4 Years Ago today

"E90M3" (e90m3) 12/15/2016 at 11:15 • Filed to: None

4

44

I graduated from Georgia Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree and a job. (just a heads up, this is going to be picture heavy and probably ramble on) Since then:

Standing next to Tech tower, still a little drunk from the previous day.

I worked at Target to make money so I could take a European vacation. A high school friend and I went to Le Mans in 2013. Before Le Mans we went to the 2013 12 hours of Sebring.

I might have gotten a little drunk at Sebring.

Not much happened between March and June, other than working at Target. That job sucked, it really did. However it did pay for me to take a trip to Europe. While in Europe me and one of my friends rented a Mercedes and put 2000 km on it. We also visited a few places.

Me standing next to our rental Mercedes B180.

Me on top of the Maginot Line

Oh, we also drove around the ring.

Right after the ring, it was like 95F out that day and we had the AC off.

We also went to the 24 hour of Le Mans, and slept in our car since we couldn’t find other accommodation.

The Benz at Le Mans.

After Le Mans I had a couple more months it was time to start my job. I was in Houston for 2 weeks for on-boarding, then it was onto my district in Alice Texas to begin my career as a frac field engineer.

View from the office.

The in November I tried to buy an M3.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Yeah, that didn’t happen. So it was back to frac for the mean time.

Testing the GORV (Gas operated relief valve) at 12,500 PSI.

The in April I flew out for two months in Tyumen Russia, which is in Siberia. Eastern Siberia, but it’s still Siberia.

This is what it looked like when I arrived.

I had a great time and made some great friends. I still talk to a couple of them. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!  

Did I get in a time machine?

I passed the class, and dressed appropriately for the last day.

After this I moved to Corpus Christi, and guess what. More frac.

How I spent July 4, 2014. Good thing my wells got the memo and got in the spirt of independence day.

Later in July 2014, I finally got something I wanted for over 10 years; an M3.

This was a picture the dealer had on their site, I used it to send to some of my friends.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The rest of 2014 was just a whole lot more frac, oh I also worked Christmas.

Merry fracmas. As you can see, I was thrilled to be working on Christmas.

I had two weeks of vacation after that, which I spent at home.

Celebrating new years and a Georgia Tech win over Mississippi State.

Back in Texas and more frac, oh and my car needed some work so I took it to BMW where the question I was asked when getting a loaner was “do you want the manual loaner?” Uh yeah, give me that.

The 2015 320i I had as a loaner, but look at the stick!

Between January and June, it was just a whole lot of frac and some drinking on days off. It also rained a lot in Texas that spring.

8 inches of mud, my favorite.

My days off lined up with Easter that year, so I bought a flight and flew home on Saturday.

On approach to ATL.

Next came a second school in June 2015 in Tulsa Oklahoma. I spent six weeks there. Where my M3 broke.

Ouch.

I did pass the school, but whereas I had a good time in Russia, I hated the school there. This picture summarizes my feelings pretty well.

I hated that place.

After the school, it was back to frac. Good news, I paid off my M3.

There are no pictures for this next part. Basically I got furloughed for three weeks and fucked up the one friendship in Texas that meant anything to me. To go any further on that subject is too personal, and as much as south Texas gossiped, I’m glad she kept it between us. Yeah, she was also a field engineer.

Anyways, while on furlough, I bought my second BMW, a 128i. I never said I was smart.

The same weekend I moved to San Antonio, but before I left Corpus, I had to leave my mark. I was parked in a covered spot while I was loading my car and since I didn’t move in, they were about to tow it. So I freaked out and wasn’t paying attention, and slammed my M3 into my garage wall.

October 2015 was about the worst month of my life.

It did get fixed, they also did a good job.

When I returned to work after my furlough, it was more frac.

YeahIts Gucci, whats up baby, yellow errthing this time, you know what i’m talkin’ bout, yellow well head, yellow accumulator, yellow standpipes, yellow crane, yellow zipper, Yellow watch, yellow valves, yellow flow cross

And more frac, unless coiled tubing was on location.

We screened out, coil doing a cleanout.

Casing was fucked, coil fixing the casing.

It was more frac, until I got laid off.

My former company required reverse parking, my final act of defiance.

Had a trip planned to Los Angles before I got laid off, I just extended it.

Once I got back it was time for a trip home in the 1.

Home.

Spent a month there, then I drove back to San Antonio and then sold my car. Then in July I had two phone calls from companies that wanted to interview me in the southeast, so I packed up my apartment then loaded up the M3 and drove back to GA.

I didn’t get either job, but i was now back in Georgia until it was time to get my stuff.

