’ve wound out the 2ZZ countless number of times to the rev limiter, and taken friends to airports and countless Kroger/Taco Bell runs.

Since the title is in my parents’ names, they’re donating it. I’ll be cleaning this car out and removing as many of my aftermarket components as possible for the next journey. Enjoy these film photos though.

DISCUSSION (15)

jminer > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 09:53

I loved the film photos and the journey.

Sometimes schools are just shitty, sorry you had to deal with one of them. What are you up to now?

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 10:05

Photos are great! Good read. My friend has a first-gen Matrix (albeit auto, and not an XRS) which is still going strong. She’s keeping it around as it’s got enough space for her dog. I’ve always liked these cars as they appear quite utilitarian.

Captain of the Enterprise > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 10:28

I love the photos. I’m sorry to hear about the school and mental health issues. I’m in college and have struggled with severe anxiety and depression. I’m glad transitioning has helped you. I hope things improve for you!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 10:55

I had a similar-ish experience with Susquehanna University... Turns out Lutheran colleges are a bizzare and incomprehensible (to me, an eastern, liberal, non-religious wierdo) combination of drunken womanizing and debauchery 6 out of seven days a week... But woe unto you if you missed church on Sunday, or god forbid smoked that devil’s weed marijuana! And hidden but deeply felt racism... Thank fully the college councilor I saw said these nice, obvious words: “you don’t seem to like it here, maybe you should leave?” My response was to basically slap myself on the forehead and say “oh my God, youre right! Bye!” Not that our experiences are the same, but b eing in a place that doesn’t work for you never helps, even, or perhaps especially, when you’ve figured out how to be who you need to be. Ah, film... I have a degree in photography that dates from a time when film was still king... But I also did an early digital media program and ended up deeply entrenched in the digital color industry even before the major death of film... I’m rambling... Haven’t used any of my film cameras in year s, my darkroom gear is still packed away in boxes and I’ve even divested myself of my high-end digital gear... Farming takes all my tim e and money... Hah, i bet “sheep fa rmer” would have been near the bottom had you asked anyone my college graduation, or first 15 years of jobs after college what they thought I ‘d be doing in my 40s... Change is the only certainty.... Make it work four you, and you've done all you can. Shame about the XRS, always thought those were cool little sleepery boxes, but even Toyotas aren't truly eternal.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > jminer
05/29/2020 at 11:25

I’m in the Bay (again), and working in the bicycle industry for the time being . I’m planning on heading to De Anza for their auto tech program, which is the path I’d like to go.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 11:32

Those photos are beautiful. You can tell when it is real fil m instead of some a digital with a filter.

It sounds like a hectic year for you. At least it seems you know when to move on, especially as that college seemed on its last legs. I’d worry about wh e ther it would fold and your credits wouldn’ t be transferrable but I don't know much about your situation.

jminer > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 13:42

I’m planning on moving to the Bay Area later this year myself. Good luck with the auto tech program, I once dreamed of being a mechanic but ended falling into IT and it’s been good to me.

Bicycle industry as in working for a local bike shop? They’re seriously awesome, I love the shop near me.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
05/29/2020 at 21:38

Interesting. I shot this with a Konica SLR camera with Portra 400 film. I’m glad you have found a good path as a farmer though!

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > jminer
05/29/2020 at 21:39

Not exactly local, but at a LBS in the city.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/29/2020 at 21:41

Thanks for the compliments on the photos!

I don’t really care if it folds, and when it does, I’ll be celebrating with my friends who also got out of there. If it folds, the student debt would technically would be cancelled. Which would be a bit of a bonus.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 21:50

I didn’t know that was a thing that happened, but good. If it is going out of business it probably wasn’t worth your time compared to other options.

I'm somewhat of a photographer myself but I have actually never even owned a DSLR. You just have to scroll through my posts to see I like the challenge but I'm confined by the limits of my phone and hand me down hand held. I live what you've done with the photos though. You seem to share a similar passion as me to try to make an ordinary scene (freeway, sign, etc) interesting.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/29/2020 at 22:05

I do have a passion for the mundane, and mostly like film for the color profile/graininess and the challenge. It’s also a challenge of sorts, given I can’t just snap pictures willy-nilly as film is still quite expensive. I remember stopping at places I wouldn’t have stopped at as photo opportunities were found. I’ll post some of my better shots on Oppo tonight, especially since there is a decent photography crowd here.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/29/2020 at 22:14

Oh yes. I hosted a home photography contest exactly like that at the beginning of the quarantine that was exactly that sort of challenge to turn the mundane into the extror dinary.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-great-oppositelock-home-photography-final-showcase-1843238638

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-great-oppositelock-home-photography-final-showcase-1843239265

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-great-oppositelock-home-photography-contest-1843032159

As you can see the folks here really took to it. Film is like not even next level but next next next next level compared to me but our subject matters might be more similar than expected.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
05/29/2020 at 23:33

Damn. I need to enter into the next context. Also, posted my film dump. Hope you’ll enjoy it!

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/ohio-to-cali-road-trip-film-dump-1843769345

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
05/30/2020 at 00:54

I think that’s this Fat Dogs , in Ogallala.

Took this 11 years ago, eastbound from the Pacific Northwest to New England:

Kinja'd!!!

iPhone 3G, IIRC.

I fooled around with film cameras just long enough to know that I had no business doing so. I’ll leave that to folks who know what they’re doing, like you!

I really enjoyed these shots, and they’re just adding to my urge for a road trip soon .