4G

1 Comment Posted on funny, Nostalgia, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your Drawing Of A Freak Wearing A Backpack

3 years, 10 months.

Your Drawing Of A Freak Wearing A Backpack

Dear Jack,

This past weekend on our fall road trip from Nashville to Asheville, as we reviewed the 4G capabilities of the 2015 Buick LaCrosse, you passed some of the time by drawing pictures in the back seat with Mommy.

I was focused on the road, but peripherally I heard you say, “Look Mommy, I drew a picture of a freak… wearing a backpack!”

Sure enough, you did.

Your picture of the “freak wearing a backpack” actually reminded me of those creatures from Spy Vs. Spy in Mad magazine; or the Yoyo the dodo bird from Looney Tunes.

Mommy and I questioned you on where you heard the word “freak.” We assumed you heard it at school or even by watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants in the hotel when you first woke up.

You told us you just made up the word. I believe you. It’s not the first time you’ve made up a word; it’s just that this particular word actually made sense in context.

 

When I asked you what a freak is, you casually responded, “It’s just a kind of monster, Daddy.”

White Spy Black Spy

Fair enough. Makes sense to me. And though I’m not sure what the significance is in him wearing a backpack, but I like it.

I adore your art. You should know that by the fact I’ve got a folder named “Jack’s Art” on the Facebook page for Family Friendly Daddy Blog.

And your Freak Wearing A Backpack is a prime example of why I appreciate what you do.

I love the way you are so specific to whatever you are creating, with such passion and concern, and that your art projects are typically something so randomly themed.

Freak Wearing A Backpack almost sounds like it could easily be the name of an actual work of art on display in a museum in New York City or something.

Yoyo Dodo_(1)

The “freak” is wearing a backpack. I’m just taking that in right now.

That’s awesome.

Love,

Daddy

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1 Comment Posted on car reviews, reviews, Uncategorized

The New (and Younger) Buick, Equipped with 4G and OnStar

While I have been steadily (nearly weekly!) been reviewing cars from a family friendly perspective for a solid year now, it’s something I’ve actually been dabbling in before that; since November 2011.

The Rebranded Buick Line, Equipped With 4G and OnStar

Last November, GM flew me up to Detroit for the 2nd time so I could get a behind the scenes look at how OnStar works, as well as to learn about their newly rebranded Buick line. (See Born And Raise In South Detroit… Or I Just Drove Around There and Say Nice Things About Detroit.)

NOV 2013 Nick Shell Detroit OnStar

NOV 2013 Nick Shell Detroit car review

The first time they invited me to Detroit was back in November 2011 to check out the Chevy Traverse (see Rise Of The Dadmobile: The Chevy Traverse and GM Sees Beyond Stereotypes), which marked the very beginning of my now long list of car review stories.

NOV 2011 Nick Shell blogger GM Detroit

They also sent our family on a road trip from Naples to Key West to test drive the Chevy Volt as a family, back in December 2011. (See 7 Reasons This Dad Wants A Chevy Volt and My Son The Beach Bum… Not Really!)

DEC 2011 Naples FL Chevy Volt Nick Shell car review

DEC 2011 P2 DEC 2011 Naples FL Chevy Volt Nick Shell car review

Plus, I reviewed the 2015 Cadillac Escalade a couple of weeks ago. So over the past couple of years, I’ve become quite familiar with GM vehicles. In fact, my college car was a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

AUG 2014 2015 Cadillac Escalade

And when it comes to Buicks, my Italian grandfather loved them. He had owned both a Park Avenue and a LaSabre.

But the demographics of who is most attracted to Buicks has been shifting in recent years, as the age of the average Buick buyer has lowered.

So while I did get to drive the new Buick through Detroit last year, I have been eager to try one out where I live in Nashville, TN.

Especially after seeing that very relevant and witty Buick commercial…

Well, I got my wish. Our family had the privilege of getting to review/model a 2015 Buick LaCrosse, which let me point out, is 4G equipped.

I can honestly say that for our Labor Day Weekend road trip from Nashville to Chattanooga to my hometown of Fort Payne, AL, and back, our son (age 3 years, 9 months) has never had a more peaceful ride.

4G OnStar 2015 Buick LaCrosse

He was too busy playing learning games on the Kindle in the back seat.

Just like any cool coffee shop, certain GM vehicles now have Wi-Fi.

See my recent Syncing To 4G and Using OnStar Remote Link App on GM Vehicles to read what I wrote on how to connect to the 4G in these vehicles. It’s really simple, though.

As for me, I’m an OnStar abuser, if there is such a thing. I know that entering “Whole Foods, Chattanooga, TN” into the GPS is not that much of a chore…

4G OnStar 2015 Buick LaCrosse

But if all I have to do is press one button (the OnStar button) and ask the friendly Michigan-accented person on the other end to send “Whole Foods in Chattanooga, TN” to my GPS, then I’m going to do it every time.

(And by the way, I like the Michigan accent. Think: Tom Selleck.)

During Labor Day Weekend, I took advantage of OnStar’s help no less than 8 times. I learned not to be shy about it after my last Detroit trip to the OnStar Headquarters.

Needless to say, we had a very fun-filled and random road trip. Be on the look-out for my upcoming story, 4G Equipped 2015 Buick LaCrosse: Labor Day Weekend Family Friendly Review.