Sadly, I didn’t get a job before I my lease ran out in San Antonio, so it was time to initiate my backup plan, store all my stuff in GA. So me and a friend drove out to San Antonio in a rental and loaded all my stuff up and drove back to GA.

Since then I’ve been at home, where is when we get today. Today, exactly 4 years after I finished college, I have an interview for a job as a Process Engineer. Unlike other interviews, I’m much better prepared. The phone interview ended with, when are you available for an interview as opposed to we’ll get back to you.

I need this, I’m not going to fuck this one up, wish me luck.

TheRealBicycleBuck > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:29

1

Good luck!

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:33

0

Good luck!

Take the M3 to the Varsity and say hi to the GTO people for me!

S65 > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:46

0

Good luck

Pigeon sent

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:57

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My former company required reverse parking, my final act of defiance.

lol, badass!

MonkeePuzzle > AfromanGTO 12/15/2016 at 11:57

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get some nekkid dawgs!

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:57

1

Good luck, man! We’re all rooting for you!

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 11:59

2

good luck! don’t frac up this opportunity!

GTiceman > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 12:05

0

What’s the good word!

Great story and love you wore a bow that last day, looks like a Buzz bow right?

Nice M3! Are you coming down to Jacksonville for the bowl game? If it makes you fele any better I am in-transition as well and am looking for in-house counsel roles in Tampa.

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 12:11

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based on the finger, I’m going to assume you didn’t get to have much fun on the skid pan?

Tazio, Count Fouroff > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 12:17

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Cool backstory.

Pulling fer ya. Break a leg! (as they say)

Def. familiar with ups and downs *sigh*

raspaa > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 12:36

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good luck man. I’m a former San Anotnio resident (went to Trinity U) myself now living near Dunwoody. I don’t have an M3 yet, though that may change in the next year or so. :)

For Sweden > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 15:42

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probably ramble on

I get it

Jack Does Cars > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 15:53

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BRR

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/15/2016 at 20:37

1

Thanks! I actually rented a Hyundai Sonata as I drove from Roswell to Richmond and back again, and in gas alone it was cheaper to rent a car and pay for gas then it was to drive the M3 and pay for gas, not counting wear and tear.  

E90M3 > GTiceman 12/15/2016 at 20:41

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TO HELL WITH georgia! That come back was epic. I was at the game in 2008, that was also pretty great.

It is a Buzz bowtie, that was my game day attire from my 5th year. Figured I should rock a bowtie as a 5th year, it was a good decision.

Thanks, I love my M3. I think I’m going to North Carolina with some friends.

It makes me feel good to know I’m not alone in going through type of shit.

E90M3 > MonkeePuzzle 12/15/2016 at 20:43

1

Well, that pic was from 2015, I went to LVT in 2013, and had a good time. They told me to let the truck spin, I applied oppo and held it. You drive that truck where they could steer the rear tires? That was my favorite. As soon as the instructor started to turn, I applied oppo. He was like you’re pretty good at this.

E90M3 > Jack Does Cars 12/15/2016 at 20:43

0

I’m glad at least one person caught that. That song came out my 3rd year of college.

E90M3 > MonkeePuzzle 12/15/2016 at 20:45

1

Fuck all their dumbass driving regualtions. I was at G10 controls and my boss’s boss’s boss asked me how I was going to get the ejourney approved to drive home if I didn’t get a hotel in San Antonio. I almost said to him, well it’s a good thing I don’t do ejourneys. I didn’t cause my inner voice was like, don’t be a smart ass.

E90M3 > For Sweden 12/15/2016 at 20:45

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Pun wasn’t intended, but better that way.

E90M3 > S65 12/15/2016 at 20:46

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Thanks!

I’ll be on the look out for that pigeon.

E90M3 > Tazio, Count Fouroff 12/15/2016 at 20:46

1

Thanks man! Yeah, been a lot of ups and downs for sure.

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 20:48

1

oppo in the real world, even better than oppo the forum

E90M3 > raspaa 12/15/2016 at 20:49

0

Had to look up where that was, only 15 mins from where I used to live.

I’m not sure I can do only an M3 with ATL traffic. I swear it’s gotten worse since I went to college here.

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 20:49

0

ahhh g10 controls, where theres no such thing as the right answer.

E90M3 > MonkeePuzzle 12/15/2016 at 20:55

1

I had paid off my M3 the previous month. I gave a total of 0 fucks. My project was shit and I didn’t give a shit, I was tempted to have a resignation letter written, printed, and signed with me if they gave me too hard of a time. Fall 2015 was a really rough time for me. They asked me a bunch of questions I couldn’t answer, and I still passed. I was pretty relieved. I did talk shit about Kellyville to I think the division manager, it was great.

MonkeePuzzle > E90M3 12/15/2016 at 21:10

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man that would be satisfying

“we’re sorry your project has not passed...”

“lemme stop you right there. i refer you to appendix 7 in your handouts, my resignation”

E90M3 > MonkeePuzzle 12/15/2016 at 21:16

1

You have no idea how much I wanted to do that. However, I passed so I guess we can only fantasize about it. I did have a slide in there with my M3 on it, to which I made the comment “this is what I spent all my bonus money on”

Me and another engineer, who actually quit, used to talk about how we’d quit. Communicator was great; I said some pretty messed up things to other people. I always wanted to go to my FSM and be like hey man, I’m having some computer trouble. It works and all, I just don’t know if I can leave it with you or if I need to return it to IT. Oh, you look confused, it’s cause I quit.

GTiceman > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 09:31

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Certainly not alone. I was also at the 2008 game. The win made it worth it to brave that weather.

E90M3 > GTiceman 12/16/2016 at 09:33

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I was also at 2010 when Tech missed an extra point and we were down 34-35 with like 2 mins left and no time outs. I didn’t go my 5th year in 2012, nor did I watch it on TV.

Jack Does Cars > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 10:33

1

It’s so good and so ridiculous. Wow, 2010 in Atlanta must have been The Time.

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 11:40

0

I am surprised the V8 M3s get that bad of gas mileage. The Sonatas get good gas mileage, and are nice cars from Hyundai.

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 11:54

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It gets about 18 on the highway, it needs another gear. The hyundai needs better steering, the electric steering is way too light. I was constantly having to manipulate the steering to keep it straight. It also felt super twitchy, maybe I’ve just spoiled by my steering.

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 12:42

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I get around 16-18 in the city with my 6 speed GTO, and around 28-30 on the highway. How low is the gears in the rear end? 4.10s or lower than that?

Light over boosted steering makes it easier to park, and that matters to auto makers.

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 12:52

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I’m not really sure what the diff ratio is, I couldn’t find just the diff ratio. I know it’s different between the 6MT and DCT cars though. I found the overall ratios http://www.bokchoys.com/differential/GearRatios.htm My car rides about 3500 for 75 mph.

Steering can be over boosted for parking, but it needs to be adjustable at speeds. There’s no direction connection, at least require more input at 75 mph when compared to 7.5 mph.

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 13:01

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Wow! At 3500 I would be over a 100 mph...

That would require more work from the car companies to do that to their cheap econoboxes.

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 13:03

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The weird thing is it seems to get 18 mpg on the highway no matter what you do. Drive like you stole it: 18 Drive like James May: 18 Drive at 70: 18 Drive at 100: 18

One reason why I wouldn’t buy a cheap econobox, if I could avoid it.

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 13:31

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That is interesting. Mine if I drive it slow and cruise behind large trucks I will see over 30. If I drive like a bat out of hell it will go down to the single digits.

The differences between a M and LS engine. lol

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 13:42

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It’s also down to the nature of the engine, the M engine is a high revving low displacement V8, the LS is a low revving engine with a larger displacement. Also, does yours have cylinder deactivation?

raspaa > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 14:04

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Yes the traffic has gotten a lot worse in the last few years...and it’s not getting better as more people are moving in. Luckily I don’t live far from work, and am mostly outside of the perimeter. I go driving in North GA quite a bit also. It would be a different story if I, say, lived in Buckhead with a downtown commute, though.

E90M3 > raspaa 12/16/2016 at 14:07

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You’ve got a 135is, right?

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 14:15

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Exactly, but LS engines aren’t that low revving compared to the old V8s.

I have a LS2 in the GTO and Ls3 in the SS sedan. None of them have cylinder deactivation. The DOD set up was used on G8 GTs. The GTO and SS are/were sold the same way. 1 engine choice, stick or auto, and what color do you want. There’s no real options.

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 14:19

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Well, compared to the M3 is it, which is what I was comparing it to.

I’m just surprised how much better your fuel consumption is than mine.

AfromanGTO > E90M3 12/16/2016 at 14:33

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I suspect it has a lot to do where the engine make power. My GTO makes over 350 ft/lbs of tq around 2k and maxes out at 403.2 ft/lbs around 4400 rpm. I can just use the torque to my advantage, and not really have to downshift to pass people. Your engine due to its higher revving nature has lower tq to work with at lower rpms, and makes power higher up.

E90M3 > AfromanGTO 12/16/2016 at 14:34

1

True. Although at highway speeds I don’t have to downshift either, it’s nice. If I do want to make a point, I drop it a gear or two or sometimes three when someone really needs to get passed.